Des Moines Register
05-05-07
Graduation extends legacy of presidents Knapp, Storms at ISU
By TOM BARTON
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
May 5, 2007
Ames, Ia. - When Travis Knapp receives his diploma during Iowa State
University's graduation ceremony today, he will extend his family's legacy at
the university - which includes two presidents of the university - into its sixth
generation.
Knapp's great-great-great-grandfather, Seaman Asahel Knapp, was Iowa State's
second president for two years beginning in 1883. The dormitory named after the
19th-century president, Knapp Hall, was Travis' residence in his freshman year
before it was razed.
Knapp is also the great-great-grandson of Albert Storms, ISU president from
1903 to 1910, and for which another ISU residence hall was named. Both
buildings - known by ISU students as "the towers" - were located across from
each other and each was demolished at the same time in 2005.
Three subsequent generations of Knapps have attended and graduated from
ISU. Travis will extend the legacy today when he takes his bachelor of arts
degree from the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, in addition
to two minors in sociology and criminal justice.
"It's a big day. I'm excited. There's a lot of family in town to witness it," he said.
"It's been inspirational being at Iowa State considering the family history. You
want to live up to the legacy, and I hope I have. I think I made Grandma proud."
Travis grew up in Ames and his parents moved to Michigan when he was a
sophomore at ISU.
"They're looking forward to coming back, especially my dad," Knapp said. He
estimates there are more than 30 close family relatives who have graduated from
the university.
In fact, Knapp's first recollections of Iowa State and Ames are when he was 6
years old. His family had just moved to Ames, and the first thing they did was
head to Knapp Hall.
"I remember we got all dressed up in ISU clothing and we went out to the Towers
and we got our picture taken in front of the signs that said 'Knapp' and 'Storms,' "
he said. "He sent them to Grandma and she got a kick out of them."
Years later Travis lived in the dormitory named for his great-great-greatgrandfather.
"Yeah, I was Travis Knapp in Knapp Hall. People would pause and be like
'What?' " Knapp said.
Impressive as the Knapp's Iowa State legacy may be, it wasn't imposed on
Travis.
"My two older brothers didn't come here and my dad did his undergraduate study
at Western Michigan University. He got his master's at Iowa State," Knapp said.
"I was never pressured to come here. But I didn't know what I wanted to major in
and I knew Iowa State had a great, well-rounded program, and I knew at Iowa
State I'd get the direction I was looking for to steer toward the right career path."
But he is confident he will not be the last Knapp to attend Iowa State. "Iowa State
will definitely be an option I'd pursue for my kids," he said. "You have to keep the
history going."
Knapp now lives in Atlanta, Ga., where he has taken a job at a public relations
firm, but predicts he may one day be back at ISU to follow in his great-greatgreat-grandfather's footsteps.
Reporter Tom Barton can be reached at (515) 284-8065 or tbarton@dmreg.com
Knapp family tree at ISU
- Travis Knapp, senior in public relations, graduates in May 2007 with a bachelor
of arts degree.
- Seaman "Skip" Knapp III, father, graduated in 1997 with a master's degree from
Iowa State.
- Seaman Arthur Knapp Jr., grandfather.
- Seaman Arthur Knapp Sr., great-grandfather
- Herman Knapp, great-great-grandfather.
- Albert Storms, great-great-grandfather, ISU president 1903-10.
- Seaman Asahel Knapp, great-great-great-grandfather, ISU president 1883-84.
Graduations
The following are some of the graduation ceremonies planned by Iowa’s colleges
and universities:
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, Ames — 1:30 p.m. today at Hilton Coliseum.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA, Cedar Falls — 10 a.m. today at UNI-Dome
(Colleges of Business Administration and Education, and Division of Continuing
Education and Special Programs); 2:30 p.m. today at UNI-Dome (Colleges of
Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Social and Behavioral
Sciences).
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, Iowa City — 9 a.m. May 12 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
(liberal arts and sciences); 9 a.m. May 12 at Hancher Auditorium (Tippie College
of Business). Other college ceremonies are planned.
CENTRAL COLLEGE, Pella — 2 p.m. May 13 at Kuyper Fieldhouse.
DRAKE UNIVERSITY, Des Moines — 10 a.m. May 12 at Drake’s Knapp Center.
SIMPSON COLLEGE, Indianola — 10 a.m. May 19 at Cowles Athletic Center.
GRINNELL COLLEGE, Grinnell — 10 a.m. May 21 at Central Campus.