Binghamton University is celebrating its young alumni through the BOLD (Bearcats of the Last Decade) 10 Under 10 Awards. This program honors graduates from the last decade who have excelled in their careers and show promise for future leadership.
The Alumni Association will present the 2026 Special Recognition Awards on April 25 at the Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown.
This year’s honorees include Clare Biging ’16, an epidemiologist making waves at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She received the 2023 Distinguished Service Award in Public Health for her effort in promoting health equity during the Mpox outbreak. Her mission is clear: improve health education and increase awareness of HIV prevention in underserved areas.
Clare graduated with a degree in bioengineering from Binghamton before moving on to get her master’s in public health from Columbia University in 2018. Now, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and cat.
Receiving such an award feels rewarding for Clare. “It’s uplifting to know I’m making a difference. I hope to encourage others to use their Binghamton education to help others,” she says.
Reflecting on her time at Watson, she credits the program for instilling a crucial lesson: teamwork. “I learned early that collaboration is key. My success is tied to the support I received from classmates and professors,” she shares.
One professor who greatly impacted her was Distinguished Service Professor George Catalano. His emphasis on using education to help others influenced Clare’s career direction. “He pushed us to think about morality in our choices. I apply his teachings in my work every day,” she explains.
Clare has fond memories of her time at Binghamton, especially the community spirit among her cohort. “Our small class size fostered a supportive environment. We celebrated our achievements together, which made the effort feel even more worthwhile,” she recalls.
For current students at Watson, Clare advises focusing on collaboration instead of competition. “When your peers succeed, you succeed too. Build each other up and use your skills to create a positive impact,” she encourages.
This sense of community is echoed in today’s workplace environments. A recent survey from LinkedIn revealed that 70% of professionals believe that collaboration is crucial for job satisfaction. It’s clear that Clare’s experience resonates beyond her time at Binghamton, highlighting an ongoing trend in many industries today.
As Clare Biging exemplifies, education is not just about personal progress; it’s also about lifting those around us. Her story reminds us of the power of community and how, together, we can address pressing public health challenges.
