Cayla Ray to Receive Young Alumni Leadership Award

Pitt-Greensburg (UPG) alumna Cayla Ray has been named the recipient of the 2019 Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association Young Alumni Leadership Award. The honor recognizes established and future leaders age 35 and younger who have distinguished themselves among their peers and in their profession, community and/or at the University.

Ray, a native of Derry, Pennsylvania, graduated with a major in biological science and a minor in psychology from UPG in 2014. She earned a doctor of dental medicine and a certificate in dental public health from the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health and is currently serving her pediatric dental residency at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At UPG, Ray cofounded the campus’ Pre-Health Committee, developed unique guidebooks for entrance into various health programs and organized study groups for MCAT, DAT and GRE admissions tests. She also served as a commuter mentor, and was president and vice president of the campus chapter of Beta Beta Beta biology honor society. She volunteered at The End Hunger Café, serving food, creating a bimonthly clothing closet and organizing a back-to-school fundraiser for three underserved families.

Ray was a UPG Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and an NCAA Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding community service and grades within the NCAA Division III.

Said Ray, “To this day, I still connect with many of my mentors, professors and coaches from Pitt-Greensburg, and I truly can't thank them enough for their commitment to my success and longterm camaraderie. I am confident that Pitt-Greensburg helped me develop the foundation for a successful future and I am honored to share in those achievements as my academic and professional journey continues."