UA students introduce area children to African drums
Tuscaloosa News – June 16
Children use shakers to reproduce African musical sounds at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on Tuesday. As part of the library’s summer reading program, the library asked University of Alabama students in the West African Drum Circle to perform for the children. The UA students taught the children about drumming and singing from the Volta region of Ghana.
Clanton native named to USA Today academic team
Clanton Advertiser – June 16
Clanton native Joy Driver Aldridge was one of 10 University of Alabama students named to USA Today’s 2010 All-USA College Academic Team. The chemical and biological engineering graduate performed research as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intern at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, where she tested an instrument, called a nephelometer, to measure aerosols more accurately…Needless to say, she was thrilled when she heard the news. “I was so excited when I learned that I had received this award,” Aldridge said. “I am so honored to be selected along with so many intelligent and inspiring students from all over the country.”…UA chemical engineering professor Alan Lane said Aldridge worked for two semesters in his laboratory on improving the performance and durability of fuel cells. Along with a team and a senior doctoral student, she helped develop gold-platinum alloy catalysts that could mitigate the problems related to harmful carbon support. “She was involved in every aspect from synthesizing the catalyst to testing the electrochemical performance,” Lane said. “She made important contributions to the synthesis method and the catalyst stability does seem to improve. She is a very hardworking and talented young woman, and her work in my laboratory was only one of many accomplishments that resulted in the USA Today recognition. I’m very proud of Joy.”…
Rural Students Clamor for New Pell Grants (By Dr. Stephen G. Katsinas)
The Daily Yonder (Austin, Texas) – June 15
…It may come as a surprise that the community college system is, on balance, more rural than urban. According to an analysis of federal enrollment data for academic year 2005-06, of the 860 community college districts in our nation, 553 or 64% were rural. These rural community college districts enroll 37% of all two-year college students, while urban community colleges enroll only 31%. And rural community colleges are growing faster than any other type: they grew faster (over 1 million students, a 42% increase) than urban (21%) or suburban (27%) community colleges in this same period, 2000-2006. Here is strong evidence of rural America’s “pent-up” demand for degrees and lifelong learning…Stephen G. Katsinas is Director of the Education Policy Center at the University of Alabama. He also serves as Chair of the Rural Scholar’s Panel of the Rural Community College Alliance, and is President of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges.
Nick Saban’s statue set for unveiling
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – June 15
WHNT (Huntsville) – June 15
WSFA (Montgomery) – June 15
Nick Saban’s 900-pound bronze statue will be finished in the next two weeks. The University of Alabama plans to unveil it on the “walk of champions” sometime between the 13th and 20th of August.