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MONDAY, AUG. 8 – SUNDAY, AUG. 14, 2016

BEST BETS

ALABAMA ACTION – About 150 students from UA’s Honors College will work at Vance Elementary and Brookwood Middle schools from Monday, Aug. 8, to Friday, Aug. 12. Service projects include painting and building benches and tables for an outdoor classroom. A media day will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Vance Elementary School. Media are invited to interview students and observe them in action. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.

OUTDOOR ACTION – Outdoor Action provides 80 incoming freshmen with the opportunity to engage in meaningful environmental projects throughout the Black Warrior River and Cahaba River watersheds. This year, students, led by Randy Mecredy of UA Museums, will perform a series of projects at Moundville Archaeological Park, Foscue Park at Demopolis, Deerlick Park at Holt, Lake Lurleen State Park and Hurricane Creek. This outdoor experience focuses on biodiversity and introduces participants to the local environment, local and global environmental issues, and it provides an opportunity to become acclimated to the Honors College experience. For a daily schedule, contact Richard LeComte in media relations at rllecomte@ur.ua.edu. For more information on daily locations, contact student directors Stephen Turner at 423/255-5961 and Cokie Thompson at 901/596-6645.

BLACK BELT ACTION — Black Belt Action is a week-long service-learning program designed to provide approximately 30 incoming freshmen a focused, transformative experience in Marion. This year, 33 Honors incoming freshmen from 15 states will be at the Francis Marion School and Renaissance Marion, a nonprofit in Marion. Projects include revitalizing a downtown storefront for a new nonprofit office; refreshing the hallways of the public schools with school colors, murals and motivational quotes; and installing a “Hall of Champions” celebrating students’ academic and co-curricular achievements. Eight Honors upperclassmen will work as student leaders. Student participants and student leaders will commute each morning from Tuscaloosa to Marion. Most activities take place Monday-Thursday. Black Belt Action is a project of the UA Honors College’s 57 Miles Initiative. For on-site information, contact director D.J. Jackson at 205/393-8553. For assistance, contact Richard LeComte in media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu or 205/348-3782.   

WEEK OF WELCOME – UA greets students for the fall 2016 semester with a Week of Welcome starting Saturday, Aug. 13. University Programs will show “Now You See Me 2” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, on the UA Quad. An Action Card will be required to admit students. Refreshments will be available, and vendors and UA departments and organizations will have tables. Fun at the Rec will bring students to the University Recreation Center for sports and activities from 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14. The event will serve as an opportunity for new and returning students to learn about the healthy options and recreational facilities available through UA. The Ripple Effect day of service will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15. Check-in will be at 8 a.m. at the Ferguson Center before students head out into the community. During Ripple Effect 2016, student volunteers will work with the Boy Scout of America’s Camp Horne, where they will help with grounds beautification; Habitat for Humanity, where they will help with pre-existing projects; Crestmont Elementary, where they will touch up paint around the school; the West Alabama Food Bank, where students will sort and pack donations. For more details, including other sites, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782.

LOOKING AHEAD

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FOR BUSINESS ANALYTICS SYMPOSIUM – UA’s Institute of Business Analytics will host a symposium Oct. 13-14 at the Bryant Conference Center. The event explores the diverse landscape of business analytics with experts in statistics, optimization, data mining and analytics. The symposium offers the opportunity to network with analytics professionals, faculty and students. Visit www.mycba.ua.edu/basymposium for details. Register for the early bird rate of $275, or phone 205/348-3000. For more information, contact Edith Parten, UA media relations, 205/348-8318 or eparten@culverhouse.ua.edu.