Kimball native earns distinguished young alumni award at Chadron State

Kimball native Dr. Eric Barp and his wife, Jennifer, each received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Chadron State College last weekend.

Dr. Eric Barp is now a foot and ankle surgeon in Johnstown, Iowa.

He received his undergraduate biology degree from CSC in 1997. He assisted Dr. Ron Weedon in the botany lab as a work study student while studying at CSC.

 "Dr Weedon was wonderful. I helped with research and had a lot of opportunities and positive feedback from him and my other instructors. I feel undeserving of this honor. It's a big deal and it's great to be recognized," he said.

Barp is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS) and a Board Certified Podiatric Surgeon with The Iowa Clinic and Chief of Staff for Iowa Methodist Medical Center. He is the first podiatrist to serve as Chief of Staff for one of Des Moines' tertiary medical centers. 

He earned his medical degree from the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center and completed his podiatric surgery residency at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines where he also served as chief resident.

This is not Barp's first alumni award. He was honored as the 2012 alumnus of the year by the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery.

Barp serves on The Iowa Clinic Board of Directors, is an adjunct assistant professor at Des Moines University for the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and is a manuscript reviewer for the trauma section of the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He was also appointed by the Iowa Governor to the State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners and served as both a board member and chair during his 2007-2012 term.

In addition to his work in Iowa, he has presented scientific lectures in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin.

Jennifer (Beach) Barp, a native of Doniphan, earned her bachelor's degree in finance and economics, as well as an accounting minor in 1996. Later, she went on to receive her master's degree in business administration from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

"I was surprised and honored by the award. It makes me feel closer to CSC. I'm excited to come back and introduce our children to the campus," she said.

While a student at CSC, she worked as an accounting tutor and assisted Cliff Hanson in the Small Business Development Center.

"It was good experience to see what people had to do to get their businesses started. Working with Cliff and as a tutor helped me learn how to manage work and school," she said.

She is the worldwide vice president of finance for Kemin Industries, a global company where she is responsible for the financial information and systems. Barp joined the organization in 1998 as a financial accountant. In 2001, she became the finance director of Kemin Agri-Foods North America before moving to her current role in 2004.

Volunteer work is also an important part of her life. She currently serves on the United Way of Central Iowa Board of Directors as a member of its Finance and Audit Committee. She was also recently elected to serve as treasurer for the board of the Sun Vail Homeowners Association. She previously served on the board for the Des Moines "I Have a Dream" Foundation, in the roles of treasurer and president.