W&L Announces 2024 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Winners

Office of Alumni Engagement
August 20, 2024

Washington and Lee University's 2024 Distinguished Young Alumni Award winners, Alvin G. Thomas '14 and Anna Thomas '14,will be celebratedduring Young Alumni Weekend,Sept.13-15.The award recognizes conspicuous contributions to W&L, community service and personal and professional achievements.

Alvin G. Thomas '14 

Alvin G. Thomas graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2014 with a major in chemistry-engineering and a minor in poverty and human capability studies. As both a Johnson and Bonner Scholar, he was actively involved in campus life and dedicated his AmeriCorps service to impactful community projects in Lexington and abroad. This included leadership in Campus Kitchen, the Nabors Service League and Volunteer Venture, as well as the creation of a robotics program in Lexington City Schools. He was the elected senior representative on the Student Executive Committee and was a member of Kathekon, the Reformed University Fellowship, the Generals Christian Fellowship and SPEAK. Alvin was inducted into the honor societies Beta Beta Beta and Omicron Delta Kappa, for which he served as president. By faculty vote, he was awarded the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Medallion for his "high ideals of living, spiritual qualities and generous service to others." 

Alvin's dual academic focus in the sciences and poverty studies culminated in several research projects, including a capstone report advised by Dr. Harlan Beckley,Fletcher Otey Thomas Professor of Religion Emeritus and founding director of the Shepherd Poverty Program, on mHealth interventions for the prevention of malaria and an engineering honors thesis, advised by Dr. Jon Erickson, professor of engineering, titled "Plasticity in Dissociated Neuronal Networks Under Chronic Stimulation." These experiences paved the way for his career as a public health scientist. 

Following W&L, Alvin received his master of science in public health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2016. After working for two years as a scientist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Alvin began doctoral training in the department of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received full funding through prestigious fellowships from the National Institutes of Health. He is an author of more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts published in top biomedical journals such as the Annals of Internal Medicine. He recently earned his doctorate and began postdoctoral training at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He serves his discipline as the elected president of the Student-Postdoc section of the International Society for Epidemiologic Research.  

Alvin has remained deeply connected to the W&L community. In his final year, he was a member of the Senior Gift Committee, served on the Alumni Admissions Program Committee in 2016 and was a member of the Shepherd Poverty Advisory Board from 2020 to 2024. He mentors W&L students and alumni interested in careers with social impact, especially in the health sector, and frequently returns to campus to meet with students and speak at events, including the Social Impact Summit, Johnson Scholars Weekend and the Entrepreneurship Summit. 

For his outstanding contributions to his profession, his community and his alma mater, the Alumni Association is proud to recognize Alvin Thomas, Class of 2014, with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. 

Anna Thomas '14

Anna Thomas graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2014 with a bachelor of science in business administration. During her time at W&L, Anna was an active member of the campus community, significantly contributing to various organizations and activities. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Kathekon, the W&L Repertory Dance Company and W&L Student Consulting. Her commitment to academics and leadership was recognized early when she was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma honor society in her first year. 

Following internships across multiple areas of business, Anna began her professional career at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey (now known as Truist Securities) in Atlanta in the syndicated and leveraged finance group. Over three years in investment banking, she honed her skills in finance, gaining valuable deal experience and paving the way for her subsequent role at KKR & Co. Inc. Since September 2017, Anna has been a member of KKR's investor relations team in New York City. She engages with public shareholders and the equity research community, playing a crucial role in externally sharing the firm's story and financials. Over the course of her time at KKR, Anna has been a critical contributor to key KKR initiatives, including changing the corporate structure, integrating strategic acquisitions and expanding the shareholder base. In 2023, Institutional Investor awarded her team "Best IR Team." Anna is also a member of the National Investor Relations Institute. Aside from her investor relations responsibilities at KKR, Anna serves on the firm's Women's Employee Resource Group leadership team in North America and assists with KKR Grants, the firm's platform for making strategic grants to nonprofit organizations.  

Anna's commitment to community service is as impressive as her professional achievements. Since January 2019, she has been a dedicated member of the KIPP NYC Leadership Council. KIPP, which stands for Knowledge is Power Program, is a national network. Within NYC, KIPP operates 18 public charter schools serving students in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem. The Leadership Council supports KIPP NYC through operational, financial and volunteer initiatives.  

Anna remains deeply connected to the W&L community. She was a member of her Senior Gift Committee in 2014, co-chaired the 5th Reunion Committee in 2019, served as a class agent for the Annual Fund from 2014 to 2020 and is currently co-chairing the 10th Reunion Committee for Alumni Weekend 2024. Her unwavering support and involvement with her alma mater highlight her dedication to fostering a strong and engaged alumni network.

The Alumni Association is proud to honor Anna Thomas, Class of 2014, with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award for her outstanding professional success, dedication to community service and continuous support of Washington and Lee University. 

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