The inaugural 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Awards will be presented Friday, Oct. 4, during WSC’s Homecoming Week festivities.
The Wayne State College Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of its first 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Awards, which are awarded in conjunction with Wayne State College’s time-honored Outstanding Alumni Awards.
The 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Awards will be presented Friday, Oct. 4, during Homecoming week festivities at Wayne State.
"These awards recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Wayne State alumni who are already shaping the future with their contributions to their professions and communities,” said Amber Sperry, director of alumni relations for the Wayne State Foundation. “We look forward to recognizing these and many more young leaders in the years to come, much like we do with our Outstanding Alumni Awards.”
For the 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Awards, the Wayne State Foundation honors alumni who are emerging leaders making significant contributions by living out their calling, engaged in the local or global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement, serving as an outstanding young role model for current and future students and alumni, and an alumni member within 10 years of their graduation.
The 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Award recipients for 2024
- Dr. Sydney Armstrong-Grint – Grand Island
- Dr. Alyssa L. Bish – Aurora
- Dr. Jon Davis – Webster City, Iowa
- J’Ron Erby – Hercules, Calif.
- Matt Hansen – Turin, Iowa
- Dr. Jill M. Murray – Cambridge
- Dr. Ayli Carrero Pinedo – Elgin
- Ashton Spieker – Pierce
- Adam W. Stolzer – Springfield
- Elliot James Zach – Humphrey
Dr. Sydney Armstrong-Grint ‘19
Dr. Sydney Armstrong-Grint is a native of Grand Island, Neb. She graduated from Wayne State College in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Through the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP), she then attended the College of Dentistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After receiving her DDS, she returned to her hometown with her husband, Nolan, and fulfilled a lifelong goal of opening a dental practice dedicated to serving their community. She is already contributing to Grand Island's future. She is volunteering on the Grand Island Senior High Medical Pathway Advisory Committee, has been deemed one of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce's Top 35 under 35, and is on a committee raising funds to re-invigorate Kids Kingdom, a large playground staple at Stolley Park in Grand Island.
Armstrong-Grint has only good things to say about her Wayne State College experience. She says the academic preparation for dental school was top-notch, both in terms of her professors as well as the facilities on campus. The symbiosis between the college and the Wayne community provided a safe and vibrant social environment. Additionally, she met many of her best friends to this day while at Wayne.
Armstrong-Grint says she looks forward to becoming involved in the Wayne State Foundation and Alumni Office in the coming years.
Dr. Alyssa L. Bish ‘15
Dr. Alyssa Bish is the Director of the Division of Children and Family Services with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Bish was appointed director by Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen on Oct. 24, 2023.
Bish previously served as Director of Personnel, appointed by Missouri Governor Michael Parson, for the State of Missouri. During her tenure, she oversaw personnel policies and responsibilities, developed and carried out initiatives to benefit state team members, and collaborated with human resources professionals for all 17 executive departments.
Prior to Bish's work in personnel, she held various roles of increasing responsibility for the Department of Social Services serving children and families. Bish oversaw multiple statewide initiatives including the implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act and initiatives to improve the quality of foster care services and decrease the backlog of cases.
Bish has a Doctorate in Communication, a Master of Public Affairs degree, and a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Public Relations and Organizational Leadership and a minor in Sociology from Wayne State College.
Dr. Jon Davis ‘16
Dr. Jon Davis is a critical care fellow physician from Webster City, Iowa. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry Health Sciences at Wayne State College, where he was also a member of the football team and served as a captain during his senior year. He obtained his medical degree from Des Moines University and completed his internal medicine residency at Legacy Health in Portland, Ore. Currently serving as chief fellow, he is finishing his critical care fellowship at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J. He resides in Gloucester City, N.J., with his wife, Laura, and their 1-year-old son, Lennon.
J’Ron Erby ‘16
J'Ron Erby is currently a Social Media Manager at ESPN. He has been an integral part of ESPN's social media efforts geared towards marketing, branding, sports betting, and fantasy content throughout his five years with the company. Erby has had a hand in numerous ESPN company priorities on social including co-leading social promotion of Emmy-winning series “The Last Dance,” the launch of the Disney+ streaming service, and the launch of the ESPN BET brand. In 2023, he created the “SportsCenter Top 10 Chain” along with Los Angeles jeweler Dan Life. In 2024, he co-led a committee that introduced the "That's a W" brand campaign content, tailored for social media, showcasing the achievements of female athletes during the Olympics. He has earned several accolades in his field, such as being selected for the Front Office Sports Rising 25 Class of 2019, the Hashtag Sports Creators of Color Class of 2023, and most recently, the Forbes 30 Under 30, Class of 2023.
Matt Hansen ‘14
After graduating from WSC in the spring of 2014, Matt Hansen has been the industrial technology instructor at MMCRU High School in Marcus, Iowa, for the past 10 years. Teaching students in grades 7-12, he covers a wide array of topics ranging from mechanical engineering to manufacturing at the high school level, and exploratory STEM classes in middle school, fostering a passion for skilled trades.
His dedication to STEM education has significantly impacted the school and community, with 85% of the high school student body participating in his program as an elective. Hansen’s efforts have been recognized with numerous awards, including Iowa's 2020 STEM Educator of the Year and the 2024 Iowa finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Under his leadership, the district's skilled trades program has earned recognition as Iowa’s STEM BEST award in 2021 and 2023.
Hansen credits his success to the exceptional education and experiences he gained at WSC, which laid the foundation for his teaching career. He is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his wife, Kayla (a 2014 WSC graduate), and their two sons, Dane and Lee, who continually inspire him to make a positive impact and to make the world a better place, one day at a time.
Dr. Jill M. Murray ‘14
Jill (Gall) Murray is a 2014 graduate of Wayne State. She is a family medicine physician currently practicing in Carroll, Iowa. She has lived there for the past three years with Trace, her husband of nine years, and their daughter, Loretta, whom they welcomed in November 2023.
After graduating from WSC, Murray was accepted to and ultimately graduated from Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa, before completing her family medicine residency in Rapid City, S.D. Following residency graduation, the Murrays moved back to Iowa to be closer to family.
In her day-to-day work, Murray cares for patients both in outpatient (clinic) and inpatient (hospital) settings. Family medicine in Carroll has provided opportunities to also sit on multiple boards for the hospital and community. Murray’s special areas of passion in medicine include preventative medicine, geriatrics, hospice, and pediatrics.
During her time as a physician in Carroll, Murray has contributed to the community and St. Anthony organization. She is cofounder and chair for their hospital gala, raising over $350,000 in the first year for the hospital, and cofounder of Shelves of Grace, which stands as a food and resource pantry for hospital and clinic patients. She serves as Medical Director for the St. Anthony Nursing Home, Vice Chief of Staff for St. Anthony Hospital, and a member of the Ethics Committee. She is also a member of the Carroll Library Foundation board.
Murray considers herself incredibly blessed to be able to live out what she feels is her calling as a mom, wife, and physician, and she is honored to have her patient panel.
Dr. Ayli Carrero Pinedo ‘14
Dr. Ayli Carrero Pinedo is a Peruvian immigrant, first-generation student, American Psychological Association (APA) Minority Fellowship Program fellow, and award-winning bilingual licensed psychologist. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from Wayne State College, an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Dakota. Her clinical, research, and service work is informed by liberation psychology and public health. She has extensive experience going to Capitol Hill and meeting with government officials to stand up for health parity and advocate for mental health equity for people of color, immigrants, and rural communities. Carrero Pinedo has also been nationally recognized for her professional work and featured by media outlets for her trauma expertise. She currently serves as an elected member on the executive committee of APA’s Division 56 (Trauma Psychology) as a Member-At-Large and on the Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest of the American Psychological Association. Carrero Pinedo hopes to inspire the future generation of servant leaders, particularly young women of color so behavioral health equity can be realized.
Ashton Spieker ‘15
Ashton Spieker is a Vice President of Lending, specializing in commercial and consumer lending, at Midwest Bank in Norfolk. She graduated from Wayne State College in December 2015, majoring in Business Finance. Spieker began her career at the FDIC before transitioning to community banking, where she has excelled for the past six years.
Spieker says community banking has allowed her to grow in credit decision-making and management roles. She is an active member of the Nebraska Banker’s Association and the Nebraska SBA 504 Loan Committee. Spieker is also an honors graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Spieker is committed to fostering community growth. She is actively involved with area organizations including The Norfolk Area United Way, Women Embracing Business, and The Pierce Prosperity Foundation. She is also passionate about promoting financial literacy and collaborates with local schools to provide valuable education in the Norfolk area.
Outside of work, Spieker finds joy in her family life. She is married to Trent Spieker, and together, they have a 3-year-old daughter, with another child expected in December.
Adam W. Stolzer ‘15
Adam Stolzer is in his 10th year of education, currently serving as the junior/senior high school principal at Burwell High School in Burwell, Neb. He has served in this position for three years. Prior to that, he was a high school math teacher and head boys basketball coach. He is married to Rachelle Stolzer, and together they have two children, Leighton and Osborne. Stolzer has led his building with unique initiatives that enhance the student experience. He has worked to never accept the status quo and consistently fight to improve the educational experience at Burwell. He strives daily to share his passion of leading in order to help instill a reflective mindset in the students and staff he works with, helping them to form better versions of themselves each day. He has been recognized with the NCSA Award of Excellence, a guest on national educational leadership podcasts, and a presenter at conferences.
Elliot James Zach ’18, MBA ‘20
Elliot Zach is the owner of Norfolk Specialties, Inc, which engineers, programs, and machines various industrial parts and employs about 20 local machinists and fabricators. He is also the co-owner of Silver Pressure Parts & Washers, LLC, with his father. Silver Pressure manufactures industrial cold and hot/cold pressure washers. Both companies distribute products locally, nationally, and globally.
While Zach was growing up, he knew he wanted to own a business. Zach says he was fascinated with finance, cash flow, and how businesses operated. He also wanted to be his own boss. Wayne State helped him accomplish those goals. He says he uses what he learned in college every day to push his businesses toward success.
Outside of work, Zach enjoys spending time with his younger siblings. He also spends a lot of time hunting and fishing with his family and friends around the country, going to the mountains and the beach, as well as working on his own land.