Congratulations to our 2025 NMU Alumni Award Recipients
Dr. Peter LaPine '76 MA
Distinguished Alumni Award
East Lansing, Mich.
Dr. Peter R. LaPine, a 1976 graduate of NMU, exemplifies the qualities honored by the Distinguished Alumni Award through a career marked by innovation, international impact, and dedicated service. As a professor emeritus of Communicative Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University for over 40 years, Dr. LaPine pioneered Study Abroad programs in his discipline, introducing students to international models of clinical care at the University of London, and in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales long before such opportunities were common. His work in pediatric and adult voice disorders, laryngeal imaging, and head & cancer prosthetic voice restoration placed him at the forefront of the field, earning international recognition through awards, presentations at prestigious conferences, and visiting professorships in countries including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Mexico, Peru, and the UK.
Beyond academia, Dr. LaPine’s humanitarian contributions are equally distinguished. Beginning in 1999, he led 62 service missions to the Yucatán Peninsula, organizing multidisciplinary teams to provide cleft palate surgical and therapeutic care to underserved children. These missions impacted over 10,500 children and involved hundreds of students and medical professionals from 11 universities around the world, demonstrating transformative societal impact and inspiring future generations of clinicians. His work has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Speech Language Hearing Association and multiple Excellence in Diversity awards and Ralph H. Smuckler Award for Advancing International Studies and Programs award from MSU’s top-ranked International Studies and Programs office, underscoring his leadership and exceptional contributions to his profession and beyond.

Barbara Coleman '77 BS, '81 MS
Alumni Achievement Award
Marquette, Mich.
Barbara Coleman, a two-time graduate of NMU (‘77 BS, ‘81 MS), has demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and community leadership throughout her career in health and wellness. As the first graduate of NMU’s Exercise Science Master’s program, she helped shape the future of health education on campus and in the local community. Together with her mentor, Dr. Phil Watts, Coleman co-founded the long-running GETFIT Adult Fitness Program and was a charter staff member of NMU’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Her leadership helped evolve both programs into respected teaching laboratories, where she supervised undergraduate and graduate students while delivering high-quality health services to the public. She also earned national recognition through her certification as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist by the American College of Sports Medicine and was later awarded the ACSM “Exercise is Medicine” Level 3 certification. Through continued professional development, she maintains those certifications to this day.
In addition to her contributions at NMU, Coleman has made a lasting impact on the Marquette community and beyond through her involvement with many health promotion agencies. She served as a chair of the local American Heart Association Exercise and Stress Committee, an American Red Cross and AHA Basic Life Support Instructor and directed the NMU BLS Training Center until her retirement. She also contributed to public health initiatives as a State of Michigan Osteoporosis Prevention Educator and a Blood-Borne Pathogen Prevention Trainer. She was a member of the Wellness Coalition of the UP and collaborated on many projects with the Marquette County Health Department.
After retirement, she directed her experience and passions to the League of Women Voters, where she serves on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Environmental and Education Committees. Her devotion to the environment led to her serving many years on the Presque Isle Park Advisory Committee. Building on her risk management background, she initiated and leads the Safety Team for two local political action groups.
Together with her husband Bob Chapman and a committed group of community members, she was instrumental in creating the first totally inclusive playground at Mattson Park in Marquette and was given the honor of naming the playground. She is a volunteer caretaker of the garden areas that complement Kids Cove II, A Playground for ALL, the name she chose to honor the earlier playground and to illustrate the inclusivity of the new one.
Her dedication to service, education, health promotion and inclusivity has influenced countless individuals and established her as a regional leader in her field. Coleman’s work reflects the highest standards of professional excellence and community engagement, making her a highly deserving candidate for this honor.

Ian Lewis, J.D. '18 BS, '22 MPA
Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Laurium, Mich.
Ian Lewis, a 2018 and 2022 NMU graduate, has distinguished himself as an exceptional young leader in public administration and community development. As the Village Manager, CFO, and CAO of Laurium, Michigan—roles he assumed by the age of 26—Lewis has spearheaded transformative initiatives that have stabilized the village’s finances and revitalized its infrastructure. In less than two years, he grew the general fund from $16,000 to over $500,000 and secured more than $1.5 million in grant funding for essential municipal projects. Additionally, Lewis led the village’s recovery efforts for an approximate $4.9 million loss after it had lost all of its snow removal equipment and its public works garage due to a devastating village fire in February 2025. His leadership has not only improved public services and safety, but it has also laid the groundwork for Laurium’s long-term growth through strategic planning and development of the village’s first-ever Master Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and Parks and Recreation Plan.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Lewis exemplifies civic responsibility and service to Northern Michigan University. He serves as a mentor for the NMU Rural Leadership Fellowship Program, training future leaders in grant writing and municipal planning. His regional engagement includes leadership roles for the Keweenaw Health Foundation and the Laurium Planning Commission, while also being a member of other organizations such as Team Peninsula and the Keweenaw Young Professionals that look at different ways of improving the Keweenaw. Moreover, his dedication to youth and volunteerism is reflected in his various roles, including local hockey official for the Calumet Hockey Association, lead planner for Laurium's parks and recreation redevelopment efforts, adjunct professor at Gogebic Community College, and guest speaker at Michigan Tech University.
Recognized as the NMU Outstanding Graduate Student in Political Science and a nominee for the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Award, Lewis continues to inspire through his vision, dedication, and service. His leadership has not only revitalized Laurium, but has also set a powerful example of community-driven impact for emerging professionals.


Alumni Awards
The nomination window for the 2025 Alumni Awards is now closed. Any submissions will be considered in 2026.
Alumni Awards are presented annually at Homecoming. They include the Distinguished Alumni Award; Alumni Achievement Award; Outstanding Young Alumni Award and Alumni Service Award.
First presented in 1964, the NMU Alumni Awards celebrate the personal and professional achievements of NMU alumni who distinguish themselves through exceptional contributions to their profession, community, and society.
Do you know someone who should be nominated? The nomination process is quick and easy. Nominations can be submitted year-round by friends, family, faculty, and staff through the online nomination process. Nominations received by December 31 are considered for recognition the following year.
Questions? Get in touch with us.
