The University of Alabama

Even with the challenges caused by a global pandemic, undergraduate students at The University of Alabama rigorously pursued research and creative avenues outside the classroom, and this year's Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference showcased and recognized their efforts. About 350 students participated in the 14th annual conference, held both at the Bryant Conference Center March 31 and online for students who chose to present virtually. This year's winners of the URCA Conference at The University of Alabama highlight the ingenuity and dedication of those who rigorously pursued research and creative avenues outside the classroom. The premier research event to highlight undergraduate research at UA spurs interest in research among undergraduate students and helps students polish their communication skills.

Blue Key is a premier honor society that recognizes college students for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.

Even with the challenges caused by a global pandemic, undergraduate students at The University of Alabama rigorously pursued research and creative avenues outside the classroom, and this year's Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference showcased and recognized their efforts. About 350 students participated in the 14th annual conference, held both at the Bryant Conference Center March 31 and online for students who chose to present virtually. This year's winners of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference at The University of Alabama highlight the ingenuity and dedication of those who rigorously pursued research and creative avenues outside the classroom. The premier research event to highlight undergraduate research at UA spurs interest in research among undergraduate students and helps students polish their communication skills.

The Anderson Society is a leadership honorary that recognizes students who have made significant contributions to The University of Alabama. Twenty-four students are accepted each year; and honorary memberships are awarded to faculty and graduating seniors. While these contributions often take many forms, there are certain qualities of members of the Anderson Society that are prominently and ubiquitously found -- an immersion into some sort of community service, passion for improving the university community through both explicit and implicit means, and persistent effort to attain excellence in some sphere of university life. Once an Anderson initiate, members are expected to continue to devote themselves to service, some directly under the auspices of the Anderson Society, but much more individually.

The University of Alabama Awards Committee has bestowed the Capstone's highest honors, the Premier Awards, to nine students, faculty and staff who exemplify the highest standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character.

The Alabama Forensics Council, The University of Alabama's competitive speech team, won two national championships in speech and debate during the virtual Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament March 18-21. The AFC won both the Team National Championship for individual events in speech and the Overall Team National Championship which included elements of both speech and debate. UA College of Communication and Information Sciences students Cassidy Duncan, Cortland Stone and Elizabeth Tagg won first place in the Informative Speaking, Dramatic Interpretation and Prose categories respectively. Stone and Tagg also received first place in the Duo Interpretation category. Students were tasked with completing their events online this year. According to Dr. Benjamin Pyle, director of AFC, the students adapted to the new competition style with ease. "Our students dove head-first into figuring out how best to make this new competition format work for them to win the national tournaments," Pyle said. "The Team Championship at the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament was the first of our three main competitive goals this season. Words cannot contain the amount of pride I hold in my heart for each of my students, graduate assistant coaches, volunteers, alumni and fellow administrators who have fought hard to reach this achievement." Additionally, 15 UA students placed in individual events at the tournament.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program has selected two University of Alabama students as Goldwater Scholars for 2021-2022. The selections bring the number of UA students who have received Goldwater scholarships to 59. The Goldwater scholarships are awarded to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Nonprofit organizations across the country were among the many who felt the overwhelming impact of COVID-19. But last fall, when several Tuscaloosa nonprofits needed help like never before, The University of Alabama's student-led organization Serving Bama found a way to safely continue vital, in-person volunteer services, and they continue doing so today. "We knew that now more than ever, the Tuscaloosa community needed our support," said Chloe Keck, a senior biology major who acts as team leader for Serving Bama. "It was important for us to find a way to continue offering services to our community partners, to be consistent and hands-on in the community, while being cognizant of the pandemic and the precautions we needed to take to keep everyone safe." Serving Bama is one of UA's Center for Service and Leadership's Community Action Teams. Through Keck's leadership, and with the help of 23 assistant team leaders, Serving Bama makes it their mission to serve the community, meeting a variety of needs for eleven nonprofits throughout Tuscaloosa, where nearly 130 UA students volunteer weekly.

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Three University of Alabama students have received the Critical Language Scholarship to study overseas during summer 2021. The Critical Language Scholarship, or CLS program, is part of a U.S. State Department effort to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. CLS scholars gain critical language and cultural skills that enable them to contribute to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.

PRWeek has named University of Alabama senior Kathleen McManus its 2021 Outstanding Student. McManus, of Palatine, Illinois, is the third student from UA's College of Communication and Information Sciences to win the award in the past four years. The honor recognizes an undergraduate student for their outstanding display of a variety of public relations skills. "I'm very honored to have been selected for the award," McManus said. "It is an incredible way to round out my time here at the Capstone and a true reflection of the exceptional education and experiences that the college and university provide its students."

The University of Alabama placed 98 student-athletes on the 2020 Fall Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll, the league office announced Friday. The Crimson Tide's total ranked fifth overall and fourth among teams that don't sponsor men's soccer. UA's SEC and national championship football team put 47 student-athletes on the honor roll, ranking in the top three this season. The football list includes three of the Crimson Tide's 2020 permanent team captains in Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, Davey O'Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm winner Mac Jones and Rimington Trophy honoree Landon Dickerson. The women's cross country team also figured in the top three in the SEC with 17 honorees. The soccer team put 21 on the list, while volleyball and men's cross country tallied seven and six, respectively. To earn a place on the honor roll, a student-athlete must earn a 3.0 or better grade point average for either the preceding academic year or their career and be a sophomore or better in academic standing. The Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll is based on the 2020 spring, summer and fall terms. Any student-athlete who participates in an SEC championship sport or a student-athlete who participates in a sport listed on his/her institution's NCAA Sports Sponsorship Form is eligible for nomination to the Academic Honor Roll. The conference will release a winter and spring honor roll in the months to come and recognizes its first-year student-athletes based on grades from the fall and spring semester with an honor roll that is released in June.

A total of 13,128 students enrolled during the fall 2020 term at The University of Alabama made the Dean's List with academic records of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale), or the President's List with academic records of 4.0 (all A's). The UA Dean's and President's Lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or undergraduate students who take less than a full course load.

Three University of Alabama students have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to participate in study abroad programs during the 2021-2022 academic year. "The Gilman International Scholarship is specifically designed to increase access to study abroad by supporting students who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints," said Carolina Robinson, director of Education Abroad at UA's Capstone International Center. "Since 2012, we have had 54 winners and 11 alternates for the award. We are so proud of Bailee, Lauren and Mariah for winning scholarships this year." Scholarship winners are selected by the Institute of International Education through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State.

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

The University of Alabama awarded some 2,257 degrees during its fall commencement Dec. 12. With a beautiful campus, dozens of challenging academic programs, expert faculty and numerous opportunities for service and growth, The University of Alabama is a place where legends are made. UA offers its students a premier educational, cultural and social experience with more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The campus gives students the opportunity to interact with faculty performing cutting-edge research.

A University of Alabama senior is among 46 Americans selected to study in the United Kingdom through the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. Caroline Yuk, a senior from Crystal Lake, Illinois, is the third UA student to win the award and first in more than 40 years. The scholarship provides aid to American students to study at graduate-level U.K. institutions in any field of study. Yuk, an interdisciplinary studies major in UA's New College, will pursue postgraduate degrees in neuroscience at the University of Oxford and audiology science at University College London. "Earning the Marshall Scholarship means the absolute world to me," said Yuk. "It's the greatest validation that I'm living in such a way that gives back to all who have helped me along the way, including my parents, siblings, friends and mentors." Yuk, who was born completely deaf but has since gained the ability to hear through cochlear implants and years of auditory-verbal training therapy, hopes to use her education and research to improve outcomes of those who are deaf or hard of hearing in underserved populations. "In order to study and find effective solutions for a macroscopic problem such as poorer hearing outcomes in rural areas, it is critical to study at the microscopic level, such as the molecular mechanisms of hearing and balance," said Yuk. "Auditory neuroscience is inherently multidisciplinary, so I will especially connect with audiologists, clinicians, scientists, biomedical engineers and hearing aid manufacturers in the U.K. "In doing so, I intend to contribute significantly to a future team of international and esteemed professionals in the field with a view to increasing hearing access for underserved populations."

A University of Alabama senior was selected as one of the American Advertising Federation's Most Promising Multicultural Students of 2021. Hanna Fridriksson, a Mobile native, is one of 50 college students from across the country chosen to participate in the Most Promising Multicultural Students program, a premier event put on by the AAF to give traditionally underrepresented, multicultural students an opportunity to network with and learn from top advertising, marketing and media professionals. The program is part of an AAF initiative to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the advertising industry. "It's a really great program, and I'm thankful for the opportunity," said Fridriksson, who is in UA's accelerated master's program in advertising and public relations. "The advertising world is a bit homogenous, in a sense. It's really nice to see that there are programs trying to push back on that and add diversity into the industry because it's really important for different perspectives to be represented." Students were selected for the program by a panel of leading industry professionals, including representatives from Apple, Google, L'Oreal and Twitter, among others. The four-day event, held last year in New York City, will be fully virtual this year and run Jan. 26-29, 2021.

Kaitlyn May's presentation on Autism Spectrum Disorder won first place at this year's virtual Three Minute Thesis competition at The University of Alabama. May is a graduate student studying educational studies in psychology, research methodology and counseling. Her talk title for the competition was "Frontoparietal Network in Executive Functioning in Autism Spectrum Disorder." Hosted by the UA Graduate School, Three Minute Thesis is a research communication competition that challenges graduate students to present a compelling oration on their research and its significance in just three minutes in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. Fifteen finalists competed Nov. 9 for a chance to win scholarships and monetary awards. This year's competitors represented an array of academic departments and disciplines.

Ten students studying to become physicians with plans to practice in rural Alabama communities were recently accepted to The University of Alabama's Rural Medical Scholars Program for the 2020-21 academic year. The Rural Medical Scholars Program, part of UA's College of Community Health Sciences, is a five-year medical education program that leads to a medical degree. The program includes a year of study, after students receive their undergraduate degree, and leads to a master's degree in rural and community health and early admission to the UA School of Medicine. The 2020-21 class includes Brooks Bergman, of Killen; Jackson Broadfoot, of Hartselle; Devin Dobbins, of Flat Rock; Taylor Golden, of Florence; Stewart Gwin, of Gallion; Kayla Hazelwood, of Cropwell; Abye Nelson, of Woodstock; Boyd Price, of Clanton; Bethany Sparks, of Phil Campbell; and Matthew Tackett, of Pickensville. Students spend their first two years of medical school at the School of Medicine's main campus in Birmingham and return to CCHS for their third and fourth years of medical school - the clinical training years. The Rural Medical Scholars Program is exclusively for rural Alabama students who want to become physicians and practice in rural communities. It has been cited nationally as a model initiative. To date, it has placed 75 physicians into practice in rural Alabama.

University of Alabama senior Lauren Pan received one of the Society of Women Engineers' most prestigious collegiate awards this year. Pan was named Outstanding Collegiate Member for her "stellar academic and internship performance; for commitment to both ethics and social responsibility; and for championing diversity and inclusion in SWE, on campus and beyond." The award was announced at SWE's annual WE20 conference, held virtually in early November. SWE is a worldwide organization that advocates for women in engineering and technology with more than 40,000 members globally, about half of which are collegiate members. Pan, an Atlanta, Georgia, native majoring in chemical engineering, has served in numerous leadership positions within UA's SWE section, as well as at the Society level, including positions as a global co-lead for the LGBTQ+ and allies affinity group. She was also elected as the only collegiate member for last year's SWE Senate. Although only about 13 percent of engineers are women, organizations such as SWE help students like Pan more easily find their way in the field of engineering. "UA has such a large campus and large College of Engineering," said Pan, who is attending UA on Presidential and Engineering Leadership scholarships. "Having an organization like SWE allows students to really build a sense of community within such a large organization. It helps them find their place and the support they need." The SWE award is a fitting addition to Pans' long list of achievements. She's devoted much of her college career working to make a big impact on her field, as well as on the lives of those working in it.

Melissa Walker, a member of The University of Alabama's CrossingPoints Certificate in Occupational Studies Program, was recently awarded the Ruby's Rainbow Warriors for Walt Scholarship. Walker, a native of Tuscaloosa, is the first UA CrossingPoints student to receive a scholarship through Ruby's Rainbow, a national nonprofit organization that grants scholarships to adults with Down syndrome seeking post-secondary education, enrichment or vocational classes. The goal of Ruby's Rainbow is to help individuals with Down syndrome achieve their dreams of higher education while spreading awareness of their capabilities. The Warriors for Walt Scholarship was created in memory of Walter "Walt" Luther Morris IV who was born with Down syndrome and passed away at nine months because of complications following open-heart surgery in 2016. His scholarship is a joint partnership between Ruby's Rainbow and the Warriors for Walt Charitable Fund through the Arkansas Community Foundation. "I'm so excited and thankful to Liz and Trey Morris, and Walt from up above," said Walker. "The scholarship really means a lot and will help me complete another semester at UA."

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

A total of 506 students enrolled during the 2020 summer term at The University of Alabama were named to the Dean's List with an academic record of 3.5 or above or the President's List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's). The UA Dean's and President's lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or to undergraduate students who take less than a full course load.

The University of Alabama awarded some 1,345 degrees during its summer commencement July 31 - Aug. 2. With a beautiful campus, dozens of challenging academic programs, expert faculty and numerous opportunities for service and growth, The University of Alabama is a place where legends are made. UA offers its students a premier educational, cultural and social experience with more than 200 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The campus gives students the opportunity to interact with faculty performing cutting-edge research.

Eight students from the The University of Alabama's Capstone College of Nursing received the DCH Health System's BSN Scholarship. "We are so appreciative of this opportunity for our students," said Dr. Suzanne Prevost, CCN Dean. "The need for nurses has never been greater, and many of our nursing students are experiencing increased financial challenges due to the pandemic. The DCH Health System BSN Scholarship is easing the financial burden of pursuing a BSN, while ensuring that qualified nurses remain in our community during this time of great need." The DCH BSN Scholarship Program is open to all BSN college students enrolled in their last four semesters at an approved nursing program. Recipients of this scholarship are expected to become employed as full-time RNs at DCH Health System, and to remain employed at DCH for 12 months for each semester of scholarship assistance. "Some of these students have already been gaining experience at DCH. From those experiences and what we have read, they are an exceptional group," said Faye Zwieg, Chief Nursing Officer at DCH Health System. "We are excited to offer these scholarships and look forward to working with each of them."

University of Alabama student Meredith Ward, of Niceville, Florida, was selected as a recipient of the Gilman-McCain Scholarship to study in Italy during the 2019-2020 academic year. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship, a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain, provides awards to child dependents of active service members to study or intern abroad. "Our Education Abroad office invests heavily in increasing awareness and supporting students in refining their stories and scholarship applications," said Carolina Robinson, director of Education Abroad at UA's Capstone International Center. "Our efforts are paid off with each student who wins a scholarship, which allows them the incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture."

Ten University of Alabama students were awarded scholarships through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program during the 2019-2020 academic year. "The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship allows students to study abroad who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints," said Carolina Robinson, director of Education Abroad at UA's Capstone International Center. "We are thrilled that we had 10 UA students selected as recipients for this award." Recipients were selected by the Institute of International Education through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. "Our Education Abroad office invests heavily in increasing awareness and supporting students in refining their stories and scholarship applications," said Robinson. "Our efforts are paid off with each student who wins a scholarship, which allows them the incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture."

University of Alabama student Andrew Smith, of Haslet, Texas, was named to the first team of the North American Collegiate Model UN All-Star Team. Haslet is among the first UA delegates to make the team that consists of the top 12 delegates in the nation. The purpose of the North American Collegiate Model UN All-Star Team is to recognize exemplary individuals in the college Model UN community who make a difference inside and outside of committee. The University of Alabama's Model UN team recently ranked on Best Delegate's list of the Top 25 Collegiate Model UN teams in the World Division. "Model UN team members come from various majors and interests across campus and compete at a world-class level through dedicated training outside of their regular studies," said Megan Wagner, assistant director of international partnerships and scholarships at UA's Capstone International Center. "They're practicing the problem-solving and critical thinking it takes to be engaged leaders in a global society." Best Delegate awards recognize both individual students and college teams as a whole for their accomplishments in leadership, research, public speaking, resolution-building, negotiation and diplomacy. According to the organization, this year's team rankings were more competitive than ever. UA's Model UN team is part of the Capstone International Center's Alabama International Relations Club. The Model UN is the cornerstone of the AIRC, the premier student-led global affairs organization at UA that continuously provides opportunities for its members to learn, develop, find community and make an impact at the Capstone and the world beyond.

University of Alabama student Russell Puffer, of Marietta, Georgia, was named to the first team of the North American Collegiate Model UN All-Star Team. Puffer is among the first UA delegates to make the team that consists of the top 12 delegates in the nation. The purpose of the North American Collegiate Model UN All-Star Team is to recognize exemplary individuals in the college Model UN community who make a difference inside and outside of committee. The University of Alabama's Model UN team recently ranked on Best Delegate's list of the Top 25 Collegiate Model UN teams in the World Division. "Model UN team members come from various majors and interests across campus and compete at a world-class level through dedicated training outside of their regular studies," said Megan Wagner, assistant director of international partnerships and scholarships at UA's Capstone International Center. "They're practicing the problem-solving and critical thinking it takes to be engaged leaders in a global society." Best Delegate awards recognize both individual students and college teams as a whole for their accomplishments in leadership, research, public speaking, resolution-building, negotiation and diplomacy. According to the organization, this year's team rankings were more competitive than ever. UA's Model UN team is part of the Capstone International Center's Alabama International Relations Club. The Model UN is the cornerstone of the AIRC, the premier student-led global affairs organization at UA that continuously provides opportunities for its members to learn, develop, find community and make an impact at the Capstone and the world beyond.