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STUDENT ROBOTICS TEAM READY FOR ANOTHER TITLE RUN Alabama Astrobotics is returning to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to defend its string of national titles in a contest that challenges students to design and build a robot capable of mining, collecting and depositing simulated ice from the moon. The team will demonstrate its latest robot for the media Tuesday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m. in the Bureau of Mines Building 4. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu. 

UA STUDENT EARNS HOLLINGS SCHOLARSHIP — University of Alabama student Kittson Hamill of Huntsville is the recipient of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance up to $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study and a 10-week, full-time paid internship at a NOAA facility during the summer. Hamill is the 37th UA student to receive the scholarship since the program’s inception in 2005. Hamill is a Randall Research Scholar and UA Honors College student majoring in computer science and physics, and minoring in Chinese and art. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. 

UA RESEARCH PROJECTS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS — Several research projects on campus are seeking participants, particularly children, teens and parents, with some offering small payments and leading-edge therapy. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, adam.jones@ua.edu.    

EVENTS   

NEW EXHIBIT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SOFTBALL — A new exhibit at the Paul W. Bryant Museum honors the players and coaches of the first 25 years of softball at The University of Alabama. “Alabama Softball – The First 25 Years” opened May 6 and includes a mural with the names of every player and coach from 1997 to 2021. The exhibit highlights players who earned First Team All-American honors and includes trophies from the team’s Southeastern Conference titles and Women’s College World Series appearances. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, located on The University of Alabama campus, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information contact Olivia Arnold, director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum, at oarnold@ua.edu

UA OFFERS VARIETY OF YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS — UA will offer a variety of youth camps on campus and beyond throughout the summer. From music to STEM activities, several colleges and departments will host camps. In addition, UA will offer reading, art and sports camps, among others. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu 

FLOW TUSCALOOSA TO HOST LANTERN PARADE Flow Tuscaloosa, an initiative led by UA faculty members to bring attention to environmental justice efforts in West Alabama and to protect the resources of the Black Warrior River watershed, will hold a lantern parade Saturday, May 21, at the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk. Participants are asked to arrive at the Riverwalk at Greensboro Avenue, near the Bama Belle, at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. Lanterns are not required, but some lantern-making supplies will be available. Afterward, participants are encouraged to visit the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum on Jack Warner Parkway, see the old Queen City pool area illuminated with special lighting effects and dine from local food trucks. For more information, contact Jamey Grimes, assistant professor of art and art history, at grime009@ua.edu. 

CURRENT COMMENT 

PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE DURING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND BEYOND — “To reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, acknowledge the importance of being mentally healthy and be open to discussing this topic at your comfort level,” said Dr. John Burkhardt, associate professor with UA’s department of psychiatry and behavioral medicine. “Do not wait to get help. People take years before seeking mental health treatment. So go see your family doctor if you are concerned. Reduce stress by engaging in weekly exercise or look into mindfulness-based stress reduction. If you are feeling down or sad, try cardiovascular exercise. When feeling anxious, weightlifting or yoga practice are more beneficial. Be kind to yourself. Individuals with mental health struggles tend to talk negatively to themselves and be more critical. At the end of your day, find three things to be grateful for that happened during your day.” To schedule an interview, contact Burkhardt at jeburkhardt@ua.edu 

RISING INTEREST RATES SHOULD SLOW, NOT STOP, HOUSING MARKET — Interest rates for home loans are on the rise, which should cool off real estate bidding wars and rising home prices, but it won’t fully stop the momentum, said Stuart Norton, associate director for the Alabama Center for Real Estate. Still, housing inventory is low, so sale prices are likely to continue to rise, just at slower rates, he said. “The market has been in high gear for almost two years now. A slowdown will allow home price growth to readjust towards more sustainable rates, while also encouraging a gradual increase in supply,” Norton said. To schedule an interview, contact Norton at tsnorton@culverhouse.ua.edu. 

MORE COMPANIES FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY — To show they care about more than just profits — and to keep their workforce — many companies are focusing on their impact on the planet according to Dr. Theresa Welbourne, executive director of the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute and Will and Maggie Brooke Professor in Entrepreneurship. “Companies that want to recruit employees who care about doing more, have to focus on more than just profit,” Welbourne said. “Given today’s ‘Great Resignation,’ we know that employees are taking their values with them and walking to other jobs if their companies are not doing right by their people and planet. I’ve been very impressed with the many ways companies today are not just saying they care about these goals but are doing something about it.” To schedule an interview, contact Welbourne at twelbourne@cba.ua.edu. 

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The University of Alabama strives to remain neutral on public policy issues. Strategic Communications may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its leadership, and do not constitute a statement on behalf of the University unless explicitly designated.