The Alumni Excellence Awards

About the Awards

Graduates of the University of Maryland are among the best and brightest in their fields. From scholars and innovators to entrepreneurs, teachers and researchers, our alumni are leaving their mark on our state, nation and world. The Alumni Excellence Awards recognize the accomplishments of select Terps and honor these recipients with distinction. Click here to learn more about the nomination and selection process.

Rising Terp Award

Honors an alumnus/a under 30 years old who has distinguished themselves personally and professionally. Up to three Rising Terp Awards will be granted annually, celebrating a Terp/s who excel in their career and inspire the next generation of Terp leaders.

2022 Honorees

Audrey Awasom ‘18

Founder, Noble Uprising

Awasom's nonprofit serves women experiencing homelessness, poverty and overall hardship.

Matthew Hollister ‘18

Chairman and CEO, James Hollister Wellness Foundation; Co-Founder, Save Pharmaceutical

Hollister's foundation collects and sends donated medications to low-income countries. His new venture will match facilities with a pharmaceutical surplus to clinics in need.

Akash Magoon ‘18

Co-Founder, Nayya

A computer science alum, Magoon co-founded Nayya to help employees choose and enroll in health benefits and then engage with their health plans.

Research Award

Honors an alumnus/a whose research has made a significant impact on the university, the state and/or the nation. Up to three Research Awards will be granted, celebrating a Terp/s whose research is transformational.

2022 Honorees

Faez Ahmed Ph.D. ‘19

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Director, Design Computation & Digital Engineering Lab

Through his research on machine learning and engineering design, Ahmed hopes to improve product design and quality, and as a result, human efficiency.

Bridget T. Kelly M.A. ‘96, Ph.D. ‘01

Associate Professor, Diversity Officer and Chair of The Council on Racial Equity and Justice, UMD College of Education

An advocate for equity, Kelly and her research have helped educators across the country understand the experiences of women and people of color in higher education.

Dr. Kathleen Maletic Neuzil ‘83

Myron M. Levine, M.D., DTPH, Professor in Vaccinology; Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health; Chief, Division of Geographic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Neuzil, one of the world's leading research scientists in vaccine development and policy, was instrumental in developing and testing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

Read More about Dr. Kathleen Maletic Neuzil

EnTERPrenuer Award

Honors an entrepreneurial alumnus/a whose company has made a significant impact on the university, the state and/or the nation. Up to three EnTERPreneur Awards will be granted annually, celebrating a Terp/s who has started a business that is fearlessly disrupting its industry.

2022 Honorees

David C. Quattrone MBA ‘05

Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Cvent

Under Quattrone's direction, Cvent has become a leading provider of meeting, event and hospitality technology for more than 23,000 customers worldwide.

Lauren Foundos ‘06

Founder and CEO, Fortë

Foundos left a successful career as a bond trader to launch a streaming service that puts subscribers virtually in classes with instructors in gyms around the world.

Pramod Raheja ‘91 and Evandro Valente ‘03, M.S. ‘06

Co-Founders, Airgility

The aerospace engineering graduates now design and manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles that can improve and save lives.

Read More about Pramod Raheja and Evandro Valente

Legacy Award

Honors an alumnus/a who has made a significant impact to their community over their lifetime. Up to three Legacy Awards will be granted annually, celebrating the personal and professional lifetime achievement of Terps.

2022 Honorees

John C. Ford ‘64 and Sandra Sollod Poster ‘64

Owner, John C. Ford Associates; Communications Consultant

These two communications professionals have served as ambassadors for the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies and funded two dance scholarships.

Read More about John C. Ford and Sandra Sollod Poster

Rita B. Leahy Ph.D. ‘89

Asphalt Technology Authority

Through her service on UMD's Graduate School Doctoral Careers Advisory Board, and as founder of a speaker series established in her name, Leahy has helped doctoral students understand career options.

Jonathan Claiborne ‘77

Retired Partner, Whiteford Taylor Preston

The former Terps football safety has served as president of UMD's previous Young Alumni Organization and the M Club and supported the university's Incentive Awards Program.