Ashmore, Beard, Stahl Named Outstanding Young Alumni

Every year, HSU’s Board of Young Associates recognizes young alumni who show exceptional achievement in their chosen field. This year’s recipients of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award are Alison Ashmore, Jason and Joy Beard, and Dr. Daniel Stahl. They were recognized with a banquet in their honor on Mar. 2.

Ashmore graduated Magna Cum Laude from HSU with double majors in Spanish and Political Science. After graduation, she attended Baylor University School of Law where she earned her J.D. cum laude. Ashmore was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2007 and began her career as a trial lawyer at K&L Gates in Dallas. Today she is a partner at Dykema, a 400 attorney firm with 13 offices around the country.

Ashmore was recognized in Texas Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in the area of Business Litigation every year from 2012-2017. She was also named to the Up and Coming top 100 Texas Rising Stars and the Up and Coming top 50 Women Texas Rising Stars in 2017, the inaugural year of those lists. D Magazine named her on their Best Lawyers in Dallas list in 2017 and their Best Lawyers Under 40 list this year.

Jason and Joy Beard graduated from HSU and held successful careers in finance and education for ten years. Throughout this time, the couple enjoyed traveling and experiencing local foods. They began to consider opening a place in Abilene that would offer fine and novel foods. After much prayer, research, and dreaming, Jason and Joy left their careers to start a business together.

The couple has spent seven years developing Cordell’s, a now thriving gourmet food store, restaurant, and coffee shop. Cordell’s has even expanded to offer a food truck, cooking classes, catering, and private dinners. In May 2016, Jason and Joy were awarded the Small Business Owners of the Year award by the Small Business Administration. Their recipes and business have been featured several times in AbileneCrave and Abilene Reporter News.

Dr. Daniel Stahl was a linebacker for the HSU football team. He graduated from HSU Summa Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Biology. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency with Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas. Following his residency, he traveled to Tampa, Florida, where he completed a one-year Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship with the Florida Orthopaedic Institute at Tampa General Hospital. He now serves at Baylor Scott and White Hospital as an orthopedic trauma surgeon and as an assistant professor of orthopedics at the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

Dr. Stahl is a member of many renowned orthopedic societies as well as a board-certified diplomat for the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He has published several research findings in academic journals including Current Orthopaedic Practice and Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma. He has also presented research at the annual meeting of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and the Orthopaedic Resident Research Forum.

Nominations for next year’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award may be sent to the Office of Alumni Relations.