Two UD alumni recognized by Forbes magazine

NEWARK — Two University of Delaware alumni have been recognized by Forbes in its newest “30 Under 30” list of what the magazine calls “the most definitive gathering of today’s leading young change-makers and innovators in the U.S.”

According to UD online publication UDaily, UD basketball player Elena Delle Donne, a 2013 College of Education and Human Development graduate and forward for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, is honored in the sports category. Matthew Watters, a 2011 College of Arts and Sciences graduate from Ramsey, N.J., is honored in the area of law and policy for his efforts to spur economic growth in Sierra Leone.

Delle Donne was a Dean’s List student and an NCAA Division I Academic All-American of the Year. She currently plays with the  WNBA and was an Olympic gold medalist who played with the U.S. national team at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Watters was a member of the UD Honors Program and earned his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a minor in political science. He won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration.

Today, he works with global management consulting firm, McKinsey and Co., and leads its service to the government of Sierra Leone. His work supports $800 million in investments to expand economic growth in the West African nation in the aftermath of the Ebola health crisis.

The “30 Under 30” listings, now in their sixth year, recognize 30 young achievers in each of 20 industries for their entrepreneurial success and passion. This year, more than 15,000 young people were nominated, with the final 600 honorees selected by Forbes staff members and a team of outside judges.