20 UNDER 40 Judges’ note

More than 150 nominations received for 2020 contest

By Christa Lawler clawler@duluthnews.com

It’s fair to say that this year, maybe more than ever, the picks for 20 Under 40 winners really reflect the past year: many medical professionals — like Harmony Tyner, of St. Luke’s hospital, who works in infectious diseases, and Charity Reynolds, medical director at Fond du Lac Human Services — and many activists — like Daniel Oyinloye, whose documentary “I Can’t Breathe” is a gorgeous and sobering look at race in Duluth, and Breanna Ellison, of TakeAction Minnesota.

In past years, the judges have gathered in the News Tribune conference room for hours and hours of paper shuffling, deep contemplation and debate. This year, our crew, which included past winners Moira Villiard, Cameron Kruger and Brittany Lind, and reporters Samantha Erkkila, Melinda Lavine and me, met over Zoom.

It was, dare I say, a year of easy choices. From the more than 150 nominations, we had 20 solid picks in record time.

For the first time in the history of this event, we took portraits and conducted video interviews with 19 of the winners outside. We were able to chat from a distance and were rewarded with bonus photographs of winners in masks. In past years, we have had a large event to coincide with the publication of this special section. This year, because of COVID-19, we aren’t even attempting it.

Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for the U-40 do-gooders you encounter. Submissions for this annual award will open again in the summer of 2021.