The Lamond GenNext Award recognizes college and university students who demonstrate excellence in the diverse and dynamic field of music. Named in honor of NAMM President Emeritus, Joe Lamond, who led NAMM from 2001–2023, the award highlights students’ dedication to building careers in areas such as music performance, education, media, sound engineering/audio, event technology, production, administration, management, marketing or product innovation. This year, nearly 150 recipients were recognized. The NAMM Foundation extends its gratitude to Dinah Gretsch and the Mrs. G’s Music Foundation for their generous support in making this scholarship program possible.
2026 Lamond GenNext Award Winners
| Name | University |
|---|---|
| Aaliyah Dixon | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Aaliyah Jenkins | Rowan University |
| Aaron Darzano | University of South Carolina |
| Aaron Kitzes | California State University, Sacramento |
| Abraham Rivera Ramirez | Riverside City College |
| Adam Derouchie | SUNY, Potsdam |
| Aidan Carney | SUNY, Fredonia |
| Alexa Harwelik | University of South Carolina |
| Alexia Ray | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Amelia Feist | University of South Carolina |
| Ana Trujillo | Riverside City College |
| Anderson White | George Mason University |
| Andy Magruder | Biola University |
| Angel Price-Montgomery | Georgia Southern University |
| Angel Barral | Riverside City College |
| Angela Jayne Fernando | Honolulu Community College |
| Aria Mallorca | Fresno City College |
| Arianna Angel | University of South Carolina |
| Ashton Hummler | Stevens Institute of Technology |
| Ava Pesavento | Lewis University |
| Ben Chatonda | University Of South Carolina |
| Braden Anderson | Anderson University |
| Braden Gay | Appalachian State University |
| Brenden Williams | Boise State University |
| Britt Budell | Indiana University, Southeast |
| Bryan Henderson | University of Memphis |
| Cade Alexander | Radford University |
| Cade Padilla | Rowan University |
| Caden Patterson | Georgia Southern University |
| Cameron Hughes | Wayne State University |
| Cecilia Ramirez | Georgia Southern University |
| Charles Walker | Georgia Southern University |
| Chelsea Rodrigues | Riverside City College |
| Christian Gray | Boise State University |
| Christina James | University of South Carolina, Columbia |
| Christopher Coley | University of Memphis |
| Cladandre Sanon | SUNY, Potsdam |
| Clair Floyd | Southern University A&M |
| Claytin Sweeney | Capital University |
| Connor Lorino | University of Memphis |
| Courtney Pittman | Capital University |
| Dabne McGuire | Boise State University |
| Daiyao Zhong | University of Michigan |
| Daniel Sanders | California State University, Chico |
| Davis Turner | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| De'Andre Little | Wayne State University |
| Diego Pineda Pinzon | Georgia Southern University |
| Diego Urquizo | Virginia Tech |
| Edith Gonzalez | Georgia Southern University |
| Eli Osborne | Butler University |
| Eliana Kiltz | Elmhurst University |
| Elijah Green | Georgia Southern University |
| Emma Friel | Rowan University |
| Emmanuel Martinez | Fresno City College |
| Emmanuel Asante | Binghamton University |
| Ernesto Recinos | Georgia Southern University |
| Ethan Bautz | Merrimack College |
| Evan Moscariello | University of Memphis |
| Ezekiel Wright | Wayne State University |
| Frances Peterson | Western Illinois University |
| Gabbriella Kearns | Wayne State University |
| Gavin Munroe | Palm Beach Atlantic University |
| Geissy Yanel Quinteros | Merrimack College |
| Giovana Ferro | University of South Carolina |
| Graycen Russell | University of South Carolina |
| Graysen Dowdy | Purdue University, Fort Wayne |
| Hailee Richmond | Palm Beach Atlantic University |
| Haily Gagliardo | Capital University |
| Hannah Stewart | Indiana University, Indianapolis |
| Harshit Chaubey | Indiana University, Indianapolis |
| Hayden David | Millersville University |
| Hsien-Hung Chung | Musicians Institute |
| Isaac Lutz | Capital University |
| Isabella Mead | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Isabelle Suarez | Elmhurst University |
| Isael Libny Maldonado Zamudio | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Ivonne Garcia | Bakersfield College |
| J.J. Flores | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Jackson King | Appalachian State University |
| Jackson Mitchell | Anderson University |
| Jacob Anderson | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Jacob Gaul | SUNY, Potsdam |
| Jacqueline Alonso | SUNY, Potsdam |
| Jadon Hall | Southern Utah University |
| Jalen Vann | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Janice Lagata | Antelope Valley College |
| Jennifer Calderon | Rowan University |
| Jesse Sanders | Los Angeles College of Music |
| Joe Gould | Capital University |
| Joseph Bull | Capital University |
| Joseph Williams | Radford University |
| Kaelan Quinley | Radford University |
| Kaitlyn DeMartini | University of South Carolina |
| Kaitlyn Rivera | University of North Texas |
| Katherine Luke-Figuly | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Kiana Ford | Georgia Southern University |
| Kiara Watts | California State University, Northridge |
| Lakei Barrientos | Berklee College of Music |
| Larry Davis | University of North Texas |
| Lauria Cordero | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Ling-Yu Bai | Musicians Institute |
| Luka Albarran | University of South Carolina |
| Lukas Franklin | Fresno City College |
| Makinzee Bradley | University of Indianapolis |
| Malachi Smalls | University of South Carolina |
| Manuela Sánchez Goubert | Berklee College of Music |
| Mathew Powers | University of South Carolina |
| Mel Daneke | Indiana University |
| Melissa Batz | Riverside City College |
| Mia Twyman | SUNY, Potsdam |
| Michael Martinez-Mendoza | Fresno City College |
| Milka Miano | University of South Carolina |
| Myles Kiett | Honolulu Community College |
| Naomi Louis | Palm Beach Atlantic University |
| Nick Peters | Merrimack College |
| Nila Moutray | Stephen F. Austin State University |
| Noah Finney | Butler University |
| Noah Maple | University of Indianapolis |
| Olivia (Otto) Parrott | Francis Marion University |
| Paul Kramer | Capital University |
| Preston Skiscim | Cabrillo College |
| Rakshith Sharma Kamsanahalli Ravishankar | Indiana University, Indianapolis |
| Ramiro Valdivia | Los Angeles College of Music |
| Rebbekkah Eller | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Rhian Bristol | University of Southern California |
| Robert Bohinski | University of North Carolina, at Greensboro |
| Ruben Ruiz Salazar | Montclair State University |
| Ryan Bliss | Millersville University |
| Sabrina Franco | SUNY, Potsdam |
| Samantha Bennett | University of South Carolina |
| Samantha Funk | University of South Carolina |
| Samuel Woods | Anderson University |
| Savannah Miller | Radford University |
| Shamiya Mack | University Of South Carolina |
| Shelby Thickstun | Butler University |
| Shreyans Bhargava | University of California, Irvine |
| Sophia Nelson | Southern Utah University |
| Stephanie Young | University of South Carolina |
| Syrena Hjelmgren | University of Colorado, Denver |
| Taran Willis | Capital University |
| Thomas Secrist | Capital University |
| Tobi Latinwo | University of California, Riverside |
| Trey Bledsoe | Boise State University |
| Tristen Schaefer | Elmhurst University |
| Vincent Dia | University of South Carolina |
| William McTigue | Butler University |
| Xander Wisniewski | University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
| Xianru Chen | Fresno City College |
| Zoe Sexauer | Boise State University |