Rising Professional Award

The Rising Professional Award honors significant contributions made by a graduate in the early stages of his or her career. Recipients have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments in the areas of design, business, human behavior, teacher education, or health sciences.

Here is a list of our latest recipients.

John Saiki '18
John Saiki '18
Portfolio Revenue Manager
Evolve Vacation Rental
Lenexa, KS
Jack Giardino '19
Jack Giardino '19
Advisor, Director of Planning
Inflection Point Wealth Advice
Overland Park, KS
Desiree Schippers '19
Desiree Schippers '19
Marketing & Communications Associate, Documentary Filmmaker
North Shore Senior Center
Chicago, IL
Madeline Heeter Grillo '18
Madeline Heeter Grillo '18
Clubhouse Manager
Saddle & Cycle Club
Chicago, IL
Josh Smith '13, '17
Josh Smith '13, '17
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
Sarah Kolmer '15
Sarah Kolmer '15
Physician Assistant
OptumCare
Last Vegas, NV
Stacy Conner '11, '14, '17
Stacy Conner '11, '14, '17
Associate Professor and Chairperson
Family and Human Services Department, Washburn University
Topeka, KS
Riley Jimenez, '21, '22
Riley Jimenez, '21, '22
Special Events Manager
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Kansas City, MO
Korynne Rollins '15, '18, '21
Korynne Rollins '15, '18, '21
Senior Scientist in Safety & Exploratory Pharmacology
Merck & Co., Inc.
West Point, PA
Tim Todd '19
Tim Todd '19
Dean and Professor of Law
Liberty University School of Law
Lynchburg, VA

 

Past Recipients

2024: Jamie Ball, Garrick Batley, Andrea Brundis, Kaitlin Chichester, Danielle R. Drake, Anthony Garcia, Mario Garcia III, Abby Hanzlicek, Kate Mielitz, Aaron Norton, Chris Omni, Shelby Page, Barrett Scroggs, Xiaoyu Su, Landon Warmund, Samuel Wilcox, Christina Zemencik

2023: Sarah Asebedo, Sarah Corn, Todd Crane, Krystal Collier, Sam Emerson, Mari Erb, Amber Grisamore, Larissa Holt, Jill Joyce, Sarah Kuborn, Arianna Levin, Erika Smith-Marek, Roxanne Martens, Katy Oestman, Madison Parker, Austin Stock, Sarah Truman, Wally Walstrom

2022: Kristen Buchman, Grace Burghart, Cole Foster, Sydney Hall, Joseph Lightner, Marc Lindstrom, Alyssa Mix, Tiffany Oppelt, Tonya Ricklefs, Brenna Shields, Derek Tharp, and Lauren Koepp Tines

2020: Ryan Baldwin, Brian Bollinger, Sara Bonnes, Lacey Boven, Klaire Brumbaugh, Brooke Cull, Monica Ebert, Staci Gann, Amy Guerich, Teagan Hamblin, Janet Holden, Clark Holdsworth, Clara Valadares Kientz, Corey Miller, Uyen Thuy Xuan Phan, Heath Rath, and Kelby Stehl

2019: C.J. Aducci, Jamie Bosse, Robert T. Davis III, Meghann Day, Cody Derby, Trent Jones, Mitchell Keating, Audrey Koehn, Katrina Marshall, Laura McCabe, Michael Minnis, Kale Monk, Monica Nelson, Kristen Brunkow O'Shea, Pratik Patel, Jake Quigley, and Kara Schmidt-Robben

  • 2017: Josh Mathiasmeier
  • 2016: Haley Van Wagenen
  • 2015: Emily Diederich & Andrea Oltjen
  • 2014: Kali Buchanan
  • 2013: Angie Hasemann
  • 2012: Josh Umbehr
  • 2011: Courtney Lair
  • 2010: Amy Chu
  • 2009: Tatyana El-Kour
  • 2008: Jamie LoCastro
  • 2007: Aaron Anderson
  • 2006: Vance Lahey
  • 2005: Kristin Van Scoy
  • 2004: Meredith de Vera
  • 2003: Angela Herbers
  • 2002: Robyn Stuewe
  • 2001: Traude Sander
  • 2000: Kevin L. Sauer
  • 1999: Judy Wagner
  • 1999: Tandy Rundus
  • 1999: Royalyn Rolfs
  • 1998: Hayley Matson
  • 1998: Kent Bradley
  • 1997: Brenda Sharpe
  • 1996: Heide Cashman