The Northland College Alumni Association will honor Gary and Kay LaPean and Joe Rose Sr. at the annual Alumni Awards Banquet for their distinguished service and contributions to Northland College.
The Alumni Awards Banquet will be held during the second annual Northland College Fall Festival at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Gary and Kay LaPean will receive the Distinguished Service Award, which honors friends, alumni, staff, and faculty for their outstanding professional and exceptional service to Northland College, said Alumni Director Jackie Moore.
Gary LaPean is a former College trustee and an active volunteer in the annual Golf Classic. Kay LaPean is co-chair of the President’s Club and has been an active supporter of Northland events including the Golf Classic and President’s Club dinner.
“Gary and Kay LaPean have been longtime friends and supporters of Northland College and have made countless contributions to the College,” Moore said. “We’re excited to recognize them in this public way.”
The Alumni Association is awarding alumnus Joe Rose Sr. the Distinguished Alumni Award that honors alumni who have made significant professional and personal accomplishments that have directly or indirectly brought recognition to Northland College.
Rose graduated from Northland in 1958 and went on to champion the Native American Studies program, the Native American Museum, to advocate for regional environmental causes, and to work tirelessly to educate the community about Ojibwa and other Native cultures.
“Joe’s contributions to Northland are too many to count and too valuable to not be noticed,” Moore said. “Simply put, Northland would not be the same if it wasn’t for his work in this community.”
