three alumni award winners
Michelle Szydlowski, Iynna Halilou andGiovanni Pittiglio

British Council Unveils Awardees of Prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards 2022/23 at the British Embassy in Celebration of Success and Achievement.

Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 2023 - The Study UK Alumni Awards 2022/23, a prestigious international event, was held at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of UK alumni in the United States as well as the world-class education they received from UK universities.

Each awardee is a demonstrated leader in their field and has used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities and professions.

This year the Study UK Alumni Awardees are:

  • Iynna Halilou

Business and Innovation Awardee

Halilou, a graduate of Durham University, is currently an investor at Moxxie Ventures and Partner at the MBA Fund. She was recently recognized as a Top Rising Star VC by Business Insider. Her impressive accomplishments include having built and ran New York City’s first and largest early-stage tech startup accelerator and VC fund. She also led Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus' digital accelerator supporting the growth of social entrepreneurs globally, among many other achievements.

  • Rachel Koller

Culture and Creativity Awardee

Koller, a graduate of the University of East Anglia, is a novelist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. Her debut novel Stone Cold Fox released Feb. 14, 2023. She is the WGA Award-nominated screenwriter for her latest feature film, Torn Hearts, from Blumhouse. She has scripted film and television projects for companies including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Freeform, and Comedy Central, among others.

  • Giovanni Pittiglio

Science and Sustainability Awardee

Pittiglio, a graduate of the University of Leeds and current research fellow at Boston Children's Hospital-Harvard Medical School, develops minimally invasive robotic catheters that can operate inside the heart, saving the lives of adults and children by preventing heart failure. His research has the potential to provide an alternative to more invasive treatments such as surgery, chemo, or radio-therapy.

  • Michelle Szydlowski

Social Action Awardee

Szydlowski, a graduate of the University of Exeter, is leading the way in redefining anthrozoology by ensuring that marginalized communities of human and non-human animals are equal participants in research and beneficiaries of conservation practices. She serves on the advisory board of a joint Nepalese/Belgian elephant-based NGO and is actively involved in environmental and humane education initiatives, one world/one health programs, and biodiversity preservation projects.

Alumni awardees, Szydlowski and Morsch
Michelle Szydlowski and Camila Morsch
Alumni awardees, Pittiglio and Heath
Giovanni Pittiglio and Samuel Heath
Alumni awardees, Halilou and Mason
Iynna Halilou and Leah Mason

Inspiring the Next Generation of Global Leaders

As the Study UK Alumni Awards 2023 comes to a close, the achievements of the awardees serve as a testament to the high-quality education and opportunities that UK universities provide. From business and innovation to culture and creativity, science and sustainability to social action, the Awardees embody the diverse and impactful careers that UK alumni can pursue.

To the next generation of aspiring global leaders, know this: studying in the UK can open doors to a world of possibilities. With world-class universities and rich cultural heritage, the UK offers students a unique and unparalleled educational experience. Whether you're interested in business, the arts, science, or social impact.

Study in the UK and unleash your potential to change the world.

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We also encourage UK alumni to learn more about our new global network for people from around the world who have studied in the UK as an overseas student, and sign up to our membership on Alumni UK. 
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