Outstanding and honorary: Azevedo, Burns honored by NIC Alumni Association

Each year, the North Idaho College Alumni Association Board of Directors recognizes outstanding individuals who greatly enhance NIC and the Alumni Association through their commitment and service.

Jody Azevedo was recognized by the association as Alumna of the Year and Lita Burns as Honorary Alumna.

The awards were presented at the Scholarship Celebration Monday, Nov. 7 at NIC’s main campus in Coeur d’Alene.

Azevedo was selected as Alumna of the Year in recognition of her outstanding service to the community and her generous support of higher education.

Azevedo grew up in Sandpoint, where her parents had a dairy farm and a John Deere dealership. She said when she graduated from Sandpoint High School, she knew college was the path she needed to take, but she also needed to stay close to home and to the family’s farm.

“NIC was my start,” Azevedo said. “My advisor at NIC encouraged me to continue taking classes to finish my associate degree. She would say ‘just go a little more, just one more degree.’ She then pushed me more to seek a bachelor’s degree.”

Azevedo went on to earn a bachelor’s in business and a master’s in business administration. Azevedo has worked in the credit union industry for more than 20 years, starting as a teller at Numerica Credit Union and working her way up to her current position of vice president of retail small business and member relationships.

Azevedo is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations within the community. She has served on the NIC Foundation Board since 2009.

“All of these experiences have taught me how to be a better leader and allowed me to give back to my community,” Azevedo said. “I want to help students attend NIC because this college gave me the inspiration to continue my education and build a career.”

Burns was selected as Honorary Alumna of the Year in recognition of her many years of service to NIC, her steadfast leadership and her generous support.

Her career in higher education began in her home state of Wyoming.

“I started my education at a community college,” Burns said. “I was the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree.”

Burns holds a master’s degree in nursing and a doctorate in leadership studies. She served as the director of nursing and allied health at Central Wyoming College before coming to Idaho.

In 2001, Burns accepted the position of director of health professions and nursing at NIC, and she and her family moved from Wyoming to Coeur d'Alene. During her tenure at NIC, Burns also served as dean of health professions, vice president of instruction and acting president. She retired from NIC in January 2022.

Through the years, Burns has served on multiple state-wide committees representing higher education and nursing. She has worked tirelessly and strategically to help ensure that NIC remains relevant, accredited and progressive in meeting the needs of students, industry and the greater community.

“It’s about the amazing people I worked with at NIC,” Burns said. “Students leave NIC confident and competent. It’s not just because of the support they receive from faculty, staff and administrators, but also from the support of this community. The students provide the inspiration to motivate NIC to offer them the best education.”

Burns said deep in her heart she believes in NIC’s mission — student success, educational excellence, lifelong learning and community engagement.