It all started with a website. When Alan Thompson’s father needed one to promote his business, Thompson stepped in and soon found himself building sites for others as well. That early work became the foundation of Stingray Branding, a marketing agency he launched in 2008 and has since grown into a force behind more than 600 brands in his home state of South Carolina.
For 40 Gators Under 40 honoree Alan Thompson, UF Online opened the door to a degree—and so much more
But even as his business thrived, something was still missing: his degree. Thompson kept pushing forward with his education while raising a family, running a business and serving in the military. At the end of a deployment to the Middle East he finally found the opportunity he’d been waiting for—the launch of UF Online. He’d been a Gator fan since high school, but moving to Gainesville wasn’t an option with so many responsibilities at home.
Now, UF could come to him.
“I was like, that’s it. I could be a Gator,” Thompson recalled. “As soon as I got back, I spoke with an advisor.” It was the beginning of a relationship with UF that’s only grown stronger with time—Thompson earned an online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, became involved with the official name, image and likeness partner of Gators athletics, and is now being honored as part of the 2026 class of 40 Gators Under 40.
“UF has a huge alumni base, and there are some incredible people who have also graduated from UF, just in this class alone,” he said. “It’s one of the proudest accomplishments I’ve ever had.”
‘I’m a true Gator’
While Thompson grew up in Charleston, S.C., he lived for a time with his mother in Sarasota, where she worked for the UF/IFAS Extension. Sports, though, were what truly hooked him on the Gators. Thompson was in high school when UF basketball and football each won multiple national championships under coaches Billy Donovan and Urban Meyer, respectively. Florida was the biggest brand in college sports, and Thompson was spellbound.
But then his life changed—kids, military service, the business. “I had always wanted to go to UF, but unfortunately living in Gainesville just wasn’t in the cards for me,” Thomspon said. “My son at that time was an infant, and the idea of moving my family from Charleston to Gainesville, and leaving our entire support system to pursue my degree didn’t make sense.”
Thompson earned a degree in web design from the International Academy of Design, and attended in-person classes at the College of Charleston. The discovery of UF Online, though, proved a revelation. Upon returning from deployment, he spoke to a UF advisor and learned he needed a few more transfer credits. He enrolled in Florida State College at Jacksonville to complete the remaining coursework, after which he was officially admitted to UF. Finally, he was a Gator at last.
It wasn’t easy—running a business and pursuing a degree at the same time meant long days blurring into nights, missed time with the family, and many sacrifices were made. But Thompson included his family in the effort, often bringing his kids to Gainesville to see the UF campus and attend sporting events. He completed his business administration degree in 2021.
“One thing I love about UF Online is that you take all the same classes that students on campus take, attend all the same lectures,” Thompson said. “I had all the same homework, had on-campus classmates as part of my projects. I know UF is actually my university. There are these schools where the online program isn’t the same as the university. Being a UF Online grad means I’m a true Gator just like everybody else.”
Gator Club and NIL
Through UF Online, Thompson didn’t just earn a degree—he also made connections. He served six years as president of the Charleston Gator Club, networking with other business owners in the region. Once college athletes were able to earn income through their name, image and likeness (NIL), Thompson joined the effort in Gainesville. As fractional chief marketing officer of Florida Victorious, now the official NIL partner of the Gators, he helped grow membership in the organization to over 3,000 in less than a year.
“Without being a Gator grad, none of that happens,” Thompson said.
Chosen by the UF Alumni Association, 40 Gators Under 40 recognizes young alumni who have not only achieved personal success, but also demonstrated a deep connection and commitment to UF. Thompson has certainly done that, and continues to implement the lessons he learned at UF Online into his business today. He’s also thrilled to be in the same 40 Gators Under 40 class as Brandon Spikes, a star linebacker on those great UF football teams Thompson once watched as a captivated high schooler on TV.
“To be awarded something that has Brandon Spikes as one of its other winners, that’s just incredible,” he said. “It’s such a big deal to be to be a Gator grad. It’s opened up so many opportunities for me. And I’m probably not a Gator grad without UF Online.”
UF Online business administration degrees expose students to some of the nation’s top professors and elite coursework under the nationally recognized Warrington College of Business, which is consistently ranked among the best business schools by national and international publications. Both the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) provide broad academic backgrounds in a variety of business disciplines, offering insights into key concepts including accounting, economics, business law, finance, marketing and management, and preparing students for a wide array of business careers.