Alumni Awards

Every year the Alumni Association recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni. Recipients are selected based on outstanding professional and personal successes, as well as involvement in civic, cultural, or charitable activities.

Distinguished Alumni Award

The most prestigious award given by the NIU Alumni Association, the Distinguished Alumni Award is given to a member of NIU’s alumni body, regardless of the college they graduated from, who has achieved outstanding success or recognition. The selection committee particularly looks for individuals who have achieved national, regional, or statewide prominence either in their professional fields or through their involvement in civic, cultural, or charitable activities.

F.R. Geigle Service Award

This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to the best interests of Northern Illinois University. This service may have been given in the classroom, in other university activities, or in the wider community. This award may be given to non-alumni of NIU.

Outstanding College Alumni Awards

Outstanding College Alumni Awards are presented to graduates of each of the university’s seven colleges, highlighting the diverse disciplines of a comprehensive university. The criteria for the award includes outstanding professional accomplishments. The selection committee also looks for evidence of civic, cultural, and charitable involvement.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

This award is given to an alumnus or alumna, regardless of college affiliation, who has received his or her undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University within the past 10 years and has shown outstanding promise and success in their professional career.

Alumni Award recipients are invited to return to campus before the awards presentation to participate with their college or major department in the classroom or in other ways as a mentor/role model for current students.

Nomination Procedure

The NIU Alumni Association Awards Program is an outstanding opportunity to showcase our exceptional alumni, but we need your help in identifying graduates who deserve this honor.

The criteria for Alumni Awards is simply stated: outstanding accomplishment in one’s chosen career field.

Nominators are asked to provide a letter of recommendation describing the individual’s outstanding characteristics, along with the nominee’s biographical sketch or a current resume. They may also nominate more than one person for each award.

Celebrating Excellence

Celebrating Excellence highlights the accomplishments and contributions of NIU students, faculty and staff to the university’s mission of promoting excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, creativity and artistry, and outreach and service during the academic year. For more information, visit www.niu.edu/excellence.

Alumni Awards

View our Award Recipients