Parties + Galas

Austin Under 40 Awards Honors Emerging Leaders While Raising More Than $215K for Austin Youth

The annual gala honored 17 young professionals while raising funds to support Austin Sunshine Camps

By Tribeza Staff
May 11, 2026

Priya Taneja receives the 2026 Austinite of the Year award during the Austin Under 40 Awards gala. (Photo by Dave Hawks Photography)

Austin’s next generation of leaders took center stage Saturday, May 9, as the Austin Under 40 Awards celebrated emerging professionals making an impact across industries and throughout the community.
Hosted annually by the Young Men’s Business League, the Austin Under 40 Awards recognized 90 finalists across 17 professional categories during a gala benefitting Austin Sunshine Camps. This year’s event raised more than $215,000 to support the organization’s mission of providing free overnight summer camp experiences for underserved youth across Austin.

Since its founding in 1998, the Austin Under 40 Awards has highlighted leaders under the age of 40 for professional achievement, civic involvement and community impact, while also honoring mentors who help shape Austin’s future.

Priya Taneja, 2026 Austinite of the Year, receives her award. (Photo by Dave Hawks Photography)

Dr. Eboni L. Ceasar, 2026 Mentor of the Year, receives his award (Photo by Dave Hawks Photography)

Troy Marcus, 2026 Trailblazer Award Winner, receives his award (Photo by Dave Hawks Photography)

2026 Austin Under 40 Winners

Youth and Education: Dr. Ashley Glover, Dr. Ashley Glover’s Wellness Center

Austinite of the Year + People and Operations: Priya Taneja, DHR Global

Mentor of the Year: Dr. Eboni L. Ceasar, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin

Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations: Angel Leverett, Austin Habitat for Humanity

Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Design: Ashley Wainscott, Simply Home

Arts, Music and Entertainment: Cassandra “DJ Cassandra” Shankman, Sounds By Cassandra

Capital, Financial and Insurance Services: Bart Davis, 512Financial

Civics, Government and Public Affairs: Robert “Smiley” McCray, Austin Fire Department

Energy, Sustainability and Transportation: Matt Loszak, Aalo Atomics

Food, Events and Hospitality: Jhonatan Aldama, Kesos Tacos

Journalism, Media and Content Creation: John-Carlos Estrada, CBS Austin

Legal: Sarah Harp, Office of the Attorney General of Texas

Medicine and Healthcare: Kevin Kumar, MD, PhD, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin

Nonprofit Service: Kaitlin Mauro, 4ATX Foundation

Real Estate: Megan Etz, Industry ATX

Retail, Manufacturing and Supply Chain: Sammy Lam, Wanderlust Wine Co.

Sports, Wellness and Fitness: Tyler Parsons, Vital Society

Technology: Yasir Arafat, Aalo Atomics

Trailblazer: Troy Marcus, Evergen Equity

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Nich Hearn and AU40 finalist and TRIBEZA publisher Krissy LittleStar Hearn. (Photo courtesy of AU40)

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TRIBEZA team members Ashley Sauls, Heidi Okla, Krissy LittleStar Hearn and Zoe Parker. (Photo courtesy of AU40)

Additionally, Krissy LittleStar Hearn, Publisher of TRIBEZA, was recognized as a finalist in the Journalism, Media and Content Creation category.

The awards gala directly supports Austin Sunshine Camps, a longtime local nonprofit that has provided free summer camp programs for children since 1928. By partnering with families facing barriers to access, the organization serves approximately 500 to 600 children between the ages of 8 and 15 each year.

Applications for the 2027 Austin Under 40 Awards will open this fall.