Alumni Awards
A long-standing university tradition, the Alumni Awards recognize the best in our alumni body. Throughout their careers, honorees have contributed significantly to their companies, communities and the university while upholding the highest standards and values.
Nominate a Deserving Alumnus/a
Nominations for Alumni Awards are open and are accepted on a rolling basis.
2025 Awardees
Distinguished Alumni Award
The most prestigious award given by the UNT Alumni Association, honoring alumni for professional achievement and significant contributions to society and the university.
Cathy Bryce (’91 Ed.D.)
Cathy Bryce is a trailblazing educational leader currently serving on the UNT System Board of Regents. Her career in education began in 1975 as a choir director and English teacher in Arapaho, Oklahoma. After earning a Master of Education degree from Oklahoma State University in 1977, Bryce moved to Texas and served as choir director at Haltom Junior High School for nine years. Upon completing a mid-management certification from UNT in 1985, Bryce moved into management and curriculum development, serving in multiple vice principal and principal roles for Lewisville I.S.D.
Bryce completed her Doctor of Education at UNT in 1991 and made an unprecedented and meteoric rise in North Texas education, serving as assistant and then deputy superintendent for Duncanville I.S.D., superintendent of Weatherford I.S.D. from 1997 to 2001, and finally as superintendent of Highland Park I.S.D. from 2001 to 2009. She has since served as adjunct professor at UNT, an investment banker for Bank of Texas as well as providing services through Cathy Bryce Consulting LLC.
Bryce’s professional service and community involvement is unapparelled. She has served on dozens of boards of directors, mentorship committees, advisory boards and task forces. She served on the UNT Alumni Association Board of Directors in multiple capacities, including chair, and co-founded the Diamond Eagles Society — a giving society of passionate UNT supporters who fund transformative campus projects by majority vote. To date, seven projects have been funded to help shape the UNT experience for generations to come.
Bryce’s accolades include an Outstanding Dissertation Award from UNT, Educator of the Year from Phi Delta Kappa, Distinguished Alumni Award from her undergraduate alma mater, Midwestern State University, Outstanding Alumni Service Award from UNT and was the Texas nominee for National Superintendent of the Year in 2000.
Ben (’02) and Angie (’03, ’05 M.Ed.) Klutts
Ben and Angie Klutts first met during their time as students at UNT and have been active and passionate alumni ever since. Leaders in their community, Angie and Ben founded Behavioral Transformations in 2015 to provide comprehensive services for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Together, they operate eight clinics in east DFW and have made an incredible impact on the lives of hundreds of children and their families.
Angie graduated with a B.A. in sociology and a Master of Education in special education, and Ben graduated with a B.S. in criminal justice.
As a first-generation college student, Angie’s path to higher education was not an easy one. She worked tirelessly to put herself through school, balancing jobs on campus and elsewhere. Beyond being an alumna of the College of Health and Public Service, Angie worked for the college’s advising office, helping students navigate their own paths to graduation. It was during her time as an advisor that Angie decided to pursue a master’s degree in special education. After completing her master’s, she moved into the North Texas public school system, supporting students with special needs and their families for over nine years.
Ben and Angie exhibit their love for UNT in many ways — from proudly displaying an alumni license plate holder, being football season pass holders who attend every game they can, to applying their expertise in their field in service of the College of Health and Public Services Advancement Board by serving as co-vice chairs for the past four years. Additionally, Ben serves on the advisory board for the UNT Department of Criminal Justice.
In 2022, Ben and Angie’s commitment to UNT and the broader community culminated in the creation of the Klutts Family Scholarship, which supports students in the College of Health and Public Service, with preference to first-generation students. Together, they are dedicated to helping develop leaders to advance a healthy, equitable and just society through excellence in research, education and service.
John (’72) and Lindy (’72) Rydman
John and Lindy Rydman were both music majors when they met at the University of North Texas — John as a saxophonist and conductor, and Lindy as a vocalist. Upon their graduations in 1972, the couple opted not to pursue careers in music and instead work for Lindy’s family business: Spec’s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods. Today, John and Lindy, along with their daughter, Lisa, oversee the Houston-based superstore chain, which has locations scattered widely across Texas and is one of the largest liquor, wine and beer chains in the country.
Inspired by their shared passion for music and as a tribute to Lindy’s parents — Spec’s founders Carroll “Spec” and Carolynn Jackson — the Rydmans created the Spec’s Charitable Foundation with the purpose of supporting educational programs. Through Spec’s Charitable Foundation, John and Lindy established an endowed fund at UNT for the One O'Clock Lab Band which has provided scholarship support, recording and travel opportunities for the Grammy-nominated ensemble. In 2019, a donation from Spec's Charitable Foundation funded the Spec’s Charitable Foundation Courtyard, an outdoor social & performance space, central to the entrance of UNT College of Music.
Lindy was appointed to the UNT System Board of Regents in 2022 and will continue to serve until 2027. John currently serves on the Advancement Board at UNT College of Music and is past board chair and president of the Houston Symphony Society. One of John’s greatest honors was the opportunity to conduct the Houston Symphony for an Independence Day Patriotic Concert. He has received multiple awards for Outstanding Support of the Arts from the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestra, North Texas Business Council for the Arts and the National Business Council for the Arts.
Outstanding Alumni Service Award
Presented to individuals who have provided exceptional service to UNT or the community.
Kelleyton Wilson (’01)
Kelleyton Wilson is a seasoned service executive with over 25 years of industry expertise and cross-functional competencies that have leveraged across various fields including capital markets, private equity, strategy, regulatory and risks and performance improvement. Wilson currently serves as a capital markets senior account executive at Microsoft.
Wilson graduated from UNT in 2001 with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in finance, applied economics and public administration. In 2012, he earned a Master of Theological Studies from Liberty University in Virginia.
Wilson is actively engaged in several community service initiatives and non-profit organizations. In May 2019, Wilson made history by becoming the first African American elected to the Sunnyvale I.S.D. Board of Trustees. Additionally, he was appointed to the Board of Directors for Attack Life Sloan, a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness and funding for Veterans diagnosed with ALS.
In keeping with his unwavering commitment to making an impact on the next generation, Wilson also dedicates time to mentoring and supporting at risk youth in urban areas. In May 2021 he was a speaker for the Youth Empowerment Program at Wilkinson Middle School. In June 2021, Wilson spearheaded a clothing drive for students in need at O.W. Holmes Middle School.
Wilson’s ties to UNT have remained strong since graduating. He was selected to serve on the Greek Advisory Council. Wilson has spoken at Leadershape, NT For All and served on the host committee for the Emerald Eagle Honors Awards Program. In keeping with the Biblical foundation instilled since his childhood, Wilson is a licensed minister and church musician. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Wilson and his family reside in Sunnyvale, Texas.
Ulys Knight Spirit Award
Given to an individual or group that has made noteworthy efforts to show exceptional UNT spirit.
Ken Bahnsen (’53, ’53 M.S.)
Ken Bahnsen’s extensive legacy at UNT spans more than 75 years. Growing up in small-town Louisiana, Ken was raised on a dairy farm. After graduating high school in 1947, Ken hitchhiked to Tyler Junior College with the ambition of walking on the school’s football team. After a successful junior college career, Ken transferred to then-North Texas State College.
Bahnsen was a standout running back for UNT from 1950 to 1952, Bahnsen set new career rushing and scoring records that still stand as a testament to his athleticism and leadership. His impact on the football program extended beyond his playing years, as he went on to play professionally for the San Francisco 49ers in 1953.
Bahnsen’s career at UNT was not confined to his playing days. He became a beloved assistant football coach, and in the 1960s, he also led the UNT men’s tennis team to consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships in 1966 and 1967.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Bahnsen was inducted into the UNT Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2005, the UNT Men’s Gym was renamed the Ken Bahnsen Gym in his honor. He has had a lasting impact on the university's athletic and academic communities through his commitment to student-athletes, as evidenced by the creation of The Ken Bahnsen Scholarship Endowment, which provides vital support for students pursuing degrees in kinesiology, health promotion or recreation.
Bahnsen retired in 1975 as faculty emeritus in education, and from 1975 until 2003, he led the UNT Driver’s Education Program, instilling life skills in generations of students.
His dedication to UNT continued as he served as a member of the President's Council and was a founding member of the Diamond Eagles Society. Ken is also a proud member of the Mean Green Club Golden Eagle, showing his ongoing commitment to the university and its mission. His dedication, love and service to UNT have left a lasting mark on the university and its students.
Rising Star Award
This award recognizes recent graduates for distinguished achievement that has merited the honor and praise of peers and colleagues.
Asiah Claiborne (’17)
Asiah Claiborne is a transformational higher education leader and developmental strategist who currently serves as director of student transition programs at The University of Texas at Dallas. In this role, she oversees orientation, family programming, transfer and commuter services, digital engagement and retention initiatives. As a first-generation scholar, Claiborne leads with gratitude, community and continuous growth.
Claiborne graduated with a B.A. in integrative studies from UNT, focusing in behavior analysis, counseling and psychology. She went on to earn a Master of Science in college student personnel administration from Illinois State University in 2019.
She returned to UNT in 2019, serving as the coordinator of student organizations for Student Activities. While she has worked at UTD since 2021, her commitment to UNT has only expanded. Claiborne continues to pour her time and energy into the Mean Green community, remaining actively involved and serving in leadership roles for the UNT Black Alumni Network, serving as a guest speaker at several UNT events and playing a key leadership role in establishing the UNT GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Network. Now serving as the UNT GOLD Network president, Claiborne has made it her mission to bridge the gap between graduation and lifelong engagement and Mean Green pride.