A University of Alabama engineering doctoral student was awarded a national fellowship with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Gabi Willis, a civil engineering doctoral candidate, was awarded a fellowship with the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program.This program, which is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, includes a $5,000 grant and an invitation to the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, which was held in January 2020. "I was able to network and meet with people who are working or doing research right now to see the state of the transportation industry," Willis said. The application for the fellowship asked students to detail a research topic they would like to explore that focused on transportation. The merit-based program awards grants of different amounts to 150-200 graduate students across the country annually. "The fellowship encourages graduate students to pursue research or careers in the transportation field," Willis said. Willis' proposed research involves investigating the interface between an original pavement surface and a new overlay that might be poured to fix problems, like potholes.The research aims to increase the durability of repairs to highways, bridges and other pavement surfaces. "This fellowship shows that the research Gabi is trying to do is very important right now," said Dr. Sriram Aaleti, UA assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and Willis' adviser. "The research can move the needle to address some of the issues facing U.S. transportation systems right now." Though a portion of the grant is reserved for alleviating the cost of travel expenses to the TRB Annual Meeting in Washington D.C., grant recipients are able to apply the grant to any area they need.Willis is applying the remaining amount of the award to focus on her new research. "The grant will go to my stipend. I won't have to TA or teach, which allows me to solely focus on research this summer," Willis said. The TRB Annual Meeting attracted more than 13,000 attendees from around the world. Willis submitted an abstract for her research and met other academic and industry professionals. "This is a great way for her to see the other fellows and learn about the kind of research they are doing," Aaleti said. "It can open up some opportunities for her to learn about upcoming technologies and hopefully bring back something useful to the University to try and use to improve the research." Willis said that it feels amazing to represent UA at the national level through the fellowship at the conference. "I've been at this school for my [undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees], so anything I can do to show that university pride is great," Willis said.

A University of Alabama engineering student's research presentation was awarded a top honor at a recent international conference. Kathryn O'Harra, a chemical engineering doctoral candidate, was awarded first place for her oral research presentation at the 5th International Conference on Ionic Liquid-Based Materials, or IL-MAT V. This conference was earlier hosted in Paris. O'Harra gave an oral presentation about her doctoral research on the development, design, synthesis and application of high-performance ionic polymers and composites for gas separation membranes and 3D printing. She said the research is environmentally geared and seeks to combat industrial emissions through more energy efficient separation processes. "I discussed the concept and motivation of the research project, and talked a little bit about how we're rethinking the design of materials and utilizing established chemistry to achieve materials which suit our goals," O'Harra said. She conducts her research with Dr. Jason E. Bara, a UA associate professor of chemical and biological engineering. O'Harra has been working with Bara since late in her time as an undergraduate student, while completing bachelor's degrees in chemical and biological engineering and dance performance. "It's easy to mentor a student like Katie. She is outstanding in all aspects of research - from the design and planning and experiments to writing journal articles and presenting at conferences," Bara said. "She's one of the best students we've ever had in [chemical and biological engineering]." At the IL-MAT Conference, O'Harra was able to present the research to and interact with international colleagues, as well as gain connections to form new collaborations. Through the first-place award for her oral presentation, O'Harra represented herself, her research colleagues and the College of Engineering at UA. "It was humbling to receive an award that recognized my work as significant at a conference where there was a lot of great work presented," O'Harra said. "It was really encouraging, both as a researcher and as a graduate student." O'Harra was also recently selected to present her research at the American Chemical Society 2020 Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research Symposium, which will take place in March 2020 at the ACS National Meeting and is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees. "For [O'Harra] to be recognized in that way is a big deal," Bara said. "She's doing just as much good for our [chemical and biological engineering] department, in our reputation and rank, as we're helping her." For her, representing UA and the College of Engineering at the national and international levels through these awards and at these conferences is very exciting. "I am proud to represent The University of Alabama," O'Harra said. "I've done all my degrees here, so I love to share about the work I've had the opportunity to do and demonstrate the strength of the College of Engineering."

University of Alabama student Annabeth Mellon, of Oxford, has received the 2019 William P. and Estan J. Bloom Award. The award honors a student who has improved relations among different groups. Past recipients have been chosen primarily for improving understanding and supporting interaction among groups for a common cause. Mellon came to the Capstone believing she was not the UA type, seeing herself as more of a problem than a problem solver. However, it didn't take her long to find her chapter in the greater UA story. By transforming her own experiences with sexual violence into a powerful movement, she brought together students from all walks of life. Mellon is a co-founder of the Walk of Shame, an annual protest calling attention to sexual assault and victim blaming on campus.The event is a unique space in that it is primarily survivor-focused and survivor-led. At the event, survivors of sexual violence come for healing and community, while also calling for change. Originally from Talladega County, Alabama, Mellon is double majoring in creative media and gender and media studies. She has served as vice president and social coordinator, and serves as president, of Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity UA. She is a member of the Blackburn Institute's New Student Class of 2019 and sits on Student Government Association's newly formed SAFE Center Committee. Alongside her work in sexual assault advocacy, she works with New College to provide media literacy and production education to local youth. Her mother is Bethany Mellon.

The University of Alabama's Morris L. Mayer Award honors one member of this academic year's graduating class and one member of the teaching faculty who exemplify the life of Dr. Morris L. Mayer: selfless and significant service and leadership for the UA community and significant contributions to student life and integrity. The 2020 student winner is Olivia Gevedon. Gevedon plans to be a physician, but her aspirations to serve others extend far beyond an exam room. Gevedon, an anthropology major, is the founder and director of NoteABLE, an educational outreach program of Engage Tuscaloosa that aims to empower local elementary students through music literacy and performance. As a musician, Gevedon believes every child should have access to music education, which equips them with a valuable creative outlet and form of self-expression. Since its implementation in spring 2018, NoteABLE has reached 210 kids and was recognized as the Most Outstanding Student-Initiated Engagement Effort of 2019 by the Council on Community-Based Partnerships. In addition, Gevedon is a member of an aging, immunity and neurodegeneration lab under the mentorship of Dr. Stanislava Chtarbanova in the department of biological sciences. Her role as a research ambassador and vice president of engagement in the Office for Undergraduate Research allows Gevedon to recruit and connect other UA students interested in research with faculty. Following graduation, she plans to help Project Horseshoe Farm, a community health nonprofit, establish a new site in Pomona, California. Her parents are Timothy and Cynthia Gevedon.

University of Alabama student Logan Goulart has received the 2020 John F. Ramsey Award, which recognizes in a junior the versatility of gifts and attainments, as well as the breadth of excellence in mind and character, that have traditionally been the goals of a liberal education. The combination of studying history and human rights has led Goulart to many interesting places. A member of the Blount Scholars Program and New College, he is passionate about understanding the ideas of equality and justice and how they have evolved. Goulart's research interests include the intellectual history of 20th century sub-Saharan Africa, South African apartheid and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that followed Nelson Mandela's election. He plans to attend law school to work as a human rights attorney, before enrolling in graduate school to pursue a history degree. He is involved in many organizations on campus, such as the Blackburn Institute, Student Government Association, the Million Dollar Band and Alabama Model United Nations. Goulart is also an active cellist, performing regularly with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra. His parents are his mother, Karen Duncan, stepmother Tracy Goulart and his late father Chris Goulart.

University of Alabama student Sarah Deutsch has received the Catherine Johnson Randall Award, recognizing the most outstanding graduating senior based on GPA, rigor of course of study and extraordinary scholarly or creative endeavor. Despite the common stigma that physics does not affect the layperson, Deutsch, a physics major and Randall Research Scholars student, believes that societal progress is driven by fundamental research. Deutsch's research pursuits have included X-ray analysis of medieval artifacts, simulation studies of components of radiotherapy machines for cancer treatment and machine learning studies for CMS, an international particle physics experiment. Driven by an appreciation for the arts and humanities, Deutsch desires to help bridge the gap between society and science through research and outreach. By restarting UA's Society of Physics Students, she hopes to help build a sense of community in the physics department and pass along information to help her peers get the most out of their undergraduate experience, while hoping to promote inclusion and work toward equality in the field. She said she sees great value in interdisciplinary exposure, and she studied electrical engineering and mathematics in addition to physics. Her research endeavors have opened the door for her to travel to Switzerland for a summer internship at CERN, and she's earned several awards for poster presentations at national conferences. Her parents are Chris and Joyce Deutsch.

The University of Alabama honored a man and a woman of the graduating class and a non-student who have been helpful to and associated with the University. Malik Rashaun Seals received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence of character and service to humanity. When Seals' mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2011, he was rocked to his core. Everything about his life changed that day and the Columbus, Mississippi, native found himself drawn to research and medicine. Now, as a biological sciences major on a pre-med track, he seeks to become equipped with the skills he needs to eradicate MS. He's already presented at the largest North American conference for MS, Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, and has been published in the Journal of Neurology. He will be attending graduate school with the intent to study microbiology and immunology in his pursuit to advance his scientific foundation to continue studying MS and neurodegenerative diseases. In his time at UA, he's served as president of National Pan-Hellenic Council, vice president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., assistant team leader for the Center for Service and Leadership, on the SGA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion cabinet and as the University's first Movember Student Ambassador, a role in which he raised awareness about men's mental health, suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer. He said he tries to live with the constant awareness of the work that needs to done at UA and in the community. His mother is Danyell Smith and his father is Derrick Seals. Alexus M. Cumbie, of Birmingham, was the other student recipient.

The University of Alabama honored a woman and a man of the graduating class and a non-student who have been helpful to and associated with the University. Alexus M. Cumbie received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence of character and service to humanity. Cumbie, a Birmingham native, is an influencer. In 2019, she was named one of Birmingham's most promising natives to invest in by the Birmingham Times, honored as the Southeastern Region's New Soror of the Year by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., was named the recipient of the Greer Marechal Memorial Prize for her published healthcare research, "Why Negro Bodies Dodge a Southern Sun," and was selected by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to serve as an intern on Capitol Hill for the second time as a legislative and press assistant with the office of Congresswoman Terri Sewell. The political science and business management major is president of UA's NAACP chapter, president of InterVarsity Christian Ministries, director of SGA's Black Student Leadership Council, vice president of the Anderson Society and a member of the honor societies Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Carl A Elliott Society and Rho Lambda. She's also a member of the 31st Order of XXXI, which recognizes the most influential women at the Capstone based on their distinguished character and significant contributions to the University, state and nation. Outside of her leadership roles, Cumbie is a poet whose work has been published in the American Library of Poetry. She uses poetry as a tool to help increase literacy rates in the South through an organization she created called Literary Vibes. Her parents are Cathleen and Kennard Cumbie. Malik Rashaun Seals, of Columbus, Mississippi, was the other student recipient.

The Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award Program recognizes the best research activity conducted by undergraduate students at The University of Alabama. Undergraduate students who have conducted significant scholarly research are nominated by faculty and staff research directors. The recipients and their nominators were recognized at a luncheon in their honor during UA's Honors Week. In 1997, the Randall Publishing Co. and the H. Pettus Randall III family created the Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award Program in memory of Henry Pettus Randall Jr., a distinguished UA alumnus and creator of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. UA research faculty members and past winners of the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award select the winners.

The University of Alabama Honors College has selected 41 incoming freshmen for the Randall Research Scholars Program. The nationally recognized undergraduate research program pairs exceptional students directly with leading research faculty to complete scholarly research projects. Students must apply to the program and are selected after a rigorous review process that includes an on-campus interview.

The University of Alabama's Black Faculty and Staff Association recently recognized students who received premier academic awards for 2018-19. The students were honored on Black Scholars Day. The mission of the Black Faculty and Staff Association is to contribute to the betterment of UA a by serving as an advocate for educational equity, with an emphasis on African-American students, and the professional needs of its members. To that end, this organization promotes and provides opportunities for networking among individuals and groups to articulate mutual concerns and advance educational opportunities.

Kiley Lord, a senior in the College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama, was awarded the Franklin Shirley Award for the Top Undergraduate Honors Conference Paper at the Southern States Communication Association Convention in Montgomery, Alabama.

The National Alumni Association of The University of Alabama recognizes and honors one male and one female in the senior class to receive the Alumni Student Award. The association also recognizes and honors students in the senior class. The students have excelled in academics and extracurricular activities, shown strength of character and maturity and displayed exceptional hospitality.

Rising senior Sarah Fields won The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences' 2019 Asian Studies Essay Award for her research on the Italian Jesuit painter Giuseppe Castiglione who served as a court painter during the Qing dynasty in China in the 18th century. Fields researched and wrote the paper, titled "Lang Shining: The Italian Jesuit and Chinese Court Painter," under the guidance of Dr. Doris Sung in Survey of Asian Art (ARH 254). Fields, who hails from Bethalto, Ill., is a studio art major with a double minor in advertising and art history. After she graduates in May 2020, she said that she plans to look for positions as an art director or creative director at an advertising agency. "While I don't plan on continuing my formal studies of art history," Fields said, "I love visiting museums and looking at pieces with context, so I hope to continue learning the subject." The Asian Studies program provides an interdisciplinary opportunity for study and research focused on the variety of cultural regions of Asia, particularly South Asia and East Asia. The program incorporates faculty and courses in a range of areas, including anthropology, art history, Asian languages, history, literature, political science, and religious studies.

A University of Alabama College of Engineering student is among the top 20 science, technology, engineering and math students in their 20s across the country and internationally. Peyton Strickland has been named as one of Aviation Week's 20 Twenties for 2019. Peyton Strickland has been named one of Aviation Week's 20 Twenties for 2019, sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The Pelham, Alabama, native is the first UA student to receive this award. An awards ceremony will be held to honor the 20 students on March 14 in Washington, D.C. "It's incredible to think about, when I think about everything that has happened in my life I just think that only God can do it," Strickland said. "It means a lot to me that out of everybody in the United States and the international pool of candidates, to be one of the top 20 aerospace students, it's crazy to think about." Strickland is in his third year at UA and is working on completing his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering by May 2020 and his master's degree, through the accelerated master's program, by December 2020. Finalists for this award are decided based on the nominees' academic achievements, current work toward their career goals and community service efforts. Strickland has previously worked with the MITRE Corporation in support of the U.S. Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency and is considering working in an area related to rocket propulsion in the future. In addition to his work and studies, Strickland volunteers at Central High School in Tuscaloosa where he teaches students about the use of coding in science and engineering and the basics of the programming language C++. "I won an undergraduate scholarship from the NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium, and you're either supposed to write a paper about research being conducted at your school, or you can do a one-time community outreach [project]," Strickland said. "So, what started as a one-time thing just kept happening and happening. I really enjoy going over there and helping with the kids." Strickland received recommendations for this award from three UA professors of aerospace engineering, Dr. Semih Olcmen, Dr. John Baker and Dr. Mark Barkey. Strickland credits these three professors and more for his successes at Alabama. "I think this award is as much for the faculty and staff as it is for me. One can not become a 'good' student without great teachers who make it possible to become a successful student through great lessons and teachings. I have been blessed to work with some of the best professors and staff in the country, and this award is a testament to their hard and successful work." - Peyton Strickland Strickland is a member of the Alabama Rocket Engineering Systems, or ARES, initiative at UA. ARES is a student-led program with the goal of taking UA to the forefront of collegiate rocketry. Olcmen, Strickland's graduate adviser, nominated him for the award based on his academic achievements and philanthropic efforts in encouraging students in low-income areas to pursue a career in research. "I have no doubt that Peyton will excel in any research career that he will choose to work in," Olcmen said. "His attention to detail, pursuit of knowledge, work ethic and creativity to think of new solutions will take him to the pinnacle." Strickland has chosen to continue his master's education at UA because of the quality of the faculty throughout his undergraduate experience. "Dr. Baker and Dr. Barkey have given me an opportunity to work in the aerospace office since my first day in school, and Dr. Olcmen has pushed me to pursue excellence each and every day," Strickland said. "They are the reasons I chose and continue to choose UA."

The University of Alabama Graduate School has announced the recipients of the 2018-2019 Outstanding Graduate Student awards. The awards will be presented as a part of UA Honors Week (Monday, April 1, to Friday, April 5). Three faculty committees selected seven outstanding graduate students from students nominated by their individual departments and colleges.

Congratulations to members of a Manderson Graduate School of Business MBA case team. Assembled from Manderson's student roster, the team took multiple awards home to Tuscaloosa from the recent Katz Invitational Case Competition on Feb. 8-9.at the University of Pittsburgh. Competing against 11 teams from the country's top business schools, the team placed second and received $5,000 in scholarships. Additionally, the team won the Best School Spirit award. The Manderson MBA case team with the check for $5,000. From left to right: James McCool, Lacey Cencula, Justin Chambers, and Esther Workman. The team was represented by Lacey Cencula of Birmingham; James McCool of Mountain Brook; Esther Workman of Montgomery; and Justin Chambers of Memphis, Tennessee. Workman was also awarded Best Presenter. "It was an honor to represent Manderson and the University of Alabama in Pittsburgh," Workman said. "Participating in the Katz Invitational Case Competition was a wonderful learning opportunity and chance to solve a real world business question. We were able to draw on each team member's strengths to create a strategic and comprehensive recommendation. Winning second place, Most Spirited and Best Presenter are incredible accomplishments after competing in the competition for only the second time ever." This year's invitational was the seventh annual case competition hosted by the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business in partnership with Crane Co. Each year, the competition offers a challenging, multifaceted business case based on a strategic challenge faced by the sponsoring company. The case tests teams' ability to analyze the situation and provide recommendations. The participating teams were given the case just two weeks before the competition. "With only two weeks to create a strategic recommendation for Crane Co., a Fortune 500 company, our team began working the minute we received the case prompt" McCool said. "We knew we were up against some of the most competitive MBA Programs in the country including Rutgers, Baylor, Florida and LSU. This fueled our motivation to produce the best pitch we could. Although it was a bumpy ride, we all agreed that we created a final product together that was far superior than any of us could create individually." The Manderson team advanced from a preliminary round where their room included teams from the University of Florida and Rutgers. They were joined by Baylor and the University of Pittsburgh in the finals. "In just two weeks, the team completed an extensive research phase, developed a winning thesis, built a beautiful slide deck and wowed judges in both the preliminary and final rounds," said Quoc Hoang, the team's coach and director of experiential learning. "While the awards and prizes are impressive, I'm most proud of how the team came together. I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with these students who worked hard, felt highs and lows throughout the case period and tasted success this past weekend with this great result." For more information about the MBA case team, contact Quoc Hoang at qhoang@culverhouse.ua.edu or visit the Manderson MBA website.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award honors one man and one woman of this academic year's graduating class as well as one non-student. The recipients of the award have demonstrated the highest standards of scholarship, leadership and service. The student recipients are: Joline Hartheimer UA has brought Joline Hartheimer face to face with some of the more agonizing threats to health - a form of brain tumor that resists treatment and the persistent, genetically born sickle-cell anemia. She has used her research skills to fight the tumor - glioblastoma multiforme - and her experience as a medical scribe and trainer at DCH has shown her how sickle-cell anemia causes suffering. Both experiences are fueling her passion for research in her major of chemical engineering and as a Randall Research Scholar. "I began college wanting to create bioengineering solutions for patients, but I have realized that the bench-to-bedside pipeline is leaking for all but a few lucky and privileged individuals," she said. "I have a great appreciation for biomedical science through my research on glioblastoma cancer stem cells and genetics, as well as my courses in chemical engineering and biology." Hartheimer, who serves as co-president of UA Society of Engineers in Medicine, works in the lab of Dr. Yonghyun "John" Kim, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering, where she was helping to study the brain tumors. She is first author of a paper under review with Journal of Neuro-Oncology. Coupled with her research skills is a profound sense of mission to help people. She has served as a campaign coordinator for Teach for America, and she has worked as a peer tutor and as an Al's Pals volunteer at Northington Elementary School. Her parents are Linda Hartheimer and Walter Hartheimer. Kyle Van Frank UA's theatre and dance community got together in 2018 for "Greater Giving: A Benefit for Five Horizons," which supported West Alabama AIDS Outreach, now called Five Horizons Health Services. The benefit scored more than $4,000 for the charity - much more than the group had raised in the past. And taking center stage was Kyle Van Frank, vice president of Alpha Psi Omega Theatre Honor Society, with a passion both for acting and for helping people and the environment. Van Frank, a theatre major, also has been involved in the Student Government Association and the Blackburn Institute. For SGA, he served as associate vice president for Community and University Affairs and on the Executive Committee as director of Environmental Affairs - a way to express his strong ideas about preserving the planet. On top of his service, Van Frank has been an active participant in theatre and dance productions, including playing Toby in "Sweeney Todd" and a character in the spring production of "The Drowsy Chaperone." "It is rare that we begin to miss those students before they leave, and that is indeed the case with Kyle," said Seth Panitch, professor of theatre. "There is not a professor in my department who does not recognize the significant loss his departure presents us. His ability to shape morale with the quality of his character is, in my 13 years of experience at UA, unrivaled." Van Frank's parents are JoAnne and Thomas Van Frank.

University of Alabama student Emily Adams has received the 2019 John F. Ramsey Award, which honors students with broad humanistic interests who have exerted a positive influence on his or her contemporaries. The intellectual pursuits of Adams, a history major, has taken her mind to some of the hot spots of contemporary culture - particularly the policy issues that led the United States into covert territory during the Cold War. As part of the University Fellows Experience, she is working on a research paper titled "Ethical Espionage: The Role of Covert Operations in a Democratic Government." The research will help her in her goals of studying law and working to explain and influence U.S. policy. In addition, she has worked on research pertaining to Civil War monuments in the South, resulting in a paper titled "The Lost Cause: How to Perpetuate a Myth"; the history of Marion, Alabama, for a tourism brochure; and the legends surrounding Alexander the Great. Her exploits in both ancient and recent history reflect her upbringing in a home that valued knowledge and her deep respect for history. Adams' commitment to scholarship has impressed her mentors deeply. "Her motivations are intrinsic rather than merely extrinsic," said Dr. Erik L. Peterson, assistant professor of history. "She wants to know, really know something about the world. She's willing to work hard to grasp that knowledge." In addition to her academic pursuits, Adams served as founding president of the Food Recovery Network on campus and received the College of Arts & Sciences Most Outstanding Sophomore award, as well as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Roger L. Von Amelunxen Scholarship. Her parents are Joseph William Adams and Melissa Adams.

The University of Alabama's Morris L. Mayer Award honors one member of this academic year's graduating class and one member of the teaching faculty who exemplify the life of Dr. Morris L. Mayer: selfless and significant service and leadership for the UA community and significant contributions to student life and integrity. The 2019 winner is Alexis Matallana. Service is great in and of itself - but it can be a learning experience as well, as Lexi Matallana discovered when working on UA's 125 Years of Women celebration. Matallana, a political science and public relations major, served as a committee member for the 125 Years of Women celebration. Matallana has given a lot of time to UA particularly in her capacity as president of the Alabama Panhellenic Association and director of Homecoming's Paint the Town Red. She also committed to improving communication in the UA community by taking the Sustained Dialogue moderator course at the Crossroads Community Engagement Center. Her participation in cross-cultural conversation and her seeking to learn how to facilitate deeper communication has gained the support and encouragement of staff members on campus dedicated to enhancing those facets of the community. "Not surprisingly, she has approached this new, challenging work with her consistently thoughtful determination to be the best servant leader she can be," said Lane Busby McLelland, director of the Crossroads Community Engagement Center. "Her traits as a natural and dynamic leader have been a gift to a University. On a daily basis, Lexi Matallana works selflessly to bring others together for good." In addition, Matallana is involved in the Public Relations Council of Alabama. Her parents are Charles and Melissa Matallana.

University of Alabama student Sakina Dhondia has received the 2019 William P. and Estan J. Bloom Award. The award honors a student who has improved relations among different groups. Past recipients have been chosen primarily for improving understanding and supporting interaction among groups for a common cause. Dhondia finds that bringing people together for festivals - or even just coffee - can help UA students connect in ways they can't do alone. Thanks to her work with the International Students Association and as director of cultural experiences and diversity for the Honors College Assembly, she helped put together activities that inspired interaction among the diverse student body of UA, including the International Coffee Hour, the Diwali festival and the Crimson Culture Gala. Dhondia, a finance and economics major, moved with her family from Delft in the Netherlands and now lives in Tuscaloosa. She has served as treasurer, vice president and president of the International Students Association, as well as a design partner for the Design for American project and budget director for Night to Shine, an Honors College initiative that creates a prom-like experience for students with special needs. She also works with the Alabama Transportation Institute. Her parents are Juzer and Rashida Dhondi.

Holden DeGrave, a recent graduate of The University of Alabama, received the 2018 Capstone Engineering Society Outstanding Senior Award. A graduate of Southwest High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, DeGrave graduated from UA this spring with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. For eight semesters, DeGrave received a UA Presidential Scholarship and a UA Engineering Scholarship. He was also selected for two Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society Scholarships and a Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations Scholarship. DeGrave maintained a perfect grade point average and earned membership in the Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Mortar Board honor societies. In 2017, he was named Alabama Society of Professional Engineers Student Engineer of the Year, Engineering Council of Birmingham Undergraduate Student of the Year in Electrical Engineering, and a Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities honoree. He spent two semesters as a co-op student at Southern Company and was given the Southern Excellence Award in 2016, which recognizes outstanding work done by a Southern Company Employee. As a co-op student, DeGrave wrote four internal documents and gave seven internal presentations. In the College of Engineering, he served as project lead of the Technology-Enables K9 Harness Project, UA IEEE student branch treasurer, a mentor in the Mentor UPP program, and as an electrical and computer engineering ambassador. DeGrave worked as an undergraduate research assistant with Dr. Andrew Lemmon and Dr. Aaron Brovant, both UA assistant professors of electrical and computer engineering. "In class, his solutions are always creative, meticulously worked out, well documented, and clearly communicated, but I have been even more impressed with his talent for research," Brovant said. "I have been able to give him open-ended modeling problems with only my notes and journal articles as reference, and he has supplied me with the solutions in short order as though they were no more difficult than homework." While at UA, DeGrave has served as Theta Tau community service chairman, a UA Safe Zone Ally, a UA Parent Ambassador, and a 2017 UA Dance Marathon miracle maker. The Capstone Engineering Society, the alumni association for the College of Engineering, was established in 1973. CES is dedicated to maintaining relationships with UA engineering alumni to ensure the College is able to provide UA engineering and computer science students with a superior educational experience. The CES began the Outstanding Senior Award in 1986 to honor an exceptional student who deserves distinction among his or her peers. An outstanding student is selected from the 11 academic programs in the College, and the overall winner is determined by a selection committee after assessing each student's academic performance, professional and technical activities, College leadership, external leadership and other activities. hwest High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, DeGrave graduated from UA this spring with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. For eight semesters, DeGrave received a UA Presidential Scholarship and a UA Engineering Scholarship. He was also selected for two Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society Scholarships and a Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations Scholarship. DeGrave maintained a perfect grade point average and earned membership in the Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Mortar Board honor societies. In 2017, he was named Alabama Society of Professional Engineers Student Engineer of the Year, Engineering Council of Birmingham Undergraduate Student of the Year in Electrical Engineering, and a Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities honoree. He spent two semesters as a co-op student at Southern Company and was given the Southern Excellence Award in 2016, which recognizes outstanding work done by a Southern Company Employee. As a co-op student, DeGrave wrote four internal documents and gave seven internal presentations. In the College of Engineering, he served as project lead of the Technology-Enables K9 Harness Project, UA IEEE student branch treasurer, a mentor in the Mentor UPP program, and as an electrical and computer engineering ambassador. DeGrave worked as an undergraduate research assistant with Dr. Andrew Lemmon and Dr. Aaron Brovant, both UA assistant professors of electrical and computer engineering. "In class, his solutions are always creative, meticulously worked out, well documented, and clearly communicated, but I have been even more impressed with his talent for research," Brovant said. "I have been able to give him open-ended modeling problems with only my notes and journal articles as reference, and he has supplied me with the solutions in short order as though they were no more difficult than homework." While at UA, DeGrave has served as Theta Tau community service chairman, a UA Safe Zone Ally, a UA Parent Ambassador, and a 2017 UA Dance Marathon miracle maker. The Capstone Engineering Society, the alumni association for the College of Engineering, was established in 1973. CES is dedicated to maintaining relationships with UA engineering alumni to ensure the College is able to provide UA engineering and computer science students with a superior educational experience. The CES began the Outstanding Senior Award in 1986 to honor an exceptional student who deserves distinction among his or her peers. An outstanding student is selected from the 11 academic programs in the College, and the overall winner is determined by a selection committee after assessing each student's academic performance, professional and technical activities, College leadership, external leadership and other activities.

The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences has announced the winners of the 2018 Holle Awards for Excellence and Creativity in Communication. The Holle Award for Excellence in Media Writing is awarded to UA's Mary Clay Kline, of Cleveland, Mississippi. Her submission led one judge to remark, "[Her] work is a demonstration that better reporting leads to better stories." The Holle Award for Excellence in Public Speaking is awarded to UA's Grace Meagher of Joliet, Illinois. Her speech cast a light on the gender gap in children's literacy ability, that young boys read less than young girls. She directed the audience to curb this trend by encouraging the young boys in their lives to read more. The Holle Award for Excellence in Screenwriting is awarded to UA's Blake Hudson, of Clanton, Alabama, for his work, "The Last Resorts Club." His script was praised by judges for its structure and its ability to lead the reader to great empathy for its characters. "The 2018 Holle Award winners have proven to be a uniquely talented and inspirational group of students from across the country," said Dr. Mark Nelson, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences. "These students excel in communication and creativity, two things Brig. Gen. Everett Holle believed in and supported through his generosity in funding these awards. He will be missed but his legacy lives on in the Holle Awards." The Holle Awards are named for the 1950 graduate of The University of Alabama who served as an announcer, director, writer and producer during his 40-year career at NBC 13. Holle was a member of the College of Communication and Information Sciences' board of visitors where he passionately invested in the success of University of Alabama students for years.

Two teams of nine metallurgical and material engineering students took first and second place in a local casting competition held April 9. The American Foundry Society Casting Competition consisted of each team making a small-scale version of the Vulcan statue located in Birmingham and a technical presentation of their work. The teams were judged on resemblance to the statue, overall use of the casting process, use of casting principles, use of engineering tools, creativity, quality and presentation.

The University of Alabama's Chem-E Car Team received the most creative design award and placed third in the poster competition at a recent conference, marking the best placement in the team's history.

The National Alumni Association of The University of Alabama recognizes and honors one male and one female in the senior class to receive the Alumni Student Award. The association also recognizes and honors students in the senior class. The students have excelled in academics and extracurricular activities, shown strength of character and maturity and displayed exceptional hospitality.

The University of Alabama Outstanding Student Awards recognize one or two students from each class as well as outstanding transfer and graduate students.

Jalen Drummond, a senior from Wedowee, Alabama, finished first nationally in Informative Speaking at the 41st American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament Championships in Colorado Springs, CO. The Alabama Forensic Council traveled to the AFA-NIET with more than 20 students competing. "Preparing to compete on the national stage is nothing short of intense," Drummond said. "I spent hours perfecting my delivery, researching current events, and practicing with some of the most respected coaches in the nation. It is definitely grueling; however, the laborious preparation definitely pays off when you hear your name shouted as the national champion." Drummond's topic focused on the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and an Obama Administration report that sheds light on details of that day. Drummond's speech attempted to address and combat fake news and emphasizes the need for truth in reporting. The AFC entered 24 students in 66 events and advanced nine students in 15 events to quarter-finals, six events to semi-finals, and four events to the final rounds of competition. AFC finished in fifth place out of 63 competing schools for the second year in a row. "The fifth-place finish of the AFC at this year's National Speech tournament is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and staff," said Bobby Imbody, Director of Forensics. "All of the students did the hard work required to be great, and it shows. More importantly, our students tackled hard topics and spoke truth to any and all audiences in an effort to make their world a better place more than any year before." The AFA-NIET is the most competitive national forensics tournament in the nation with the most rigorous qualification process of any intercollegiate forensic tournament.

The University of Alabama's Black Faculty and Staff Association recently recognized students who received premier academic awards for 2017-18. The students were honored on Black Scholars Day in March. The mission of the Black Faculty and Staff Association is to contribute to the betterment of UA a by serving as an advocate for educational equity, with an emphasis on African-American students, and the professional needs of its members. To that end, this organization promotes and provides opportunities for networking among individuals and groups to articulate mutual concerns and advance educational opportunities.

Students representing majors from across The University of Alabama campus pitched their business plans to judges in the Edward K. Aldag Jr. Business Plan Competition Tuesday, March 27.