UA College of Human Environmental Sciences Presents Alumni Awards

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama College of Human Environmental Sciences presented the Jack Davis Professional Achievement Award to Lori Bates, Lance Hocutt, Michael Kraft, Dianne Lollar, Amy Scott, Dr. Lorie Waite Turner and Todd McCall during UA homecoming activities on Oct. 10.

The Jack Davis Professional Award is given annually to outstanding alumni for their professional accomplishments in administration, education, extension, research or business. Recipients must demonstrate that they have advanced the home economics field in their work through recognized leadership.

Lori Bates

Bates was recognized for her extraordinary career achievements in interior design. During the past 23 years, Bates has completed more than 1,500 projects in North Alabama. The projects range from the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library to Huntsville Hospital.

In 1984, Bates joined the firm J.H. Partners Architecture and Interiors and set up the first “in house” interior design department. She is a member of the board of directors that guides the firm for approximately 20 people.

Currently, Bates is working on a National Children’s Advocacy project and a project for Huntsville High School

Lance Hocutt

Hocutt was recognized for his extraordinary career achievements in financial planning. He is a 1997 graduate of The University of Alabama in financial planning and counseling.

Currently, he is the senior financial adviser and managing principal with Howard, Hocutt and Association, a financial advisory branch of American Express in Tuscaloosa. He specializes in personal financial planning including planning for risk protection, taxes, retirement, estate preservation investments and small business.

Hocutt received the President’s Award and the Mercury Award for American Express Financial Advisers. He has also earned the title of Master Leader in American Express. Hocutt was named Rotarian of the Year for 2002 for the Tuscaloosa Morning Rotary.

Michael Kraft

Kraft was recognized for his extraordinary career achievements in restaurant and hospitality management. Kraft has served an assistant restaurant manager for Doubletree Hotel in New Orleans. He has also worked in sales for Interlink Communications of Louisiana, Marriot Management Service, Valley Innovative Service and St. Martin’s Episcopal School.

Kraft is currently serving as the operations and purchasing manager at Sirrocfco Enterprises in Metairie, La.

Dianne Lollar

Lollar was recognized for her extraordinary career achievements in dietetics. Lollar has served as dietary director at Edge Memorial Hospital in Troy, and as the coordinator of the Women, Infant and Children Program for the Walker County Health Department. She also has been an adjunct instructor of nutrition and health at Bevill State College.

Lollar is currently serving as nutrition director for Public Health Area I where she directs the federal nutrition program in six county areas in Alabama. She has also served as a preceptor for the UA College of Human Environmental Science dietetics program.

Amy Scott

Scott was recognized for her extraordinary career achievements in fashion retailing. After graduating from The University of Alabama, she started her career as an intern with Polo Ralph Lauren in Paris where she created fabrication and style catalogs for the men’s fall market and fabric buyer. Later, she moved to the Ralph Lauren Flagship store in New York and assisted in the Home Collection Department.

Scott then moved to Dallas where she held several positions and is currently the wholesale account executive. She is accountable for profitability and sales initiative in a $30 million territory.

Since 1996 she also established her own business, Amy Scott Designs.

Dr. Lorie Waite Turner

Turner was recognized for her extraordinary career achievements in health sciences. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in food and nutrition and two master’s degrees, one from Florida State University in health education and the other from Florida International University in dietetics and nutrition. She received her doctoral degree from The University of Alabama in health education and health promotion.

Turner has served in many roles as a dietitian and in academia. She was an instructor of nutrition and health sciences at Tallahassee Community College and as assistant professor of health science at the University of Arkansas.

She is currently serving as coordinator of the health science program at the University of Arkansas. She has numerous publications including three books and she has received several awards for her research and teaching.

Todd McCall

McCall was recognized for his extraordinary career achievements in athletic training. He received a bachelor’s degree in athletic training in 1996 from the University of Alabama and his master’s degree in sports administration from Southern Mississippi in 1998.

McCall has served as assistant athletic trainer at Georgia Southern University and as head athletic trainer at Marshall University and Wyoming University.

Currently, McCall is head athletic trainer at the University of Southern Mississippi. He holds the distinction of being the youngest NCAA Division 1-A head athletic trainer.