Laurels & Stripes moves to March; Col. Addie Morris (Ret.), Dr. Jeff Standridge to be recognized
The University of Central Arkansas has selected Col. Addie M. Morris (Drake), USA (Ret.) ’80 and Dr. Jeff Standridge ’90 to receive 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards at the reimagined Laurels & Stripes gala Saturday, March 7, at UCA’s Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
Col. Addie Mae Morris of Little Rock has built a distinguished career in military service, health care leadership, business and community advocacy. Born in Alabama to sharecropper parents, she overcame the racial barriers of the 1950s and early 1960s that limited her access to nursing education. Morris earned her LPN in Alabama, continued her education at the University of Michigan, and completed a Master of Science in Nursing at UCA in 1980. She later earned a Doctor of Philosophy in educational psychology from Pacific Western University in 1995 and a Master of Military Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Morris has served as president and CEO of Grandville Construction Company in Little Rock since 1968 while also holding leadership roles in Arkansas Health Services as assistant hospital administrator and director of nursing education. At the same time, she served 27 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, rising to the rank of colonel and serving as inspector general for the 807th MEDCOM. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, her military honors include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, among others.
Morris is widely respected across Arkansas for her leadership and her ability to bring people together. She has been appointed to numerous state boards and commissions by governors from both political parties, including the State Board of Nursing, Capitol Zoning Commission, Arkansas Apprenticeship Board, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, the Trauma Advisory Council, the Arkansas Board of Architects and Design, and the Tobacco Advisory Council. In the 1990s, she wrote a weekly newspaper column in the Arkansas Tribune titled “Moments W/Addie,” offering reflections that connected everyday life with community values.
Her lifelong commitment to service extends well beyond her professional and military work. Morris founded the Drake Nurses Charity, which provides health missions and education to underserved communities in the southern United States and abroad in Jamaica, Haiti and the Philippines. She also ran a youth enrichment program at the Pine Bluff Arsenal and later established the Ralph Vines Public Speaking Contest to help Arkansas students build confidence and communication skills. Most recently, she founded the Hat & Glove Society, focused on etiquette and civility.
Morris continues her strong commitment to UCA through service on the advisory board for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Her deep relationships across Arkansas business, government and civic leadership create meaningful opportunities for UCA and its students. Her lifelong record of leadership, service and mentorship brings distinction to the university and reflects the impact of its alumni.
Dr. Jeff D. Standridge of Conway is recognized for his leadership in business, entrepreneurship and civic service, along with his long-standing commitment to advancing educational and economic opportunity in Arkansas. A 1990 UCA graduate, he holds a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the university, a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Doctor of Education with specialization in leadership and organizational behavior. He remains closely connected to UCA through teaching, philanthropy, volunteer leadership and student mentorship.
Standridge is a formally trained paramedic and respiratory therapist. He began his career in health care at Conway Regional Hospital, followed by Arkansas Children’s Hospital where he was a member of the Angel One Helicopter Team. He also served as a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Later, Standridge joined Acxiom Corporation, where he served as vice president of global operations and led both established and startup business units across North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. His work focuses on helping organizations generate sustained results in innovation, strategy, profit growth, organizational transformation and leadership. He has been an invited speaker, trainer and consultant for companies and institutions on five continents and is a best-selling author of four books.
Standridge serves as managing director of The Conductor and Innovation Junkie in Conway and is co-founder and managing partner of Cadron Capital Partners, a venture capital firm supporting Arkansas-based companies. In addition to his professional work, he is retired from the U.S. Army – Arkansas Army National Guard, where he was recognized as “Soldier of the Year” by the 87th Troop Command. Standridge was appointed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders to serve on the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission, which he chaired in 2025. He currently chairs the board of directors for Conway Regional Health System and serves on the Conway Development Corporation board of directors.
His influence at UCA is extensive. Standridge is a current member of the College of Business Advisory Board and the Aviation Academy Advisory Board. He previously served on the UCA Foundation Board of Directors and led the board as chair from 2020 to 2022, during which the UCA Now campaign was publicly launched. He also served on the UCA Now Campaign Steering Committee. He and his wife established the Lori and Dr. Jeff Standridge Health Sciences Scholarship, the Dr. Jeff and Lori Standridge Innovation & Entrepreneurship Scholarship – the university’s first endowed scholarship in that area – and also served as co-chairs of the 2020 Laurels & Stripes gala. His volunteer spirit and philanthropic leadership were recognized statewide when the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Arkansas Chapter named him the 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser.
Standridge continues to shape the student experience through teaching in the College of Business and developing programs that help students build leadership skills, entrepreneurial thinking and real-world readiness. His broad impact across business, education, health care and civic leadership reflects the values of the university and demonstrates the powerful reach of its alumni in Arkansas and beyond.
Information on Laurels and Stripes, which is set for a new date, new location and new overall format, along with tickets and sponsorship details, is available at laurelsandstripes.com or by contacting the UCA Division of Advancement at 501-450-3197 or advancement@uca.edu.