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Join us in congratulating this year’s recipient of the Alumni Service Award, Dana (Dancer) Vandecoevering ’83. Dana has been a tireless volunteer and advocate for Â鶹ÊÓƵ for many years. She has demonstrated her loyalty to Â鶹ÊÓƵ through the donation of her time, talents and resources.

Her family legacy

Â鶹ÊÓƵ may be in her blood. Dana was a third-generation Â鶹ÊÓƵ student. Her parents Roy Dancer ’47 and Betty (Maxwell) Dancer ’47 attended Â鶹ÊÓƵ, as did her grandfather Charles ‘Dewey’ Maxwell ’21. Maxwell Field was named after Dana’s great-grandfather James Oliver (J.O.) Maxwell. J.O. was a major donor to Â鶹ÊÓƵ and several of his children attended Â鶹ÊÓƵ. The stadium and football field were named in his honor. 

Continuing the family tradition, two of her three sons graduated from Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Taylor Vandecoevering ‘13 and Tanner Vandecoevering ’21, as well as recent daughter-in-law Brenna (Dunn) Vandecoevering ‘22.

Commitment to students and Greek life

Her service to the university dates back more than 30 years when Dana started as chapter advisor for Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She was an advocate and coach to each of the members of her sorority during her time as an advisor and continues to write recommendation letters for Phi Sig alumni sisters. In addition to her role as a mentor and advisor, she's organized events and continues to encourage Phi Sig alumni to attend Homecoming and Phi Sig anniversaries. 

Council membership

Dana has served on both the Alumni Leadership Council (2005-2009) and Parents Leadership Council (2009-2013 and 2019-2021). As a member of both councils, she supported all Â鶹ÊÓƵ events, recruited volunteers and attendees and sometimes served as a fundraiser. She has also helped coordinate her Homecoming class of ’83 reunions and remains a member of the President’s Circle and Oak & Vine Society.

Serving through her career at Intel

Before retiring in Dec. 2022 from her 33-year career at Intel, she ensured that Â鶹ÊÓƵ received philanthropic dollars from Intel through her service work. Because of her commitment to Â鶹ÊÓƵ students and faith in their ability to succeed, she has represented Intel at Â鶹ÊÓƵ career fairs on more than one occasion. 

Dana has served Â鶹ÊÓƵ well in a variety of ways and her passion, drive, commitment and selfless giving of her time has made the Â鶹ÊÓƵ experience better for both students and alumni.