AMES, Iowa –– Cali McKibbon, from Annawan, Illinois, will represent the Iowa State University College of Design as its student marshal at the university’s Spring 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony #2 Saturday, May 17, at Hilton Coliseum.  

McKibbon will graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor of industrial design and a minor in entrepreneurship. Her university escort will be Grit Sadtler, associate teaching professor of industrial design. 

McKibbon was on the Dean’s List and in the top 2% of her class every semester at Iowa State. She is a recipient of both the Expedition Award and the Journey Award, scholarships awarded to high-achieving and highly motivated students. 

From 2023-2024, she was a Softgoods Lab monitor and served as a student ambassador for the Department of Industrial Design. She was active in the student chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America from 2021-2024 and the ISU Swim Club from 2021–2023. 

In the summer of 2023, she worked as a lead researcher and designer on the “Weeding Out the Weeds” project, a collaboration between Iowa State University and George Mason University. McKibbon led design initiatives focused on applying AI and improving accessibility for farmers, gardeners and agronomy enthusiasts. 

During the fall 2024 semester, she studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia. In May 2024, she traveled to Italy as a part of the “Experience Italian Culture Through Art and Design” course, led by Sadtler and study abroad advisor Anne Grevstad-Nordbrock. 

McKibbon credits a portion of her academic success to Sadtler, noting that “she played a significant role in [my] development as a designer.” 

“Professor Sadtler’s encouragement made me to feel confident in my abilities and skills,” McKibbon said. “I deeply appreciate the time and effort she has given me and other students to help us succeed.” 

McKibbon is currently a student contractor at Vermeer Corporation. After graduation, she plans to stay in Iowa and work as a full-time designer, aiming to improve people’s daily lives through product innovation. 

She is the daughter of Shane and Heidi McKibbon of Annawan, Illinois, and a 2021 graduate of Annawan High School. Her brother, Coy McKibbon, is a junior in agricultural engineering at Iowa State. 

Contacts

Cali McKibbon, Graduating Senior, Industrial Design, kibbon21@iastate.edu
Grit Sadtler, Associate Teaching Professor of Industrial Design, gsadtler@iastate.edu
Lauren Johnson, Communications Specialist, College of Design, laujohn2@iastate.edu