The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Alumni Association celebrated the personal and professional successes of seven UAH graduates at the 2024 Alumni of Achievement Awards Dinner, held Sept. 19 on the UAH campus. The awards recognize individuals from each academic college as well as one Outstanding Young Alumni of Achievement. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.
The event is a signature component of Alumni Weekend 2024, which continues with alumni and family activities on the UAH campus through Sept. 22.
The Alumni of Achievement Award honors distinguished graduates who exemplify the high standards of UAH. The Outstanding Young Alumni of Achievement Award is presented to graduates age 40 or younger who have shown outstanding achievement in their profession or field, demonstrated exemplary service to the community and supported the university in meaningful ways. These are the highest honors bestowed by the UAH Alumni Association.
Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Alumni of Achievement and Outstanding Young Alumni of Achievement awards:
- Dixiana Berrios, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (B.A., political science, 1994)
- Walter Woltosz, College of Business (M.A., administrative science, 1977)
- Steven Norwood, College of Engineering (B.S., chemical engineering, 1998)
- Angelear Warren, College of Education (B.A., elementary education, 2013)
- Alice Lessmann, College of Nursing (B.S., nursing, 1998; M.S., nursing, 2001)
- Amanda Clark, College of Science (B.S., computer science, 2005; M.S., electrical engineering, 2014)
- De’Onah Norfleet, 2024 Outstanding Young Alumna of Achievement, College of Business (BSBA, accounting, 2014; MBA, management, 2016)
Award recipients shared memories of fun times and vital lessons learned at UAH as well as career highlights and tips for today’s students with the Alumni Association.
Dixiana Berrios, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. and Metropolitan Commercial Bank, says she is grateful for “the knowledgeable and supportive professors in the political science department at UAH as well as my time in the Student Government Association and as president of the Black Student Association.”
“The support that I received gave me the confidence to pursue academic goals. Also, participation in leadership roles in student organizations prepared me for collaborating and building successful teams throughout my career.”
She encourages students to rely on their UAH education and work confidently toward their goals: “Lean into your strengths and do not let fear keep you from pursuing academic or career opportunities, knowing that UAH has prepared you for those pursuits.”
Walter Woltosz, who was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2008, worked in the aerospace industry in Huntsville in the 1970s and later in California into the 1980s. During this time, he made a notable discovery: Rolling NASA’s space shuttle upside down during launch would provide a payload increase of about 8,000 lbs.
Woltosz and his wife, Ginger, founded two companies: The first, Words+, Inc., offered the first personal-computer-based augmentative communication systems for people with severe disabilities, including famed physicist Stephen Hawking. Woltosz left the aerospace industry in 1983 to run Words+ full time.
In 1996 Woltosz applied his knowledge of computer simulation and modeling to pharmaceutical research and development, creating their second company, Simulations Plus, Inc. The couple took it public in 1997. He retired as CEO in 2018 but continues as chairman of the board.
Steven Norwood recalls lessons learned from fellow students as well as his professors – and the joy of Charger hockey.
“Once we reached junior year, it was mostly the same group of people in our chemical engineering classes. I enjoyed the comradery we built as we learned from each other as much as we learned from the professors. I also enjoyed attending the UAH hockey games. The hockey team was in their prime, winning their two national championships.”
As for life after UAH, “the standard of excellence set by the College of Engineering and the Chem E department prepared me well,” says Norwood, plant manager for Indorama Ventures Xylenes & PTA.
“When I entered the workforce, I was well armed to compete with others from larger engineering schools. I was able to use my engineering training to quickly pick up the concepts of the manufacturing process and make improvements. The confidence and leadership that I gained at UAH, being able to work with groups to accomplish projects such as senior process design, helped me step into a collaborative work environment and succeed.”
Angelear Warren, an elementary school assistant principal in Huntsville City Schools, appreciates the “rigor and high expectations” she found at UAH.
“Each professor instilled in me a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence that I carry with me in every aspect of my career. The challenging coursework pushed me to think critically and creatively, encouraging me to go beyond surface-level understanding and develop a deep mastery of my field. Moreover, the collaborative environment fostered at UAH taught me the importance of teamwork and effective communication skills, which have been invaluable in my professional life. Whether it was through research projects, group assignments or classroom discussions, I learned the importance of perseverance, adaptability and continuous learning.”
She’s passing along those lessons to her own students as she travels “a unique journey filled with challenges and rewards.”
“Cultivating patience and flexibility is not just important, it is crucial in the elementary classroom. Each child you encounter will bring their own set of needs, strengths and challenges. It is essential to approach each situation with an open mind and a willingness to adapt.”
Alice Lessmann, a former nurse who is now the CEO/owner at Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis, recalls “a multitude of amazing experiences” from her years at UAH, but one stands out.
“I was a cheerleader for the hockey team during the 1995-1996 season. The team went undefeated and gave UAH its first NCAA championship. This mark on history also left its mark on me and is one of my most cherished memories at UAH.”
From the beginning of her UAH experience, she says, the focus was on success.
“Being a student at UAH led me to develop three main concepts that heavily affected the course of my career: time management, perseverance and balance. While at UAH, I worked as a nurse tech at Huntsville Hospital, attended National Guard drill on the weekend once a month, and was on the cheer team all while maintaining my grades and being involved in social life. This complex schedule planted the seeds to maintain an exponentially industrious life now.”
Amanda Clark is director, Missile Defeat Directorate, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center. She recalls success, failure and fun in the UAH Optics Building.
“My favorite memories of UAH are working in the labs trying to make a laser and instead melting a lot of glass – and Dr. Don Gregory’s Fourier Optics class. The class would plan wild questions for the lesson to see if we could get him off track. He finally caught on to our tricks, and it was very funny.”
UAH has been an important part of Clark’s life since she first arrived on campus as a student.
“I have gone from freshman to graduate student, Army employee working in labs on campus, to now a director in the Army with employees that I lead working in labs on campus. Many of the professors and research staff have taught me science, but also helped me grow professionally.”
De’Onah Norfleet says she has many favorite memories of her time at UAH, but volunteering as a Week of Welcome (WOW) leader stands out.
“I remember my freshman year and all of the activities offered during Week of Welcome which allowed me to connect with others and come out of my shell. To be on the other side, welcoming students, engaging with them and being a part of their initial college experience was an honor!”
Norfleet credits UAH for helping her get to where she is today, manager at BDO Public Sector, LLC.
“The various opportunities available to UAH students allowed me to grow and develop personally and professionally. During undergrad, I had the opportunity to work as a student in the Contracts and Grants Accounting Department, which allowed me to gain the accounting experience needed for my career.”
