UA to hold Service Member to Civilian Summit
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – April 15
Helping military members transition back to civilian life – that’s the goal of a summit planned for tomorrow and Friday at The University of Alabama. Billy Filkins spent 21 years in the Army. He plans to attend the summit, because he says he continues to have a hard time adjusting to civilian life. The summit at the Bryant Conference Center will focus on higher education, family and employment opportunities.
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – April 15
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 15
Wallace Community College grad establishes University of Alabama nursing scholarship
Dothan Eagle – April 15
A retired nurse is giving back by providing a scholarship to help student nurses gain advanced education in their career field. Anne Evans Allen, a Dothan native who started her nursing career as a student at Wallace Community College, has established a scholarship paying for tuition and books for students participating in the University of Alabama’s RN mobility program. The RN mobility program allows nurses to continue their education by taking courses necessary for a four-year nursing degree online. “I always wanted to be a nurse,” Allen said. “I enjoyed it, I loved what I did and I felt that if I was able to get the money, I should do the scholarship.”
Students present research
Crimson White – April 16
Six students from The University of Alabama were invited to take part in this year’s National Conference for Undergraduate Research at Eastern Washington University. According the conference website, the mission of the NCUR is “to promote undergraduate research scholarship and creative activity done in partnership with faculty or other mentors as a vital component of higher education.” People in attendance for this conference include students from universities across the country and around the world. Five of the six students representing the University are members of the Emerging Scholars Program, a program that helps a select group of incoming UA freshmen get involved in research on campus early in their college career. Mary Katherine Alsip Shreves, recent director of the Emerging Scholars program, will attend the conference with these students, and said she has no doubt that all of the students are prepared to present their research at NCUR. “NCUR is a competitive conference and not all submissions are accepted, so it is a demonstration of our students’ excellence in research that six students were invited to present at NCUR,” Shreves said.
3 student teams win business plan competition
Crimson White – April 16
Three University of Alabama student teams won The Culverhouse College of Commerce’s 2015 Edward K. Aldag Jr. Business Plan Competition for their innovative business ideas. The winning ideas were Dash Cam 360, a 360-degree dashboard camera for police officers; Soap N Go, a portable soap cloth, and InstaSplint, a medical splint. For winning this competition, students will receive one year of co-working space at The Edge Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, an hour of consulting with Rosen Harwood attorneys at law, consulting with JamisonMoneyFarmer and mentoring by UA faculty and staff.
New museum director takes over
Crimson White – April 16
Ask any Northerner living in Alabama what their favorite part about Southern life is and some may tell you the weather. At least, that was New York native John Friel’s answer. Friel recently joined The University of Alabama as director of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. He came to Tuscaloosa after spending the last 17 years at Cornell University, where his position was half administrative and half research. Friel said he considers himself a professional ichthyologist, or an individual who studies fish. His main focus is fresh water fish, and Alabama is known for having a high diversity of fresh water fish and turtles. Friel said he has studied fish since graduate school at The University of South Florida. He traveled to parts of the Amazon, Africa and many locations in South America to study fish. “I’m interested in going places where I can conduct research and not know what we are going to find in the water,” he said.
Macon, Miss. Resident Completes Internship with U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee
Ag.senate.gov – April 15
Kelsey Unruh, a Macon, Miss. resident, this week completed a semester-long internship in office of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, under Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan. “I could not have spent my semester in a better way,” Unruh said. “I am so grateful to Senator Roberts and his staff for this opportunity.” Unruh, daughter of Dorsey and Lynda Unruh of Macon, Miss., will begin her third year of law school in the fall at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She is pursuing a career in agricultural law. Unruh’s responsibilities in the Committee’s office included researching legislation, tracking presidential nominees within the Committee’s jurisdiction and assisting staff in preparing for reauthorization and introduction of legislation.
Behind on retirement savings? Here are 3 ways to catch up
ABC 7 (Ft. Myers, Fla.) – April 15
I’m in my late 50s and not as prepared for retirement as I’d like to be. I have the equivalent of about one year’s salary saved in my 401(k). What can I do improve my retirement prospects? –Linda M., Florida. Generally, you should have six to nine times your salary tucked away in a 401(k) or other accounts by your mid-50s to early 60s to have a good shot at maintaining your standard of living in retirement. So you’re definitely short of where you ought to be. On the bright side, at least you know you have some catching up to do. Not everyone who’s behind does. For example, a study by researchers from Ohio State and the University of Alabama found that 27% of 55- to-60-year-olds hadn’t accumulated enough to maintain their standard of living in retirement, yet seemed to think they were doing just fine. The researchers labeled them “unrealistic optimists.”
Houston Style Magazine – April 15
Nearly 100 state troopers face layoffs under proposed budget cuts at the State House
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – April 15
Ninety-nine state troopers face layoffs because of major budget cuts under consideration at the Alabama State House, according to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Wednesday afternoon lawmakers heard loud cries from forensics, the courts, DHR and law enforcement in a budget hearing. The agencies outlined how the proposed cuts to the General Fund would affect their daily operations. These cuts come from the latest budget draft in the Alabama at the State House, which includes no new revenue from tax increases. … There are 431 state troopers now, far less than the recommended one thousand according to a study from the University of Alabama. Thirteen state trooper posts would also close, under the budget proposal.
Yellowhammer Festival to focus on sustainability
Crimson White – April 16
Music and environmental sustainability will join forces this weekend at Yellowhammer Festival, an event featuring local bands, art-making activities and different booths from local and campus organizations. “A group of [Creative Campus] interns pitched the idea because we wanted to bring the festival experience to Tuscaloosa like a lot of other college towns have,” said Moira Quinn, a sophomore majoring in marketing and Creative Campus intern. Creative Campus, an arts advocacy organization, will host the festival Saturday, April 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the The University of Alabama Arboretum. Quinn said Yellowhammer Festival’s eco-friendly aspects and the deep focus on creative sustainability sets it apart from other festivals.
Impacting Poverty team hosts sleep out event
Crimson White – April 16
University of Alabama students will have the chance to participate in an event to raise awareness for poverty issues April 22 at 6 p.m. until April 23 at 6 a.m. Students who have ACTion cards can participate and earn up to 10 SLPro community service hours. The purpose of the event is for students to spend a night with the bare minimum of equipment as a way to imitate homelessness. The University of Alabama Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism’s Impacting Poverty Team is hosting the event on the soccer fields next to the Student Recreation Center.
UA Department of Theatre and Dance presents 42nd Street
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 15
If you are a lover of musicals, we have a play just for you. The musical 42nd Street is now playing at The University of Alabama’s Rowand Johnson Hall. The play features a young girl from Pennsylvania who comes to New York in hopes of stardom and ends up with a lead role in a Broadway show. Tickets are $14 for students, $17 for faculty and staff and $20 for adults.
UA to hold A-Day
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 15
A-Day is this Saturday, and here are some things to keep in mind when cheering on the Tide. With the exception of the Tide Pride lots, all parking on campus will be free and open at 7 a.m., but be aware, road blocks will go up at 11. In case of severe weather, fans will be instructed where to take cover until it passes. Even with the chance of rain this Saturday, fans are still not allowed to take in any umbrellas to the stadium, but are encouraged to bring rain jackets and ponchos.