UA Preview — June 30-July 6, 2025

📰 BEST BETS 

2 Students Offered Hollings Scholarships 

University of Alabama students Zachary Griffith, of Pittsburgh, and Jesse Park, of Burr Ridge, Illinois, were selected for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. 

Why This Matters: The Hollings Scholarship includes a two-year academic award of up to $9,500 per year and a 10-week, full-time, paid summer internship opportunity at a NOAA facility. Scholars also receive funding to present their NOAA research projects at two national scientific conferences. Forty-five UA students have been offered scholarships since the program’s inception in 2005. 

CCHS Hosts Summer Programs for Rural Alabamians  

Thirty-five high school students from rural Alabama participated in summer programs at the College of Community Health Sciences to learn about the need rural communities have for more doctors, dentists and other health care professionals. 

Why This Matters: The Rural Health Leaders Pipeline was created to address the shortage of primary care physicians in rural Alabama. The nationally recognized pipeline includes a sequence of programs from high school through medical school that recruits students from rural Alabama who are interested in health care careers and working as health care professionals in rural communities. 

For more information, contact Kandis Snyder at kasnyder2@ua.edu.  

Strengthening the Nursing Workforce 

The UA Capstone College of Nursing, the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education and DCH Health System have joined forces in a strategic partnership to enhance workforce development and expand educational opportunities for health care professionals. 

Why This Matters: The partnership will initially focus on promoting the RN to BSN online degree for DCH employees. This emphasis recognizes the vital role of registered nurses in delivering high-quality patient care. The program is designed to allow them to continue their education while still performing their important service. 

Mohler Appointed 30th UA President 

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Peter J. Mohler, PhD, as the 30th president of The University of Alabama. He will assume the role on July 21. 

Why This Matters: A distinguished leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education, Mohler currently serves as executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge at Ohio State University and chief scientific officer of OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. He served as the university’s acting president in 2023, successfully leading one of the largest public flagships in the nation.  

For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu. 

Propelling Satellites to Space 

The Alabama Materials Institute at UA will aid the Air Force Research Laboratory in developing technology related to a new satellite propellant. 

Why This Matters: The AFRL-developed Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic propellant, formerly known as AF-M315E, is less toxic and burns hotter than current satellite-based propellants, resulting in greater efficiency. 

For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at jessica.nelson@ua.edu.  

📅 EVENTS 

PAT Conference  

The UA department of translational science and medicine at the College of Community Health Sciences will host a one-day symposium June 30 on polymers for advanced technologies, with a special focus on health, energy, and electronics. This event will feature prominent experts from these fields who will share their cutting-edge knowledge and insights. 

Media are invited to attend the event and interview symposium speakers at noon.  

Adapted Athletics Camps and Champ Matchup 

UA’s Adapted Athletics Wheelchair Basketball programs are hosting campers from across the country during a day camp June 29-July 2 at Stran-Hardin Arena in Tuscaloosa. Each camp concludes with a championship game between campers led by Adapted Athletics coaches and athletes from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The championship games are open to the public. 

For more information, contact Kellcie Temple at kellcie.temple@ua.edu. 

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