UA ranked high in social media engagement report
Crimson White – June 11
The University of Alabama is known for throwing its weight around on the football field, in the business world and in legal circles. But according to “A Study of Social Media in Higher Education,” released May 28 by College Atlas, the University is also one of the nation’s most influential schools on Facebook. The report ranked the University fourth in Facebook influence and 13th in the category of “Most Engaged Social Media College Communities.” … University of Alabama director of web communications Andy Rainey said it is always rewarding to hear affirmation and favorable reception of the school’s social media approach. “Our basic strategy is twofold. One, use social media platforms to share important messages and engaging content, and two, establish and cultivate relationships with students, alumni, supporters and others who care about UA,” he said.
UA grad wins Miss Alabama
Crimson White – June 11
Third time was the charm Saturday for Caitlin Brunell, University of Alabama graduate. On her third trip to the Miss Alabama Pageant, which took place June 4-7 at Samford University, Brunell was crowned Miss Alabama 2014. “The experience overall for me this week was really different,” Brunell said. “I think I gained a little extra boost of self-confidence this past week, because I felt really ready for this job.” Brunell started doing pageants in the teen division at age 15. A spring 2014 graduate of the UA dance program, she took 22 hours of classes in the spring to graduate on time while preparing for the pageant on weekends. She won the talent and swimwear competitions held in preliminary stages of the pageant. Brunell, who went this year as Miss Leeds, performed a dance to “Let It Go,” a song from the movie “Frozen,” as her talent and founded a non-profit organization called Caitlin’s Closet at 15 years old to provide girls with prom and homecoming dresses … Eleven UA students were in the pageant, and both first runner-up and second runner-up were UA students.
Student aces finance test
Crimson White – June 11
Throughout the course of their educational careers, students can encounter a wide range of aptitude tests, from the ACT to the GRE to the LSAT. When Jeff Priester, a junior majoring in finance, took the Bloomberg Aptitude Test, which serves to connect business and finance-related employers with students, he placed in the Americas Top 5. The score places him in the 99th percentile and the Bloomberg Institute’s Hall of Fame. “I really wasn’t too worried about it, because just to get credit for my class I had to get a 200 and I ended up with a 710,” Priester said. “I thought I did all right. I didn’t think I did great. I thought I could do much better.” … The Bloomberg Aptitude Test, originally known as the Bloomberg Assessment Test when its questions were knowledge-based rather than skills assessment-based, has been taken by more than 160,000 people, 18 percent of whom do not identify as having a background in business or finance.
Tuscaloosa Preservation Society lecture explores journal of a governor’s wife, Sarah Haynsworth Gayle
Tuscaloosa News – June 10
A Thursday lecture will provide a glimpse into what life was like in 1830s as seen through the journal of the wife of Alabama’s governor at the time. Sarah Wiggins, a professor emerita of history at the University of Alabama, a past president of the Alabama Historical Association and former editor of the Alabama Review, will discuss the life of Sarah Haynsworth Gayle during the Tuscaloosa Preservation Society’s Sundown Lecture Series. “Sarah Haynsworth Gayle, to me, is the woman who can describe what life was like for women in the 1830s,” Wiggins said. “There is no other journal that tells about life as a woman at that time.” Wiggins edited a book, “The Journal of Sarah Haynsworth Gayle, 1827-1835: A Substitute for Social Intercourse,” which covers Gayle’s life before her husband, John, was governor and continues through his four-year term. The journal was donated to the University of Alabama by descendants of the Gayles. Wiggins believes that the poor condition of the journal probably prevented any other historians from writing about her.
Job fair scheduled for Saturday; sponsors hope to find, train about 250 workers for food service industry at UA
Tuscaloosa News – June 10
A job fair will held Saturday to recruit workers or to get them the training needed for jobs in the Tuscaloosa area’s rapidly growing food-service industry. The free job fair will be from 9-11 a.m. at Tuscaloosa Career & Technology Academy, 2800 Martin King Jr. Blvd. Among the sponsors is Bama Dining, which runs the restaurants and dining facilities at the University of Alabama. Bama Dining needs about 250 workers for its restaurants in August, when UA students start a new school year, said Pamela Jones, Bama Dining’s human resource manager. A growing student population and competition from new restaurants and hotels, like the new Embassy Suites downtown, is going to increase the demand for food-service workers, she said.
Organization provides hospitality experience
Crimson White – June 11
To encourage its members to reach outside their comfort zones and explore unfamiliar territory, UA Meeting Professionals International, a club focused on providing practical experience in the events and hospitality industries, has one motto: Say yes. “If you truly want something, you can have it, but you must take risks to get there,” said Mary Hogan, a senior majoring in hospitality management and the MPI Leadership Mentor. “[You have to] say ‘Yes’ to opportunities, because they do not come often. UA Meeting Professionals International wants students to follow their dreams, therefore we provide them the tools to do just that.” Meeting Professionals International, founded in 1972, is a professional organization for members of the meetings, events and hospitality industries.
Clark starts kayak fishing club at UA
Talladega Daily Home – June 11
Odenville’s Tyler Clark has been fishing since he was old enough to walk. About two years ago, Clark found a new way to fish, and he loves every moment of it. Last year, Clark started something brand new at the University of Alabama: a Kayak Fishing Club. “I started it last year along with a buddy of mine,” Clark said. “We noticed there was a fishing team there, but no kayak fishing team. We got it rolling, tried it out, and here we are a year later.” Clark said they needed 10 members to start, and that was no problem. Today, the club is 30 members strong. Clark, a 2012 graduate of St. Clair County High School, said he came up with the idea simply because there was no kayak fishing club at the University. “I had seen various people doing it, and I have been doing it myself close to three years now,” Clark said. “But no one was doing it at Alabama. They had all these other clubs, so I decided to give it a shot.”
Volunteers renovate church for Miracle Day
Crimson White – June 11
People from all over the state of Alabama, including University of Alabama students, gathered at First Christian Church for the biennial Miracle Day on Saturday. Pastor Tom Goebel said Miracle Day began in 2000. “[Our] denomination, The Disciples of Christ, developed an idea to bring all the churches together for a day of service,” Goebel said. “So every two years a church is chosen, and we all gather and reach out a helping hand.” The premise of Miracle Day is congregations working together in service to help out a church in need. Work and renovations that could take years are completed during the day. … University of Alabama students took Miracle Day as an opportunity to not only lend a helping hand but also to give back to their church. “Today we are painting the inside of the Disciple House,” Flynn Woods, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, said. “The goal is to leave the place looking better than we found it.” The Disciple House is a building at First Christian Church that houses up to five students from the University. Woods said that he wants to keep the place up and do what he can for future students who may be living at the Disciple House. “We get a deal on living here, and we want to do whatever we can do to give back to First Christian,” Tabitha Green, a junior majoring in restaurant, hotels and meetings management, said. “It’s our chance to give something back for all they do for us students.”
Simpkins to attend Girls State
Atmore News – June 11
Christin Simpkins has been chosen to represent Escambia County High School at the 2014 session of American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State, held on the campus of The University of Alabama. For one week, she will become a citizen of an imaginary state, taking part in the political life of her community, primarily through campaigning for and electing city, county and state offices. She will learn the operation of government by participating in party caucuses and through the election process. Well-known speakers and other state, county and city officials are expected to visit and enlighten the young women on their civic responsibilities. Christin plans to campaign for the office of councilmember.
Trinity students go to college for summer
Montgomery Advertiser – June 10
Several Trinity students will be making the most of their free time this summer by taking college courses this summer at several universities across the country and abroad. … Cassie Felder (rising senior) will be attending Girls State at the University of Alabama. Stuart Newsome (rising senior) will be attending Boys State at the University of Alabama and the Montgomery Camp MD for one week.