The University of Central Arkansas Alumni Association presented the Alumni Service Award and the inaugural Young Alumni Award during Homecoming 2019.
Brandy Pate ’98 was honored as the Alumni Service Award recipient, and Spencer Gordy ’07 was the inaugural Young Alumni Award recipient.
The UCA Alumni Service Award is presented to an individual or couple who, through their deeds or actions, reflect and recognize the importance of the UCA Alumni Association and demonstrate extraordinary commitment, dedication, service and loyalty to the university.
Pate currently is clinical instructor I in the Department of Occupational Therapy at UCA. She has been a chapter adviser for Alpha Sigma Tau for approximately 20 years. She serves on the interview committee for the Student Orientation Staff (SOS) and has volunteered with UCA’s interprofessional education clinic. She is a former mentor for the UCA Alumni Association Mentor Connection and former board member for the Greek Alumni Advisory Board.
“To give back and stay connected is something that is vital to the success of collegiate students. College is such a time of growth and adjustment. I have watched so many college women attain their dreams, and I am the biggest cheerleader for them along the way,” Pate said. “The distinction is quite an honor. I have loved serving and will always serve in some capacity to UCA.”
The Young Alumni Award was established to recognize alumni with exceptional career, public service or volunteer achievements that bring honor to UCA.
While a UCA student, Gordy served as vice president of Sigma Tau Gamma and was a team leader of SOS. He was a member of the Association of Future Alumni and was a board member of All Greek Council. He served as a UCA Ambassador and spirit chair of Bear Den. After graduating, Gordy earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.
“It is the single biggest honor bestowed upon me in the form of an award. I have such a deep passion for this university, and to have a reciprocated appreciation back from the institution creates such an emotional feeling,” Gordy said. “To think of the numerous young alumni from all over the world who have already done countless incredible and amazing things is inspiring, and to be considered among those is very humbling.”