Wartburg College recognized three outstanding young alumni for service to their communities with a Young Alumni Award.

The award honors graduates from the past 15 years who are living the four pillars of the Wartburg College mission: leadership, service, faith, and learning.

This year’s recipients are:

Britni Cohen-Wichner, a 2018 Wartburg graduate, earned her degree in music education and music therapy. As a compassionate and empathetic mentor, she is deeply committed to guiding those around her while continuously refining her own musical expertise through ongoing education and practice. Her dedication and leadership were instrumental in transforming a small band program into a thriving and significantly expanded ensemble. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Abhay Nadipuram graduated from Wartburg in 2010 with a degree in political science. He is the chief legal officer and corporate secretary for the Iowa Hospital Association. He serves on the board of directors for the Iowa Law School Foundation and on Wartburg’s President’s Advisory Council. He has previously been involved with Iowa Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter, the Des Moines Choral Society, the Iowa Asian Alliance, and the Iowa State Bar Association board. In partnership with his parents, he established the Nadipuram Washington, D.C., Experiential Learning Scholarship to support students in unpaid internships. He and his wife have also supported the Zahn Choir Trip Fund.

Bibek Chand, a 2012 graduate, earned his Wartburg degree in international relations. He has been consistently involved with student organizations that promote intercultural communication and global awareness as both an undergraduate and a faculty adviser. His commitment to learning is reflected in his academic achievements and extensive production of essays, books, and conference presentations. He is an associate professor at the University of North Georgia, where he advises the Model U.N. group and mentors students doing undergraduate research.

The three honorees were presented with their awards at a banquet on campus on Friday, April 11.