TAMPA, FL – Jan. 19, 2021 – Six University of South Florida alumni aged 35 and younger have been named USF Outstanding Young Alumni in recognition of their exceptional professional and community contributions.
This year’s award recipients include an NFL player-turned-business executive; a two-time Latin GRAMMY winner; a two-time Emmy Award-winning senior social media producer for “Good Morning America”; a leading USAF intelligence officer; an engineer facilitating health care in Africa, and an acclaimed assistant city attorney. They will be recognized at a special awards ceremony and reception April 22.
Here are USF’s 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni and the USF degrees they hold:
Samuel Barrington, Interdisciplinary Social Science ’12 – COO of Sky Limit Equipment, LLC; former USF and NFL linebacker; color analyst for Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties; USF EMBA student; Green Bay Packers’ 2015 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee; recipient Pop Warner Humanitarian, Ed Block Courage, and Presidential Volunteer Service awards
USAF Capt. David DeLeon, Business Marketing ’14 – intelligence officer in charge of Targets for Special Operations Command Central at MacDill AFB; Tampa Bay area volunteer, giving more than 400 hours to multiple charitable organizations; created ongoing mentorship program for USF ROTC cadets
Anthony “Tony” Morrison, General Business Administration ’11 – senior social media producer for ABC’s Good Morning America; owner of Anthony Morrison Photography; recipient of two Daytime Emmy Awards and two Edward R. Murrow Awards; USF Muma College of Business “25 Under 25” honoree; USF guest lecturer
Jennie Nwokoye, Biomedical Science ’12 – program manager at Amazon; founder of Clafiya, a platform connecting patients with community health workers in Nigeria; supports Washington, D.C.-area young and minority entrepreneurs developing solutions for societal issues, helping them raise more than $100,000; Forbes “30 Under 30” Fellow
José Valentino Ruiz-Resto, Music Studies ’09 and PhD Music Education ’16 – University of Florida professor and program director of Music Business and Entrepreneurship; recipient of two Latin GRAMMYs and one Emmy Award; performer, audio engineer, composer and producer; director of global arts entrepreneurship initiatives for the nonprofit Diaz Music Institute
Danielle Weaver-Rogers, Political Science ’10 – St. Petersburg assistant city attorney for labor and employment; president of the Fred G. Minnis Sr. Bar Association; former USF Ambassador and King O’Neal Scholar; Fred G. Minnis Sr. Bar Association 2018 Exceptional Member of the Year and Stetson Black Law Student Association 2017 Alumna of the Year
About the USF Alumni Association
The USF Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization composed of former students and friends of the University of South Florida. Our mission is to provide meaningful ways for USF Bulls to support, protect and promote their university. There are more than 365,000 USF graduates worldwide. For more information, log on to www.usfalumni.org, like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USFalumni or follow us on Twitter @USFAlumniAssn and Instagram @usf__alumni.