Honored Alumni and Students
NIACC Alumni and Student Leadership Awards
(Pathways to Success Program)
Every April, top students of North Iowa Area Community College are recognized for their scholarship, leadership and character during the NIACC Alumni Association’s Annual Pathways to Success. An accomplished graduate of the College is invited back each year to share his or her “Pathway to Success” with the honored students and general audience. The speaker receives the NIACC Outstanding Alumni Award for that year. NIACC Distinguished Alumni Awards are also presented during the event. The Pathways to Success is sponsored annually by the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors, Sue and Tony Coloff ’62 and NIACC Student Government.
Below you will find information about those who have been recognized as part of the Pathways to Success Program. (It is current at the time they were recognized.) Congratulations to all of our honorees!
| 2024 | Outstanding Alumnus: Lori J. Ryerkerk – Class of 1981 Distinguished Alumna: Beth Bilyeu – Class of 1989 Honored Students – 2024 |
2023 | Outstanding Alumnus: James T. Johnson – Class of 1962 Distinguished Alumna: Mary Steiger Wendt – Class of 1976 Honored Students – 2023 |
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| 2022 | Outstanding Alumna: Linda Upmeyer – Class of 1988 Distinguished Alumnus: Terry DeBoer – Class of 1982 Honored Students – 2022 |
2021 | Outstanding Alumna: Dr. Jodi Cahalan – Class of 1987 Honored Students – 2021 |
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| 2020 | Honored Students – 2020 | 2019 | Outstanding Alumnus: Kevin Pals – Class of 1999 Distinguished Alumnus: Scott Bertelsen – Class of 1979 Honored Students – 2019 |
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| 2018 | Outstanding Aluma: Didi N. Zahariades- Class of 1999 Distinguished Alumnus: Stephen A. Minert- Class of 1999 Honored Students – 2018 |
2017 | Outstanding Alumnus: Gavin Sandvig – Class of 1995 Honored Students – 2017 |
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| 2016 | Outstanding Alumnus: Scott Lynch – Class of 1982 Honored Students – 2016 |
2015 | Outstanding Alumna: Dr. Anne Sullivan – Class of 1985 Honored Students – 2015 |
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| 2014 | Outstanding Alumnus: Bobby Grizzard – Class of 1980 Honored Students – 2014 |
2013 | Outstanding Alumnus: Karel (Kew) Murray – Class of 1975 Honored Students – 2013 |
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| 2012 | Outstanding Alumnus: Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik – Class of 1973 Distinguished Alumnus: Terry Wisner – Class of 1980 Honored Students – 2012 |
2011 | Outstanding Alumnus: Bill Burge – Class of 1964 Distinguished Alumna: Mariestelle (Miller) Brown – Class of 1947 Honored Students – 2011 |
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| 2010 | Outstanding Alumnus: Senator William Dotzler, Jr. – Class of 1969 Distinguished Alumna: Dianne L. Dethmers Paca – Class of 1960 Honored Students – 2010 |
2009 | Outstanding Alumna: Norma Cook Everist – Class of 1958 Honored Students – 2009 |
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| 2008 | Outstanding Alumnus: Adam Bleakney – Class of 1997 Distinguished Aluma: Donna (Dady) DePrenger – Class of 1967 & 1969 Honored Students – 2008 |
2007 | Outstanding Alumna: Mary Stibal – Class of 1969 Distinguished Alumni: Phyllis (Zemanek) Murphy – Class of 1950 Meredith Saunders – Class of 1949 Honored Students – 2007 |
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| 2006 | Outstanding Alumnus: Daniel Latham – Class of 1972 Distinguished Alumni: Jim Brown – Class of 1939 Helen (Stoecker) Brown – Class of 1940 Edward Hanes – Class of 1952 Honored Students – 2006 |
2005 | Outstanding Alumnus: Robert Keith – Class of 1960 Distinguished Alumni: Ralph W.E. Decker – Class of 1954 Helen (Ferrier) Ristau – Class of 1940 Honored Students – 2005 |
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| 2004 | Outstanding Alumnus: Dan Copeland – Class of 1981 Distinguished Alumni: Jerry Hoffman – Class of 1967 Linda (Paulsen) Nerdig – Class of 1982 Honored Students – 2004 |
2003 | Outstanding Alumnus: Dave Johnson – Class of 1976 Distinguished Alumnus: Dr. Allen Blume – Class of 1970 Kary Paulson – Class of 1967 Honored Students – 2003 |
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| 2002 | Outstanding Alumna: Ann Madden Rice – Class of 1977 Distinguished Alumni: Dr. Darrell Fisher – Class of 1955 Bill Stoyles – Class of 1959 Honored Students – 2002 |
2001 | Outstanding Alumnus: Dan Thomas – Class of 1979 Distinguished Alumnus: Michael Grandon – Class of 1964 Joel Hanes – Class of 1949 Honored Students – 2001 |
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| 2000 | Outstanding Alumnus: Bill Swift – Class of 1963 Distinguished Alumnus: Dick Carter John Hitzhusen – Class of 1934 Honored Students – 2000 |
1999 | Outstanding Alumna: Melinda (Nelson) Masson – Class of 1972 Distinguished Alumni: H.E. “Speed” Ahlman Richard Dean – Class of 1947 Art Fischbeck – Class of 1939 Honored Students – 1999 |
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| 1998 | Outstanding Alumnus: Donovan Haxton, Jr. – Class of 1961 Distinguished Alumni: Bill Gasperi – Class of 1961 Gwen (Hall) Gasperi – Class of 1965 Honored Students – 1998 |
1997 | Outstanding Alumnus: Doug Opheim – Class of 1978 Distinguished Alumna: Roberta (Crossman) Van De Walker – Class of 1957 Honored Students – 1997 |
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| 1996 | Outstanding Alumna: Paula (Novis) Statman – Class of 1973 Distinguished Alumna: Edna (Juel) Klaassen – Class of 1950 Honored Students – 1996 |
1995 | Outstanding Alumna: Gerri Fiala – Class of 1967 Honored Students – 1995 |
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| 1994 | Outstanding Alumnus: Glen Haydon – Class of 1954 Honored Students – 1994 |
1993 | Outstanding Alumnus: Jerry Currie – Class of 1965 Honored Students – 1993 |
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| 1992 | Outstanding Alumnus: John Pappajohn – Class of 1948 Honored Students – 1992 |
1991 | Outstanding Alumnus: Marvin Goldstein – Class of 1963 |