BEST BETS
ANNUAL BAMA BLITZ ONLINE FUNDRAISING EVENT SET FOR APRIL 18-20 — Bama Blitz, The University of Alabama’s annual online fundraising campaign, will launch at noon CDT Tuesday, April 18, and conclude Thursday, April 20, at noon CDT. Alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of UA can use the power of social media and crowdfunding to build support for a series of unique and impactful passion projects from UA colleges, schools and units. Now in its sixth year, the goal of Bama Blitz is to encourage giving at any level while highlighting unique and impactful projects that might otherwise go without funding. Gifts can be made at bamablitz.ua.edu. The website will provide live updates about fundraising totals for each passion project, as well as the total amount of money raised for the University. For more information, contact Stephanie Kirkland, UA Division of Advancement, at stephanie.kirkland@ua.edu.
ALABAMA FORENSIC COUNCIL WINS 24TH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP — The Alabama Forensic Council, The UA’s competitive speech team, recently competed in five national tournaments and brought home its 24th team national championship and nine individual event national championships among other awards. After completing five of their six total national tournaments this season, the team won more than 100 awards. Most notably, AFC won the national championship in Team Individual Events Sweepstakes at the Novice National Tournament. For more information, contact Morgan Johnson, UA College of Communication and Information Sciences, at morgan.johnson@ua.edu.
PUBLIC INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 100 ALABAMA MILES CHALLENGE — The UA Center for Economic Development and partner organizations kick off the 2023 season of the 100 Alabama Miles Challenge April 22 and invite the public to participate in planned events. The 100 Alabama Miles Challenge is a free, statewide program designed to inspire all Alabamians to be active, go explore and connect with others by getting 100 miles of physical activity each year. While participants can walk, run, hike, bike, swim, paddle, ride or roll to their 100-mile goal anywhere, organizers encourage Alabamians to visit Alabama’s numerous parks, nature preserves and rivers with their friends and family. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
TWO UA STUDENTS NAMED GOLDWATER SCHOLARS — The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program has selected two UA students as Goldwater Scholars for 2023-2024. The two students are Skylar Elliott, from Harvest, and Riley Nold, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The latest selections bring UA’s number of Goldwater Scholars to 62. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
BENEATH THE EARTH, ANCIENT OCEAN FLOOR LIKELY SURROUNDS THE CORE — Through global-scale seismic imaging of Earth’s interior, research led by UA revealed a layer between the core and the mantle that is likely a dense, yet thin, sunk ocean floor, according to results published today in “Science Advances.” Seen only in isolated patches previously, the latest data suggests this layer of ancient ocean floor may cover the core-mantle boundary. Subducted underground long ago as the Earth’s plates shifted, this ultra-low velocity zone, or ULVZ, is denser than the rest of the deep mantle, slowing seismic waves reverberating beneath the surface. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS REMAIN AS COSTLIER RENT GROWTH SLOWS — The average cost to rent housing across the country continues to become more expensive, but the price increases are slowing, according to a monthly rent index compiled by three colleges including UA. The average rent increased by less than a third of a percentage point, 0.3%, in February compared to January, according to the Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index that covers the entire stock of homes and apartments across 100 metro areas in the United States. The current month-over-month increase extrapolated to an annual basis would be 3.7% compared to the actual year-over-year increase of 6.31%, suggesting rents are growing at a slower rate. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
GOLF FUNDRAISER BENEFITS UA RISE CENTER — The UA RISE Center will host the RISE Tournament of Champions golf tournament April 19-20 to aid in fundraising efforts to help its students reach their full potential. The RISE Tournament of Champions will be April 19-20 at the NorthRiver Yacht Club. The golf tournament is a four-person dropout scramble, handicaps required, with morning or afternoon tee times both days. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
NOTRE DAME RESTORATION CONTINUES FOR SCHEDULED COMPLETION NEXT YEAR — Dr. Jennifer Feltman, associate professor of medieval art and architecture, is part of an international research team that has worked to restore the Cathedral of Notre Dame following a devastating fire April 15, 2019. “Four years later, the reconstruction scheduled for completion in 2024 is well underway,” said Feltman. “Soon, the new wooden framework for the roof and spire, which is currently being constructed in a workshop east of Paris, will rise on the Parisian skyline. As we are beginning to see the resurrection of Notre Dame, researchers are also learning new things about its original design as the first Gothic building to use iron ties to make its soaring height possible. We are also learning about the brightly colored paints that once covered many of its exterior sculptures.” To schedule an interview, contact Feltman at jmfeltman@ua.edu or call 251-272-6402.
EVENTS
TEE TIME FASHION SHOW — The UA College of Human Environmental Sciences will host its annual Tee Time Fashion Show April 18 at 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of Doster Hall. The environmentally conscious fashion show features one-of-a-kind garments made with sustainable materials. Seating for the show will start at 5 p.m. The event is free.
DANCE ALABAMA! — The UA Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to present its final dance concert of the season with “Dance Alabama! Spring 2023” April 19-22. Choreographed, designed and performed by UA’s talented undergraduate and graduate students, the concert features conceptually original and visually stimulating performances, encompassing a wide variety of dance genres. According to Sarah M. Barry, artistic director and associate chair of dance, audiences can expect a wide variety of movement styles that are representative of the youth and vitality of students.
STEM FAMILY NIGHT — The UA College of Education and Woodland Forrest Elementary is hosting STEM Family Night April 20 at 5 p.m. at Woodland Forrest Elementary in Tuscaloosa. Families and community members are invited to complete various science, technology, engineering and mathematics challenges developed by UA undergraduate students and other UA campus STEM groups, along with AMSTI, Auburn University and other organizations. Chick-fil-A sandwiches will be provided to participants as they work through STEM activities. For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Fowler, UA College of Education, at mfowler@ua.edu.
THE EDGE TO HOST ALABAMA LAUNCHPAD CONTEST — Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, will hold its first cycle of 2023 at The EDGE Incubator and Accelerator, part of The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business, Thursday, April 20, at 5 p.m. Nine finalists in the entrepreneurial pitch contest will compete for a combined $75,000 at a public finale. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
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