The Alltech Humanitarian Award was presented this morning to Lopez Lomong, a South Sudanese-born American track and field athlete. Dr. Pearse Lyons presented the award at “What If?” the 30th Annual Alltech International Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, from May 18-21.

One of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Lomong was separated from his family at age six when he was kidnapped by soldiers during a Sunday morning Mass in his native country. He escaped from the children’s prison three weeks later, taking refuge in a camp in Kenya before coming to the United States at 16 and becoming a U.S. citizen in 2007.

Lomong is a two-time Olympian in track and field and was the flag bearer for the United States during the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony. Lomong’s autobiography, Running for My Life, was published in 2012.

Lomong has a fascinating story to tell of how he survived his childhood ordeal and became a U.S. Olympian.