Alumni: Volunteer Recognition

• Recognizes individual alumni or alumni teams who have helped advance Fuqua by investing their time and energy on a specific project
• Recipients are honored for their willingness to work out unique solutions that create positive outcomes and for taking the initiative to benefit the Fuqua community with their time, energy, and talents

2026 Winner:

Tanner L. Morgan MBA '25

In recognition of Tanner’s impactful leadership and storytelling, including his role as a host in the first season of the Duke Fuqua Insights podcast, where he interviewed Fuqua faculty and helped bring their research to life for prospective students—contributing to the podcast’s success as a new platform for sharing Fuqua’s thought leadership and setting a strong standard for future hosts.

Read more about Tanner and see past winners

• Recognizes alumni who demonstrate a dedication to the school through their time, energy, talents, and/or financial support
• Recipients have given their time to connecting their classmates, alumni programming, board service, student engagement, engaging their employers to the benefit of Fuqua, and/or providing service to fellow alumni, current students, and faculty

2026 Winner:

Pedro "Mendy" Mendonça MBA '19

In recognition of Pedro’s exceptional commitment to supporting Fuqua students through personalized mentorship, strengthening alumni-student connections, and fostering a culture of community, particularly for international students navigating the MBA experience.

Read more about Pedro and see past winners

• Recognizes alumni whose exemplary professional accomplishments are matched by the significant positive social or environmental change they have created
• Recipients use their Fuqua training to make a difference both inside and outside of their employment setting

2026 Winners:

Derek Bandeen '84, MBA '85

In recognition of Derek’s purpose-driven leadership in co-founding the Parkinson’s Wellness Center, creating an accessible, community-centered model of care that brings together exercise, education, and community for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease—improving quality of life and redefining care through a model that can be expanded to benefit other communities.

Read more about Derek and see past winners

Jimmy Childre MBA '01

In recognition of Jimmy’s decades of servant leadership and lasting community impact, including leading the transformation of a rural hospital to ensure access to care, applying his Fuqua education to develop innovative, stakeholder-driven solutions, and strengthening institutions across health care, business, and civic organizations.

Read more about Jimmy and see past winners

• Celebrates alumni who graduated within the past 5 years and have made significant positive social or environmental impact since completing their degree
• Recipients embody Team Fuqua’s values by leveraging their business education to drive meaningful change and lead with purpose in their professional and personal endeavors
• Honors their ability to translate the Fuqua experience into actionable impact, showcasing the transformative power of leadership rooted in collaboration, integrity, and innovation

2026 Winner:

Meg Rudy MBA '22

In recognition of Meg’s commitment to advancing social impact through her work supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs, helping to scale mission-driven organizations and expand opportunity for underserved communities.

Read more about Meg and see past winners

This award was established in 2006 in honor of Owen May MBA '83 and Derek Penn '79, MBA '84 for their longstanding commitment, leadership, and exemplary service to The Fuqua School of Business. The May-Penn Award of Excellence is the highest honor Black and Latino alumni can bestow upon a peer.

This award will honor the alumnus/alumna who actively participates in annual events, is accessible to students, and is connected to the broader community through his/her interaction with the faculty and administration. The recipient of this award should be recognized as a leader within the Fuqua community as well as in his or her profession. The individual recognized with the May-Penn Award of Excellence is an inspiration to those around him/her and a role model to those coming after him/her.

2025 Winner:

Dr. Erica Taylor MD '06, MBA '20

Learn more about Erica and see past winners