Randolph-Macon College celebrated the 2024 class of recipients of the 10 Under 10 Awards on Saturday, March 23 at the Dalton Family Dining Room in Birdsong Hall. Established by RMC’s Young Alumni Board, the awards recognize young alumni who have achieved remarkable success in their short time since graduating from RMC. The 10 honorees have established themselves as pillars in their communities and leaders in their professions in the years since their graduation.

Olivia Bowling ‘16

Bowling (biology major) has turned her passion for golf into a career. A young woman in a male-dominated industry, Bowling was hired at the age of 29 as the Head Golf Professional at the Country Club of Virginia. CCV is ranked as the #8 Platinum Country Club of America, and #53 in the world. She also serves as an assistant coach for RMC Women’s Golf. In addition to her work, Bowling volunteers with The First Tee of Greater Richmond, teaching golf to kids in over 127 schools across the region, focusing on the First Tee core values of honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, and perseverance.

PJ Costello ‘17

Costello (political science and computer science double-major) has served as a mission engineer for Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division since graduation. He was recently promoted to Chief Mission Engineer and a GS-15 grade in less than five years of government service. In his first year, Costello pioneered a new way to test and evaluate next generation naval software in mission-relevant scenarios and developed an AI to assist with search and rescue mission planning. In the following years, he deployed to the Pacific four times and led the integration of modeling and simulation for mission planning and adjudication of joint military exercises, where he was one of the youngest civilians assigned to the admirals’ staff.

Tyler Dunn ‘21

As a student-athlete, Dunn (accounting and economics double-major) was a key member of the Randolph-Macon Baseball squad that appeared in the 2018 NCAA Division III College World Series, the first in the program’s history. He continued his baseball career at The Citadel while earning an MBA in 13 months with a 4.0 GPA. Dunn works for PBMares Wealth Management, where his focus encompasses investment management, retirement planning, family advisory, estate planning, insurance and risk management, and 401(k) retirement plans for business owners. Additionally, Dunn serves as the Director of Analytics for RMC Baseball.

Ahron Flowers ‘14

While completing his master’s degree, Flowers (biology major) began working as a research scientist in the Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, where he piloted a new method for implanting a cell line into the mouse pancreas via an ultrasound-guided approach. He joined the Simpkins Laboratory as a laboratory manager before a transition to clinical research. In 2022, he was promoted to Associate Director for Operations for the Melanoma Center where he oversees all operations and the strategic plan for the Center, in addition to managing a multimillion dollar operating budget.

Syreen Goulmamine ‘19

Goulmamine (biology major), a scientist and public health expert specializing in epidemiology and life sciences research, serves as the Science Programs Manager for the Society for Women’s Health Research as well as the Senior Epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of Health. Before completing her master’s degree in public health, Syreen worked as a scientist and clinical trial report writer in the pharmaceutical industry, where she eventually began consulting for Fortune 500 companies. Her effective communication of scientific concepts is evident through presentations at professional conferences, including at the NIH and AMCHP, her service as a Public Health AmeriCorps volunteer, and her role as an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University.

Connor Kish ‘15

After graduation, Kish (political science and communication studies double-major) joined former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s administration in the Governor’s Fellows Program, processing thousands of civil and voting rights restorations for returning citizens. He has since served in a variety of roles across Virginia politics, including Chief of Staff for Delegate Betsy Carr and running a congressional campaign for the late Donald McEachin. In his current role as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, he leads the Virginia legislative and political operations for the country’s largest grassroots environmental advocacy organization.

Priscilla Koirala ‘18

After earning a chemistry degree from RMC, Koirala graduated at the top of her class from VCU Medical School. She was selected for the VCU Summer Research Fellowship, where she was part of clinical trials with the Department of Urology. Currently in her second year of internal medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic, she has continued to work on research projects with the nephrology department. Koirala is also a member of the ABC News Medical Unit, where she uses her expertise to contribute to medical news segments.

Cristopher Lowe ‘14

Lowe (history major) spent eight years after graduation teaching social studies at Varina High School, winning New Teacher of the Year in 2015. During that time, he also worked as a staff coach for the Richmond Strikers and acquired his USSF National B License, the second-highest coaching license in the United States. Lowe now works full-time for the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club as the Assistant Zone One Director as well as the Assistant Futsal Director. He has helped oversee the development of over 700 youth players, and had the opportunity to lead Strikers teams in the Tournoi International de Guerledan in France.

Amber Samuels ‘15

After completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at RMC, Samuels earned her master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Radford University and her Ph.D. in counseling and human development from the George Washington University. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Hood College and is a licensed and board-certified therapist. Her expertise is regularly featured in prominent media outlets such as the Associated Press, SELF Magazine, Well and Good, and Therapist.com. Samuels’ work and advocacy in media is driven by her mission to promote mental wellbeing in underserved communities by translating complex mental health concepts into accessible information.

Yadel Tekle ‘17

After graduating from RMC, Tekle (economics and accounting double-major) earned his master’s in accounting from the University of Virginia. He started his professional career at Deloitte, where he spent four and a half years supporting top banks and capital markets institutions to navigate business risks and identify growth opportunities. He has since transitioned to EY-Parthenon, where he is now a director in the transaction strategy and execution group. Tekle channels his passion for service through the National Association of Black Accountants, where he plays an active role in guiding young Black professionals.