Pitt State announces recipients of 2026 GOLD Award

The Pittsburg State University Alumni Association has announced the two recipients of this year's GOLD (Gorillas of the Last Decade) Alumni Award: Courtney Winrow (Blankenship) and Dr. Kalee D. Woody. The award recognizes outstanding graduates within the last 10 years who have made an impact in their career field or community while showcasing Gorilla pride.

The recipients will be recognized alongside recipients of the university's Outstanding Alumni Award at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at Wilkinson Alumni Center as part of Homecoming activities.

Courtney Winrow (Blankenship)

Courtney Winrow (Blankenship) earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Communication in 2018.

As a student, she was a highly engaged campus leader and was recognized as Outstanding Senior in news editorial from the Communication Department, as well as a finalist for Outstanding Senior. Since graduation, she has built an impressive career in international affairs, public service, and communications.

Winrow is starting a new role as a marketing strategist for the International Association of Fire Fighters Financial Corporation in Washington, D.C. Previously, she worked as a program associate with the National Center for State Courts in the International Programs Division, as vice president of communications for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, and as a research analyst in the Office of the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States. She served from 2018 to 2020 as a Peace Corps youth development specialist in Morocco.

Her accomplishments have earned national recognition, including receiving a 2021 Critical Language Scholarship for Arabic through the Department of State in 2021, as well as being selected for the 2024-2025 Critical Language Scholarship Refresh Program for Ukrainian while studying at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. In 2026, she was selected by the U.S. Department of State and IREX as a U.S. Exchange Alumni Fellow for the Washington, D.C., region.

She and her husband, Dr. Bryce Winrow, reside in Virginia near Washington, D.C., area.

What does it mean to you to receive the GOLD Alumni Award?

I entered undergrad with a general idea of what I wanted to do with my life, but like many young people, I worried about choosing the wrong major or becoming trapped in a career that wasn't the right fit. Pitt State gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in student organizations, leadership roles, volunteer work, and a wide range of activities while balancing a full course load. The skills and confidence I gained through those experiences continue to serve me in both my career and my personal life.

Whether I was serving in Student Government, performing with the choir around the UK and Canada, or hosting Pitt State's first TEDxTalk event, each experience helped lay the foundation for everything that followed, and I am especially grateful for the faculty and mentors who encouraged me, challenged me, and advised me every step of the way.

Receiving the GOLD Alumni Award is very meaningful to me because it represents the place where so much of my journey began. I am deeply thankful to Pitt State for investing in me as a student, and I am proud to represent the university wherever my future path leads.

How did Pitt State prepare you for your future and your career?

Looking back, I can draw a direct line from my experiences at Pitt State to the path my life has taken since. The Political Science and Communication departments challenged me to think critically and introduced me to new perspectives that continue to shape how I approach my work today.

Volunteering with the Intensive English Program and working alongside international students sparked my passion for international relations and language learning. Singing in the University Choir and Chorale and being a member of Sigma Alpha Iota provided close friendships and a strong community while helping me grow both as a musician and as a person.

Music remains an important part of my life today, and in my free time I sing with The Jerrymanders, a Grateful Dead cover band based in Washington, D.C.

Working as a reporter for The Collegio strengthened my writing, sharpened my curiosity, and taught me how to communicate complex ideas with clarity. Those same skills have served me throughout my career.

Since graduating from Pitt State, my work and studies have taken me to Pakistan, Russia, the Philippines, Morocco, Bahrain, Lebanon, and North Macedonia, as well as to Syracuse University, where I earned a Master of Arts in International Relations. No matter where those opportunities have led, I have always carried the lessons, relationships, and Gorilla spirit that began at Pitt State.

For all these reasons and more, being selected for this award is deeply meaningful to me. Pitt State was my first home away from home. It gave me lifelong friendships, the freedom to pursue interests I never expected to discover, and the confidence to embrace opportunities even when they felt uncertain. More than anything, Pitt State didn't just help me discover the right doors, it gave me the courage to walk through them, and that has made all the difference.

Kalee D. Woody, DO, PMH-C

Dr. Kalee D. Woody, DO, PMH-C, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2016 and has dedicated her career to advancing maternal mental health care.

Woody is a board-certified psychiatrist with Mercy Clinic Perinatal Behavioral Health in Oklahoma City, where she has been leading the development of Oklahoma's first fully dedicated behavioral health clinic focused exclusively on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health conditions during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

She attended Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Joplin as a member of its inaugural class, graduating in 2021. She then completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2025, serving as chief resident from 2023 to 2024.

She is board certified in general psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and holds Perinatal Mental Health Certification through Postpartum Support International.

A respected advocate and educator in her field, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative, which works to improve health outcomes for Oklahoma mothers and infants through evidence-based practices and quality improvement initiatives. She has presented and lectured on a variety of perinatal mental health topics for healthcare professionals across the region.

She and her husband, Hector Castro, reside in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

What does it mean to you to receive the GOLD Alumni Award?

Of all the achievements in my career so far, receiving the GOLD Alumni Award is by far the most meaningful. Being recognized by Pitt State holds a uniquely personal weight because it reconnects me to the community that made my journey possible.

Coming from rural Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas, I hope to show students from similar backgrounds that Pitt State provides an exceptional education capable of launching you anywhere you want to go.

How did Pitt State prepare you for your future and your career?

Pittsburg State played a defining role in preparing me for my career and personal growth. Academically, serving as a biology and chemistry teaching assistant and participating in medical missions to Belize with the Pre-Med Club instilled a passion for teaching that guides how I educate patients and mentor clinical learners today. My time in the polymer chemistry lab-synthesizing cancer-targeting molecules and sharing that research at symposiums-helped me build valuable connections, refine my public speaking skills, and effectively communicate complex ideas to broader audiences.

Beyond the classroom, Pitt State made it possible to stay involved in activities I loved outside of my major. Singing in the University Choir and Opera program gave me a creative outlet and provided incredible opportunities, including a memorable concert tour across Italy.

What made Pitt State truly special, however, was its close-knit community. The accessible, supportive faculty made it easy to seek mentorship, while the incredible school spirit created a welcoming home and lifelong friendships.