Selection Committee 
Dan Gable

Dan Gable’s records as an athlete and a coach speak for themselves. No other human being in the history of sport has been so dominant in both arenas. As an athlete Gable was a three-time state champion, two time NCAA champion at Iowa State, Pan American games champion and World champion. His career as an athelte culminated in the 1972 Olympic games in Munch Germany where he won the Gold medal, and in his 6 Olympic matches did not surrender a single point to any of his opponents.  
 Read more.
                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Ruth Ann Gaines

​Representative Gaines’s work as an educator has also brought state and national recognition to Des Moines. She was a recipient of the Iowa Teacher of the Year award and was one of four finalists for the National Teacher of the Year award as well. Ruth Ann has served as State Representative since 2010. And, it’s no surprise, that for all four terms, she served on the education committee. She fully supports legislation that improves the quality of education in Iowa. Ruth Ann is a 2018 Lifelong Learner Hall of Fame inductee.
​Read more,
 Kelli McCarthy

Kelli McCarthy, BA '16, is the Special Event Coordinator for the University of Northern Iowa.  Over the past 14 years McCarthy played an active part in the planning and coordination of many conferences, workshops and summits on campus.  In this role, Ms. McCarthy stresses the importance of continuing education as part of the curriculum being offered to the registrant. Read more.
Mary Muehl

​Mary Muehl of Cedar Rapids is a member of the AARP Iowa Executive Council. She brings a wide range of volunteer and professional experiences in leadership, planning, educating and organizing to the 10-member volunteer board.  Muehl is a retired educator with experience as a science teacher and curriculum consultant.      Read more.                                   
Simon Estes
Selection Committtee 2017

Simon Estes is an internationally renowned opera star who enjoys the ecstatic praise of music lovers around the globe. Since winning the Bronze Medal in Moscow's 1966 Tchaikovsky competition, he has performed with 84 major international opera companies and has appeared regularly with 115 orchestras. ​ Read more.