DMACC Honors Five Alumni and Community Leaders with 2026 Alumni Awards

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) recently recognized five outstanding graduates and community leaders during its 2026 Alumni Awards celebration.

Hosted Oct. 13 at the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC, the ceremony honored former Bears whose careers, service, leadership and innovation reflect the college's mission of transforming lives and strengthening Iowa communities.

This year's recipients represent diverse fields including agriculture, entrepreneurship, digital forensics, education and youth advocacy, and small business development. Together, they demonstrate the far-reaching impact of a DMACC education across Iowa and beyond.

Read more below about the alumni and why they were recognized.

Lakaya Tenley - Outstanding Alumni Award

Lakaya Tenley is a proud DMACC graduate ('19 AS - Agribusiness), agricultural entrepreneur, advocate, and leader whose work is helping shape the future of Iowa agriculture.

In 2022, Lakaya and her husband, Tanner, launched Tenley Farms, a diversified direct-to-consumer agricultural business near Mechanicsville, where they offer raw milk, pork, beef, and beef tallow, while also operating an on-farm country store that features merchandise from other local farms.

Lakaya, a dedicated advocate for agriculture, has returned to DMACC as a guest speaker in Agribusiness courses, sharing practical insight with students about entrepreneurship and direct-to-consumer marketing.

"Running our business today is in direct correlation to the education I received at DMACC," Lakaya said. "From classes, to labs, to internships everything I received from DMACC was a steppingstone to be prepared to run a business that serves our community."

Beyond her own operation, Lakaya is passionate about creating opportunities for women in agriculture; she supports initiatives such as farmHER and uses the Tenley Farms country store to promote products made by female farmers.

"Lakaya's story reflects the very best of DMACC: leadership, innovation, service, advocacy, and a deep commitment to strengthening agriculture for the next generation," Schultz said.

A fun fact about Lakaya: her grandmother was the original "Butter Cow Lady" at the Iowa State Fair.

"The generations before me instilled the love for Jersey cows and I'm so grateful that I get to look out my window every morning to a beautiful farmstead with Jersey cows on it," Lakaya said.

Brad Magg - Outstanding Alumni Award

A 2007 graduate of DMACC's Iowa Culinary Institute, Brad Magg has built a career rooted in food, service, creativity, and community.

An entrepreneur and community leader, Brad Magg owns and operates Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe in Prairie City, Magg Family Catering and Spring City Pharmacy in Colfax.

Brad's nominators described him as persistent, generous, resourceful, and deeply committed to the common good. They pointed not only to the businesses he has built, but to the way he helps others succeed, creates opportunities for employees, supports community projects, and gives credit to the schools, mentors, and communities that shaped him.

Brad has also remained connected to DMACC, often speaking about the role the College played in his life and career. He has supported student experiences, offered internships, presented to student groups in the Culinary Arts and Business programs, and continued to serve as an example of what a DMACC education can help make possible.

Benjamin Lord - Early Achievement Award

Benjamin Lord, a Detective Sergeant with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, has quickly become a leader in one of the most complex and important areas of modern law enforcement, said Jessica Cole, Associate Academic Dean of Public & Community Services.

Lord's forensic investigative work has been especially important in cases involving child exploitation, where digital evidence can be essential to protecting victims, identifying offenders, and helping bring justice to families and communities, Cole added.

Lord exemplified DMACC's "lifelong learning" opportunities by earning a Digital Forensics Certificate in 2021, adding to his academic resume which already included a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Iowa State University, a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, and a Master of Science in Digital Forensics from Champlain College.

Through his work with the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team and his contributions as an educator and advisory committee member, Lord supports law enforcement agencies across multiple Eastern Iowa jurisdictions.

Lord is also a respected educator and resource for others in his field, serving as a volunteer trainer for digital forensics organizations and on the Digital Forensics Advisory Committee at DMACC and, recently, teaching as an adjunct professor at Kirkwood Community College.

"Ben's work is difficult, important, and often unseen by the public, but its impact is undeniable," Cole said the 2026 Alumni Awards ceremony. "Through his skill, leadership, and service, he is helping make communities safer, supporting victims and families, and raising the standard for digital forensic investigations in Iowa and beyond."

Peri Sievers - Impact Award

In his presentation of the 2026 Impact Award, Drew Nelson, Executive Academic Dean of Education, Communication & the Humanities, said:

"Peri Sievers has built her career around a simple but powerful calling: helping young people see possibility in themselves, especially when life as made that difficult to do."

A DMACC graduate who continued her education at Iowa State University to earn a Bachelor of Science in Child, Adult, and Family Services Sievers has worked extensively with youth experiencing homelessness, financial hardship, family instability, and the foster care system.

Through roles with YSS' Aftercare program and Post-Secondary Education Retention Program, Sievers has helped countless young people transition into adulthood, pursue education, achieve stability and build brighter futures - all while offering a steady presence that each student could count on.

Her nominators described Seivers as compassionate and deeply committed to the people she serves, noting her gift for making young people feel at ease, even during difficult conversations, and helping them leave those conversations with renewed confidence.

"The impact of Peri's work is difficult to measure in numbers alone," Nelson said. "It is seen in the students who stayed in school because she believed in them. It is seen in the young adults who found housing, jobs, stability, and independence with her support. It is seen in the lives of those who describe her as the caring adult who did not give up on them."

Emily Leslie - Outstanding Alumni Award

Emily Leslie is a proud DMACC graduate, small business consultant, entrepreneur, mentor, and community leader whose work has strengthened the Perry community and inspired countless students and small business owners.

A 2002 DMACC graduate, Leslie has carried lessons from her time as a student at Boone Campus into every part of her life, she said, especially the importance of asking questions, seeking help, and continuing to learn.

After a successful career in retail, Leslie became a prominent business leader in Perry as the owner of Backwards Boutique, a women's clothing store which earned the People's Choice Award for Best Boutique in the Des Moines area in both 2023 and 2024.

In 2016, Leslie and her family purchased and restored the historic Dillenbeck building, bringing the 120-year old commercial building back to life and creating a vibrant space for local commerce.

A champion for small businesses and community development, Leslie has served in numerous leadership and volunteer roles (named Perry Volunteer of the Year in 2018) while mentoring entrepreneurs and sharing her experience with DMACC students and local youth.

The DMACC Alumni Association, in partnership with the DMACC Foundation, annually collects nominations and extends the Alumni Awards to honorees in a private ceremony every fall. To learn more, visit: dmacc.edu/alumni/awards