Alumni Volunteers Support Student Success

April is National Volunteer Month and the University of Northern Colorado is grateful to the many alumni who volunteered during the 2022-2023 academic year. From committee service, class speakers, to career advisors and employer recruiters, UNC alumni are actively involved in supporting UNC’s students every day.

Thank you for your involvement and service this academic year.

Where Volunteers Live

While many UNC alumni volunteers live in Colorado, you’ll actually find volunteers across the Bear Network. With virtual volunteer opportunities and in-classroom experiences for alumni educators, alumni are making a difference in communities and cities around the country and even internationally.

Admissions

Bear to Bear, UNC’s alumni admissions outreach program entered it’s second year with volunteers from across the U.S. signing up to write personal cards to UNC’s admitted undergraduate students. Bear-to-Bear is a great initial volunteer opportunity. If you are interested in helping connect with admitted students, plan to sign up next fall.

Career Readiness

For nearly ten years, UNC’s Bear Network has focused on recruiting and engaging alumni in support of career readiness. From virtual career panels to representing companies during on campus employment fairs, UNC alumni are helping students put the Bear Network to work.

"Alumni not only serve as the connection between current students and the world of work, but are key players in the personal and professional growth of our current and graduating students. The impact they have as mentors and leaders through things such as panels, mock interviews and job connections cannot be overstated." - Tim Nellett, Director of Career Readiness and Experiential Learning

Classroom Service

With K-12 education being the top industry of employment among UNC alumni, you'll easily find a UNC graduate in classrooms and district offices across the U.S. Thank you to the alumni educators who proudly share their UNC connections as part of our alumni educator program. Alumni educators help promote UNC in between admissions visits, bring students to campus for tours, and represent their district during UNC's K-12 educator fair.

Additionally, you will find UNC alumni in the front of classrooms on campus. Alumni volunteers regularly return to campus as guest speakers enriching UNC's curricular experience.

Events

With UNC events on and off-campus, alumni volunteers are critical support to providing a welcoming experience for all guests. From football tailgates to Commencement ceremonies, alumni event volunteers help bring the Bear Network together.

Scholarships

Committee members serve a two-month term each spring and help to ensure that nearly $90,000 in foundation scholarships are awarded to UNC’s incoming and current students. Awards range from the UNC Alumni License Plate Scholarship to the Gander Scholarship for Bears First students, as well as many scholarships supporting UNC's diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Committee service is a great way for alumni to get involved, support student success, and learn more about the impact of donor philanthropy.

University Leadership

A special thank you to the UNC Alumni Board for their service throughout the year. Alumni Board members serve two year, renewable terms and provide advice and insight from among UNC’s various alumni communities and perspectives.

In addition to the advisory alumni board, alumni volunteers provide critical governance and financial leadership for the University. Thank you to the UNC alumni serving on the UNC Foundation board and on governor-appointed Board of Trustees.

"Thank you to the alumni who generously provide their time and expertise to UNC. Our alumni volunteers remain committed to supporting UNC and ensuring that we maintain a high-quality education focused on the unique success of every student." - Lyndsey Crum '05, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations