Alumni News

麻豆传媒 Alumnae and Community Leaders Earn Top Honors in 2025 Awards

August 11, 2025 鈥� Meet the women leading with vision, purpose, and commitment across industries and communities.

Nine headshots of award-winning alumnae and community members

A Look Back at 麻豆传媒 Homecoming Parades

August 11, 2025 鈥� For decades, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Homecoming parade was a signature part of fall in Greeley - a small-town tradition with big Bear pride. And in 2025, the Homecoming parade is back!

麻豆传媒 School of Music in the Homecoming Parade, 1980s

鈥業n It for the Long Haul,鈥� Alumna and District 6 Educator Wins Presidential Teaching Award

February 10, 2025 鈥� Sidney Cerise, '13, is one of only 336 educators nationwide to receive the honor as a part of this cohort

Sidney Cerise in the classroom with her students

麻豆传媒's 2025 Honored Alumni Awardees and Celebration

January 14, 2025 鈥� We are excited to share the stories of six 麻豆传媒 alumni who share their love of the university and community through service, commitment and generosity. Join us to celebrate these alumni on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in the Rocky Mountain Grand Ballroom at the University Center.

Athletic Training Program Evolves to Meet Market Demand

October 8, 2024 鈥� 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Athletic Training program has been revered for decades, and while the program itself has changed, its reputation hasn鈥檛 faltered. The field of athletic training has advanced in recent years, and so has 麻豆传媒鈥檚 program.

Aimee Miyazawa smiles at a volleyball player after successfully wrapping her injured ankle.

Honored Alumni Nominations Open: Help Us Recognize Outstanding Alumni

October 7, 2024 鈥� Honored Alumni award nominations are open through November 1! Who do you know in your Bear Network who is engaged in the 麻豆传媒 community and inspires others to pursue great things?

The Bear award Honored Alumni recipients receive

Happy Homecoming, Bears!

September 10, 2024 鈥� Celebrate Homecoming by joining your fellow Bears for the exciting events happening across campus September 23-29.

Students showing their Bear Pride at the Homecoming football game.

麻豆传媒 Alum and Entrepreneur, Ely Corliss, 鈥�12, Reflects on His Success

August 13, 2024 鈥� Ely Corliss, 鈥�12, came to 麻豆传媒 ready to pursue his degree in Communication Studies and play shows with his band. More than a decade later, and Corliss is the owner of many of downtown Greeley鈥檚 hot spots like the Moxi Theater, Luna鈥檚 Tacos & Tequila and Stella鈥檚 Pinball Arcade & Lounge.

Ely Corliss behind friends at Friday Fest.

How Hannah Rueter, '23, Followed In Her Dad鈥檚 Footsteps

August 13, 2024 鈥� Hannah Rueter, 鈥�23, is a legacy Bear, with both her parents graduating from 麻豆传媒, she had a 麻豆传媒 connection long before enrolling. Once on campus and looking for a job, she found herself applying to work in the same department her dad, Wade Rueter, 鈥�96, worked in when he was on campus.

Hannah Rueter and her parents, Wade and Sharon, at 麻豆传媒 Day at the Rockies.

With Endings Come New Beginnings: Phill, 鈥�07 and Stacey, 鈥�07 Sjoberg

August 13, 2024 鈥� Greeley local Phill Sjoberg, 鈥�07, attended school on 麻豆传媒鈥檚 campus from kindergarten through college graduation, and before him, his father attended University High School too. For the Sjobergs, 麻豆传媒鈥檚 campus has been a place for betterment and education for generations, and it鈥檚 even the meeting place for Phill and his wife, Stacey Sjoberg, 鈥�07.

Rendering of the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Building Greeley's Future: Alumna Kelli Johnson's Journey to Assistant City Manager

July 8, 2024 鈥� Colorado local Kelli Johnson, 鈥�01, has spent time in and around Greeley since she was a child.Now, as the assistant city manager for the city of Greeley, Johnson has a vested interest in Greeley鈥檚 future, and has the ability to affect change.

Looking down on downtown Greeley at sunset.

Such Great Heights: 麻豆传媒 Alumni Working in Aviation

June 10, 2024 鈥� The sky鈥檚 the limit when it comes to where a 麻豆传媒 education can take you, just ask Heath Montgomery, 鈥�05, and Leah Schultz, 鈥�17.

Heath Montgomery, '05, smiles in front of an aircraft.

Heavy Lift: Alumna Eager to Compete at the Olympics in Weightlifting

June 3, 2024 鈥� Jourdan Delacruz, '23, earned one of just three highly sought after women鈥檚 weightlifting spots on Team USA to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Jourdan Delacruz lifting a ton of weight over her head

Building a Bear Legacy: The Antuna Family

May 9, 2024 鈥� The success that first-generation alumni Kevin, 鈥�95, and Amy, 鈥�96, Antuna found after graduation served as inspiration, creating a clear path for the next generation of Antunas to follow in their footsteps.

Alumna and Professor Seeks to Represent All Identities While Teaching U.S. History

March 8, 2024 鈥� A double Bear with years of experience teaching on 麻豆传媒鈥檚 campus, Kelly Langley Cook, 鈥�20, M.A. 鈥�18, devotes herself to teaching the lesser-known parts of United States history.

No More Weighting

February 22, 2024 鈥� Alumna and professional weightlifter pursues her second Olympic games

Jourdan Delacruz standing with her arm up waving

Former Student Body President Finds New Way to Support Her Peers

February 9, 2024 鈥� As a student, Teresa Castro, 鈥�21, represented students through her work with student government and organizations. Now, she has returned to 麻豆传媒 to represent both students and alumni as assistant director of Alumni Relations.

Teresa Castro smiles while standing in her office building.

Greeley Educator, Alumnus, Honored with National Educator Award for Excellence

December 19, 2023 鈥� This year, the sole winner of the Milken Award, known as the "Oscars for Teaching," from Colorado was Greeley native and University of Northern Colorado alumnus Caleb Flores.

Caleb Flores throwing his hands up in celebration

Alumna Named Colorado Teacher of the Year

November 14, 2023 鈥� Jessica May will spend the next year serving as an ambassador of sorts for the state鈥檚 teachers and will join the education commissioner鈥檚 Teacher Cabinet, a state advisory panel of educators, according to the education nonprofit Chalkbeat Colorado.

Jessica May smiling at the camera standing in front of a brick wall

Historic Homecoming: The Celebration of a Century

October 9, 2023 鈥� The University of Northern Colorado is commemorating a major milestone this year, celebrating a century of traditions, competitions, community, laughter and coming home.

Clipping of old newspaper on a blue background with the words Welcome Back Alumni.

Nubia Martinez-Caro 鈥�04 Shares Insight from Her 20 Years Working in Wealth Management on Upcoming Career Panel

September 11, 2023 鈥� When first embarking on a college career, most students will wonder if they will belong and how they will make friends on their college campus. That鈥檚 what happened when Nubia Martinez-Caro '04 came to the University of Northern Colorado (麻豆传媒).

shot of a woman from behind, presenting to a crowd of people

Local Band Kicks Off Their 10th Anniversary with Performance at 麻豆传媒

July 12, 2023 鈥� The Burroughs kick off their 10th anniversary at Concerts Under the Stars鈥揟ambi茅n en espa帽ol

The band The Burroughs playing at the Concert Under the Starts on summer 2022

Alumna Pioneered Softball at 麻豆传媒, Followed by a Career at the Rockies

July 7, 2023 鈥� Sarai Atchison 鈥�19 has always had a passion for sports, but in college she took a more active role creating opportunities to play for herself and her classmates.

Sarai Atchison standing in the stands of an empty Colorado Rockies stadium

Generous Alumni Share Their Passion of Humanities with 麻豆传媒

April 10, 2023 鈥� When Lindsey (鈥�10,鈥�14) and Casey (鈥�10) Goodman stepped onto the University of Northern Colorado鈥檚 campus in Greeley in 2006, they both felt an immediate connection to the school. Lindsey, hailing from Palisade, Colorado, knew she wanted to teach, and Casey, also from Colorado, wanted to study political science.

Lindsey and Casey Goodman standing next to each other, smiling

麻豆传媒 Recognizes 2023 Honored Alumni

March 26, 2023 鈥� On March 25, the University of Northern Colorado Alumni Association hosted its 2023 Honored Alumni Awards. The award, in its 76th year, is presented annually to five 麻豆传媒 graduates in recognition for career success and a commitment of service to the university.

President Feinstein and the five 2023 Honored Alumni holding their awards

麻豆传媒 alumna to unveil 鈥淐entro de Educaci贸n Aztl谩n鈥� at Michener Library

February 9, 2023 鈥� Alumna and mural artist Brenda Vargas 鈥�22 is unveiling a meaningful mural to help strengthen the academic identity of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Hispanic population. 鈥揟ambi茅n en espa帽ol.

Alumni Brenda Vargas sitting on a ladder with a paintbrush in front of her mural

Back to the Future at 麻豆传媒

August 9, 2022 鈥� Next week, it may feel a little like d茅j脿 vu as Striesand Sampaga '02,'04 returns to campus to help move her daughter, Shae Lefcourt, into her residence hall at 麻豆传媒. Students will be moving in on Aug. 17, with classes beginning on Aug. 22.

Adding Color to the Greeley Stampede

June 14, 2022 鈥� The Greeley Stampede, which started in 1922, has always brought color and energy to the local community, so it鈥檚 fitting that as it celebrates 100 years, it does so with even more color greeting spectators. And two 麻豆传媒 alumni were chosen to paint the new murals.

Giving Back to 麻豆传媒 Education Students

April 11, 2022 鈥� Last month, the College of Education and Behavioral Science welcomed one of their distinguished alumni back to campus for a special keynote presentation. Stephanie Klixbull graduated from 麻豆传媒 in 2013 with a degree in Elementary Education and an emphasis in Music Education and Special Education.

麻豆传媒 Recognizes 2022 Honored Alumni

March 28, 2022 鈥� On March 26, the University of Northern Colorado Alumni Association hosted its 2022 Honored Alumni Awards. The award, in its 75th year, is presented annually to five 麻豆传媒 graduates in recognition for career success and a commitment of service to the university.

A Year of Generous Support

January 11, 2022 鈥� Over the past year, 麻豆传媒 alumni and friends gave generously in many ways, supporting student success with scholarships, new and upgraded facilities, state-of-the-art musical instruments, and diversity, equity and inclusion training and support.

Alumni Join 麻豆传媒 Combined Chorus at GPO

November 8, 2021 鈥� Most years, the 麻豆传媒 Combined Chorus gives 麻豆传媒 choral students an opportunity to perform at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO). That tradition has been on hold due to the pandemic, but this year it鈥檚 coming back with a heartfelt flourish.

Galen Darrough conducting at the Colorado State Capitol

Alumni Business Owners Welcome Students Back

July 13, 2021 鈥� This fall, as students return to campus and take time to explore Greeley, they鈥檒l know they鈥檙e in Bear country just driving into town. The university community and Greeley business owners are ready to welcome them back with lots of Blue and Gold, and a flurry of signs that say, 鈥淭his is Bear Country.鈥�

46th Annual Accounting Golf Tournament Supports Student Scholarships

July 12, 2021 鈥� For more than 46 years, 麻豆传媒 alumni have teed up to support scholarships for 麻豆传媒 Accounting students in the annual Accounting Golf Tournament. This year, 19 teams and 76 players met at the Meridian Golf Club in Denver on June 14 and added nearly $9,000 to scholarship funds for accounting students.

Bears Gave Back

May 10, 2021 鈥� On April 14, through 麻豆传媒鈥檚鈥淏ears Give Back鈥� day of giving, more than 600 alumni, friends, parents, faculty and staff did just that, supporting more than 80 funds across campus with more than $116,000 in contributions.

University of Northern Colorado Breaks Ground on New Empower Center for Athletics

April 28, 2021 鈥� This spring, 麻豆传媒 is breaking ground on the new Empower Center, a $4 million, entirely donor-funded sports performance building. Thanks to these donors, including lead investors John 鈥�84 and Angela 鈥�89 Schmidt, 麻豆传媒 Athletics will continue their momentum in Division I with this world-class strength and training facility.

Empower Center groundbreaking ceremony with shovels

13th Women鈥檚 Walk Supports 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Female Athletes

April 12, 2021 鈥� Walking the annual Women鈥檚 Walk to support scholarships and the greatest needs of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 female student-athletes has been a tradition for the 麻豆传媒 community for more than a decade. After a fully virtual walk last year, supporters this year will have the option of walking the approximately 1.25-mile course in the on-campus event or stepping out into their communities to support female student-athletes virtually.

麻豆传媒 Designated as All-Steinway School Thanks to Donor Funds

March 29, 2021 鈥� The University of Northern Colorado College of Performing and Visual Arts received a total of 96 new Steinway & Sons pianos, with most of them arriving in December of 2018, sealing the School of Music鈥檚 All-Steinway School status.

麻豆传媒 is an All-Steinway School piano graphic

$5 Million Donation to the Stryker Institute for Leadership Development Helps Women Succeed at 麻豆传媒

December 17, 2020 鈥� The Stryker Institute for Leadership Development at 麻豆传媒, a participation-based scholarship program that serves women from underrepresented groups, such as transgender women and women of color, has received a $5 million donation to support the program over the next five years.

2020-21 cohort of students in Stryker via Zoom

Speech-Language Pathology Programs Receive Support from Local Organizations During Pandemic

October 26, 2020 鈥� The COVID-19 pandemic didn鈥檛 slow down programs offered through 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program that assists underserved populations in Weld County, thanks to grants and support provided by local community organizations.

Murza with her kids and the bags she compiled together for the programs

Audiology Alumna Shared Case Studies to Deepen 麻豆传媒 Graduate Student Learning During COVID-19 Closures

June 24, 2020 鈥� Hands-on learning is vital for students in the 麻豆传媒's Audiology program, but COVID-19 has disrupted such learning environments. However, an Audiology alumna stepped up to share case studies for graduate students in Audiology at 麻豆传媒.

Pivoting to Fulfill Needs: Inside a Weld Manufacturing Plant

May 8, 2020 鈥� Packaging medical supplies has become the priority for 麻豆传媒 graduate and Mountain States Plastics owner Scot Gagnon as supplier鈥檚 race to meet healthcare demands. Gagnon and his global company in Johnstown routinely manufacture customized protective bags for the medical industry, but they are 鈥渟wamped up to their eyeballs鈥� as they package a steady stream of face shield bags and plastic sheeting for hospital gowns.

麻豆传媒 Education Students, Alumni Step Up in New Environment

April 10, 2020 鈥� In addition to changes made at 麻豆传媒 to better support Bears going through the switch to online classes, 麻豆传媒 students and alumni in the teaching field are taking diverse approaches to supporting families in the switch to online learning for their children in preschool through high school.

The Story of 麻豆传媒's First African American Graduate

January 29, 2020 鈥� Lucile Buchanan enrolled in a two-year teacher certification program at the now University of Northern Colorado in 1903 and was the only African American student in her 1905 graduating class and the first African-American student to earn a teaching degree at 麻豆传媒. Learn more about her story.

Lucile Buchanan with her graduating class at 麻豆传媒

Mentors Who Make a Difference

December 3, 2019 鈥� Like many 麻豆传媒 students, Zaya Thompson 鈥�14 landed her dream job with the help of an internship. Now a Certified Financial Planner with Millennium Financial, she鈥檚 paying it forward and helping other Bears gain valuable experience.

A Taste of the Tech World

November 11, 2019 鈥� Ever wonder what it would be like to work for a new-age tech company like Facebook or Google? Get a glimpse from current Google employee Sara Robbins '13.

Reconnect With Your Roots During Homecoming

October 3, 2019 鈥� Once a Bear, Always a Bear 鈥� and there鈥檚 no better time to remember that than Homecoming! Take a walk down memory lane and join us for a number of exciting events around campus October 18-19.

麻豆传媒 Grads Contribute to Growing Greeley Creative Economy

September 9, 2019 鈥� There鈥檚 no question that the creative economy in Colorado is booming. You don鈥檛 have to go far to find concerts, art exhibits, plays or other performances nearly any night of the week. Thanks in large part to an active base of 麻豆传媒 students and graduates, Greeley is no exception.

Becoming A Bear: A Family Affair

August 12, 2019 鈥� Alumnus Rob Thorne 鈥�92 has a special reason to reconnect with campus this fall as his daughter Hannah follows in his footsteps and begins her first semester as a Bear.

From Aims to 麻豆传媒: Non-Traditional Students Share Their Stories of Success

August 12, 2019 鈥� Becoming a Bear was the ultimate goal for both Arizbe Soto-Ramirez 鈥�19 and Menan Bergman 鈥�00, but as non-traditional students the path to 麻豆传媒 was complicated. Lucky for them, Aims Community College was there to help.

Donor Spotlight: How the Haefeli鈥檚 Hope to Inspire the Next Generation of Giving

August 12, 2019 鈥� Active supporters of 麻豆传媒, Greeley-Evans District 6 and number of other community organizations, Delia '90 and John '86 Haefeli believe strongly in the importance of paying it forward.

麻豆传媒鈥檚 First-Ever Comprehensive Campaign Raises $54.2 million

April 15, 2019 鈥� Thanks to the support of more than 10,000 generous donors, the Campaign for 麻豆传媒 surpassed its $45 million goal and raised a total of $54,250,654!

Mariel Gutierrez: Professional Soccer in Her Sights

December 11, 2018 鈥� 麻豆传媒 Coach Tim Barrera describes 麻豆传媒 alumna Mariel Gutierrez as one of the most decorated players in the history of Big Sky Soccer.

Photographing World War II Japanese-American Camps

June 4, 2018 鈥� John Tonai '90 discusses the Granada Relocation Camp, also known as Amache, where thousands of Japanese-Americans were incarcerated from 1942-45, including members of his family.

john tonai photo of his father at Amache

麻豆传媒 Graduate Named Colorado Teacher of the Year

November 2, 2017 鈥� University of Northern Colorado alumna Christina Gillette Randle become the latest graduate to be named Colorado Teacher of the Year.

Christina Randle with teacher of year award

Study: $2.4 Billion Local Income Boost from Northern Colorado Public Colleges and Universities

August 29, 2017 鈥� LOVELAND - The four public colleges and universities in Northern Colorado added $2.4 billion in income to the economy of Larimer and Weld Counties and provided an impressive return on investment in the fiscal year 2015-16, according to the results of a new economic impact study released today at the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance meeting.

infographic showing 2.4 billion dollar impact

Public Health Meets Public Art

July 14, 2017 鈥� Colorado School of Public Health alumna Rachel Freeman, MPH 鈥�14, is making her mark in public health. She is part of a team, which includes alumni artist Armando Silva BA '10, has recently transformed the exterior wall of a vacant building in northern Colorado into a colorful statement of health advocacy.

麻豆传媒 Alumna Cast in Third Broadway Show

June 20, 2017 鈥� Aisha Jackson, a 2013 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado's Musical Theatre program, has been named to the cast of the Broadway production of Frozen

鈥楻aymond鈥檚 Folly鈥� Becomes Billion Dollar Success Story

February 9, 2017 鈥� Raymond Pierson smelled opportunity. It took only a few whiffs during a 麻豆传媒 field trip in 1980 to convince him to act on what would eventually become a study and set the stage for a successful oil and gas development.

2017 Honored Alumni announced

January 19, 2017 鈥� The University of Northern Colorado Alumni Association has announced its 2017 Honored Alumni, continuing a 70-year tradition of the university recognizing the accomplishments of its most distinguished alumni.

Degree in hand, 麻豆传媒 sex trafficking survivor will spend more time helping other victims also become survivors

December 27, 2016 鈥� As she entered her final semester at 麻豆传媒 in late August, Megan Lundstrom didn鈥檛 have much money to spare. She鈥檚 a married mom of three kids, 12, 9 and 1; a scholarship student; and an entrepreneur carefully nurturing a newborn organization.

麻豆传媒