Alumni Awards
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Thank you for attendingthe 2024 Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony and Dinner.
Have a remarkable Buff in mind for next year? Submit a nomination now for the 2025 Awards.
Please see below to read about our incredible award winners!
The University of Colorado Alumni Awards represent outstanding individuals who demonstrate leadership, commitment to excellence and devotion to the betterment of society. Read more about award recipients from previous years here.
Read about individual awards and the nomination process here.
2024 Alumni Award Winners
George Norlin Award
Benny Shendo Jr. is one of this year’s highly esteemed recipients of the George Norlin Award, recognizing his dedicated service to diverse communities nationwide. Benny’s rich career spans decades, marked by significant contributions as a New Mexico lawmaker, higher education administrator and tribal leader.
Hailing from Jemez Pueblo, a remote village in north-central New Mexico, Benny graduated from CU with a degree in Organization Management. After graduation, he devoted his career to public service in various leadership, business development and community development roles. He has served as an educator, lieutenant governor, New Mexico state secretary, entrepreneur and community activist. As the current representative of Senate District 22, Benny's commitment to “doing the right thing” and his deep respect for others have allowed him to build prosperous relationships across diverse demographics.
Throughout his career, Benny has shown an exceptional ability to address pressing issues affecting all New Mexicans. His extensive experience at local, state, national and international levels has brought transformative changes to the communities and Tribal Nations he represents. Benny's approach has always prioritized community building, ensuring that public needs are met through collaborative and inclusive efforts.
Benny has served on numerous boards, including the CU Advisory Committee for the Center for Native American Indigenous Studies and the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators. He was elected chairman of the board of the First Nations Development Institute in 2016 and has received numerous honors and awards, including the Mary G. Ross award by the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, the Kellogg National Leadership Fellowshipand the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development's Public Advocate Award.
Now, as associate vice chancellor for Native American affairs at ϳԹ, Benny is dedicated to strengthening CU's relationships with the 48 Tribes historically connected to Colorado and building a robust Native American community on campus. He aims to reclaim Native cultural identity, language, lands, sacred sites and traditions, emphasizing the importance of education in this reclamation process.
“I have seen Benny work directly with people of all ages, to educate, inform and engage in meaningful events in his work and community,” said nominator Patrita Salazar (DistSt’16). “He is determined to provide a sense of community for those who walk into the doors, and I know his voice will lead crucial conversations in his role at CU.”
Benny is the proud father of two children, Eileen Shendo (EthnSt’11) and Benjamin Shendo, as well as three grandsons: Wequai, Nuhkon and Sequan.