Robert Morris University is proud to honor Steve Nicola ’81 as the 2025 recipient of the Heritage Award, the institution’s highest recognition for alumni achievement and service.

Steve’s journey embodies the spirit of RMU’s Unstoppable career-driven students. He arrived with a straightforward focus: earn his degree and secure a strong start to his career. “Robert Morris put the ball in my hands,” he recalls.

Thanks to our school’s tradition of providing our students with opportunities to connect with local businesses, Steve was recruited during his senior year. He began his career with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCooper), where he rose to the level of senior manager. One of his clients, Matthews International, soon invited him to join their team. What began as an accounting and tax manager role grew into positions as controller, vice president of finance, and ultimately Chief Financial Officer in 2003, a role in which Steve served for more than two decades. “Without Robert Morris, I’m not sure my career takes the path it did… or at least not as quickly. The education, the access, and the opportunities here gave me my start.”

Along the way, he never forgot his RMU roots. He lived in Washington Hall while taking classes at both the Downtown Campus and in Moon. He was the first elected president of Kappa Delta Rho, which is still an active fraternity at RMU. He has been a dedicated supporter of the university, a valued member of the Board of Trustees, and a strong advocate for the internship program, often mentoring RMU students. 

His advice to young professionals is simple but powerful: “Be a problem solver. Education and technical skills get you in the door, but, in my experience, the people more likely to succeed are the ones who can take that knowledge and translate it into solving real-world business challenges. That can make you truly valuable to an organization.”

As the 2025 Heritage Award recipient, Steve stands as a shining example of RMU’s legacy of helping individuals transform opportunity into life-changing success.