Four alumni were honored during homecoming week with GOLD and Outstanding Alumni Awards. Valquíria Vita and James Saltat were presented with the Gorillas of the Last Decade (GOLD) Alumni Award. Caleb Hays and DePrice Taylor were honored with the Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award. A reception was held on Oct. 10, as part of Homecoming festivities at the Wilkinson Alumni Center.
“The Alumni Association honors alumni with awards two times a year,” Danielle Driskill, senior director for Alumni and Constituent Relations said. “We want to celebrate their accomplishments, bring them back to their alma mater to visit with students, faculty, and staff, and give provide an experience for them to know Gorilla Nation is always behind them and proud of them.”
The alumni have made career advancements in many ways. Valquíria Vita (M.A. ’15, communication) is the founder and director of LEGACY Life Stories, a company based in Brazil that specializes in writing biographies for people 80 years of age and older. Since its creation, the company has published more than 50 books and employs 10 people. James Saltat (B.A. ’15, marketing) is the interim associate director for Leadership & Service at the University of Missouri.
“It feels amazing to receive this award,” said Vita. “Pitt State has a very special place in my heart, so coming back to campus and being recognized for my work is incredibly fulfilling. I also believe it is very meaningful to receive an award as a foreign person, especially during these days. People from other countries have so much to offer to the American community too, so it’s important to acknowledge that.”
For Vita and others, they were chosen based on their professional lives and their commitment to Pitt State.
“A selection committee made up of members from the Alumni Association board of directors, faculty, and staff select awardees,” Driskill said. “These alumni were selected for their accomplishments, primarily in their professional lives but also for their commitment to Pitt State.”
Caleb J. Hays (B.A. ’12, Spanish) serves as chief counsel and principal for Section 4 Strategies, a boutique election law firm based in Alexandria, Virginia, and as chief policy counsel for the Center for Election Confidence, special counsel for elections for the Republican National Lawyers Association, and outside general counsel to the Congressional Management Foundation. DePrice Taylor (B.S. ’10, social work, and M.S. ’12, sports management) now serves as the executive director of community relations for the Kansas City Current.
“The reception is important as it provides our awardees a time to speak on their experiences at Pitt State, how it has helped them accomplish what they are being recognized for, and it also gives them a time to be in front of their family and friends to receive the praise they so deserve,” Driskill said.
Vita’s background and time at Pitt was marked with strive. She came to Pitt in 2012 as an exchange student from Brazil. She earned recognition at Pitt through Dean’s Scholastic Honors list, the Global Leadership Certificate, International Knowledge and Experience Certificate, and International Graduate Student of the Year. She was also the managing editor of the Collegio during her time at Pitt.
“When I arrives at Pitt State, 2012, I was not even completely fluent in English, so I think that first of all, it helped me with that,” said Vita. “My experiences at this school also gave me courage and confidence to face anything that life could present after that. I had the opportunity to face anything that life could present after that. I had the opportunity to work in the Collegio, as a reporter and as a managing editor, that that was great for my career. I also had incredible moments meeting and spending time with other international students, from all over the world. They taught me how diversity helps us grow.”
At Pitt State, Saltat participated in student leadership and service. He was the president of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and was active in numerous honors societies and student organizations. Saltat continues to be active in student affairs and leadership organizations through both local and national committees. He serves as a member of Mizzou’s Student Affairs Leadership Team, the American College Personnel Association, the NASPA Mid-Level Administrators Steering Committee, an advisor for Omicron Delta Kappa, and in the past, regional advisor for Phi Sigma Kappa.
“Our alumni are essential to the university,” Driskill said. “They continue to support the university many years after the graduate through financial support, hiring our students, attending events, cheering on Gorilla Athletics, visiting with classes, performing on the stage at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts or in McCray Hall, and so much more. Gorillas of all generations come from different walks of life, different places, and different classes, but we can all come together for Pittsburg State. We do not want our students’ experience to end at graduation – we want it to continue. Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla, right?”
At Pitt, Hays learned leadership skills through numerous honor societies and was awarded Outstanding Student in Spanish from the Modern Language Department. Professionally, Hays has held a number of leadership roles in election law and policy. He served as general counsel and deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on House Administration, associate attorney at Holtzman Vogel, and election counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee. He has worked for former Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins in both campaign and congressional roles and chaired the Kansas Federation of College Republicans.
At Pitt State, Taylor was a first-generation student and member of the Women’s Basketball team who excelled on and off the court, including earning First Team All-MIAA honors. She serves on the Win for KC Advisory Board, Black Excellence KC Board, Pitt State Alumni Association Board, and as a commissioner for Kansas City Parks & Recreation, appointed by Mayor Quinton Lucas.
The Dr. Kenneth K. Bateman Outstanding Alumni Award (Formerly called Outstanding Young Alumni Award) was established in 1972. The GOLD Alumni Award has shifted a little since it started in 2018 as the Good Apple Award. This is the second year PSU is awarding it during Homecoming.