University of Alabama names new dean of continuing studies
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 13
A Penn State University administrator has been named dean of the University of Alabama’s College of Continuing Studies. Craig S. Edelbrock, who previously served as Penn State’s chancellor of the School of Graduate Professional Studies, will start Wednesday, according to UA. “Dr. Edelbrock’s record of achievement in developing innovative and effective education and training programs is outstanding,” said UA Interim Provost Joe Benson in a released statement. “We look forward to his leadership and vision for our College of Continuing Studies.” Edelbrock received a doctorate from Oregon State University and a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington State College. “I am thrilled to be joining UA during this extraordinary period of growth. I am looking forward to the college continuing its long tradition of innovation in extending UA resources to ever wider populations of students,” Edelbrock said.
Partnership with UA could help save Pickens County Medical Center
WCBI-CBS (Columbus, Miss.) – Jan. 13
A partnership between the Pickens County Medical Center and the University of Alabama could mean hope for the future of the hospital and improved healthcare for the rural community. The initiative would have everyone from medical students to social workers and nutritionists, intern at the hospital. Supporters say it would give students the real-world training many of them will need in their careers. At the same time, the financially troubled hospital would get a new source of workers to help improve care. Leaders hope to be far enough along to ask the legislature for initial funding this spring.
Univ. of Alabama start-up business presenting a platinum replacement
WAAY-TV (Huntsville) – Jan. 13
Could platinum soon become obsolete? A University of Alabama (UA) technology may be the answer to replace this precious metal. Zhichao Shan and Archana Panikar, UA chemistry graduate students; Dr. Shanlin Pan, a UA associate professor of chemistry; and Dr. Arunava Gupta, a UA professor of chemistry and chemical and biological engineering and associate director in UA’s Center for Materials for Information Technology worked to invent a material called NanoCOT, which is composed of carbon, oxygen and titanium. Three UA students, led by mechanical engineering junior Chris Bailey, will pitch their business strategy for this less costly replacement in the first round of the 2015 Alabama Launchpad Competition Jan. 23. The student team, Conductive Chemistry, which also includes senior Natalie Anderson and junior Andrew Talbert, will pitch its product to judges. “We could run out of platinum by the end of the century,” says Bailey, “(NanoCOT) has the potential to replace platinum in a lot of applications, because it has a lot of the same electrical properties, but it can be purchased at less than half the cost.”
Legal clinic scheduled for low-income people
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 13
A free legal clinic will be offered Thursday for low-income residents of Tuscaloosa County. The clinic will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the main branch of the Tuscaloosa Public Library, 1801 Jack Warner Parkway. The clinic is open to the more than 40,000 low-income residents of Tuscaloosa County coping with civil legal challenges. The clinic lawyers are experienced in various areas of the law and will be available to answer questions about divorce, custody and visitation, landlord and tenant issues, wills and estates, debts, bankruptcy, foreclosure and domestic violence. Clinics are also scheduled for Feb. 19, March 19, April 16, May 21 and June 18. The clinic is sponsored by the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, working in cooperation with the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association, Legal Services of Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law Public Interest Institute.
Teachers attend computer science workshop
Selma Times Journal – Jan. 12
Students were not the only ones who spent Friday learning. Area educators also kicked off the weekend with a class of their own. Provided by nonprofit organization Code.org and held at the Dallas County Family Resource Center, the free workshop provided K-5 educators a computer science curriculum. Teachers also received free supplies they can use to teach the course to their students. “There is an importance of professional development for our teachers,” said Joyce Stallworth, an associate provost professor of English education at the University of Alabama. School employees with Dallas County Schools, Sumter County Schools, Perry County Schools and other systems attended the workshop … With today’s society being so technology driven, Stallworth said it is essential that teachers help prepare students for college and careers. Because computer science is so instrumental to success, Stallworth believes it should be taught at an early age. “If you look at the job outlook for this year, next year and for the next several, you see it is about science technology, engineering and mathematics,” Stallworth said. “They’ll be ready for those fields and prepared to participate in those professions where they are going to make good salaries as well as contribute something to society.”
Photo exhibit showcases teenage prisoners
Crimson White – Jan. 14
The Sarah Moody Gallery of Art begins the spring semester with the exhibit “Juvenile In Justice,” featuring a lecture from the artist, Richard Ross, Wednesday. The exhibit is six years in the making and contains over 1,000 images. Ross, a longtime photographer and professor at the University of California-Santa Barbara, will give a lecture about the exhibit, followed by a reception on Thursday night. The exhibit tackles the subject of teenage incarceration and the American prison system, which Moody Gallery Director William Dooley said is brought to the forefront through the photos on display. “Youth incarceration is a subject most of us are aware of, but we know it from a distance,” he said. “When you stand in front of [the photos,] it’s somewhat moving to see the rawness of the conditions.” Showcasing color photographs featuring portraits of teenagers in prison, the exhibit – which was showcased in a 2012 book of the same title – started its run Jan. 8, and will run through Feb. 8.
UA Museums merges history with DIY crafts
Crimson White – Jan. 14
Arm knitting has quickly become the latest trend in the world of so-called “do it yourself” crafts. All a person needs is their arms and some yarn to knit creations ranging from scarves to blankets. The fashion statement is making a comeback from its nineteenth century origins, when DIY was the only way to do it, this semester with an event in the Gorgas House Museum. University of Alabama students can learn how to arm knit at the historic Gorgas House Museum on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. This free event aims to teach students arm knitting while incorporating the history of the University of Alabama campus. Education Outreach Coordinator of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, Allie Sorlie, helped found the idea for the Teach Yo Self-Arm Knitting class as a way to get students into the university museums. “Some students don’t know that there are museums on campus,” Sorlie said. “We really want to connect the history that’s here with things that are tangible and can translate into real life.”
UA freshman is a Vine star
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 13
Joining me now is social media star Cameron Benson, otherwise known as “Cam Bam.” This 18-year-old freshman at the University of Alabama isn’t just a typical student – he has thousands of unique followers and more than $150 million views on the social media site Vine. Welcome. How did you get popular on social media? “I’m known as Viner. I started using the application and making six-second videos.”
Sitter service provides child care to student parents
Crimson White – Jan. 14
Sitters for Service is a program designed for student parents by the Graduate School and Graduate Parent Support at The University of Alabama. The program provides student parents at the University with free child care. Many graduate student parents take advantage of the program to help continue their graduate studies while raising a child. Sitters for Service hires sitters on a volunteer basis and students who are interested in participating can fill out an online application. If chosen to participate, sitters must take a CPR course followed by a parent orientation. Cori Perdue, director of graduate school programs, said the program has proved to be successful. “The spring program last year included 36 undergraduate sitters who consistently earned five-star ratings from the student parents for their sitting appointments,” she said.
Local students earn degrees, collegiate honors
Bernardsville News (New Jersey) – Jan. 13
Michael Cervino, the son of Bill and Barbara Cervino of Basking Ridge, was named to the Dean’s List for the 2014 fall semester at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Cervino is majoring in political science. He is a 2014 graduate of Ridge High School.
The perks of being a Distinguished Young Woman
Al.com – Jan. 13
The accomplished high school seniors competing in Alabama’s Distinguished Young Women State Finals in Montgomery this weekend, didn’t commit to the program to snag swag bags, clothes and cars. The material perks are minimal. “At every level we get a DYW bag and rehearsal T-shirts,” said Alabama’s reigning Distinguished Young Woman Madeline Powell. “It’s not really about the presents for me.” Thousands of dollars in cash scholarships and university-granted scholarships are up for grabs every year. “The biggest advantage has been all the scholarship money,” Powell said. “I got a full scholarship for tuition at University of Alabama.” Powell also has money left over to apply to medical school after she graduates from University of Alabama.
Hoover mayor says city to begin 4 year contract with UA baseball team in 2015
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Jan. 13
Hoover mayor Gary Ivey says 2014 was a great year. And he hopes 2015 will be even better. The mayor gave his annual state of the city address yesterday. Among the highlights, Mayor Ivey says Hoover will begin its four-year contract with the University of Alabama baseball team this year. Ivey expects the new contract to boost the city’s revenue. Mayor Ivey says the Hoover Met will also be home to the 2015 SEC baseball tournament, featuring the Top 12 college baseball teams, from the Southeastern Conference.