Midani and O’Toole Honored with 2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards

At the same point during their respective final interviews as Distinguished Young Alumni Award nominees, Mohamad Midani ’12, ’16 and Shane O’Toole ’15 had the same reaction: shock and then laughter.

“I’m very overwhelmed, but also so honored,” O’Toole mused. “This is such a great surprise,” Midani exclaimed.

On Feb. 9, the two Wilson College of Textiles graduates learned that they weren’t actually being interviewed — instead, they had just been named the esteemed recipients of the college’s 2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Awards.

Established in 2021 by the Dean’s Young Alumni Leadership Council (DYALC), the Distinguished Young Alumni Award program recognizes graduates under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the textile industry and their communities. The DYALC works to promote the Wilson College of Textiles and the college’s fundraising arm, the North Carolina Textile Foundation, along with fostering continued engagement among young alumni.

Award winners are selected based on their professional achievements, alignment with the college’s core values, service to the industry, community involvement and entrepreneurship.

“This year’s awardees, Shane and Mohamad, are incredible examples of the expertise and dedication coming out of the Wilson College of Textiles,” says Andrew Hicks ’10, ’11, chair of the DYALC’s awards committee.

“We can’t wait to connect these two with current students and show those students how our field can be adapted to their particular interests.” 

Meet the 2022 Distinguished Young Alumni Award Recipients