Chinazo Cunningham Awarded Inaugural ‘A Life Touched, A Generation Changed’ Award
6/9/2023 3:07:00 PM | General, Softball, David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program
EVANSTON, Ill. – Dr. Chinazo Cunningham (née Opia) has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the 'A Life Touched, A Generation Changed' Award. The award was established in 2023 to annually honor one former Wildcats letterwinner for their resounding impact on others through actions and deeds, while serving as an inspiration to their community.
As the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Dr. Cunningham leads one of the largest statewide addiction treatment systems in the nation. She has worked in a number of roles, providing care to underserved populations, researching at the peaks of the HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 epidemics, and advocating for equity in medical treatment.
"It's a tremendous honor to receive the first 'A Life Touched, A Generation Changed' Award," Cunningham said. "My experience as a Wildcats student-athlete taught me innumerable life lessons including discipline, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, performance under pressure and much more. I'm endlessly thankful that I had the opportunity to represent Northwestern, and still do to this day.."
In February, Northwestern Athletics announced that the A Life Touched, A Generation Changed Award would be awarded annually in recognition of the generosity of University Trustee David G. Kabiller '85, '87 MBA.
An alumnus of both Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and Kellogg School of Management, Kabiller was himself a student-athlete. As an undergraduate, he received an athletic scholarship to play tennis at Northwestern and was named to the Big Ten Conference Academic All-Conference team. He conceived of and ultimately endowed the Kabiller NU for Life Program to help educate students about their professional options and to inspire them through alumni mentoring.
"Dr. Chinazo Cunningham is a tremendous representative of all that Northwestern Athletics is and strives to be", Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg said. "She is a living embodiment of all of the values that our university and athletic department hold dear, and an outstanding example to all of our current student-athletes of the opportunities in front of them. We're immensely proud of her achievements and grateful for her example."
A 2009 Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Cunningham did it all for the Wildcats, setting records in the pitcher's circle and the batter's box, while earning Academic All-Big Ten (3x) and Academic All-American (2x) honors. Her 0.38 earned run average in 1987 still stands as the program's best single-season ERA. At the plate, Cunningham won the 1990 Big Ten batting title, with a .348 batting average.
Since its launch ten years ago, the Kabiller NU for Life program has become an integral component of the student-athlete experience at Northwestern. More than 1,500 student-athlete alumni across every sport and undergraduate major have participated. Alumni engagement in the program also has grown exponentially, with more graduates serving as mentors, shadowing hosts and employers.
As the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Dr. Cunningham leads one of the largest statewide addiction treatment systems in the nation. She has worked in a number of roles, providing care to underserved populations, researching at the peaks of the HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 epidemics, and advocating for equity in medical treatment.
"It's a tremendous honor to receive the first 'A Life Touched, A Generation Changed' Award," Cunningham said. "My experience as a Wildcats student-athlete taught me innumerable life lessons including discipline, teamwork, leadership, perseverance, performance under pressure and much more. I'm endlessly thankful that I had the opportunity to represent Northwestern, and still do to this day.."
In February, Northwestern Athletics announced that the A Life Touched, A Generation Changed Award would be awarded annually in recognition of the generosity of University Trustee David G. Kabiller '85, '87 MBA.
An alumnus of both Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and Kellogg School of Management, Kabiller was himself a student-athlete. As an undergraduate, he received an athletic scholarship to play tennis at Northwestern and was named to the Big Ten Conference Academic All-Conference team. He conceived of and ultimately endowed the Kabiller NU for Life Program to help educate students about their professional options and to inspire them through alumni mentoring.
"Dr. Chinazo Cunningham is a tremendous representative of all that Northwestern Athletics is and strives to be", Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Dr. Derrick Gragg said. "She is a living embodiment of all of the values that our university and athletic department hold dear, and an outstanding example to all of our current student-athletes of the opportunities in front of them. We're immensely proud of her achievements and grateful for her example."
A 2009 Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Cunningham did it all for the Wildcats, setting records in the pitcher's circle and the batter's box, while earning Academic All-Big Ten (3x) and Academic All-American (2x) honors. Her 0.38 earned run average in 1987 still stands as the program's best single-season ERA. At the plate, Cunningham won the 1990 Big Ten batting title, with a .348 batting average.
Since its launch ten years ago, the Kabiller NU for Life program has become an integral component of the student-athlete experience at Northwestern. More than 1,500 student-athlete alumni across every sport and undergraduate major have participated. Alumni engagement in the program also has grown exponentially, with more graduates serving as mentors, shadowing hosts and employers.
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