Coastal Carolina University announced the 2019 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year honorees during its Homecoming football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, in Brooks Stadium. Aundrea Rue is the Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, and Amber White is the Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year.

Candidates nominated for the alumni awards are chosen by a steering committee consisting of the college deans. Criteria for the annual awards include loyalty to CCU, record of service and accomplishments, and demonstration of positive attributes.

Rue has earned two degrees from CCU, a bachelor's in biology in 2003 and a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2004. In Fall 2004, she began her teaching career at Carolina Forest High School, where she teaches anatomy and marine science, and leads the school's Project Lead the Way STEM curriculum. Rue also travels around the country to participate in scientific research, which she incorporates into her classroom teaching.

In 2006, Rue began fostering in Horry County and has since adopted a sibling group from foster care and a son from South Africa. In addition to teaching, Rue helps to recruit foster and adoptive parents and also is an advocate for orphans and foster children.

A native of Pittsburg, Pa., Rue lives in Myrtle Beach with her four adopted children.

White earned a bachelor's degree in communication from CCU in 2009. She later earned a bachelor's in journalism from Georgia State University and an MBA from Queens University in Charlotte, N.C.

White is a senior lead auditor at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte. In 2017, she founded Youth Establishing Success (YES), a nonprofit organization that empowers young teen girls to identify and achieve goals, grow as leaders, and overcome life's challenges. In addition, she is an Institute of Internal Auditors Charlotte Chapter communication committee coordinator, serves on the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology advisory board, and volunteers as a technical director and camera operator at Elevation Church University City.

As an undergraduate at CCU, White was a standout track and field student-athlete. In 2007, she was a two-time Big South Conference champion in the 400-meter dash and was a member of CCU's 4x400-meter relay team that won the conference title. She earned four all-conference honors. White was named to the Big South Conference Women's Indoor Track and Field All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

A native of Charleston, S.C., White lives in Charlotte, N.C., with her three children.