Miami University congratulates the outstanding individuals selected for the 2023-24 class of 18 of the Last 9 awards. This program, inspired by the 30 under 30 model and rooted in Miami University's charter year of 1809, recognizes alumni embodying the values inherent in a Miami education. In its eleventh year, nearly 90 alumni were nominated for this esteemed award.

The College of Education, Health, and Society proudly boasts two honorees among this year's recipients. Lindsey Ellis, a 2015 graduate in Sport Leadership and Management, is recognized for her exceptional achievements as the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for Arizona State University Women's Ice Hockey. Ellis, who played a pivotal role in bringing women's collegiate hockey to Arizona, continues to empower female athletes and leaders, earning acclaim and accolades for her contributions.

Another distinguished honoree is Benjamin Williams, also from the Class of 2015, acknowledged for his remarkable work in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Currently serving as the Assistant Dean of Students at Miami University, Williams has spent a decade supporting students in navigating higher education. His commitment extends beyond professional responsibilities, encompassing significant volunteer work for causes he cares about, including roles on the Board of Directors for the NASPA Foundation, Equality Ohio, and the steering committee for Human Rights Campaign Cincinnati.

The formal announcement of this year's 18 of the Last 9 Award honorees was made on January 1, recognizing these exceptional alumni for their leadership, innovation, and positive impact on their respective fields.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 3.5, a language model developed by OpenAI, assisted in writing this news story.)