Jacob-Aidan Martinez ('25 M.S.) earned his master of science in educational psychology from UNT entirely online and didn't attend commencement, instead choosing to attend his sister's graduation that was happening the same weekend.

"I wasn't able to really celebrate or acknowledge this milestone -- it kind of came and went," Martinez says. "I got the degree in the mail, framed it and quietly put it up in my office."

But that changed in April, when he was honored for his work as the director of student life at San Antonio College as part of the first annual 10 Under 10 Awards, hosted by the UNT Alumni Association in partnership with the Graduates of the Last Decade Alumni Network.

He says the evening was the closest he has felt to UNT.

"There was this sense of pride that came over me," Martinez says. "I felt that it was the universe finally allowing me to take time out of the day to enjoy the full achievement -- graduating and receiving this acknowledgement. When I walked across the stage to accept my 10 Under 10 Award, it was symbolic for me to finally walk across a UNT stage."

The awards celebrate exceptional alumni within 10 years of graduation who exemplify the Mean Green spirit by making a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. The honorees are leaders advancing in their professions and demonstrating a strong commitment to service, volunteerism and philanthropic involvement.

The honorees were:

Nickolas Hight ('22) is an entrepreneur, co-founder and business builder based in Fort Worth.

Brittney Huff ('19 M.P.A.) is the finance director for the city of White Settlement.

Madison Humphrey ('22) is a Dallas-based actress and content creator who rose to prominence on TikTok for her sharp observational humor and relatable character work.

Charlie Hunter ('21), of Denton, is a community leader and strategist.

Ahou Vaziri Line ('23 Ph.D.) is a Frisco-based mental health therapist, author, international speaker and former graduate professor with almost a decade of experience specializing in parent engagement and play therapy.

Jacob-Aidan Martinez ('25 M.S.) is director of student life at San Antonio College.

Sivanesh Palanivel ('16 Ph.D.), of Austin, is a leader in materials engineering whose work has advanced manufacturing and sustainable innovation in the electric vehicle industry.

Patrick Powers ('17), of Dallas, is an award-winning educator, nonprofit leader and community strategist focused on advancing economic mobility through education.

Hailey Sutton ('18 M.A.) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based award-winning sports journalist and host reporter for CBS Sports HQ, CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network.

Samantha Taylor ('16, '20 M.P.A.) serves as office director and emergency management coordinator for Denton County, where she leads emergency preparedness and disaster resilience efforts in one of the state's fastest growing counties.