UA Preview

MONDAY, MAY 26 – SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2014

BEST BETS

TEAM OF UA ENGINEERING STUDENTS WIN NASA ROBOTIC-MINING CONTEST – Alabama Astrobotics, a team of students from the UA College of Engineering, won a national contest sponsored by NASA that challenges students to build a robot that can dig and collect simulated Martian soil. The UA team was the overall point leader, beating out 39 other collegiate team. For more information watch UA News for an upcoming release; contact Adam Jones, engineering media relations, 205/348-6444, acjones12@eng.ua.edu; or Dr. Kenneth Ricks, faculty adviser and UA associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, 205/348-9777, kricks@eng.ua.edu.

BOYS STATE TO MEET AT UA – More than 500 Alabama high school seniors will try their hands at politics and community service from Sunday, June 1, to Saturday, June 7, during the 2013 American Legion Alabama Boys State convention on The University of Alabama campus. During the week, students conduct mock elections and learn about civic processes as well as participate in community service projects. Contact: Richard LeComte, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-3782 or rllecomte@ur.ua.edu.

UA START-UP COMPANY READY TO SERVE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY – Bidsters, a company supported by The University of Alabama, will open for business June 6, the culmination of years of hard work by a recent engineering graduate. Bidsters plans to be an online interactive database that businesses in the construction industry can use to manage and advertise both sides of the project bidding process. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/05/ua-start-up-company-ready-to-serve-construction-industry, or contact Adam Jones, engineering media relations, 205/348-6444, acjones12@eng.ua.edu.

UA EXPERT TIPS

UA MATTERS: COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN – Whether you’re an incoming high-school freshman or senior, there are a multitude of things you can do to prepare for college. The University of Alabama’s admissions office offers a few suggestions on how students can better plan for their college futures, starting with tips for high school freshmen, http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/05/ua-matters-college-prep-tips-for-high-school-freshmen/. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320

UA’S HEALTH CORNER PROVIDES PRACTICAL HEALTH TIPS – Dr. Kristie Graettinger discusses when women should begin getting Pap smears and how often they should have the screening done in the latest video in UA’s Health Corner, https://vimeo.com/96118835. The video series addresses health topics and provides practical advice and guidance from UA’s expert sources and physicians in the College of Community Health Sciences. A new video topic posts every Wednesday morning. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320

EVENTS

DRUID CITY OPERA WORKSHOP SET FOR MAY 29 – UA’s Opera Theatre will host the fifth annual performance of the Druid City Opera Workshop Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m. in Bryant-Jordan Hall on UA’s Bryce campus. The 22 workshop performers include undergraduate and graduate students, and young and seasoned professional singers and pianists from across the country, who were chosen from 100 applicants to attend a weeklong opera theatre intensive under the leadership of Paul Houghtaling, director of opera theatre at UA. Performances include opera scenes and arias, and the event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://music.ua.edu/departments/opera/ or contact Bobby Mathews, UA media relations, bwmathews1@ua.edu, 205/348-4956, or Courtney Fair, UA School of Music, clstokes2@ua.edu

MOUNDVILLE PARK PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON ALABAMA’S NATIVE BIRDS – The West Alabama community is invited to learn about Alabama’s native bird population during a Saturday in the Park program at UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park. As part of the ongoing 75th anniversary celebrations of the Jones Archaeological Museum, the park will host a West Alabama Birding Trail-themed Saturday in the Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31. Becky Collier, of the Coosa County 4-H, will showcase some predatory birds native to Alabama in an interactive Raptor Show at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The event is free to attend with paid park admission. Contact: Kim Eaton, UA Media Relations, 808/640-5912, kkeaton@ur.ua.edu or Jordan Bannister, Moundville Archaeological Park, 205/371-8732, jmbannister@crimson.ua.edu