Young Alumni Award (Est. 2020)
The Young Alumni Award is bestowed upon alumni by the University of Illinois Alumni Association on behalf of the University of Illinois. This award recognizes alumni who are under the age of 35, and who have emerged as early leaders in their respective professional or civic endeavors. These individuals have demonstrated leadership and innovation and have proven themselves to be exceptional ambassadors for the University’s recent graduate and young alumni communities.
Kathryn M. Polkoff, ’15 ACES, MS ’17 ACES
Kathryn M. Polkoff, ’15 ACES, MS ’17 ACES, is a leader in the fields of biotechnology and livestock science, with over a decade of experience at the intersection of animal sciences and environmental sustainability. As co-founder and CEO of Hoofprint Biome, based in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Polkoff is pioneering innovative solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges in livestock production.
In 2022, Polkoff earned her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in veterinary biomedical sciences, with a focus on cell biology. Her doctoral research and postdoctoral work have solidified her expertise in biotechnology and its application in animal health and productivity.
Polkoff’s leadership extends beyond the lab; she is a passionate advocate for building symbiotic relationships between humans, animals, and the planet through sustainable livestock production. Since founding Hoofprint Biome in 2023, Polkoff and her team have developed cutting-edge enzyme solutions to reduce methane emissions from cattle farming, aiming to make livestock farming a critical part of mitigating climate change. Hoofprint’s work promises not only environmental benefits but also improved animal health and enhanced farm profitability. Under Polkoff’s leadership, the company has raised venture capital funding, in addition to grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Foundation for net zero carbon emissions.
As an Illinois student, Polkoff was a member of the volleyball team that made three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances from 2013 to 2015; was a Bronze Tablet, Summa Cum Laude, and James Scholar; and received the College of ACES’ Jonathan Baldwin Turner Graduate Fellowship.
2025
Adham Sahloul, ’15 LAS
2024
Anna L. Oldani, '12 ENG, MS '14, PHD '19
Scott L. Lichtenthal, MBA '21 BUS
2023
Douglas A. Litteken, ’11 ENG, MS ’16 ENG
2022
Arshan Nasir, MS ’12 ACES, PHD ’15 GC
2020
Markita Landry, PHD ’12 LAS
