The University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics recognized four outstanding alumni during its 2026 Lerner Alumni Awards ceremony on May 29, 2026, as part of UD Alumni Weekend. Deputy Dean Sheryl Kline presided over the event, which celebrated alumni whose professional achievements, leadership and service exemplify the values of Lerner College and the University.
This year’s Alumni Award of Excellence recipients were Paul Altero, ’96, hotel, restaurant and institutional management; Amy Krzyzanowski, ’06, economics, and ’21, economics and entrepreneurship for educators; and Scott Somerville, ’76, accounting. The Rising Star Award was presented to Alina Serbina, ’19, marketing.
Lerner’s Alumni Award of Excellence recognizes graduates who have achieved distinction in their professions while demonstrating a commitment to leadership and service. Altero was honored for his entrepreneurial success in the hospitality industry, including growing Bubbakoo’s Burritos into a nationally recognized franchise brand. Krzyzanowski was recognized for her contributions to economics and personal finance education through her work with UD’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. Somerville was celebrated for his decades of leadership in the accounting profession, his commitment to community service and his longstanding dedication to mentoring students and supporting Lerner College.
Lerner’s Rising Star Award recognizes alumni who have achieved significant professional success early in their careers. Serbina, digital advertising director at Rational360 in Washington, D.C., was honored for her accomplishments in strategic communications and digital media, as well as her dedication to mentoring students and young professionals.
“This ceremony is one of my favorite nights of the year because it brings together our alumni along with faculty and friends,” said Kline.
“Tonight is about you – our alumni. The careers you have built, the communities you have shaped and the examples you have set for every student walking the halls of Lerner.”
The annual awards program highlights alumni whose accomplishments inspire current students and fellow Blue Hens while strengthening the lifelong connections that unite the Lerner College community. As graduates returned to campus for Alumni Weekend, the ceremony served as a reminder of the lasting impact of a Lerner education and the many ways alumni continue to advance their professions, communities and alma mater.