How one Cowboy finished what she started to earn the 400 hours service orange C.O.R.D.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Media Contact: Katie Maltbie | Communications Specialist, Campus Life | 972-922-3503 | katie.a.rose@okstate.edu
Four hundred hours sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? Depending on what you’re doing, it could be, but when you’re doing something that you love, 400 hours can be a drop in the bucket.
At least that’s how it is for Cate Snedegar.
This spring, Snedegar will walk across the commencement stage with the Service Orange C.O.R.D., which recognizes 400 cumulative impact hours during a student’s time at OSU. For transfer or graduate students, it’s 100 hours per year they are at OSU.
Snedegar, like many freshmen, came to OSU looking to make a change and explore the many opportunities OSU has to offer.
“I wasn’t involved in a lot during high school, but I came to OSU knowing I wanted to change that,” said the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, native. “I was in the President’s Leadership Council when I first heard about C.O.R.D.”
As an accounting major minoring in French and art history, Snedegar took a methodical approach to achieving her 400-hour goal.
“If you really think about it, it’s only 50 hours per semester,” Snedegar said.
Getting Organized
When Snedegar started her freshman year, she wasn’t as organized as she is today.
As she worked toward her goal, she realized she would need a system to manage her volunteer hours with her academics and other organizational obligations.
“Each semester, I would map out what I could do on a month-to-month basis and then track my hours in a spreadsheet,” Snedegar said. “I would consider things like midterms and build my schedule based on what was going on. A lot of the agencies in Stillwater, especially the Humane Society, make it simple to sign up for volunteer shifts, so I could sign up knowing which shifts worked best with my schedule.”
Pairing Passion with Practicality
The Humane Society of Stillwater wasn’t the only place where Snedegar dedicated her time. Our Daily Bread in Stillwater is where she earned a good portion of her hours, specifically with their garden, where families can pick fresh produce.
“I’ve learned so many new skills through volunteering, especially in the Our Daily Bread Garden,” Snedegar said. “Things like pest management and weed control — all things I didn’t have experience with before; I’m walking away with a new skill set.”
For Snedegar, it was about being intentional and finding impacts that aligned with her passions and interests, so volunteering stopped feeling like “earning hours”. It became something she looked forward to and felt like a natural part of her week.
“I grew up riding horses, so when the semesterlong volunteer opportunity came up at Turning Point Ranch, I took it,” Snedegar said. “I was a horse leader for two semesters, and it just became part of my week. It was a great opportunity to share something that I loved with others.”
Serving with SVC
Coincidentally, Snedegar serves as the Student Volunteer Center’s C.O.R.D. Ambassador. And who better than someone who has spent the last four years working towards the C.O.R.D. goal to help advise and encourage other students to reach the same milestones?
“I got an email from the SVC my sophomore year, encouraging me to apply, and I thought it would be a great way for me to help other people, and what is the worst thing that could happen? They say no?” Snedegar said.
Well, they didn’t say no, and now Snedegar has served in this role for the last two years.
“Cate has been nothing but consistent, willing and helpful to all the agencies she has volunteered with,” said Skylar Merrill, graduate teaching assistant for the SVC. “At the SVC, we were honored to watch and support her journey to achieve the Orange C.O.R.D. recognition. We look forward to supporting other students who also choose to pursue this distinct achievement.
Living the Cowboy Code
Snedegar encourages students to step outside of their comfort zone and see what they can offer to the Stillwater community, calling them to live out the Cowboy Code.
“Agencies are just excited to have student volunteers,” Snedegar said. “They don’t expect you to know everything, just that you show up and put in a good effort.”
One of the core tenets of the Cowboy Code is “We finish what we start.” Reaching 400 hours isn't just about the number. It’s about the discipline to get it done.
As Snedegar prepares to walk across the commencement stage, the Service Orange C.O.R.D. is a physical representation of four years of following through on a goal she set for herself as a freshman.
Whether you're looking to help a local agency or want to finish what you start by earning your own Service Orange C.O.R.D., the Student Volunteer Center is here to help. Visit the SVC website to discover service opportunities and view recognized C.O.R.D. milestones.