Five generations of Espys have engineering degrees
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 12
When Collins Espy graduates today at the University of Alabama, he will mark more than the completion of his undergraduate study. He will become the fifth generation of Espys to receive a civil engineering degree from UA. The family’s distinction spans over three centuries and started in 1890 when Goodman Basil Espy, Collins’ great-great-grandfather, earned his engineering degree at UA. Collins Espy’s great-grandfather, Goodman Basil Espy Jr., earned his UA engineering degree 39 years later in 1929, and then Collins’ grandfather, Isaac P. Espy, followed suit, earning his civil engineering degree in 1961. Isaac Espy’s daughter and Collins’ aunt, Jamie Espy Nettles, continued the legacy, earning a civil engineering degree in 1983. She then earned a master’s in engineering in 1990 and then her doctorate in civil and environmental engineering in 1996, both from UA. The first two generations of Espys have since passed on, but Isaac Espy, a Tuscaloosa attorney, said he and his daughter hope to attend this morning’s graduation ceremony at Coleman Coliseum…Collins Espy said he first became interested in engineering while attending Alabama Boys State while in high school. The youth leadership development program had a career session in which he met with an engineer. That whetted his interest and when he got to UA, he took some introductory engineering courses, liked them and chose engineering as a major…
Former RISE student overcomes life’s obstacles and graduates from UA
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Dec. 10
This weekend 23-year-old Jake Craft becomes one of the few people who can say they graduated from the University of Alabama twice. He graduated the University’s RISE program when he was 5 years old. This weekend, he will get a diploma for a degree in early childhood education. Craft is currently a teaching assistant at RISE…Craft says, “I know what these students are going through and I’m hoping that as a teacher I’m able to show them that through perseverance you can achieve anything.” Lisa Pike, a speech pathologist at RISE says, “I think Jake is the perfect example. He’s had difficulties in life. This had not been easy. College is not easy for anybody, we’re proud of the fact he’s stuck with it.” Jake is especially proud going from a RISE student, to a volunteer, to a college graduate and now an inspiration to kids overcoming disabilities. After graduation, Jake wants to get his master’s degree.
NBC13 (Birmingham) – Dec. 10
24 Tide athletes in graduation ceremonies
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 11
The University of Alabama will have 24 student-athletes participating in graduation ceremonies today when UA holds its winter commencement at 9 a.m. at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide football team will have 10 graduates, including offensive lineman James Carpenter, defensive lineman Josh Chapman, defensive lineman Luther Davis, tight end Preston Dial, defensive lineman Nick Gentry, wide receiver Brandon Gibson, wide receiver Logan Thomas, linebacker Alex Watkins, linebacker Chavis Williams and quarterback Greg McElroy, who is receiving his master’s degree. The remaining list of graduates includes Brock Bennett and David Kindred (baseball); Morgan Dennis, Casey Overton, Kassi Price and Jacqueline Shealy, (gymnastics); Nikki Lopez (rowing); Rosaly Petriello, Hailey Hull and Kelsey King (soccer); Riley Boulden (swimming & diving); Saketh Myneni and Houssam Yassine (men’s tennis); and Mary Catherine Aune (volleyball).
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 11
UA holds winter commencement exercises
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 11
The University of Alabama held its winter commencement ceremonies for the class of 2010 at Coleman coliseum this morning…
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 12
College News
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 13
The University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies has given more than $8,000 in free books to elementary, middle and high school libraries through the Book Bonanza for the Black Belt program. School librarians in the Black Belt region were asked to apply for the book giveaway program in mid-November. More than 30 school libraries applied for the program, and seven schools were selected to receive more than $1,000 each in new books for children or teens… — On Oct. 26, 150 UA College of Education students were initiated into the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Kappa Delta Epsilon, a national honor fraternity started in 1933. This honor was bestowed upon these local students…
Gov. Bob Riley’s bills fall short on campaign finance for Alabama, critics say
Birmingham News – Dec. 12
…But some observers oppose limits on campaign contributions. ”Individuals should be able to give what they want to give. It’s part of our freedom of expression,” said William Stewart, retired chairman of the University of Alabama’s political science department.
VIEWPOINTS: WikiLeaks offers lessons in making ethical decisions
Birmingham News – Dec. 12
…This issue was a topic at a recent panel discussion on ethical decision-making and corporate social responsibility at a UAB School of Business strategic management class. The panelists were Stephen Black, founder of Impact Alabama and director of the University of Alabama Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility…
AT LARGE: Will Alabama play ball on health care?
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 12
…It means telling the cold, hard, unvarnished truth, and in his keynote address at the orientation session of the newly elected Alabama Legislature at the University of Alabama School of Law on Monday, celebrated Alabama author Rick Bragg spread around plenty of dried alfalfa in the Moot Courtroom…Bragg, now a University of Alabama journalism professor, was obviously including the entire Legislature in his comment and smoothed things over from a surely embarrassed Ivey by immediately looking over at her and saying he would give anything if his hard northeast Alabama accent was as melodious as Ivey’s soft south Alabama one. But that was probably while many new lawmakers were still chewing on the feed Bragg had thrown them; reports from the rear of the courtroom said there was a lot of fidgeting going on the back row where the new Republican leadership was sitting…