Alumni Stories & News

Kurt Warner with microphone

Butter sculpture of Kurt Warner to appear at Iowa State Fair

Kurt Warner will soon have a likeness made in butter alongside the iconic Butter Cow at the Iowa State Fair.
Adam and Darcy Nidey standing in front of a school bus

UNI education alums bring summer adventures to Des Moines students

Even as teachers, UNI alums Darcy and Adam Nidey don't know how to slow down in the summer. Their days are spent running Day Camp Adventures for 400 kids.
Jackson Twait on American Ninja Warrior

From UNI to Ninja U and TV’s “American Ninja Warrior”

Many of the athletes featured on "American Ninja Warrior" have something in common: they train at Ninja U, which is owned and operated by two UNI alums.
samp prophet

Q&A with physics alum Sam Prophet

He is currently a systems engineer at NASA and is working on the Artemis program.
Jason Bradford

Late UNI alum challenges his disability through published poetry

One of the North American Review Press' most recent publications is "Stellaphasia," a collection of poems by late UNI alum Jason Bradford.
Brittni Donaldson with a basketball

UNI alum Brittni Donaldson becomes first female coach in Atlanta Hawks history

UNI women’s basketball alum Brittni Donaldson has been hired as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.
Nick Nurse

UNI alum Nick Nurse named head coach of Philadelphia 76ers

Former UNI men’s basketball guard Nick Nurse was announced as the head coach of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers on June 1, 2023.
Deb Vangellow

UNI alum Deb Vangellow honored by LPGA for giving back to the sport of golf

University of Northern Iowa alum Deb Vangellow has been named the recipient of the 2023 Nancy Lopez Golf Achievement Award.
McKenna Mitchell in Spain

UNI alum will teach in Spain through Fulbright Program

For McKenna Mitchell, putting her UNI TESOL teaching degree to use in Spain is a dream come true. It's a dream made possible by the Fulbright Program.
Students take the new carillon for a test drive

Bells are ringing again in the Campanile!

Just in time for this weekend's commencement ceremonies, the bells at the University of Northern Iowa are ringing again!