‘Do it the Cardinal way’

A student and athlete at North Idaho College from 1984 to 1986, Dr. Paul Bryant said he still embraces the many lessons and values instilled in him during his time at NIC.

“I was told to do it the Cardinal Way, which is to make sure you’re out there being excellent,” said Bryant, recipient of the North Idaho College Alumni Association’s 2021 Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

Rose Tedmon, NIC Alumna of the Year; Honorary Alumnus, NIC Athletic Trainer Randy Boswell; and Bryant, were presented their awards Nov. 8 by Alumni Association President Kendra Johnson during the annual NIC Foundation Scholarship Celebration at the NIC Edminster Student Union Building.

The NIC Alumni Association awards were created in 2001 to recognize outstanding individuals who greatly enhance NIC and the NIC Alumni Association through their commitment and service.

A former Cardinals basketball player, Bryant is director of intercollegiate athletics at Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Fla. He has more than 20 years of collegiate athletics administrative experience. Prior to joining Edward Waters, he was athletics director at Grambling State University in Louisiana for two years, and AD at South Carolina State for three years. He holds a doctoral degree in education from Northcentral University.

Bryant came to NIC from Dayton, Ohio, on a basketball scholarship. While at NIC he studied law enforcement and worked for campus security. Bryant eventually returned to Ohio, where he helped create a network of foster care homes.

“That foundation of inspiring and helping others started here at North Idaho College,” Bryant said.

Alumni of the Year Rose Tedmon is a lifelong learner who moved to Hayden Lake with her husband, Craig, after retirement, because the area offered them everything they were looking for, including access to higher education. Through the years, Tedmon took all the art courses offered at NIC. She then used her knowledge and understanding of art to support art education in the region by becoming a significant collector, hosting classes in her home studio and supporting arts events in the community.

Tedmon encourages others to explore the educational offerings at NIC.

“Stretch yourselves and take advantage of what’s right here, at this beautiful college,” she said.

Tedmon and her husband continue to support NIC students. The couple established three scholarship endowments through the NIC Foundation. Their son, Ted Tedmon, is a professor of business administration at NIC.

NIC Athletic Trainer Randy Boswell received the Honorary Alumnus Award. Boswell, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Point Loma Nazarene and a master’s from San Diego State University, has been at NIC for 29 years.

“I’ve loved my experience here,” said Boswell, who was inducted earlier this year into the NJCAA Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

During his time with the Cardinals, Boswell traveled by invitation to international competitions where he worked as a trainer.

“Everywhere I went, I talked about the beauty of this college,” Boswell said. “I would hand out business cards with a picture of NIC, and say ‘Here’s where I get to work,’…What a blessing.”

Boswell said that while abroad, in addition to being an ambassador for the college, he also gathered information to bring back to help him better help the students at NIC.

“The best thing about going over there was coming back to this institution,” he said.

The NIC Alumni Association encourages a lifelong connection to North Idaho College. To join the Alumni Association or to nominate an individual for an alumni award in recognition of their commitment to NIC and the community, visit nic.edu/alumni.