Martha Van Nostand, during her 26-year tenure as House Manager of Hillcrest Residence Hall, touched the lives of thousands of University of Iowa students. It seems fitting that her nominations for recognition as a Distinguished Friend of the University of Iowa were to come from the students themselves. A graduate of Parsons College, Miss Van Nostrand has been widely recognized as a friend who treated each student resident individually and with understanding of the various problems involved with college life. The students praised her enthusiasm and her willingness to extend effort in their behalf in all endeavors.
Since 1963, the University of Iowa has annually recognized accomplished alumni and friends with Distinguished Alumni Awards. Awards are presented in seven categories: Achievement, Service, Hickerson Recognition, Faculty, Staff, Recent Graduate, and Friend of the University.