The IMSA Board of Trustees established its Alumni Awards program in 2006 to recognize Alumni who deliver outstanding contributions to IMSA, to the citizens of Illinois, our nation, and the world. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the establishment of the Cathy Veal Endowment for Recognition of Alumni in support of the Alumni Awards Program, ensuring the continued success of this annual celebration, covering the cost of the prestigious awards, the luncheon celebration, and the travel expenses for bringing alumni back to IMSA to be recognized.
The Board is pleased to announce the 2025 Board of Trustees Alumni Awards recipients.
Titan Award
The Alumni Titan Award, an annual award, honors alumni who, through outstanding service to IMSA, advance the institution’s mission and work. The honorees are enthusiastic and energetic IMSA champions who dedicate significant time, talent, and/or treasure to endeavors that help the Academy fulfill its role in developing talent and leadership in mathematics, science, and technology for our state, nation, and world.
Dion Steele ’89
Dion Steele, a charter alumnus of IMSA, is a visionary leader with a strong track record in education, youth development, and community impact. He has held pivotal roles such as Principal at Art in Motion Creative Arts School and Urban Prep Academies, and Director of External Partnerships at the University of Chicago Charter Schools, where he has empowered students and teams through culturally responsive leadership.
With deep expertise in education, social justice, and organizational strategy, Dion has led transformative initiatives across sectors—championing innovation, inclusion, and student success. He is widely respected for his authenticity, strategic insight, and unwavering commitment to equity.
A dedicated supporter of the IMSA community, Dion actively mentors students, contributes to events such as the African American Read-In and MLK celebrations, and has served on alumni and admissions panels. His impact is a testament to IMSA’s mission to develop leaders who shape a better future.
Dion holds a B.A. in History and African American Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.A. in Divinity from the University of Chicago.
Distinguished Leadership Awards
The Alumni Distinguished Leadership Award, an annual award, goes to alumni who have made distinguished achievements or leadership contributions in their professional fields of endeavor consistent with IMSA’s mission. The awardees may also be recognized for significant civic or community contributions or extraordinary courage and selflessness under challenging circumstances.
Captain Brent Spillner ‘95
A native of Cary, Illinois, Capt. Spillner attended the University of Illinois on a naval ROTC scholarship, commissioning in 1999 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science.
Afloat, Capt. Spillner completed his division officer tour aboard USS OHIO (SSBN 726) from 2001 to 2004, where he completed two strategic deterrent patrols and served as quality assurance officer and reactor refueling coordinator during the ship’s conversion to a guided missile/special forces submarine (SSGN). He also deployed to the Western Pacific aboard USS LOUISVILLE (SSN 724). Capt. Spillner was later assigned as navigator and operations officer on USS HAMPTON (SSN 767) and as executive officer on USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN 706), completing an additional Western Pacific deployment aboard each. He commanded USS SPRINGFIELD (SSN 761) from November 2016 to October 2019, where he led the crew through an engineered overhaul, operational recertification, and transition to the Pacific theater of operations, and USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772) from January to September 2020, where he completed a fourth Western Pacific and U.S. Central Command deployment.
From February 2023 to November 2024, he commanded the submarine tender USS EMORY S LAND (AS 39), where he coordinated maintenance, weapons reload, and logistic support to U.S. and allied submarines and surface warships in Guam and across the Western Pacific. During that assignment, he completed his fifth Western Pacific deployment and drove several engineering innovations, including the increased use of additive manufacturing, more agile expeditionary weapons handling, and the establishment of afloat maintenance personnel and knowledge exchange programs between the U.S. and Royal Australian Navies.
His shore tours included assignments as an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Amsterdam, where he completed a master’s degree in political science, as submarine officer program manager on the staff of the Chief of Naval Personnel, and as protocol branch head for the NATO Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy. After his submarine commands, he served as a Senior Member of the Combat Readiness Evaluation Team for Commander, Undersea Warfare, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and as a U.S. Navy Hudson Fellow at the University of Oxford. In 2025, he began studies at the Defense Language Institute in preparation for a prospective assignment as an attaché.
Capt. Spillner’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. Still, he is most proud of his unit-level awards, including a Navy Unit Commendation, several Battle Efficiency Ribbons, Humanitarian Service Medal, and numerous operations qualifying for the Navy Expeditionary Medal. Capt. Spillner is married to Angela Thelen of Palos Park, Illinois. They have two daughters, Violet and Julia.
Dr. Michael Ombrello ‘93
Dr. Michael Ombrello is an internationally recognized physician-scientist whose work exemplifies IMSA’s mission to advance the human condition through inquiry, innovation, and service. He serves as Principal Investigator and Head of the Translational Genetics and Genomics Section at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the NIH.
His groundbreaking research focuses on the genetic causes of rare inflammatory diseases, with discoveries that have reshaped our understanding of autoimmune conditions. A global pioneer in Still’s disease genomics, Dr. Ombrello leads the INCHARGE Consortium and launched the first genomic studies of the disease. He identified the first disease-causing PLCG2 mutations in humans, leading to the discovery of PLAID—an immune disorder profiled in The New England Journal of Medicine and The New Yorker.
He has published widely in journals such as Nature Genetics and Arthritis & Rheumatism, and serves in leadership roles that shape genomic standards and clinical guidelines. Dr. Ombrello is also a dedicated mentor, advancing the careers of future physician-scientists.
He lives with his wife, Dr. Amanda Ombrello, and their children, Olivia, James, and Evan.
Alumni Trailblazer Award
The Alumni Trailblazer Award, bestowed when merited, honors alumni who personify IMSA’s philosophy statement that there will be alumni who “create new intellectual worlds, cure a dreaded human ailment or in some other way significantly influence life on our planet.” The outstanding achievements of these honorees will have earned national or international prominence for a groundbreaking or sweeping initiative that has redefined and improved the way significant numbers of citizens live, learn, or work.
Katlyn Gao ‘97
Katlyn Gao is the Co-Founder and CEO of League One Volleyball (LOVB), the largest brand in youth volleyball that just completed its inaugural Professional season, led by Olympic medalists from Team USA. Intending to bring major league volleyball to the masses, under Katlyn’s leadership, LOVB is reimagining the future of volleyball by expanding possibilities for women through how the sport is played, promoted, experienced, and expressed, from youth to college to professional levels. She is transforming the trajectory of women’s volleyball and creating one of the most innovative models in professional athletics today.
Applying her vast consumer brand experience, including community engagement gleaned from the leadership positions she held at LuluLemon, Sephora and Coach, as well as strategic expertise from Bain, Harvard Business School and more, Katlyn is recognized by many as setting a new standard for building a modern league for modern athletes. She has attracted a variety of investors including Atwater Capital, Left Lane, Ares Management, Billie Jean King, Kevin Durant, Chelsea Handler and more who believe LOVB is onto something big.
Katlyn’s story has been featured in national media outlets, including NPR, Sports Illustrated, Bloomberg’s “The Deal” podcast, and Northwestern Magazine, and she has been invited to speak at prestigious events such as the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Her work serves as a blueprint for integrating sports, business, and community engagement to advance opportunity, representation, and innovation.
