Utah Valley University honored alumni and community members at the annual UVU Alumni Awards: Akwasi Frimpong ’13, Blake and Sandy Modersitzki, Capita Financial Network, Roy Banks ’96, Chelsea ’08 and Casey Baugh, and Hugh Rode.
On February 19, the Utah Valley University (UVU) community gathered to honor influential alumni and advocates. This year saw the following awarded: Akwasi Frimpong ’13, Blake and Sandy Modersitzki, Capita Financial Network, Roy Banks ’96, Chelsea ’08 and Casey Baugh, and Hugh Rode.
Each awardee lives the mission of the University and has distinguished themselves through their efforts in supporting students and the University. Each was nominated by the UVU Alumni Association or the UVU community and were selected by a committee of UVU staff and alumni board members.
UVU Alumni Impact AwardThe UVU Alumni Impact Award honors a UVU alum early in their career who exemplifies perseverance, dedication, and leadership. It celebrates their significant impact through success, innovation, or contributions to their field, community, or society.
Akwasi Frimpong is a groundbreaking athlete and philanthropist, recognized as Ghana's first skeleton Olympian and the first black person to compete in the skeleton event at the Olympics. In 2018, he made history with this achievement, and in 2020, he became the first African to win an elite skeleton race sanctioned by the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.
Born in Ghana and raised in the Netherlands, Akwasi's journey is marked by resilience and a relentless pursuit of excellence. A former Dutch junior sprint champion, he has earned over a dozen international medals, proving that challenges can become steppingstones to success.
Akwasi competed as a track star at Utah Valley University, graduating in 2013 with honors in marketing and a minor in business management. In addition to his athletic achievements, Akwasi is a devoted father and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Erica Shields-Frimpong, founded the Hope Of A Billion Foundation in 2022, aiming to empower underserved communities through sports, business, and educational opportunities.
Inspired by his own Olympic journey and the promise he made to his grandmother; Akwasi is dedicated to fostering hope and motivation in youth. His story serves as a powerful reminder that with belief, hard work, and perseverance, dreams can be transformed into reality.
UVU Honorary Alumni AwardThe UVU Honorary Alumni Award honors a non-graduate who exemplifies loyalty, exceptional service, and significant support for UVU's mission. It recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of UVU without being alumni.
Blake and Sandy Modersitzki are well renowned for their philanthropic work both at Utah Valley University and the greater Utah community. Recently, they were honored as the 2024 Utah Valley BusinessQ Contributors of the Year for their remarkable contributions to the community. Their deep respect for veterans is reflected in their financial support of “High Flight Heroes,” a foundation dedicated to honoring those who have served our country. As flag bearers for the state of Utah, they participated in several Olympic events during the Paris 2024 Games, including the historic announcement of Salt Lake City being awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games.
Sandy Rosen Modersitzki is a passionate community leader and advocate for education, humanitarian efforts, and social change. Sandy has made a significant impact through her work with organizations such as The Women’s Success Center at Utah Valley University, Rising Star Outreach, The Children’s Center Utah, and the Hope for Fertility Foundation. She has championed first-generation college students at UVU and supported LGBTQ+ youth at the Heber Encircle House. Blake and Sandy also serve on the executive board of Primary Children’s Hospital, where she played a key role in opening the Lehi Campus. She was also recently awarded the inaugural UVU EverGREEN Award of Excellence for her constant advocacy and impact on future generations of students.
Blake Modersitzki is the managing partner at Pelion Venture Partners. He has successfully led four funds, investing in groundbreaking tech companies like Strider, CloudFlare, Bill.com, Weave, Riverbed, Fusion.io, and DOMO. Before joining Pelion, Blake was managing director at Novell Ventures and held leadership positions at Novell and Word Perfect.
Sandy and Blake blend community advocacy and business leadership to drive positive change and innovation. When they aren't busy making a difference, they love spending time with their family, which includes their three daughters, two sons-in-law, and four cherished grandchildren.
University Partner AwardThis University Partner Award honors a business that exemplifies community-focused innovation, alignment with UVU's mission, and excellence in strategy, employee development, and integrity. It celebrates organizations that enrich both UVU and the broader community.
Michael and Britney married in 2006 and attended Utah Valley University together. In 2008, Michael graduated cum laude with a degree in business management. Britney was born and raised in Farmington, Utah, where she developed a strong work ethic from an early age, working various jobs throughout middle and high school. She graduated from high school in 2005 and went on to earn a degree in exercise science from Utah Valley University in 2009. Following her undergraduate studies, Britney pursued a career in dental hygiene, earning her license through a private program in Orem.
In 2008, Michael founded Capita Financial Network with the vision of creating a collection of financial professionals to build a complete wealth management experience. Capita Financial Network continues to grow as the company fulfills its mission to "create the optimal wealth management experience.” Mike spends most of his time building the company, finding strategic partnerships, presenting on financial topics, and building adventure-packed events for like-minded business owners to synergize together. He and Britney live life fully through travel, high adventure, and their ranch in Texas.
Together Michael and Britney have a loving family. After the birth of their second child, Britney chose to dedicate herself full-time to motherhood, a role she has embraced wholeheartedly. The Littledike family includes their son Rudy, who has Down syndrome. He has inspired his parents to advocate for individuals with special needs, which they do at UVU by serving on the board of the Utah Valley University Wolverines Elevated Program. This program provides young adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience higher education and campus life, a mission Britney and Michael support not only for Rudy's future, but for the community as well.
The Littledikes could not join us at the event as Mike was involved in an accident and recovering. Cassie Myers, Chief Operating Officer & Managing Partner at Capita Financial Network, accepted the award on their behalf.
UVU Distinguished Alumni AwardThe UVU Distinguished Alumni Award honors a seasoned UVU graduate who has achieved long-term career success and made significant contributions to their field or community. It celebrates alumni whose accomplishments enhance UVU's reputation and exemplify lasting excellence.
Roy Banks is a seasoned and accomplished CEO, business leader, board member, advisor, and U.S. Navy veteran. Over his 30-year career, he built billions of dollars in enterprise value and delivered exceptional returns for investors and shareholders. He brings extensive experience leading both public and private companies in areas such as M&A, IPOs, strategic planning, and more.
His expertise spans the high-tech SaaS, eCommerce, and payment processing industries. He has held numerous executive roles, including CEO, President, and VP of Sales and Marketing. Roy considers his leadership of Authorize.Net during the e-commerce boom to be a defining moment in his career. Under his direction, the company became a key player in payment technology, culminating in its highly successful sale.
He has gone on to lead and spearheaded the multimillion-dollar sale of many other companies like CamCommerce (later rebranded as Accelerated Payment Technologies); NMI, which included the acquisition of UK-based Creditcall; and Truckstop.com.
In 2021, Roy became the CEO of Weave Communications. The following year, he led the company through its successful Initial Public Offering on the New York Stock Exchange on Veteran’s Day. This milestone was especially meaningful, as it coincided with his 35th wedding anniversary and marked him as the first African American veteran from Utah to take a company public.
Today, Roy is the CEO of Nexio, a Utah-based fintech company specializing in payment workflow automation and applied AI technology. Nexio focuses on creating innovative AI solutions that enable employees to focus on higher-value work.
Roy cherishes the time he had at Utah Valley University, which provided him with an outstanding education and flexible class scheduling. This flexibility allowed him to work full-time to support his family while pursuing his degree, which he received in 1996. He credits UVU’s engaged learning environment as a critical foundation for his professional success. Outside of his professional life, Roy is passionate about fitness, hiking, and reading history.
UVU EverGREEN AwardThe UVU EverGREEN Award honors a person or couple’s impactful support and contributions that enhance educational opportunities for current and future students.
Chelsea and Casey Baugh met while attending Utah Valley University. Chelsea was a student-athlete, playing volleyball on the university’s team for three years and graduated in 2008 with a degree in healthcare education. Casey would go on to graduate from the Harvard Business School’s owner/president management executive program. While in school, Chelsea and Casey developed the values of teamwork, perseverance, and hard work that continue to guide their lives today.
Casey has long been an investor, entrepreneur, operator, board member, and advisor. During his 13-year tenure at Vivint, he played a pivotal role in sales leadership, helping grow the company’s revenue to over $1 billion. Today he has co-founded multiple businesses, including Sandlot Partners, a private equity firm dedicated to providing exceptional founders and operators with growth capital, strategic insights, and tailored liquidity solutions. He has also co-founded Heirloom Restaurant group, which supports and builds unique multi-unit franchise concepts and select full-service restaurants, including Cupbop, Station 22, and 5-Star BBQ.
Casey is also general partner of Roots Management Group, a leading investment and asset management platform in the manufactured housing sector, which has deployed over a billion across 260 communities in 19 states.
Casey is regularly sought out by young professionals and students for his mentorship and career guidance. He’s passionate about sharing lessons and insights from his diverse experiences in both business and life. As an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Brigham Young University and the host of the top 1% podcast Case Studies, he connects with audiences weekly, inspiring and empowering the next generation of leaders. In his free time, Casey is an avid reader and enjoys golf, travel, daily fitness, and cooking.
Chelsea is passionate about creating lasting memories with her family. She enjoys cooking, trying new recipes, and creating meaningful family traditions. She is also dedicated to philanthropy and is currently pursuing her MBA at Brigham Young University to enhance her business expertise and leadership skills to further her impact.
Together, Casey and Chelsea founded the Baugh Family Foundation, which focuses on supporting underserved populations and fostering opportunities for meaningful impact in the community. One such opportunity is their donation of $5 million to the UVU Chelsea & Casey Entrepreneurship Institute, which will impact the lives of many students for years to come.
Above all, Chelsea and Casey strive to make a difference and raise their five children with strong values of love, service, and community, ensuring these principles guide the legacy the Baugh family carries forward.
Wilson W. Sorensen Lifetime Achievement AwardThe Wilson W. Sorensen Lifetime Achievement Award honors a UVU employee or volunteer who has demonstrated lifelong dedication to advancing UVU's mission and growth. Named after Wilson W. Sorensen, it recognizes extraordinary, long-term service and impact on the institution.
Hugh Jon Rode graduated from high school in 1959 with a 1.69 GPA. He owned several small retail businesses in the Los Angeles area before joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1962. He served a Spanish-speaking mission for the church where he learned to read and study. In 1969, he became a 27-year-old freshman at Brigham Young University, and four years later graduated with a bachelor’s degree as the first in his family to do so.
Hugh returned to California and taught high school until he decided to get a master’s degree in marketing education also through BYU. In 1981, he began teaching at Utah Technical College of Provo and continued to teach there as the school became Utah Valley Community College, Utah Valley State College, and finally Utah Valley University. He taught the Utah state real estate pre-licensing course for 15 years, and you can thank Hugh for getting UVU onto the University Parkway freeway exit sign. When he was told he needed a doctorate, Hugh went to law school at 60 years old, making him older than every faculty member except for three.
Hugh taught full-time while at law school. Thanks to the generosity of the Woodbury Foundation, accommodations from Dr Stoddard, Ian Wilson, and Wes Bitters, he graduated without a dollar in student loans or debt. That blessing made it possible for Hugh and his wife to commit to providing free legal services as a way of paying it forward. Since then, they have provided over 5,000 hours of free legal services to the underserved and anybody else that asked—and are still serving.
Hugh retired from Utah Valley University in 2012 with fond memories and great friendships with faculty, administrators, staff, and students. One memento is his 1955 Chevy Bel Air that the auto shop and collision repair shop made into a classic dream. He drives the 55 every day and tries to serve every day.
Hugh has also served as a Justice Court Judge in Santaquin, Goshen, and Genola, Utah. He and his wife have been happily married for over 50 years and have served three volunteer missions for their church. They have seven children, four of whom attended UVU, two sons-in-law in the United States Air Force, and 25 grandchildren.
If you know of an individual or couple who you think deserves to be recognized, please let us know by filling out our nomination form available at https://alumni.uvu.edu/f/alumni-awards-nomination.
