The Vanderbilt Alumni Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce its 2020 alumni award recipients.
“It is an honor to celebrate these alumni, who are leaders in their professions and in their communities,” said Jodie Leeka Kim, BE’10, ME’11, awards committee chair for the Alumni Association Board. “They are shining examples of the impact of the Vanderbilt experience.”
A dedicated volunteer leader, Tamara Baynham, BE’93, will receive the Alumni Volunteer Award. She has served as president of the Association of Vanderbilt Black Alumni, on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and on the School of Engineering Board of Visitors. She also has volunteered for Reunion, Commodore Recruitment Programs and as a VUconnect career adviser.
The Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award will be presented to Blake Hall, BS’04. Hall received the Bronze Star twice during his four years of service with the U.S. Army and then became co-founder and chief executive officer of ID.me. He holds two patents related to online credential authentication and has been recognized in several publications for his success as an entrepreneur.
Monique Nelson-Nwachuku, BA’96, chair and chief executive officer of UWG, will be honored with the Alumni Professional Achievement Award. A marketing and advertising industry thought leader, she also has been honored for her work to improve the lives of others by United Way of New York’s Women’s Leadership Council with the Power to Make a Difference Award.
Becca Stevens, MDiv’90, a speaker, social entrepreneur, author, priest and founder of eight justice enterprises, including Thistle Farms, where she also serves as president, will receive the Alumni Public Service Award. She has been featured for her global social impact on PBS NewsHour, NBC’s TODAY, CNN and ABC World News and named a CNN Hero and a White House Champion of Change.
The Young Alumni Volunteer Award will recognize Washington, D.C., Chapter President Teresa Temkin, BA’11. She also has served in leadership for the Miami and Wisconsin chapters, recruits undergraduate students through the Commodore Recruitment Programs and is helping to create the Vanderbilt Association of Hispanic and Latinx Alumni.