Established in 2014, Young Alumni Awards recognize outstanding career achievement, active community involvement or exceptional service to the university by UNO graduates 40 or younger.
Negil McPherson, Jr., Mary Lopez and Rodrigo Lopez, who accepted the award on behalf of their son
David A. Lopez
David Lopez currently serves as chief of staff for the State of Nebraska, a position held since January 2023. Previously, Lopez was a partner at Husch Blackwell from 2019 to January 2023 and held multiple roles within the State of Nebraska’s Office of the Attorney General, including deputy solicitor general and assistant attorney general, from 2012 to 2019. Additional experience includes a legal internship with the U.S. House of Representatives focused on telecommunications and financial services policy, a summer associate position at Krooth & Altman LLP, and as an asset manager at AmeriSphere Multifamily Finance, managing a commercial mortgage portfolio. Lopez holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Bachelor of Science in real estate and land use economics from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
2014: Jeff Slobotski
2015: Leslie Fischer, Kenny McMorris
2016: Andres Torres, Wendy Townley
2017: Matthew Lee, Tara Stingley
2018: Angel Starks, Michelle Zych
2022: Sahra Kaboli-Nejad, Elizabeth O’Connor
2023: Rick Knudtson, Ashley Kuhn
2024: Jared Hall, Megan Holt, CPA, FRM
2025: David A. Lopez