Heritage Honours
Each year the Alumni Association honors graduates in four categories - Achievement, Service, Young Alumni, and Honorary Alumnus. These awards honor professional accomplishments and service to the university. The presentation takes place on campus each fall.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the Alumni Achievement, Alumni Service, and Young Alumni awards, nominees must be graduates of the University of Northern Iowa. Friends are eligible to be nominated for the Honorary Alumnus Award.
Alumni Achievement Award
The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes the significant professional accomplishments of UNI graduates.
Alumni Service Award
The Alumni Service Award recognizes those graduates who have shown long and continuous service to the university and their community.
Young Alumni Award
The Young Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated success early in their career (age 40 and under) and who has been active in the life of the university.
Honorary Alumnus Award
The Honorary Alumnus Award is presented to a friend of the university in recognition of their exceptional support of the University of Northern Iowa.
2025 Heritage Honours Award Recipients
View the archive to see all previous award winners and the philanthropy awards presented by the UNI Foundation.
David Johnson, ʼ15
Young Alumni Award
Lisa Bluder, ʼ83
Alumni Achievement Award
Jerry & Karen, ʼ87 Ripperger
Alumni Service Award
Ron Steele
Honorary Alumni Award
