ODK Holds Spring Initiation for W&L Honorees W&L trustee Cliff Holekamp ’96 addressed new members of ODK during their spring induction ceremony.

By Emily Innes Stanley
April 8, 2026

Washington and Lee University’s Alpha Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the national leadership honor society, welcomed 41 new members during its spring induction ceremony on March 27.

Cliff Holekamp ’96, co-founder and managing director of Cultivation Capital, delivered the keynote address, titled “Leading Beyond Achievement,” and was inducted as an honorary ODK member. Holekamp’s work is centered at the intersection of entrepreneurship and economic development, and he previously served as professor of practice and academic director for entrepreneurship at Washington University’s Olin Business School, where he was named one of the top 100 entrepreneurship professors in the world and led the entrepreneurship program to a top world ranking. Holekamp has been a member of W&L’s Board of Trustees since 2018.

Following Holekamp’s keynote, the ceremony continued with the induction of three honorary and 38 student initiates into ODK, representing leaders from across campus and the greater Lexington community.

Thirty-two undergraduates from the Class of 2026 and Class of 2027 were tapped into ODK:

Class of 2026

• Celeste Alvarez
• Sarah Clark
• Schuyler Clark
• Addie-Grace Cook
• Katalyn Denby
• Ryan Doty
• Stephanie Dücker
• Grayden Holliday
• Abid Jeem
• Icy Keneah
• Abby Leo
• Elise McPherson
• Cecelia Schweitzer
• Emma Scott
• Julianna Stephenson

Class of 2027

• Adhip Adhikari
• Saniya Anderson
• Kaden Buss
• Maddie David
• Maria Ferreira
• Carter Gleason
• John Paul Hammond
• Sofia Iuteri
• Mariam Khaduri
• Hannah Grace Kornberg
• Mackenzie Morante
• Amara Oputa
• Boris Pekar
• Sanjheev Rao
• Emily Scaff
• Morgan Schuckman
• Gibson Ward

Six law school students from the classes of 2026 and 2027 were also tapped into ODK, including:

Class of 2026

• Matthew Beck
• Gabriela Gino
• Lilli Marshall

Class of 2027

• Sofia Castillo
• Zachary Kean

The honorary initiates include:

Dr. Carola Tanna
Tanna has spent the past five years dedicating her time and skills to the service of the Rockbridge community as a physician with Rockbridge Health. Through her care for patients, mentorship of W&L pre-medical students, commitment to the W&L campus garden and advocacy for marginalized individuals, Tanna has strengthened the community and campus with sustained, values-driven leadership in service to others.

Tanna earned her medical degree from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she developed an interest and expertise in treating dementia, hypertension, sleep apnea and other chronic conditions. In navigating health care stigmas in rural communities, Tanna is known for taking time with complex patients, coordinating care for families under strain and offering a standard of compassionate practice that sets an example for others in the local medical community. Tanna — or Lieutenant Commander Tanna — also served as a physician at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois.

Tanna’s commitment to service is also seen in her volunteer work. She has served many years as a court-appointed special advocate and contributes to the well-being and safety of older adults as a community representative on the Kendal at Lexington Risk Assessment Committee. Married to W&L President Will Dudley, Tanna also devotes significant time to W&L students by mentoring them in her clinic and supporting their health and environment through regular work with the campus garden, Campus Kitchen and the student food pantry.

Tasha Walsh
Walsh serves as the CEO of ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice and is a licensed clinical social worker and professional certified coach. She has been on the leading edge of the health and wellness field for more than 35 years, and she brings extensive experience in positive psychology, organizational and professional development and innovation to her leadership in the health care field.

Walsh received her bachelor’s degree in music therapy at the University of Dayton and a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has previously served as the chief learning officer for an international behavioral company, where she was a key team member for an innovative National Institutes of Health-funded research and practice partnership with Vanderbilt University. She also established an award-winning leadership development coaching program, which helps organizations develop a positive workplace culture while implementing best practices in their service. As an executive coach, Walsh excels at helping leaders reinforce their effectiveness and foster balance in their lives.

Walsh and her husband, Dave, have been active members of the Rockbridge community since moving to the area in 1989. Walsh has been involved in numerous local organizations, including Hull’s Angels, Inc., Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Garden, Kendal, Rockbridge Connect and Nourish (CAN), the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce and Rockbridge Outdoors.

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In addition, ODK awarded the James G. Leyburn Award and the Rupert Latture Award at the 2026 induction ceremony.

The James G. Leyburn award, given to a university student or local organization that demonstrates outstanding community service, was presented to Hamza Zia ’26. An engineering major, he is the first person from his village in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to pursue an international education. Zia is a Johnson Scholar and a Bonner Scholar and serves the W&L student body as a member of the Student Affairs Committee, a Resident Adviser, a peer tutoring coordinator, an Office of Student Engagement and Leadership ambassador and an international student mentor. Zia is a dedicated advocate for Pakistan’s transgender community and has earned multiple accolades for his work, including a Davis Projects for Peace grant in 2024, a G. Holbrook Barber Scholarship, the Community Catalyst Award and the Emerging Leader of the Year Award. He is also the first student from W&L to be named a Future Nobel Laureate Scholar by the Nobel Prize Museum.

The Rupert Latture Award recognizes a sophomore who has demonstrated outstanding leadership potential. This year, the award was presented to Jeremy Fyrer ’28. A biology major and poverty and human capabilities studies minor from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Fyrer is an active member of the Shepherd Program as both a Bonner Scholar and Volunteer Venture leader. He volunteers with the Rock Steady Boxing program at FLEX Fitness Studio in Lexington, coaches soccer and basketball with the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization and serves as head coach of the Lylburn Downing Middle School soccer team. On campus, Fyrer is the president of the Red Cross Club and a Young Life leader.

Omicron Delta Kappa was founded in 1914 at W&L by 15 student and faculty leaders. ODK was the first college honor society of a national scope to honor meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage the development of general campus citizenship.