Dear Northern Star Alumni and Friends:

It’s time again to honor the Northern Star’s past by celebrating the lives and careers of some special people. On Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, you are invited to the Northern Star’s Hall of Fame Induction Banquet to honor this year’s six inductees. This biennial event brings together old friends and colleagues to reminisce, and to celebrate what continues to be one of the nation’s premier college newspapers.

This year’s honorees are:

• Maria (Phillips) McCarthy, ’97, corporate sales director for Time, Inc.

• Eileen Norris, ’78, veteran newspaper and free-lance journalist, now a health writer specializing in consumer-oriented books.

• Bob Palermini, ’78, vice president, Planning & Technology, at Volunteers of America Los Angeles. Former senior vice president and chief technology officer for the Los Angeles Times.

• Mark Ridolfi, ’80, editorial page editor of the Quad-City Times; adjunct professor of journalism at Knox College.

• Barry Rozner, ’84, sports columnist for the Daily Herald and frequent host/guest on WSCR Sports Radio in Chicago.

• Barry Stark, ’66, longtime NIU photographer, photography teacher and a founding member of Tri-Swine Omega.

The new class joins 63 previous inductees from 2000 to 2009.

The banquet also honors this year’s Outstanding Young Alumni award winner: Marcus Leshock, ’03/’05, feature/entertainment reporter for WGN TV in Chicago.

This year’s banquet will be held at Kish Corner Restaurant, 2496 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore. Please plan to join us Feb. 26 for a fun evening as we honor the Hall of Fame class. Clicjk on the printable registration form, return it by mail, e-mail or fax (please note the Feb. 15 RSVP deadline), and we will look forward to seeing you at the banquet.