Justin Futrell, 2016

Justin is an employee benefits consultant for TrueNorth, an insurance and financial services firm headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

In an extraordinary feat of athleticism and fund-raising in 2019, Justin raised $25,000 to build a well in the Tanzanian village of Kinyeto. He did it by pledging to perform 1,000 pull-ups in a single day. After months of training and fundraising Justin inspired more than 300 people to contribute. This commitment grew out of a senior-year study trip to Tanzania where he witnessed the great difficulties rural villagers had in obtaining water. The trip was led by Dean Riesen, Cornell 1979, whose Tanzanian Water Fund has helped create 35 such wells. Justin continues to raise funds for the cause.

Justin grew up in Marietta, Ohio. At Cornell he majored in economics and business and minored in kinesiology. He was captain of the football team, earning academic all- conference honors, and was a member of the student senate, the ski and snowboard club and Beta Omicron. He credits Cornell with strengthen his work ethic and confidence.

Since graduating he has served as a panelist describing Cornell to prospective students and their parents.