Award Honorees

Alexa Bussmann '16 has served in a multitude of nonprofits and social advocacy organizations across numerous communities, including founding Novel Hand, an online publication dedicated to bridging the gap between activism and impact.

Bussmann’s commitment to volunteering began as a student at Minnetonka High School, where she was involved in service activities like National Honors Society and the Class of 2016 Legacy Project. After graduation, she attended Vanderbilt University for her undergraduate degree in Economics, Political Science, and Spanish. She served as a development intern for Common Hope, an organization fighting poverty in Guatemala; a civil justice intervention intern for Cornerstone Advocacy Services in Bloomington, a development intern for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Minneapolis and a monitoring and evaluation intern for the International Justice Mission (IJM) in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

After graduating Vanderbilt in May 2020, Alexa was chosen to return to Guatemala to work for the next year with the IJM. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic made this aspiration impossible. Rather than wait for travel restrictions to lift, Bussmann got to work on another project: Novel Hand, an online publication dedicated to bridging the gap between activism and impact.

Novel Hand lets students and recent graduates from universities around the country come together and contribute articles, host podcasts and share other resources covering topics ranging from education, to immigration, to the environment. Bussmann currently serves as founder and head editor of Novel Hand. In this role she writes, speaks, oversees organizational tasks, innovates and recruits.

“I have a lot of privilege in the opportunities I've been given," admitted Bussmann, "and I know that I didn't open many of the doors that I've walked through. Because of that, I see it as my responsibility to give back and serve my community.”

Bussmann is currently working on a law degree at the University of Texas, where she is deeply involved in pro bono work. This upcoming school year, she will be leading a project offering small business wellness workshops to local businesses to help them ensure that they are compliant with the law.

“I believe that service and career do not have to be separate endeavors,” said Alexa. “No matter what industry you work in, or what area of need you are passionate about, there is a way to merge them in a meaningful and impactful way.”