Each year, the Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) honors graduating seniors and young alumni with two distinguished awards: the Sallyport Award, which recognizes a rising Rice graduate’s commitment to continuing the mission of the ARA after graduation, and the Young Alumni Builders Award, which highlights Owls who have graduated within the past 10 years and made lasting impacts on their careers, local communities and Rice. Catch up with a few past recipients to see how their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm for the Rice community has grown and evolved since winning their award, what makes the Rice community unique and their suggestions for how young alumni can stay involved after leaving the hedges.
Sallyport Award, 2019
Actuarial Lead Analyst, Cigna
“I feel like alumni play a bigger role in making the Rice experience than you necessarily realize while you’re still on campus. Alumni influence all parts of Rice, including parts where they are directly seen making an impact on students.”
Sallyport Award, 2018
Class President, Harvard Medical School
“The environment provided by Rice allowed for my growth as a leader in a multitude of ways. Upon leaving Rice and entering medical school at Harvard, I was worried I would struggle given I was born and raised in Houston; however, I've found that Rice equipped me with the tools and skills I needed no matter the situation I was presented.”
Sallyport Award, 2015
Graduate Student, Rice University
“I was never someone who wanted to be in leadership positions just for the sake of the title, but at Rice I ended up becoming so passionate about the community that I was a part of and wanting to make it better that being involved in "leadership roles" felt organic and natural. Rice taught me that if you love a community, that doesn't mean that you don't think it has any flaws, but rather that you want to work to try to make it even better.”
Sallyport Award, 2014
Associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
“And being at Rice instilled in me a passion for political and societal engagement that continues to drive my personal and professional goals. Even seven years after graduation, it’s a privilege to remain engaged with Rice, which has been there for me every step of the way.”
Sallyport Award, 2013
Channel Optimizer, Shell
“I stay engaged with Rice because I recognize that I grew leaps and bounds through the technical and leadership experiences I had during my 5 years at the school.”
Sallyport Award, 2012
Strategy Senior Manager, Accenture
“Throughout my travels as a consultant, I worked with the alumni office to identify groups of Rice alumni in the towns I worked in and invited those alumni to gather and reminisce about our time at Rice and hear stories about their journeys beyond the hedges. An example of this was during my time in Taipei, where I invited a group of alumni to a picnic on a Saturday and gained a set of friends throughout my stint working in the city. Another example was a flight to Frankfurt. The lead flight attendant introduced himself to me as a Rice Alum when he saw my Rice ring.”
Sallyport Award, 2011
Senior Business Process Analyst, Harvard University
“After graduating, I moved to Boston for graduate school. I was fresh with energy so I got involved with the Boston alumni chapter before leading the group. Although I am more introverted, it was a great, welcoming opportunity to explore Boston with other Rice alumni.”
Sallyport Award, 2011
Founding Partner at Loftyinc Capital Management
Owner of -Afropreneurs Fund (I,II, and III)
Co-founder of The Wennovation Hub
“Focus on three things: developing deep intellectual curiosity, cultivating long-term relationships, and building solid convictions about your life's mission.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2019
Principal Consultant at Lehman Consulting
“When I first moved to San Francisco to pursue my dreams of building my own company, I was blown away by the deep Rice community and strong network that existed in the city.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2020
Fundraising Consultant, Dini Spheris
“Rice taught us everything we needed to know to survive young adult life — time management, how to ask for help, perseverance, humility, and how to take control of our learning and destinies … I look back at how tough and capable Rice helped me to be, and I can't help but to continue to love it and want to give back.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2018
Counsel, Exxon Mobil
“I've repeatedly seen what the Rice degree and network has done for me on both professional and personal levels … We may be a smaller school, but we have a broad engaged active alumni group across the U.S. and abroad!”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2017
Accreditation Manager, Houston Fire Department
Adjunct Instructor, University of Houston
“Young alumni need to realize that being part of the Rice alumni community is not simply continuing existing relationships but also building new relationships.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2016
General Counsel, Houston Forensic Science Center
“I see how amazingly talented Rice students and alumni are and I know if we continue supporting and inspiring each other, we can literally change the world.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2014
Managing Broker, Lyn Realty
“I'm proud to be an Owl. Other Rice alumni helped me by interviewing me when I was applying to Rice, and providing advice and career guidance when I was a student at Rice, so I've always been happy to give back in the same ways.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2012
Small Business Strategist, Voonoh Consulting
Co-founder and CFO, 5822 Car Club
“I see my Rice experience as such a fundamental building block of who I've become as a person — the people I met, the activities I was involved in, the classes I took, everything had and continues to have an impact on my life.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2011
Systems Engineer, Boeing
“If my experiences can help build that launch pad for other students, especially those from my similar background, you’ll find me on campus. The resulting impact beyond campus is unmeasurable since my graduation.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2016
Business Strategy and Development Manager, Baylor College of Medicine
“I’ve definitely been able to utilize a lot of the skills that I developed as an alumni volunteer leader. Understanding how to guide teams and accomplish goals has been invaluable in my professional life.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2010
2020-21 ARA Board President
Co-founder and CEO, Third Derivative
“Whenever you are faced with a new challenge or opportunity, ask, "How can the Rice network help me?" Let the Rice alumni network be your secret weapon and ensure that your Rice degree keeps creating value for you long after you have graduated.”
Young Alumni Builders Award, 2011
Freelance Editor and Writer
“It seems like wherever we go, Rice connections are there. I’ve met Rice alumni in museums and doctor’s offices when we recognize the iconic ring. My husband and I met two Rice professors when we took a punt tour on the River Cam in Cambridge. An employee at our hotel in Hawaii had a parent who was a Rice alum. It’s fun to find those connections.”
