As the outside world grows more complex, intertwined, and diverse, so too does Trinity’s alumni base.
That was the message at Trinity’s Young and Future Alumni awards, held this Alumni Weekend in October. The ceremony honored rising alumni pioneers in geosciences, virtual reality, diversity and religion, affordable housing, and multilingualism, among a host of other values and professions. The event also recognized fraternity and sorority advisers of the year.
Now, we invite you to meet these recipients of Trinity’s Young and Future Alumni Awards.
Outstanding Alumnus of the Year 2019
Simran Jeet Singh ’06 holds graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University and writes on issues of diversity and race. Harvard, Auburn Seminary, and Columbia have awarded Singh for his work. In front of his fellow alumni, Singh delivered an emotional and touching speech about the value of Trinity’s sense of community, saying the “campus has changed,” but he “still felt at home here.”
Outstanding Alumnus of the Year 2018
Christopher Helfrich ’03 spent several years leading Nothing But Nets, a nonprofit campaign that delivers mosquito nets to malaria-stricken areas, and currently serves as CEO of the Starlight Children’s Foundation. His malaria outreach efforts aided families across 30 African countries and prevented countless deaths.
Tower Five
Victoria Lin Gonzalez ’13 is a senior policy adviser to Mayor Ron Nirenberg ’99. Gonzalez played an invaluable role in Nirenberg’s housing policy task force, which spearheaded the cause of affordable housing as a priority for the city. San Antonio’s upcoming budget now includes more than $17 million in new funding for the task force’s recommendations.
Marina Suarez ’03 is a geologist who has taught at Johns Hopkins University and UTSA. Suarez has received awards for her research and even discovered a new dinosaur with her twin sister.
Florence Nguyen Tang ’01 is a founding director of Workshop Matters and works as an architectural designer, journalist, and volunteer for her children’s schools. During her time at Sunflower Mission, a grassroots nonprofit group, Tang helped award thousands of scholarships to impoverished students.
Ron Fortin ’08 worked as the director of a school for impoverished Guatemalans and founded his company Homeschool Spanish Academy to teach Spanish to American students. His company provides more than a thousand Spanish classes per week to students across the globe.
Rachel Hanson ’05 has coached softball at University of Dallas, Stanford University, and Dartmouth, where she led the team to its first Ivy League Championship.
Fraternity and Sorority Adviser of the Year
William Drew Mallender ’89 practiced law in Washington, D.C. for 14 years before returning to San Antonio to found a real estate development company. He also founded the Chi Delta Tau Alumni Association Foundation, which provides need-based scholarships to Trinity students.
Lindsay Anhold Lew ’97 serves as athletic director for digital and database marketing at University of Colorado Athletics.
Tigers on the Rise
Hannah-Elyse Konyecsni ’19, future teacher, looks forward to serving as an 1869 Scholars mentor.
Danielle Couch ’19 studies theatre and is a leader in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.
Laura Harris ’19 has been a resident assistant, a Student Ambassador, and a researcher during her time at Trinity and looks forward to earning her graduate degree in higher education administration.
Emme Bettes-Manahan ’19 has worked as a First-Year Experience mentor, a member of the Academic Honor council, and a student ambassador.
Nicholas Champion ’19 sings with the Trinitones and plans to pursue a graduate degree to teach theater.
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