Distinguished Alumni Awards
Â鶹¹ÙÍø Distinguished Alumni Awards
Save the Date - Friday, October 2, 2026
Founded in 2025, the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate graduates who exemplify the Institute’s mission through exceptional professional achievement, leadership, and service.
These awards honor alumni who are driving impact across the life sciences, biotech, healthcare, and research sectors—bridging scientific innovation with business insight. They also recognize those who demonstrate entrepreneurial vision, uplift the Â鶹¹ÙÍø community through mentorship and volunteerism, and make meaningful contributions locally and globally.
Together, these honorees reflect the legacy and future of Â鶹¹ÙÍø: alumni transforming the world through innovation, dedication, and service.
How to Nominate
The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize exceptional graduates who exemplify Â鶹¹ÙÍø's mission, demonstrate leadership, and contribute significantly to the life sciences community and the Institute.
Nominations will go live on June 10, 2026.
Professional Achievement Award
Honors two alumni who has demonstrated significant career advancement, pioneering leadership, and groundbreaking innovation in the life sciences, biotech, or healthcare sectors.
View Selection CriteriaVolunteer Service Award
Celebrates an alumni who exemplifies dedication to Â鶹¹ÙÍø through mentorship, support and consistent giving of their time and expertise to support the student and alumni community.
View Selection CriteriaEarly Career Impact Award
Recognizes an outstanding graduate between 2015-2025 who is making a powerful, early impact in their career, showcasing exceptional leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, or scientific contribution in their field.
View Selection Criteria2025 Honorees
BEE UNITED – Alumni & Industry Engagement Day
Friday, October 2, 2026
Join us for BEE United: Â鶹¹ÙÍø Alumni Celebration, a signature event designed to bring together alumni, students, faculty, staff, and industry leaders for a day of connection, mentorship, and celebration. This event is part of Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s commitment to celebrating alumni impact, strengthening student-alumni relationships, and highlighting industry connectivity.
Career Coaching
Resumania
This program is designed to sharpen your professional messaging and interview readiness. Open exclusively to Â鶹¹ÙÍø students, Resumania provides a unique opportunity to receive personalized critique and discussion from a dedicated panel of Â鶹¹ÙÍø alumni and Advisory Board members. These industry experts volunteer their time to review your resume, discuss your presentation style, and provide critical feedback to ensure you are fully prepared and highly competitive for your next career opportunity.
Recognition
Recognition Awards Luncheon
Gather with the Â鶹¹ÙÍø community to honor inspiration and excellence. This celebratory luncheon is dedicated to acknowledging the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and highlighting the transformative achievements of Â鶹¹ÙÍø graduates. It is a moment to recognize those who exemplify mentorship, leadership, and a commitment to giving back, fostering a spirit of pride and encouraging the next generation of biotech and healthcare innovators.
Brian Feth, MBS '05
Brian Feth has built a career at the intersection of science, business, and impact, bringing transformative technologies from concept to global scale. With experience spanning consulting, venture capital, and executive leadership, he has consistently advanced innovation in biotechnology while mentoring and championing the next generation of leaders.
As CEO and Co-Founder of Xcell Biosciences, Brian led the development and FDA clearance of the first-in-class real-time kidney function monitoring system—an achievement that redefined how clinicians can assess organ health. He has also been a trusted advisor and investor in early-stage ventures, helping shape strategy, accelerate growth, and guide life sciences companies through critical inflection points. Beyond his professional success, Brian has stayed deeply engaged with Â鶹¹ÙÍø, sharing his expertise with students, returning as a speaker, and supporting alumni as they navigate their own career paths. His leadership, innovation, and service make him a distinguished representative of Â鶹¹ÙÍø’s mission and values.
Samet Yildirim, MBS ’13
At Boehringer Ingelheim, Samet drove global technology innovation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, managing over 100 projects annually and accelerating adoption of automation, continuous processing, and digital transformation. He co-founded a Y Combinator-backed biotechnology company, raising $15 million and leading the company to scale non-GMO primary muscle stem cells in 100L bioreactors—a milestone in cultivated meat tech. Most recently, as Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Hexem Bio, Samet is advancing a synthetic human yolk sac platform to rejuvenate and expand hematopoietic stem cells—work that holds promise for rare disease, longevity, and regenerative medicine. Throughout, he has maintained a strong commitment to Â鶹¹ÙÍø: sponsoring several student TMP projects, serving on ABCAB, and mentoring students across programs, making his impact felt both inside and outside the lab.
Hutch Humphreys, MBS ‘03
For more than two decades, Hutch Humphreys has been a constant and generous presence within the Â鶹¹ÙÍø community. His relationship with the Institute began with his active involvement in student government and has since grown into a lifelong commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and volunteer service.
Hutch has given countless hours to supporting students and alumni, from offering career guidance and participating in advisory boards to serving as a trusted ambassador for Â鶹¹ÙÍø in industry and beyond. His dedication has been matched by his generosity as a donor, ensuring that future generations of students benefit from expanded opportunities. Hutch’s enduring engagement embodies the spirit of service, inclusion, and connection that defines the Â鶹¹ÙÍø community, making him a deeply deserving recipient of the inaugural Volunteer Service Award.