Reubin O'D. Askew Award

Nominations for the Reubin O'D. Askew Award open January 1.

The Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon young alumni by the FSU Alumni Association. Named in honor of former Governor Askew, this award recognizes his contributions to the state, nation and university. These young alumni continue Askew’s legacy of outstanding accomplishments built on the foundation of their education at Florida State University.

Current Honorees

Lauren Albaum
B.M. ’11

Kenneth Cagnolatti
B.S. ’21

Terrence Williams Jr.
B.S. ’13, MPA ’14

Nomination Information

Requirements:

Recipients should continue the legacy of Reubin O’D. Askew.
Each recipient must have a degree from FSU (undergraduate and graduate)
Be age 35 or younger (as of December 31 of the year prior.
Have made exceptional achievements and significant contributions to their profession, community, society or the university.
The recipient must exemplify outstanding professional and personal development through traditional channels or innovative approaches.

A complete nomination includes:

Nomination form: Please provide accurate and current information for the nominee and the nominator.
Statement of nomination: Please provide a statement of nomination describing the nominee's devotion to Florida State University.
At least two letters of support: A completed nomination will include at least two Letters of Support. A strong nomination will contain at least one letter from a respected colleague in the nominee's area of professional distinction.

Nominations:

Nominees must be placed in formal nomination each year with a completed online nomination form. Nominations can be made by anyone. Nominations will be solicited through the Florida State University Alumni Association’s newsletters, social media and alumni chapters and networks. All nominations must be received by the Alumni Association upon the designated due date each year.

Important Dates:

January 1, 2026 - Nominations open
March 31, 2026 - Nominations close
April-June 2026 - Verification and review process
Summer 2026 - Honorees are notified
Fall 2026 - Honorees are recognized during Homecoming

Process: A committee appointed by the Young Alumni Council selects the recipients of the Askew honorees. Each year's recipients are notified upon approval of the Alumni Association National Board of Directors' Engagement Committee in Summer 2026. If a nominee is not selected in a particular year, they may be re-nominated in succeeding years.

Self-nominations and FSU faculty/staff will not be considered. Exceptional nominations for non-degreed friends of Florida State University will be considered.

Florida State University Alumni Association reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the final list.

Previous Honorees

2024 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Joey Arellano (B.A.’15, B.A ’15)
Andrew Hazelton (B.S. ’11, M.S. ’13, Ph.D. ’16)
Derrick Scott II (B.S ’16)

2023 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Garit Poire (B.S. ’16, M.S. ’18)
Amanda Schell (B.S. '17, M.S. ’18)
Max Spanier (B.S. ’11)

2022 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award

1st Lt. Andrés Bascumbe (B.A. ’12, B.S. '12)
Cameron Pennant (B.S. ’15, M.P.A. ’17)
Drew Piers (B.S. ’14, M.S. ’18)
Alana Rawlinson (B.S. ’10)
Emily Townsend-Cobb (B.S. ’12)

2021 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Jesse Marks (B.A. '16) YouTube Video
Suresh Narayanan (B.S. '08) YouTube Video
Katharina Reekmans (B.A. '12) YouTube Video
Alexa Cronin Sobeck (B.S.W. '15) YouTube Video
Bethany Swonson (B.S. '13) YouTube Video
Nicholas Thomas (B.S. '18, M.S. '20) YouTube Video

2020 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Michael Burgess (M.S. '13) YouTube Video
Ryan Kitchens (B.S. '10, M.A. '17) YouTube Video
Kristine Ramos (B.S. '08) YouTube Video
Charee Williams (B.S. '06, M.S. '09) YouTube Video

2019 Young Alumni Awards

View photos from the 2019 Young Alumni Awards

Danilo Belarmino (B.S.N. ’08) YouTube Video
Aurélie Mathieu (B.A. ’12) YouTube Video
Zach Heng (B.S. ’07) YouTube Video
Ashley Russell (B.S. ’11, M.S. ’13, Ph.D ’17) YouTube Video

2018 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

View photos from the 2018 Young Alumni Awards

Joseph Albano (B.S. '06) YouTube Video
Jenna McHenry (B.S. '07, M.S. '12, Ph.D. '13) YouTube Video
Daniel Smith (BME '05) YouTube Video

2017 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

David Ward (B.S. '12, J.D. '15) YouTube Video
Megan Bagwell (B.S. '03, M.D. '10) YouTube Video
Richard Desmond (B.S. '07) YouTube Video

2016 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Dr. Bernard Ashby (B.A. ’03) YouTube Video
Etienne Charles (B.A. ’06) YouTube Video
Michelle Gierach (B.S. ’04, M.S. ’06) YouTube Video
Max Haney (B.S. ’12) YouTube Video
Lt. Zachary Sobeck (B.S. ’13) YouTube Video
Maj. (Dr.) Joshua Tyler (B.S. ’02) YouTube Video

2015 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Brooke Druliner (Ph.D. ’14) YouTube Video
James Enos (B.S. ’07) YouTube Video
Herneshia Dukes (B.S. ’08) YouTube Video
Katelyn Jordan (B.S. ’08) YouTube Video
Joseph Mahshie (B.S. ’08) YouTube Video
Cesar Mize (B.S. ’13) YouTube Video

2014 Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award

The 2014 Thirty Under 30 and the six recipients of the Reubin O'D. Askew Young Alumni Award were honored at the Young Alumni Awards Dinner in Tallahassee, Fla. on Friday, June 20, 2014.

Carisa Champion-Lippmann (B.S. ’08) YouTube Video
Layla Dowdy (B.S. ’05, M.S. ’07) YouTube Video
Kevin Garvey (B.S. ’06, M.S. ’07) YouTube Video
Wonkak Kim (M.M. ’09, Mus.D. ’12) YouTube Video
Shayne Mifsud (B.A. ’05) YouTube Video
Myron Rolle (B.S. ’08) YouTube Video

2013 Reubin O’D. Askew Young Alumni Award

Audrey Chisholm (B.A. ’04)
Matthew Gaetz (B.S. ’03)
Jessica Hanson (B.S. ’04, M.B.A. ’08)
Caite Hevner (B.F.A. ’06)
Garrett Johnson (B.S. ’05)
Craig Milton (B.S. ’05)

2012 Thirty Under 30

Junior Bernadin (B.A. '08)
Audrey Chisholm (B.A. ’04)
Gamal Codner (B.S. ’07)
Lauren Dalton (B.S. ’07, M.S. ’08)
Mickey Damelio (B.S. ’03, M.S. ’05)
Dustin Daniels (B.A. ’11, B.S. ’11)
Matthew Gaetz (B.S. ’03)
Lindsey Gift (B.S. ’05)
Kate Gunning (B.A. ’06)
Dawn Gunter (B.S. ’04, M.B.A. ’06)
Jessica Hanson (B.S. ’04, M.B.A. ’08)
Nelson Hernandez (B.A. ’07)
Caite Hevner (B.F.A. ’06)
Garrett Johnson (B.S. ’05)
Mark Kandra (B.S. ’05, M.S. ’06)
Jordan Kirby (B.S. '04)
Michael Lowry (B.S. ’05, M.S. ’09)
Jared Lyon (B.S. ’11)
Craig Milton (B.S. ’05)
Joshua Montagna (B.S. ’05)
Navarro Moore (M.A. ’09)
Stephanie Nisivoccia (B.S. ’04, M.S. ’06)
Katherine O’Donniley (B.A. ’04)
Ryan Powers (B.S. ’09)
Ashley Ross (B.S. ’05)
Shannon St Val (B.S. ’08)
Tadarrayl Starke (B.S. ’03, M.S. ’10)
Robbie Stokes (B.S. ’10)
Clint Wallace (B.S. ’04, J.D. ’08)
Karissa Wimberley (B.A. ’09)