BEST BETS
UA NAMED A STUDENT FULBRIGHT TOP PRODUCER — The University of Alabama has been recognized as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards for the sixth time in eight years. Fifteen UA students received Fulbright Award offers in the 2022-2023 cohort. Fulbright is the most prestigious United States international exchange program, offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals. The Fulbright Award of the U.S. Department of State offers one-year grants for independent study and research, and for English teaching assistantships overseas. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
UA STUDENT’S PAST GIVES HIM PASSION FOR THE FUTURE OF UADM — For Myles Taylor, being involved in UA Dance Marathon has been more than an opportunity to build leadership skills and raise money for Children’s of Alabama. It’s given him the chance to give back to the healthcare system that saved his life. Now, as a senior majoring in advertising at The University of Alabama, Taylor serves as the vice president of campus engagement for UA Dance Marathon, the largest student-led philanthropy on campus, which works to raise money for the children being treated at the hospital. For more information, contact Hannah Menard, UADM vice president of communications, at hmmenard@crimson.ua.edu.
UA HOSTING 22ND ANNUAL ALABAMA AUTISM CONFERENCE FEB. 24 — The University of Alabama will be hosting the 22nd Annual Alabama Autism Conference Feb. 24 at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa. Attendees can also participate online. Each February, the Alabama Autism Conference presents the latest research regarding the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. This year’s focus is “Expanded Insights on ASD.” The purpose of the Alabama Autism Conference is to build upon the vision of creating better services for individuals affected by ASD by educating medical professionals, service providers, parents and teachers in addition to developing relationships across the state. For more information, contact Jennifer Brady, UA Strategic Communications, at jennifer.brady@ua.edu.
UA PROGRAMS RECEIVE SUPPORT TO HELP ALABAMA’S CHILDREN — The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention has awarded $2,197,000 to community-based programs that are dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. The University of Alabama received funding for programs within Child Development Resources and the UA Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic. The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, also known as the Children’s Trust Fund, provides annual funding to community-based programs across the state that are dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. For more information, contact Dr. April Kendrick, UA Child Development Resources, at abkendrick@ches.ua.edu.
TWO TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES HONOR SEN. SHELBY’S HISTORIC SUPPORT — Two distinct initiatives approved by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees will enhance UA’s mission to educate tomorrow’s leaders and innovators, thanks to the visionary leadership of recently retired U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. The Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty leverages $100 million in Congressionally directed funding to create a permanent endowment that supports the recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty members in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines. UA also announced the creation of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, focused on providing premier educational programs for students interested in policy. For more information, contact Shane Dorrill, UA Strategic Communications, at shane.dorrill@ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
TIPS FOR PRESERVING YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS — “Archival work is often expressed as a form of outreach focused on assisting individuals in acquiring preservation literacy,” said Dr. Robert Riter, the Marie Drolet Bristol-EBSCO Endowed Professor. “Community members frequently express a concern with preserving documentation which holds familial and personal value, including greeting cards. Fortunately, there are accessible methods for supporting continued preservation. Greeting card collections should, ideally, be housed in acid-free storage containers. Individual cards should be placed in archival-quality item sleeves. This practice will protect individual items from damage and reduce the effects of UV light exposure if displayed [e.g., fading of brightly colored inks]. Individuals also receive greeting cards in digital formats, and one’s personal archival preservation strategy might include digital preservation provisions.” To schedule an interview, contact Riter at rbriter@ua.edu.
EVENTS
RISE STUDENTS TO VISIT CAPSTONE VILLAGE RESIDENTS ON VALENTINE’S DAY — Students from the UA RISE School will visit Capstone Village residents Feb. 14 at 1:15 p.m. to celebrate Valentine’s Day. RISE students will give Valentine’s Day cards to their neighbors on the UA campus. Capstone Village is located at 601 Peter Bryce Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.
UA THEATRE AND DANCE PRESENTS ‘TEN BLOCKS ON THE CAMINO REAL’ — The UA Department of Theatre and Dance presents its second theatre production of the new year, “Ten Blocks on the Camino Real.” The production will take the stage Feb. 15-17 and 23-26 in the Marian Gallaway Theatre. Take a journey following the character, Kilroy, as he visits an unidentified mysterious dead-end town inhabited by a cast of reprehensible misfits. Written by Tennessee Williams, this play personifies his greatest fears while giving audiences an intimate look into his deeply troubled mind. For more information, contact Justin Sweeney, marketing manager for UA Theatre and Dance, at jssweeney@crimson.ua.edu.
TUSCALOOSA INNOVATION COMMUNITY BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION — The 2023 Tuscaloosa Innovation Community Business Plan Competition will take place Feb. 23 at The EDGE from noon to 7 p.m. This business plan competition will feature West Alabama community members as well as students from Shelton State Community College and Stillman College. A grand prize of $10,000 will be awarded and up to $5,000 in funding to be awarded by the Regions Banking Entrepreneurship Award. Other competition awards are sponsored by the Alabama Small Business Development Center and the Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute.
SATURDAY IN THE PARK: TATTOOING ACROSS CULTURES — Moundville Archaeological Park’s Saturday in the Park series will feature Dr. Christopher Lynn from the UA Anthropology Department and “Inking of Immunity” podcast teaching a class called “Tattooing Across Cultures” Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Jones Archaeological Museum. Lynn will be giving an overview lecture of his research on the biocultural aspects of tattooing across different cultures, with a focus in modern American, Samoan and prehistoric European cultures. He will then discuss several methods of tattooing with demonstrations of each method. The lecture is free with paid admission to the park.
UA COLLECTING BOOK DONATIONS FOR BLACK BELT SCHOOLS — The UA Center for Economic Development launched the 17th annual Books for the Black Belt campaign Jan. 30 that encourages UA students, faculty, staff and local residents to donate books for K-12 students in the region. UACED strives to help children develop a love of learning and reading by distributing books to students in Alabama’s 13 Black Belt counties. UACED will accept donations of new or gently used classic and award-winning books frequently found on school reading lists for K-12 children until Feb. 24. For more information, contact Erin Hackenmueller, UA Center for Economic Development, at eshackenmueller@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.