University Unions

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Celebrating Our Students: University Unions 2026 Awards

The University Unions Advisory Council hosted an awards luncheon Friday, April 17, in the William C. Powers Jr. Student Activity Center to honor student recipients of the J. J. “Jake” Pickle Citizenship Award, the PAL – Make a Difference Award and the William Andrew Smith Jr. GRASP Award.

Advisory Council Chair Cathy Sorsby presented the awards with members of the council in attendance, along with Vice President for Student Affairs John Dalton, University Unions leadership, award recipients and their friends and families. Members of the Pickle family, including Peggy Pickle, daughter of J. J. Pickle, Bergan Casey, his granddaughter, and Jaspreet "Rick "Pal also joined the celebration.

J. J. "Jake" Pickle Citizenship Award

Peggy Pickle, J.J. Pickle's daughter, Angelica Sharma (award recipient), Bergan Casey, J.J. Pickle's granddaughter, Jennifer Speer, AVP University Unions

This award was established in 1999 by the University Unions Advisory Council to honor the legacy of Congressman J. J. “Jake” Pickle. It is presented each year to a UT Austin student whose long-term contributions to campus life reflect the values of leadership, service and commitment that Congressman Pickle was known for throughout his career. The recipient of the Pickle Award receives $5,000, a certificate and a copy of Jake Pickle’s autobiography “Jake.”

The 2026 recipient is Angelica Sharma. Originally from Katy, Texas, Angelica has woven service, innovation and leadership into every part of her UT experience.

Through Hearts for the Homeless, Angelica helps provide free blood pressure and glucose screenings, wound care and vital health resources to people experiencing homelessness in Austin. After seeing firsthand that blood pressure checks alone were not enough, she trained as an EMT, expanded services to include wound care and blood sugar screenings, built partnerships with local nonprofits and grew the organization’s reach from two to seven screening sites. She has led efforts to provide bus passes, clinic information cards, winter care packages and culturally informed Spanish-language outreach that centers dignity and trust.

A computer science major, Angelica also leads ECLAIR, UT’s AI and robotics club, where she helped grow membership, launch student-led projects and create outreach events that inspire future engineers. Her work reflects the spirit of the J. “Jake” Pickle Citizenship Award through integrity, compassion and a deep commitment to public service.

Pal-Make a Difference Award

John Dalton, Vice President Student Affairs, Harshpreet Kaur (award recipient), with Jaspreet "Rick" Pal, Advisory Council Member

The Pal—Make a Difference Award was established in 2006 by Rick Pal, a proud UT alum from the Class of ’95. The award was created to encourage leadership and public service among our students. Each year, it is given to a student whose program or initiative has made a meaningful impact on campus or in the wider community. The recipient receives a certificate and $1,500.

The 2026 recipient is Harshpreet Kaur. Originally from Frisco, Texas, Harshpreet has used her time at UT to strengthen campus life through leadership in Campus Events + Entertainment (E+E) and Student Government.

From her first semester, she sought out opportunities to plan events, manage budgets and collaborate with peers, steadily building the soft skills that will support her future as a physician, including communication, empathy, problem-solving and teamwork.

Early on, she helped reimagine Chillfest into a multiroom experience that earned the Star Award for Innovation, then moved into officer and chair roles where she oversaw events, mentored coordinators and worked closely with campus partners. Under her leadership, Unwind events have expanded across campus, connected students with resources and created welcoming spaces to relax and build community. Her ability to contribute across multiple committees is impressive.

Her impact extends beyond E+E through her work with the Mental Health Agency in Student Government, where she helped provide culturally informed mental health resources and programming. Harshpreet’s dedication to service, community building and student well-being exemplifies the spirit of the PAL – Make a Difference Award.

William Andrew Smith, Jr. GRASP Award

Jackson Burford and Sienna Rossmiller, (award recipients) with Jennifer Speer, AVP University Unions, Rigo Gutierrez, Director of Student Programming, Cathy Sorsby, Chair University Unions Advisory Council

The GRASP Award—which stands for GRants for Active Student Participants—was established in 2006 through the generosity of the University Unions Advisory Council. In 2013, it was renamed the William Andrew Smith, Jr. GRASP Award.This award honors students who demonstrate strong leadership, a passion for campus involvement, and a commitment to service within University Unions and the Events and Entertainment organization.

The 2026 recipients of the GRASP award are Jackson Burford and Sienna Rossmiller.

The awardees impressed the committee with their leadership, commitment and enthusiasm through their work with the University Unions’ Campus Events + Entertainment organization. These students exhibit the core values of UT Austin, and the selection committee believes they will continue to positively contribute to the Unions and create opportunities for their peers.  

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2025-2026 Staff Merit Awards

Sarah Frey, Cecilia Lopez Cardenas, Vice President for Student Affairs John Dalton and Kelcy Meek

Every year, standout employees reshape the student experience in ways that cannot be ignored. Three members of the Division of Student Affairs staff are among those who did exactly that, going above and beyond to put students first and treat their work as a calling. Their colleagues took notice, nominating them for a Texas Parent Staff Merit Award. Discover how this year’s recipients are transforming everyday moments into lasting impact for Longhorns and the campus community.

Sarah Frey Manager for Prevention and Well-being, Longhorn Wellness Center 

Her drive to integrate student voices and think critically reflects a commitment beyond checking boxes — a quality that colleagues began noticing long before any formal recognition. Again and again, when a process or system needed deeper thought, people found Sarah Frey serving as a key contributor, quietly elevating the work with intention and care.

By combining strategic thinking with attention to detail, Sarah ensures student well-being initiatives are meaningful, data-driven and student-centered — demonstrating a deep commitment to improving our campus community. 

She is well-known for streamlining processes without losing sight of those impacted. Sarah led the development of a cohesive student staff onboarding series that aligns pratices and materials across Longhorn Wellness Center, Center for Students in Recovery and SHIFT. These areas support the overall health and well-being of students through programs, education, health messages, student engagement and collaboration.

Frey (center) with Longhorn Wellness Center staff at the 2024 Mindfulness Summit

When the team needed a project manager to develop the method for selecting new Longhorn Wellness Center health topics, Sarah volunteered and delivered a well-structured plan that helped the team meet project deadlines. 

Her leadership and vision are reflected in her growth over the last seven years from Health Promotion Coordinator to her current role. Sarah’s ability to listen, empathize and find solutions creates an environment where colleagues — up and down the organizational chart — feel valued and supported. 

Cecilia Lopez Cardenas Associate Director for Communications, Recreational Sports

Cecilia Lopez Cardenas’s journey is about transformation, from a first‑generation student who has grown into one of the most influential champions of the Longhorn experience. 

A double Longhorn graduate, her lifelong dedication to students embodies the spirit of service at UT Austin. From student leader and a Texas Parents Outstanding Student Award recipient to graduate student and Division employee for nearly 14 years, she consistently elevates the student experience on the Forty Acres. 

Cecilia embraces challenges, builds initiatives from the ground up and fosters collaboration. At the University Unions, she supported student organizations and events at the William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center. She managed Hogg Memorial Auditorium and its student staff after it transitioned to the Division of Student Affairs from the College of Fine Arts. At Recreational Sports, she supported the Longhorn Run student-led committee and managed the Nike corporate partnership. 

Lopez Cardenas (front row, second from left) with the Recreational Sports student creative team 

Whether she is developing a digital strategy or leading her team, Cecilia approaches her work with empathy and an understanding of how communication directly impacts students’ sense of belonging and success. She is a strong advocate of including student voices to enhance communications. Her deep loyalty to Recreational Sports’ mission to enhance the well-being of all students by providing “education through recreation” sets her apart, inspiring the next generation of Longhorns.

Kelcy Meek Senior Events Manager, University Unions

There’s a certain kind of presence that quietly holds a community together — the person whose calm reliability, quick action and genuine care make even the most complex moments feel effortless. At the historic Texas Union, that presence is Kelcy Meek, the “face” of the hospitality team and the steady force behind countless events that shape the Longhorn experience.

For the past 3.5 years, she has become known for developing relationships with students to help them host successful events and acting quickly to ensure events run smoothly. Kelcy consistently makes herself available — in person, by phone or online — to support students, answer their questions and guarantee setups are ready for their events in a welcoming environment.

Meek (center) with the Longhorn Band at the 2024 Longhorn Lights Lighting Ceremony 

Kelcy stands out through her remarkable ability to execute complex events flawlessly while managing long hours and supporting high-profile clients including the Texas Exes Distinguished Alumnus Awards.

During a period of transition in the Texas Union, Kelcy became the backbone of the team, going the extra mile to serve clients and student workers, and train new staff. Even with a full event schedule, Kelcy sends birthday cards and encouraging messages to her student employees. Calm, reliable and committed, Kelcy consistently goes above and beyond.

Congratulations to these Texas Parent Staff Merit Award honorees who join a legacy of recipients who have been recognized for their outstanding contributions since 1998.

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Celebrating staff who make a lasting difference for Longhorns. Three Division of Student Affairs team members earned Texas Parent Staff Merit Awards for their exceptional commitment to students, including Kelcy Meek of UT Unions! Learn more about their contributions to the University.

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Capes, Comics and Campus Energy: E+E's Comic Con Recap

To kick off the semester with a hero's welcome, UT Comic Con flew into the Texas Union and did not disappoint.

Guest speakers Lex Lang and Ray Chase of Jujutsu Kaisen shared what it’s like to bring anime characters to life. The event also featured a professor panel, cosplay contest, trivia, comic vendors and a comic drawing class, offering something for every fan. More than 550 students participated, making it a truly heroic turnout.