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After settling back into familiar surroundings, Ortiz had to make some major life changes following a brief period of incarceration. Opportunities for individuals who have been incarcerated and have felony convictions on their records are few and far between. Having a college degree dramatically increases a person’s chance for success, so Ortiz began taking classes at Aims Community College. She earned an associate degree and then transferred to the University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½). Located in the center of town, Â鶹´«Ã½ was an obvious choice for Ortiz when it came to pursuing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Veteran’s Services has long had a presence on the University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½) campus, yet there’s newfound excitement brought to the program with the arrival of a new director. Just this summer, this new director stepped into Roudebush Cottage with purpose. LaChaune DuHart-Wood came to Â鶹´«Ã½ with a drive to provide hands-on care and build a community for the veteran and military-affiliated students on campus.

The time has come to nominate outstanding alumni for the 2024 University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½) Honored Alumni award, the highest honor awarded by the Alumni Association. Presented annually to five graduates, the award recognizes their career success and service to the university. It’s somewhat of a norm for Â鶹´«Ã½ graduates to be leaders in their fields and communities, a testament to their hard work and determination. Within our far-and-wide network of alumni, this award goes to the graduates whose leadership and service inspire their fellow Bears to stay involved and invested in the university.

Every university has its own unique set of traditions and legacies that students will remember when they graduate, but those memories can be different for everyone — a unique combination of the friends, student groups and programs each student associated with that is authentic to their particular experience. This is certainly the case at the University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½) where students who march in the Pride of the Rockies might remember their time on campus differently compared to a student pursuing their doctorate.

As the school year kicks off, faculty and staff are gearing up to support our University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½) students. Faculty and staff support students every day through their roles at Â鶹´«Ã½, but some choose to go above and beyond by donating their time, expertise and funding. A popular method of giving is through payroll deductions, which make it easy to support the various areas in need across campus. At Â鶹´«Ã½, there are seemingly endless causes to support depending on a donor’s passions and aspirations. In recognition of National Workforce Development month, we have taken a deep dive into just a few of the donor-funded causes that Â鶹´«Ã½ faculty and staff support. All are welcome to support these vital scholarships and services (and many alumni employers offer matches for employee donations!).

Â鶹´«Ã½ strives to build an inclusive campus which fosters and nurtures a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment. That includes celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Kicking off on Sept.15, the University of Northern Colorado’s César Chávez Cultural Center is hosting numerous events during the month-long celebration for students, alumni and the Greeley community to get involved with.

From tacos to music and tourism, University of Northern Colorado (Â鶹´«Ã½) alumni have been enriching the Greeley community for decades and helping students get in on the action, too. With more than 200 alumni working in top executive positions as business owners, CEOs, presidents and more throughout the city, the Bear Network continues to reach new heights.

Alumnus Jamar Rahming '06 serves as the Executive Director of the Wilmington Library Institute in Wilmington, D.E. Reflecting on his Â鶹´«Ã½ education, Rahming believes the power of humanities is helping his library build social cohesion in his community.

May 2021 alumna Heather Anderson shares her experience completing a degree at Â鶹´«Ã½ and beginning her next role with Visit Greeley, the Greeley-area tourism board.

The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO) has enthusiastically welcomed Lowell Graham, DMA, a 1970 and 1971 University of Northern Colorado alumnus and Greeley native, as its new music director. Learn more about Graham and get a preview of what’s coming up for the GPO for the 2021-2022 season.