Alumni Award Winners Honored in 鈥淢agical鈥 Celebration
On Thursday, May 18, nearly 300 members of the 麻豆传媒 community came together to celebrate the in an event described by attendees as 鈥渂eautiful,鈥 鈥渕agical,鈥 and 鈥渢ouching.鈥 Six stellar AU alumni were honored for achievements in government, healthcare, education, and service.听
A sold-out crowd enjoyed stories of how educational experiences on campus shaped the lives of honorees His Excellency Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, SIS/BA 鈥99, SIS/MIS 鈥01; Baroness of Knightsbridge Dambisa Moyo, CAS/BS 鈥91, Kogod/MBA 鈥92, Hon. DHL 鈥22; Fanta Aw, Kogod/BSBA 鈥90, SPA/MA 鈥94, CAS/PhD 鈥11; Anne Caprara, SPA/BA 鈥01; Katherine Grill, CAS/MA 鈥16, CAS/PhD 鈥17; and Amy Lampert, SOC/BA 鈥94.听
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Addressing a packed room in the Washington College of Law鈥檚 Grossman Hall, AU President Sylvia Burwell told the honorees: 鈥淵our lives, your journeys, and your incredible impact as changemakers, tell the story of who we are and where we鈥檙e going. Each one of you embodies the Eagle spirit 鈥 the impulse to do better and be better for the common good, to marshal our resources, our skills, and our passions in service to the world. It鈥檚 who we are.鈥澨
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His Excellency President Bio, of Sierra Leone, posited that his AU experience emphasized that 鈥渙ne is never too old or experienced to learn,鈥 adding that he wants to be known as a changemaker who makes communities 鈥渕ore inclusive, equal, and therefore better.鈥
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Baroness Moyo, who took her seat in Britain鈥檚 House of Lords earlier this year, pointed out that 鈥溌槎勾 has always attracted some of the best and brightest students from around the world and put thousands of students like me on paths to impactful careers addressing the world鈥檚 critical global issues.鈥
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In introducing Alumni Eagle Award recipient Amy Lampert, Jason Benkendorf remarked that, from their very first conversation, he was 鈥渂lown away鈥 by her commitment to AU and by how deeply she cares for students.听听
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Grill, the Rising Star Award recipient, and founder of renowned mental health app for adolescents, shared that AU was her first choice for graduate school. However, she added, 鈥淚 was nervous that as a 20-year-old first-gen[eration] student, I wouldn鈥檛 get in鈥 might not have believed in myself, but AU sure did.鈥 Not only was Grill accepted, but she received a full scholarship, which she called 鈥渓ifechanging.鈥澨
Caprara, currently Illinois Governor JB Pritzker鈥檚 chief of staff, captivated the audience with stories of her time at AU and ended by saying, 鈥淭here was no better place for me than this place right here.听听And I am so grateful to this university for giving me the path in life I feel very privileged to lead.鈥
Finally, AU legend Fanta Aw was honored with the Neil Kerwin Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Aw remarked that, as a former student of Dr. Kerwin鈥檚, the award felt like her AU life coming full circle. (She departed AU in March to lead NAFSA: Association of International Educators.)听
In recalling 30+ years as a student and administrator on campus, Dr. Aw said, 鈥淎U has given me so much. It is the place I found my passion, purpose, and voice.鈥澨
AWARDS HIGHLIGHTS
Six stellar AU alumni were honored for achievements in government, healthcare, education, and service.