Six Alumni Receive Awards in 鈥淭ime-Honored Tradition鈥 at AU
On Thursday, April 25, nearly 250 members of the 麻豆传媒 community came together to celebrate the Alumni Association鈥檚 2024 Alumni Award winners. Six stellar AU alumni were honored for achievements in activism, judicial work, diplomacy, innovation, and service.
In an event described by Vice President of University Advancement Courtney Surls as 鈥渙ne of AU鈥檚 most time-honored traditions,鈥 community members heard how the university shaped the lives of honorees Mong-Yong Chung, Kogod/MBA 鈥91, The Honorable Gerald Bruce Lee, SOC/BA 鈥73, WCL/JD 鈥76, WCL/Hon. LLD 鈥03, Jan Du Plain, SPA/BA 鈥66, Rob Johnson, SPA/BS 鈥81, Deon Jones, SPA/BA 鈥14, and Yamillet Payano, CAS/BS 鈥18.
AU President Sylvia Burwell lauded this year鈥檚 award winners, saying 鈥淓ach one of you embodies the Eagle spirit鈥攖he impulse to do better and be better for the common good, to marshal our resources, our skills, and our passions in service to others.鈥
Payano, who came to AU on a scholarship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, received a Rising Star award for her groundbreaking startup Sign-Speak. She reminded those in the room to 鈥渢ake the unconventional path as long as it makes YOU happy.鈥
A second Rising Star recipient, Deon Jones, was described by Alumni Board President LaTanya Sothern, SOC-CAS/BA 鈥92, as an inspirational musician, artist, and social justice activist, and opened his remarks in song, captivating the audience. He recalled interviewing as a prospective student with Associate Director of Admissions Marquita Lightfoot, who set him on the path to AU. 鈥淲e all have the power to see the treasure and light in someone else,鈥 Jones said.
Honoring Changemakers
Six stellar AU alumni were honored for achievements in activism, judicial work, diplomacy, innovation, and service on Thursday, April 26.
In accepting the Alumni Eagle Award, longtime AU supporter Rob Johnson posited that 鈥淭hose of us who do this work get far more out of it than we put in.鈥 Johnson, a former Alumni Association president, was honored for considerable time and generous philanthropic support to AU.
Du Plain, who received the Alumni Recognition Award for decades of work in cultural diplomacy, said, 鈥溌槎勾 and its international student body was foundational to my growing awareness of cultural diversity and the importance of Washington, DC as a gateway to the rest of the world in matters of culture, diplomacy, news and US political influence both local and global.鈥澨
Jamie Lander, niece of Mong-Yong Chung, accepted the Global Alumni Leader Award on behalf of her uncle, who is chairman of Hyundai Sungwoo Holdings, one of Korea鈥檚 leading automotive parts companies. Sothern described Chung as 鈥渁 strong believer in the importance of global mindset and culture in fostering future generations of leaders.鈥 And Lander shared with attendees that Chung 鈥渃redits much of what he learned during his time studying for his MBA at the Kogod School of Business here at AU for his success.鈥
Judge Lee, a trustee of the university, described enrolling in AU as a high school student and a streetsweeper, saying 鈥淣ever let anyone tell you that your dreams are impossible. You can if you think you can.鈥 A nod to students in the room, Lee added 鈥淚f the streetsweeper could achieve his dreams, then your dreams can come true too. It will not be easy. It will take persistence and determination. All things鈥攏ot a few things鈥攁re possible.鈥
Taking in the moving stories shared鈥攁nd touting the engagement and generosity of so many in the room鈥擲othern ended the evening by encouraging attendees to support AU through giving. 鈥淚nspired by the student-run Finish Line Committee, the new Finish Line Initiative is our final community-wide call to join the Change Can鈥檛 Wait campaign in its remaining months,鈥 she said. Noting that more than 23,000 alumni have given to the campaign thus far, Sothern added that gifts from alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff are being matched by an anonymous alumnus鈥檚 $1 million challenge gift. 鈥淣ow is the time to get involved,鈥 she said. 鈥淐hange truly can鈥檛 wait.鈥