On November 2, the College of Undergraduate Studies (CUGS) held its first Alumni Achievement and Student Scholarship Reception to recognize the accomplishments of its alumni and students. It was also an opportunity to thank donors for their support and generosity.
The college presented its first Distinguished Alumni Awards to Kennon Adkinson ’08 and Dan Green ’20.
“We created the award to recognize the college’s exceptional alumni, their professional achievements, outstanding community service and philanthropy, and commitment to CUGS and UCF,” said Theodorea Regina Berry, Vice Provost and Dean of College of Undergraduate Studies.
Kennon Adkinson
Adkinson is the senior catering director of iServBBQ, Sonny’s BBQ franchise. In that role, he is responsible for 28 Central Florida and Southern Georgia stores and leads a catering team that serves over 300,000 guests annually.
He’s also the restaurant chain’s Chief Kindness Officer. Adkinson leads the company’s giving-back efforts, which involve spreading the “Spirit of BBQ” through kind acts in the community. He spearheads efforts to increase the impact that Sonny’s Q’ the Kindness programs have on the community and our nonprofit partners. This work also led to new jobs and economic growth.
Kennon has a passion for helping others. He works with Best Buddies and serves on the board of Blessings in a Backpack. With Best Buddies, he was nominated for Champion of the Year.
He is a proud supporter of UCF and is a member of the UCF Rosen College Dean’s Alumni Advisory Board.
Dan Green
Green has been in the financial services industry for more than 40 years. Before retiring in 2008, he served in several leadership roles, including Southern Territory Vice President at Prudential Insurance. In that role, he led a sales organization of 1,200 people across 16 states and oversaw compliance, risk management, and strategic planning. In January 2009, he became a partner for the Pinnacle Group based in Jacksonville, Florida.
In 2016, Green returned to college to complete a degree he started in the late-1960s. He enrolled at Valencia College, transferred to UCF via the DirectConnect to UCF® program, and was one of the first students in the Integrative General Studies degree program.
Green is a member of the CUGS Advisory Board. He is passionate about education. He supports the college’s students and, through his generosity, has helped many of them pay for educational expenses.
“The success of the college and UCF are only made possible by our alumni, donors, and supporters,” stresses Berry. “We are grateful for their generosity, dedication, and belief in our Knights.”