The 2021 Homecoming Awards Show Team is one of Northern Michigan University's 2022 Distinguished Team Award recipients.
This team included Chair Cindy Paavola and team members Robyn Stille, Kylie Bunting, Bridget Kyle, Bill Digneit, Lauren Rotundo, Mike Lakenen, Pat Lakenen, Forest Karr, David Pierce and Lizzie Corser.
This team developed and executed an awards ceremony to recognize both alumni award recipients and sports hall of fame inductees during the 2021 homecoming. Due to the pandemic, two years of honorees were being recognized—2020 and 2021—and it was the first time two events were combined and presented in an awards show format.
“Several departments were involved in the process of creating this ceremony,” stated the nomination. “This type of collaboration also lends itself to NMU's core value of community, where new partnerships were formed on campus to help each other succeed and honor our former students who exemplify the Northern experience.”
Athletics and Alumni Relations joined forces to recognize alumni accomplishments. NMU Theater and Dance provided the event with lighting, music, presentations and voiceovers. University Marketing and Communications created promotional materials, the programs and the presentations for the event. NMU audio visual was able to livestream the event and assist where technology was needed.
Normally the separate award shows—athletics and alumni awards—were invite-only, however, this event was live streamed so more of the NMU community could witness and celebrate the accomplishments of their peers.