Award Categories

Anyone can nominate, and some award categories are open to friends, faculty, and staff. The Alumni Board of Directors approves the nominations and awards are presented annually.

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award is a prestigious award honoring alumni who have made significant professional and personal accomplishments that have directly or indirectly brought recognition to Northland College. The award is confined to living alumni, and is not determined by service rendered to the College, but instead achievement in the alumnus’ chosen field. Alumni must have ten years since Northland attendance. No more than two awards will be presented in a given year, but the award does not have to be made each year. This award is restricted to Northland alumni.

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award honors friends, alumni, staff, and faculty for their outstanding professional and/or exceptional service to Northland College. Several awards may be presented in a given year, but the award does not have to be made each year. This award is confined to living alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.

Eternal Flame Award

The Eternal Flame Award is presented in memory of deceased alumni, faculty, or staff who have made outstanding contributions to Northland directly or indirectly through personal or professional accomplishments, which bring recognition to the College. No more than one award will be presented in a given year, but the award does not have to be made each year.

Northland Young Alumni Achievement Award

The Northland College Young Alumni Achievement Award recognizes an alumnus/a who has attained a high level of achievement in his/her chosen profession, demonstrated outstanding service to his/her community, or has made significant contributions to Northland College through service. This award honors alumni who have attained their high level of achievement within ten years of graduating from Northland College, or completing their education. Recipients demonstrate distinction and leadership, as well as service to others. Not more than two awards will be presented in a given year.

Environmental Achievement Award

The Environmental Achievement Award honors the professional and/or volunteer contributions and outstanding achievements by Northland alumni, faculty, and staff in the environmental field. This award includes accomplishments in science, education, law, public policy, etc. No more than four awards will be presented in a given year. Alumni must have ten years since Northland attendance. Current staff and faculty must have ten years or more of service, and former staff and faculty must have five or more years since association with Northland College.

Northern Lights Music and Arts Award

The Northern Lights Music and Arts Award honors alumni, staff, and faculty for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of art and music. This award includes such disciplines as stage performer, radio announcer, sculptor, painter, graphic designer, pianist, dancer, choreographer, conductor, writer, etc. Recognition is confined to living alumni, staff and faculty, and is not determined by service rendered to the College, but achievement in the recipient’s chosen field. No more than four awards will be presented in a given year, but the award does not have to be made each year. Alumni must have ten years since Northland attendance. Current staff and faculty must have ten or more years of service, and former staff and faculty must have five or more years since association with Northland College.

Athletic Hall of Fame

Open to former Northland College athletes.

Honorary Alumni Nomination

While not a true award, occasionally the alumni board of directors confers honorary alumni status upon non-alumni to express appreciation for work they have done on behalf of the College.