Being a Forever Family may mean having a long family history of alumni or it may mean a new connection to the University. Either way, one thing remains the same: an endless support for all things Purple and Gold and living out this commitment on a daily basis. 

Info from submission: Since I can remember, I’ve witnessed UNI Spirit through my parents. I’ve heard their story a billion times, but it doesn’t get old. Chet’s buddy lived down the hall from Heidi in Noehren, and Chet and Heidi were introduced. Pretty soon they were studying in Maucker together and ended college in Married Student Housing on E Street. No wonder my sisters and I all have names that start with an E.

After college, Chet and Heidi remained in the Cedar Falls area and have lived here for the past 20 years. As my sisters and I grew up, my parents’ commitment to staying involved with UNI provided us entertainment. I remember visiting the Alumni House, picnicking on campus, swimming at the WRC, begging to go to the Bookstore, and attending the homecoming parade every year we could. At every UNI event we attended, my sisters and I could be found holding our purple and gold pom poms. Now, I get to hold real pom poms and be a part of the homecoming parade as a member of the UNI Dance Team! I can’t wait to pass my family at the parade and see my 8 year old sister Evie waving my old pom poms. My parents can’t hide their excitement to head to campus for their first homecoming and soon family weekend as Panther parents. Off campus, my parents rock their purple and gold, thank their favorite professor from the College of Business as they do their taxes, order Godfathers pizza nearly bi-weekly to reminisce on their Maucker study dates, and put UNI games on the TV. I think I got some of my dance team cheering skills from my dad, because I can hear his voice after the Panthers score right now yelling “GO CATS!” My mom always knew UNI would be the right fit for me, and when I expressed that I wanted to continue my education here, she was overjoyed to help me through the application process. At orientation, my mom won a trivia competition and my dad gobbled down a glorious buffet lunch, just as he remembered, from Piazza. The love my parents show for UNI, at orientation and every day, spurred even more excitement as I entered freshman year. My parents never miss an opportunity to show their Panther Spirit. They are well deserving of the honor of recognition as an amazing Forever Family.