INDIANAPOLIS – The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is pleased to announce the 2026 Gold Medal honoree, Patrick Alderdice, and two Silver Medal honorees: Dr. David Grady and Woody Woodcock.
One of the oldest traditions of the NIC, the presentation of the Gold Medal dates to 1940. The Gold Medal is presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community and is the highest honor the NIC can bestow.
Patrick Alderdice continues to elevate the fraternity experience through professional leadership, interfraternal advocacy, and volunteerism after more than three decades of service. During his near 30-year tenure as President and CEO of Pennington & Company, Patrick grew the organization from a regional operation to the nation’s leading fraternity and sorority fundraising firm. The company has served more than 60 national fraternities and sororities and raised more than $1 billion under Patrick’s leadership.
“Patrick is a tremendous leader who built Pennington into the interfraternal world’s top fundraising firm,” Kevin O’Neill, 2025 Gold Medal honoree, said. “His campaigns for safer, more modern housing ensure fraternity men have top-of-the-line accommodations across the country.”
Patrick’s career began at Delta Chi’s headquarters, where he served as the organization’s Director of Chapter Services. After his departure from staff, Patrick remained directly involved with Delta Chi through numerous volunteer roles, including as chapter advisor for the University of Kansas from 1998–2017. In 2022, Patrick was elected Delta Chi’s International President.
Under his volunteer leadership, Delta Chi created some of its most notable, award-winning programs including the Carnegie Scholars Program, Dream Manager Program, and the Regional Leadership Academy. The fraternity also experienced impressive growth during his tenure, expanding to its highest undergraduate membership in history.
“At his core, Patrick believes in the power of the fraternal experience to change lives,” Justin Sherman, Executive Director of the Delta Chi Foundation, said. “He has dedicated himself to ensuring that opportunity remains strong for generations to come. This recognition is reserved for those whose lifelong service has shaped the fraternal movement – and few have done so with the consistency, passion and impact of Patrick Alderdice.”
The Silver Medal is presented for exemplary service or leadership in a role or task that has advanced the fraternal movement. It has been awarded since 1980.
Phi Gamma Delta alumnus Dr. David L. Grady has been a pillar of the interfraternal community both on the campus and inter/national levels. Professionally, Dr. Grady served as a senior student affairs leader at the University of Iowa and the University of Alabama. He led efforts to improve collaboration between student affairs leaders across the SEC and chief staff officers of national fraternities. He consistently recognized fraternities as essential contributors to leadership development, service and campus life.
Dr. Grady’s commitment to the fraternal movement stretches beyond his professional roles. He served in a variety of volunteer roles with Order of Omega, including an 18-year term as the organization’s president. Under his leadership, Order of Omega’s scholarship and fellowship program surpassed $1.8 billion since 1985.
Additionally, Dr. Grady served on Phi Gamma Delta’s Board of Directors from 2014–2018. He provided guidance and leadership during an increasingly complex time for fraternities, grounded in his years of experience as a student affairs professional.
“What sets David apart is not only the scope of his service, but the way he leads,” Reather Cox, current president of Order of Omega, said. “His legacy is defined by the countless students he has mentored, the professionals he has inspired and the communities he has strengthened. His work has advanced the fraternal movement in meaningful and lasting ways, reflecting the very essence of this award’s purpose.
His commitment to the student experience is also clear in his philanthropic giving to his alma mater, Mississippi State University. Dr. Grady and his wife, Marsha, established the David L. & Marsha K. Grady Endowed Scholarship, which is a continuation of his life’s work to cultivate leadership, belonging and opportunity for students.
Woody Woodcock has dedicated nearly 20 years to fraternal expansion. After graduating from Georgia Southern University, he began his career leading Pi Kappa Phi’s growth team. The organization experienced unprecedented success under Woody’s leadership, seeing a more than 15% increase in total membership and the establishment of 26 new chapters.
Following his time with Pi Kappa Phi, Woody continued to grow fraternities as the Senior Director of Organizational Growth, Vice President of Human Development, Vice President of Customer Success, and Vice President of Business Development with Phired Up. During his tenure, he coached staff members of 85 inter/national organizations, helped build more than 300 chapters and welcomed more than 2,000 participants to Phired Up’s Growth Summits.
Beyond his impressive recruitment numbers, Woody’s impact is felt across the interfraternal world by the connections he makes.
“There are some who grow organizations, and others who grow people,” RJ Taylor, Branden Stewart, Chris Buck and Heather Lockwood from Phired Up said in their letter in support of his nomination. “Woody is one of those rare humans who’s done both flawlessly and with intention for nearly two decades. We assure you that anyone who’s met or worked with Woody, both within Phired Up and the greater fraternal movement, has a story or moment where Woody has made an influence on their life, their work or their fraternal membership for the better.”
The NIC looks forward to presenting Patrick Alderdice, Dr. David Grady and Woody Woodcock with their medals this summer.
