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Honored Alumni Awards

Recognizing Distinction in Alumni Success and Service

Saturday March 29, 2025

6:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. Ceremony

Rocky Mountain Grand Ballroom
University Center
2101 10th Avenue, Greeley, CO

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UNC alumni are recognized leaders in their careers and communities. The Honored Alumni Award is presented annually to UNC graduates in recognition for career success and a commitment of service to the university and community. The award is the highest honor presented to a UNC graduate by the Alumni Association. 

Meet the Honorees

Each year, the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) celebrates the extraordinary achievements of its alumni through the Honored Alumni Awards, recognizing individuals whose lives and work embody the university’s values. The 2025 honorees reflect a commitment to personal growth, inclusive leadership, innovation, and strengthening connections—principles at the heart of UNC’s vision for the future.

2025 Honorees

David Diggs, MA '84
Maria Nomie Ketterling, MA '85
Trustee Annette Martinez, '86
Jeff Crabtree, '05
Deana Lemos-Garcia, '05, MA '18
Neal Kingman '10

The 2025 Honored Alumni honorees embody UNC’s enduring values and its vision for a future grounded in innovation, inclusivity and service. Across diverse fields—from corporate leadership and academia to small business ownership and philanthropy—these individuals reflect a shared commitment to using their talents to make a meaningful impact.

Trustee Annette Martinez, ’86, dedicated her career to advancing opportunities for others, paving the way for equity in corporate spaces. David Diggs, MA ’84, championed experiential learning, equipping generations of students to thrive in their professions. Maria Nomie Ketterling, MA ’85, and Deana Lemos-Garcia, ’05, MA ’18, have each made their mark by reinvesting in their communities, supporting students and families through leadership, advocacy, and generosity. Meanwhile, Jeff Crabtree, ’05, and Neal Kingman, ’10, have channeled their entrepreneurial and civic spirits into strengthening Northern Colorado’s business and financial landscapes.

Together, these honorees exemplify UNC’s mission to inspire and empower. Their stories remind us of the power of education to transform not just individual lives but entire communities. Each honoree demonstrates that by living with purpose and vision, we can create lasting change, inspire those around us, and pave the way for future generations. Their contributions challenge us to aim higher, dream bigger, and stay deeply connected to the values that unite us as the UNC Bear community.

Read the announcement

Past Honorees

Since 1947 the University of Northern Colorado has honored outstanding alumni and friends whose service and achievements embody the University's tradition of excellence. When the University of Northern Colorado Alumni Association was established in 1965, the annual awards program was adopted by the Association and continued as a university tradition. Each year the UNC Alumni Association recognizes some of our most distinguished alumni and friends with Honored Alumni awards. See past honorees below.

1960s

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1950s

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 1940s

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2010s 

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2000s

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1990s

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1980s

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 1970s

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1960s

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1950s

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 1940s

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2010s 

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2000s

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Centennial Hall of Fame

In honor of UNC's centennial year, 100 individuals were inducted into UNC's Centennial Hall of Fame in 1989. These alumni were chosen to serve as an example of "the impact this university has had on our society for the past century." View the full event brochure, complete with individual honoree biographies.

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