EVANSTON, Ill. – Six Northwestern junior student-athletes were named the 2026 Irving Kabiller Award recipients on Oct. 11 at the 14th annual Wildcat Professional Excellence Program (WPEP).
The Irving Kabiller Award recognizes outstanding junior student-athletes for who they are as students, athletes and people. Each recipient will have the opportunity to explore their desired industry through a 3–5-day professional immersion experience tailored to their interests.
Pratt is interested in pursuing a career in orthopedic sports medicine medical device sales, with a focus on knee surgeries such as ACL reconstructions and joint replacements. Inspired by her own experiences as a patient, she hopes to shadow medical device professionals in the operating room to learn how they support surgeons and help athletes achieve positive outcomes.
Jallow is interested in exploring the intersection of sports, business and entrepreneurship by learning directly from industry professionals. He hopes to gain firsthand experience in sports business operations, strategic decision-making and leadership, with the long-term goal of combining his passion for athletics with a career in consulting to help shape the future of the sports industry.
Yang is interested in examining how investment capital is deployed across international markets, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. He hopes to observe how disciplined capital allocation catalyzes economic growth and uplifts historically underinvested communities while deepening his understanding of global investing.
Davis is interested in exploring the intersection of public policy and global health through a shadowing experience with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). She hopes to learn how research, advocacy and policy work together to improve access to reproductive health care, address gaps in women’s health research and prevent gender-based violence. The experience will help prepare her for a career in public policy focused on advancing women’s health care access and equity.
Takamizawa is interested in exploring the intersection of gaming, marketing and live event experiences by learning directly from professionals at Nintendo of America. They hope to gain firsthand insight into brand strategy, fan engagement and event design while building industry connections and identifying a career path that combines their passion for gaming with creating meaningful experiences that bring people together.
Walton is interested in exploring the intersection of professional sports and community engagement, with a focus on philanthropy and access to sports. By shadowing professionals who work on community initiatives for professional sports teams, she hopes to learn how these events are organized and planned and how their impact on the communities they serve is measured.