Rising Alumni
The Rising Alumni Award recognizes young professionals who earned their degree 5-7 years ago, are younger than their mid-30s, and who have achieved early distinction as leaders.
Nominations for the 2023 Rising Alumni Award will open in January 2023.
Congratulations to the 2022 Rising Alumni honorees!
- Randa Ayoub, MEd ’16, Youth Development Leadership - Director of Equity and Culture at the YMCA of the North
- Cheniqua Johnson, BS ’17, Family Social Science - Relationship Manager at St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation Research Center
- Madeleine Orr, PhD ’20, Kinesiology - Founder and Co-Director at the Sport Ecology Group
2022 Rising Alumni Award Recipients
Randa Ayoub
MEd ’16, Youth Development Leadership
Randa Ayoub is the Director of Equity and Culture at the YMCA of the North. She has over ten years of experience in youth development, community development, diversity, equity and inclusion, program and partnership development, operations management, project management, and strategic planning and visioning.
Cheniqua Johnson
BS ’17, Family Social Science
Cheniqua Johnson is the Relationship Manager at St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation. As relationship manager and part of the Community Impact team, Cheniqua proudly supports the work of nonprofit organizations throughout the metro and in Greater Minnesota. Cheniqua is responsible for reviewing grantmaking in health and civic engagement.
Madeleine Orr
PhD ’20, Kinesiology
Dr. Madeleine Orr is the Founder and Co-Director of the Sport Ecology Group and a Lecturer in the Institute of Sport Business at Loughborough University London. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport and the natural environment with special attention to climate change, risk, adaptation, sustainability, and just transitions to more inclusive and sustainable futures.
Alumni award recipients were interviewed in advance of the
Exceptional Alumni Awards Celebration on April 26.
2021 Rising Alumni
2019 Rising Alumni
- Austin Stair Calhoun
- Zachary Casey
- Sousada Chidthachack Grande
- Anitra Cottledge
- Ellen Doering
- Mohammed Elmeski
- Kelsey Funk
- Kara Galvin
- Devon Gilchrist
- Brynja Halldórsdóttir Gudjonsson
- Clark Hoelscher
- Courtney Holmes
- Sung Tae Jang
- Emily Kedrowski
- Joshua Lupinek
- LeeAnn Melin
- Chelsea Petree
- Jennifer Ridgeway
- Kablia Thao
- Kaaren Williamsen
- Doua Yang
- Mary Yeboah