Lisa Bluder, Ron Steele among honorees at UNI’s 2025 President’s Distinguished Awards Celebration

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Lisa Bluder ('83), David Johnson ('15) and Ron Steele will be recognized alongside other outstanding alumni and friends of the University of Northern Iowa during the President's Distinguished Awards Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

The annual event honors exceptional alumni, faculty, staff and community members for their professional accomplishments and service. For the first time, as part of the UNI Sesquicentennial Celebration, the event is open to the public and moves to Gallagher Bluedorn.

The evening program will feature the presentation of the President's Philanthropy Awards, Heritage Honours Awards, recognition of past honorees and the 2025 Gold & Bold Award recipients. Attendees will hear from each Distinguished Award recipient and join in a celebratory toast.

The President's Philanthropy Awards are presented each year by the UNI Foundation to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary efforts toward the support and strategic mission of the University of Northern Iowa. The 2025 honorees include:

• Marilyn Bohl ('62) - Purple & Gold Award - retired software developer and industry leader and textbook author
• Bob and Kate Martin - Faculty/Staff Award - retired professor of history and retired associate university librarian & professor
• Karen ('99) and Chris ('01) Yuska - Emerging Philanthropist Award - UNI Wilson College of Business alums and managing partner at Ernst & Young, Des Moines
• Van G. Miller Family Charitable Foundation - Corporation & Foundation Award

The Heritage Honours Awards, presented annually by the UNI Alumni Association, celebrate UNI alumni and one community member for professional excellence and dedicated service as stewards of the university. The 2025 honorees include:

• Lisa Bluder ('83) - Alumni Achievement Award - longtime women's basketball coach
• Jerry ('87) and Karen ('87) Ripperger - Alumni Service Award - active UNI alumni volunteers and supporters
• David Johnson ('15) - Young Alumni Award - NFL Pro Bowl running back for the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints
• Ron Steele - Honorary Alumni Award - longtime new anchor at KWWL-TV

More information is available at foundation.uni.edu/distinguishedawards2025. Members of the public are welcome to attend and are asked to RSVP through the website.

Additional details on UNI's 150th anniversary celebrations can be found at 150.uni.edu.