Morningside College graduate Tracy Gates, from Escondido, Calif., recently received Omicron Delta Kappa’s (ODK) national Russell E. Dougherty Leader of the Year Award.

Morningside College graduate Tracy Gates, from Escondido, Calif., recently received Omicron Delta Kappa’s (ODK) national Russell E. Dougherty Leader of the Year Award.

The award comes with a $4,000 scholarship to support Gates’s graduate studies. The Morningside College ODK circle (chapter) also receives a $300 grant in her honor.

Gates graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology and minors in chemistry and sustainable agriculture. While at Morningside, she was a member of the Connie Wimer Women’s Leadership Program, served as a head resident assistant, coordinated ODK’s campuswide service day and studied abroad in Wales. Gates also was captain of the swim team and achieved some of the highest individual scores in national competition. Next year, she will serve in the Peace Corps.

This is the fourth year in a row that a Morningside College student has been a finalist in ODK’s national leadership competition. ODK is a leadership honor society with about 300 circles – or chapters – nationally.