The University of Alabama

Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. The University of Alabama's Hypatia Chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the nation. Only a select few students on each campus are invited to join this esteemed society. Mortar Board members are presented with the opportunity to join a diverse group of students from different disciplines and interests.

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.

Beat Auburn Beat Hunger is an annual student-run event that was created by The University of Alabama's Center for Service and Leadership and the West Alabama Food Bank in 1994. During the six weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl, the food drive unites UA students, faculty, staff, alumni and Tuscaloosa and Northport community members to help fight hunger and poverty in West Alabama. In competition with Auburn University and the Food Bank of East Alabama, Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger challenges both institutions to collect the most food and monetary donations to help their local food bank. This good-natured competition has made an impact that reaches far beyond the campuses where it began. Since its inception, Alabama and Auburn have combined to raise 6 million pounds of food for Alabamians in need.

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.

Apparel and Design students from The University of Alabama's College of Human Environmental Sciences showcased their creativity and resourcefulness in the 2018 Tee Time Fashion Show on April 17 on the front lawn of Doster Hall. Students are asked to create one or two looks that focus on sustainable design. This year's show will feature discarded tee shirts from a local screen printing company. Students must cut up the shirts and create a new garment. "It is an opportunity for the students to show their designs in public and go through the production of a fashion show," said Brian Taylor, apparel and design instructor. Because of the focus on sustainability, Tee Time is always held near Green Week and Earth Day celebrations. "Tee Time is an annual opportunity for students in the apparel design program to experience showing their work for the first time. Not only presenting their work, but giving them an opportunity to design outside of the box," said faculty member Paula Robinson.

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.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that The University of Alabama will receive two grants totaling $28,909 to fund two Phase I student teams through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grants program. More than $463,000 in funding is being provided by the program for 31 teams nationwide that are developing sustainable technologies to solve current environmental and public health challenges. One project is "GIS Enabled Green Infrastructure Design Tool," led by Dr. Andrew J. Graettinger, professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-more-28000-grants-university-alabama-innovative-technology-projects.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that The University of Alabama will receive two grants totaling $28,909 to fund two Phase I student teams through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grants program. More than $463,000 in funding is being provided by the program for 31 teams nationwide that are developing sustainable technologies to solve current environmental and public health challenges. One project is "GIS Enabled Green Infrastructure Design Tool," led by Dr. Mark Elliott, assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-more-28000-grants-university-alabama-innovative-technology-projects.

The University of Alabama has welcomed the 12th cohort of Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars to campus. The 12 students werer honored at a luncheon in April. Representatives of the Coca-Cola Foundation attended, along with students who are members of previous cohorts. The Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship program was established at UA in 2006. Since then, the Coca-Cola Foundation has donated $3 million to support first-generation scholars at UA. The scholarship provides $5,000 a year, renewable for four years, provided that recipients maintain a 3.0 GPA. The program also provides a strong support structure for the scholars. Since 2006, the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program boasts a freshman-to-sophomore retention rate of 100 percent and a graduation rate of 90.1 percent. Graduates of the program have gone on to medical school, law school and graduate school and have found employment in their chosen fields. Each year, scholars participate in individual meetings with the program coordinator, attend cultural and academic enrichment activities and participate in service projects.

The University of Alabama department of art and art history announce the names of the student exhibitors who have been selected for the 2018 Annual BFA Juried Exhibition at Harrison Galleries in Tuscaloosa, April 20-28.

Cadet Trevor M. Hearing received the Air Force Reserve Officer Trainings Corp Silver Valor Award on April 1, 2018. This award is given to a cadet who has portrayed a voluntary act of heroism and is the second highest award the U.S. Air Force gives ROTC Cadets. Only a handful of these awards are given out yearly.

Honors College member Asia Hayes brings her own experiences to bear when she works as the DREAM coordinator for Engage Tuscaloosa , a forward-thinking endeavor that seeks to improve the lives of area students through working with UA students. The transformative nature of the Engage Tuscaloosa program can be expanded with financial contributions during Bama Blitz, an online fundraising event for alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends to support UA programs using the power of social media and crowdfunding. The first Bama Blitz will begin at noon CST on April 11 and end at 8:31 p.m. on April 12, lasting one day, eight hours and 31 minutes in honor of the University's founding year. Engage Tuscaloosa is one of several passion projects seeking support during the fundraising event. "Engage Tuscaloosa is not only an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students in Tuscaloosa area schools -- our Honors College students also benefit from the experience and see that they can make a difference in the lives of others," said Vicki Holt, coordinator for educational outreach for UA's Honors College.

The University of Alabama Association for Information Systems chapter has won chapter of the year. AIS is a student organization intended to further the Information Systems field by means of technology improvement and corporate engagement.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program has selected two University of Alabama students as Goldwater Scholars for 2018-2018. The two UA students are: Elizabeth Rowe of Chicago. Elizabeth Rowe has conducted research under the advisement of Dr. Paul A. Rupar, an assistant professor in chemistry, since the fall of her freshman year. Her work investigates the anionic ring-opening polymerization of azetidines. These polymers have a wide range of applications including carbon dioxide capture, antimicrobial coatings, chelation (removing metals from water), material templating and gene transfection and drug delivery. Outside of research, Rowe is the liaison and educational outreach director for the Society of Women Engineers. She plans to pursue a research career in chemistry after obtaining her Ph.D. Her parents are William and Margaret Rowe. Donna Xia of Tuscaloosa. Donna Xia is a chemical engineering major and a Randall Research Scholars student. Her faculty mentor at UA is Dr. David A. Dixon, Robert Ramsay professor of chemistry. An overall goal of Xia's research in the Dixon group is to develop computational chemistry approaches to aid the Department of Energy's efforts to provide new nuclear materials that meet the Nation's needs for energy and national security as well as to deal with the environmental legacy issues due to the production of nuclear weapons during the Cold War. Outside of research, Xia is a leader in organizations for engineers in medicine and works as a scribe at University Medical Center. Her parents are Paul Xia and Carola Hsieh.

Four students from the Culverhouse College of Commerce at The University of Alabama won first place in the 15th Annual Race & Case competition put on by the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business in February. The winning team received $10,000. Each year, students tackle a complex, real-life business case, presenting a solution to a panel of judges.In addition, each team competed in a ski race held in Breckenridge, Colorado.

A team of University of Alabama MBA students won second place in the recent KeyBank and Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University's Fourth Annual Minority MBA Student Case Competition in Cleveland. The team was awarded $7,500.

The University of Alabama department of art and art history is presenting "EXIT 2018," its annual senior exhibition for B.A. majors. The exhibition in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery runs April 5 through 12. The exhibition showcases graduating seniors' work in ceramics, digital media, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media. "The BA EXIT exhibition showcases the talent and creative output of art majors that are graduating seniors," said Bryce Speed, coordinator for the show and assistant professor. "The works covers a broad range of approaches and materials ranging from traditional applications to experimental pieces. Each year the show evolves and expands from the prior year, it's interesting to see the diversity of work created in the department." For more information about the Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art and our other degree programs in the department, go to http://art.ua.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/babfa-in-studio-art/ or contact the department at 205-348-5967. Admission to the gallery is free. The gallery is at 109 Woods Hall in the heart of the UA campus on Woods Quad. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Contact the gallery at 205-348-2783 or go to http://art.ua.edu/gallery/sgg/.

University of Alabama students participated in the UA Washington, D.C. Policy and Advocacy Fly-In, a unique crash course in policy research, strategy and advocacy created in 2017. The students met with 40 federal legislators in the nation's capital March 20-21 to explain how proposed legislation would improve the lives of foster youth, human-trafficking victims and people struggling with opioid addictions.

The University of Alabama student body has elected a new executive council for 2018's Student Government Association. The SGA strives to promote a thriving campus through initiatives, events, and partnerships with many organizations. The SGA members are prepared to represent any concerns that come about in each student's lives.

The Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award Program recognizes and celebrates 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/staff research directors. The recipients and their nominators are 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. A distinguished panel of UA research faculty and past winners of the Burnum Distinguished Faculty Award select the winners.

PRWeek has named University of Alabama junior Maret Montanari its Public Relations Student of the Year. Montanari, of Beaumont, Texas, is UA's first PRWeek Student of the Year winner.

The Honors College has selected 51 students to serve as college ambassadors for 2018/2019. Honors Ambassadors represent the Honors College at alumni and recruiting events both on and off campus and host prospective students during on-campus visits. Students were selected based on college involvement, knowledge of campus resources and opportunities, poise and public speaking ability.

Each spring, a group of UA theatre students flies to New York to participate in a showcase known informally as Bama on Broadway. The showcase is designed to highlight students' skill as they perform for an audience that includes Broadway talent agents and often ends with performers signing contracts or being called back for auditions. Students prepare for the showcase by enrolling in a one-hour course designed to ready them for the one-shot performance. In the course, which is offered the preceding fall semester, students work together to find, choose and rehearse material that emphasizes each student's individual strengths.

The University of Alabama Division of Student Life has announced the recipients of the 2018 Premier Awards - the top individual honors for scholarship, leadership and service. The 2018 UA Premier Award recipients will be recognized at a dinner in March as well as during Honors Week.

The University of Alabama hosted its first campus-wide Global Health Case Competition for undergraduate students Jan. 27. More than 80 students in interdisciplinary teams of four-to-six members competed for prize money as well as the chance to represent UA in the Statewide Global Health Case Competition at the University of Alabama Birmingham. The students analyzed a scenario involving recovery after a cyclone, in Bangladesh. With only five days to prepare, the teams were challenged to study the situation described in the case and propose short-term and long-term solutions that were culturally appropriate and that fit within the assigned budget. The teams then presented their solutions in 20-minute sessions and were judged by a panel consisting of faculty members from UA, UAB and Auburn University.

The University of Alabama recently selected 39 students as Capstone Men and Women. Capstone Men and Women serve as official ambassadors of UA. They assist the University president's office, admissions and alumni during functions held on campus and in other locations, as well as host daily tours of the campus for prospective students and other visitors.

Culverhouse real estate student Sarah Rasmussen was recently inducted into Alpha Sigma Gamma in recognition of her academic and scholarly achievements in real estate. Alpha Sigma Gamma is sponsored by the American Real Estate Society and is a premier international student real estate honorary organization.

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.

Mackenzie Ross, a graduate student at The University of Alabama, was named the recipient of the 2018 Bruce K. Berger Graduate Student Leadership Award on Saturday, Feb. 3. The department of advertising and public relations at UA established this award in 2013 to honor one graduate student in the advertising and public relations Master of Arts program for exemplary leadership. The students in the M.A. program vote and select the student who best demonstrates passion for work and the public relations profession, exemplifies a strong ethical orientation and employs an inclusive style of leadership. "I think the most touching part of receiving this award is the fact my fellow classmates voted and selected me for this award," Ross said. "Their confidence in and recognition of my leadership ability is truly touching." Ross currently serves as the graduate assistant for The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and as a graduate teaching assistant for the Department of Communication Studies, teaching Public Speaking labs. She graduated summa cum laude from UA last May with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences. During her time as an undergraduate student, Ross received the Susan Colvin Prize, honoring the top student in the College of Communication and Information Sciences; the William P. Bloom Premier Award, recognizing one student for outstanding service and collaboration; and The University of Alabama Outstanding Senior Award. The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations is the leading international resource for practitioners, educators and students who are passionate about advancing their careers and the public relations profession. Led by a national advisory board of leading educators and practitioners, the Center develops and recognizes outstanding diverse public relations leaders, role models and mentors to advance ethical public relations in an evolving, global society. Founded in 2005, the Center is named after Betsy Plank, the first lady of public relations. Plank's legacy and vision continue on in the Center's programs and initiatives to advance the profession and public relations education.

The University of Alabama will award some 2,077 degrees during winter commencement Dec. 16. 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 nationally renowned faculty performing cutting-edge research.