Barry University alumna Rebecca Leppert (’16) has won the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce HYPE Award (Helping Young Professionals Engage) for Most Valuable Graduate. The Chamber’s HYPE Awards “distinguish South Florida's brightest young professionals and their innovation and achievements.” 

A political science major and Stamps Scholar, Leppert graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Barry’s College of Arts and Sciences. She was a frequent participant in events organized by the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI). She is now a graduate student studying public service and administration in the George Bush School of Public Service and Government at Texas A&M University.

“The award I received from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is nothing short of a blessing. The work that I did in undergrad was never for awards or recognition. The hard work I put into my classes and the dedication I gave toward the organizations I was involved with was always to improve myself in order to help others grow into better leaders for their community,” Leppert said. “Above all, my amazing family has helped me through the ups and downs. This award is for them.” 

Leppert credits her undergraduate success to Barry University’s Dr. Sean Foreman, professor of political science, and the Department of History and Political Science. She also thanked CCSI and the Stamps foundation, which she credits for helping her to become more involved at Barry.

Following graduate school, Leppert hopes to work for a nonprofit helping disabled youth and veterans, or in the Office of Intergovernmental Relations for the State of Texas.