Awards Recognizing Recent Graduates

On the Rise Award

This award celebrates a recent graduate of the University (graduated less than 10 years ago) who demonstrates promising contributions to their career, a spirit of service and commitment to their community and understands the value of a relationship with their alma mater. 

2023

Alyssa Sandholm
BME ’05; current chair of the CSE Alumni Society Board
Process Development Supervisor, Boston Scientific

Read about her achievements on the UMAA website.

U40 Alumni Leader Award

This award celebrates an exceptional individual under the age of 40 who has excelled in a career and/or public service.

2020

Nick Halla
ChemE ’05
Senior Vice President, Impossible Foods

Recognized for his work in implementing sustainable technologies with the potential for global impact—most recently with Impossible Foods, where his creative vision forwards the company’s goal of developing plant-based meat alternatives that help feed the world’s growing population in a way that is healthy for both people and the planet. 

Read more about his work in Inventing Tomorrow, page 23.

2016

Rebekah Feist
ChemE ’02, EE M.S. ’04, Ph.D. ’07
Core Research and Development Strategy Leader, Dow Chemical Company

Recognized as an innovator in the field of photovoltaics (the conversion of solar energy to electricity) and a committed mentor to young scientists, Feist has dedicated her career to addressing one of the world’s most critical challenges—developing alternative, renewable energy sources.

Read more about her work on CSE News.