We're excited to announce alumna Sandy Stevens as our 2018 Homecoming Grand Marshal!

Sandy Phillips Stevens was born and reared in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she married her high school sweetheart, Bob “Bear” Stevens. She attended the University of Iowa for two years but -- after seeing the light -- transferred to UNI, graduating in 1962 with a B.A. in English education (with a journalism emphasis) and a speech minor. 

She taught journalism and/or English classes at Waterloo East, Cedar Rapids Washington (her alma mater), Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Pleasant Valley high schools before moving to Illinois when Bear accepted a superintendency in the Chicago suburbs. A journalist and community ambassador for daily newspapers in the Chicago suburbs, Sandy now serves as a free-lance columnist and feature writer for a national publication. For more than four decades, her avocation has been announcing amateur wrestling tournaments, including the Olympic Games, multiple world championships at all age levels and college and high school championships. 

Sandy's involvement with UNI is extensive and generous. She currently serves on the UNI Foundation Board of Trustees and is a past chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She initiated the Pledges for Pins program, which raises funds for the UNI wrestling program and has also established scholarships in the fields of English education, science education and wrestling. The West Gym renovation was successful because of Sandy's generosity, and we have her to thank for helping make it a "home" for UNI wresting’s past, present and future. Sandy’s name is on the UNI wrestling coaching position as a result of an endowment she established. She is also a member of the UNI Athletic Hall of Fame.