Top Honors for Scholarship, Leadership Announced at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Recipients of the 2009 Premier Awards – the top individual honors for scholarship, leadership and service at The University of Alabama – were announced by UA President Robert E. Witt Friday, Feb. 27 at a recognition ceremony.

The 2009 UA Premier Award recipients include:

The William P. Bloom Scholarship Award honors a junior who has improved intergroup relations within the University community; this year’s winner is William C. Thomas of Madison, a student in the UA Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration majoring in finance.

Thomas has improved international awareness and intercultural relations at UA through his leadership and actions. As president of the Alabama International Relations Club, Thomas developed and implemented a strategic plan that has not only increased membership, but has resulted in a more diverse and more inclusive organization. By setting the example for others to become active agents in the global community, Thomas has contributed to an environment of heightened understanding and cooperation between diverse cultures.

He co-founded Apwonjo, the University’s only organization dedicated to educating and empowering students about African issues. This group has informed students about the social and political issues in Africa and raised money to benefit the Invisible Children of Uganda. Thomas is also a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, the director of the Student Government Association Office of International Involvement, and was selected to the inaugural group of interns for the David Mathews Center for Public Life.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award is presented to one man and one woman of the graduating class. The Sullivan Award recognizes excellence of character and service to humanity. Winners of this year’s Sullivan Award are Alex Flachsbart of Concord, Calif., and Caroline Ann Ball of Glenview, Ill.

Despite the distance from his California home, Flachsbart had found the spirit of service and the support for student leadership he desired at UA. Now, four years later, he has greatly contributed to UA and the surrounding community. Flachsbart co-founded the SpeakUp Tuscaloosa after-school program which teaches the fundamentals of debate to middle school students, developed the UA BamaBike program, and encouraged student participation in local and national elections by organizing a candidate debate and voter registration drives.

He worked as an Alabama State Field Director for the 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign. Flachsbart also served as the Teach for America Campus Campaign Manager, recruiting potential corps members in West Alabama. He was recently selected for the All-USA College Academic Team, a finalist for the Truman Scholarship and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

Ball’s character has enabled her to excel in the classroom and beyond. She began the Blount Common Meal – a gathering of UA Blount Scholars for a time of fellowship and mentorship with other students. Ball also organized independent study sessions for her classmates to promote academic cooperation.

Her dedication to learning extended beyond her own experience when she developed a mathematics tutoring program for at-risk middle school students. Under Ball’s leadership this program was more than a homework-helping session. The tutoring program addressed basic mathematical skills and instilled confidence in middle school students who struggled to master math and science concepts. Ball is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and has presented her work during the UA Undergraduate Research Day and at national research conferences. She is also a member of The XXXI, The Other Club, Blue Key Honor Society and Alpha Phi sorority.

The John Fraser Ramsey Award, named in honor of the late University history professor emeritus, recognizes in a junior the versatility of gifts and attainments, as well as the breadth of excellence in mind and character that have traditionally been the goals of a liberal education. The recipient of the Ramsey Award is Dana Lewis of Huntsville, a public relations and political science major.

Lewis has positively impacted the lives of UA students and individuals around the world. She is an advocate for young adults living with diabetes and has worked to create awareness of diabetes across the community. Lewis appealed to students, staff and stakeholders to make nutrition information readily available to consumers of campus dining at the point of service.

She has been successful in leading the implementation of a campus-wide nutrition system, the first one of its kind among Southeastern colleges. Her efforts also include a national independent research project studying the transition of young adults from pediatric to adult health care services. Lewis also created and co-taught a 3-hour core curriculum class for first-year students with diabetes.

As an undergraduate researcher, Lewis won first place in the first UA Undergraduate Research Conference within the College of Communications & Information Sciences for the creation of online education models to assist faculty and staff to reach and teach all students.

Lewis is also a member of the Honors College Student Advisory Board, a Blackburn Institute fellow, a member of the Computer-Based Honors Program, and leader and volunteer for Alabama Action. She was the 2007 Most Outstanding Freshman, a member of the 2008 All-USA College Academic Team, and was recently selected as a finalist for the 2009 Truman Scholarship.

The Morris Lehman Mayer Award is named in honor of the late Morris Lehman Mayer, business professor emeritus. For three decades, Mayer was a beloved UA teacher and a guiding force in student life. The award recognizes integrity, selfless service and leadership at UA and in the community while making significant contributions to student life. Emerald Greywoode of Montgomery is the student recipient of the Mayer Award.

Living, thinking and acting with a sense of community and civic service, Greywoode has made service a way of life and cultivated that attitude into her leadership roles and academic endeavors. As a conversation partner in the UA English Language Institute, she helped Spanish-speaking students improve their English, learn American culture and connect with the UA community. Through her teaching assistantship, Greywoode worked with a faculty member to implement elements of active and collaborative learning into the classroom and improving the learning experience for her peers.

Greywoode is a scholar who exemplifies the utmost academic integrity serving as chief justice of the Student Government Association Judicial Board. Through this leadership role, she has not only brought together a diverse board of student representatives, she has served as a defender of students’ rights and University policies.

Greywoode is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Anderson Society, Omicron Delta Kappa and Blue Key Honor Society. She has also served as a resident adviser for the Blount Living Learning Center and vice president of Navigators Campus Ministry.

The Dr. Catherine J. Randall Award, named for the former director of UA’s innovative Computer-Based Honors Program, is given to one graduating senior. The Randall Award recognizes the most outstanding student scholar at UA, based on GPA, rigor of course study and extraordinary scholarly or creative endeavor. Laura Godorecci of Northport, a student in New College, is this year’s recipient of the Randall Award.

Godorecci’s academic curiosity has enabled her to pursue a truly interdisciplinary course of study at UA. Her interests span the arts and humanities including music, dance and languages as well as the sciences, including physics and astronomy. Godorecci designed and completed rigorous, creative, independent learning experiences through which she has produced numerous scholarly and creative works. Her passion for filmmaking complements her dedication to scholarship.

Godorecci was the first student from the University to participate in the highly competitive and prestigious American Pavilion’s Worldwide Student Filmmaker Program at the Cannes Film Festival, and her original short film “Untitled” was selected to screen at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Center. Godorecci is fluent in six languages and studied with highly respected scholars in Italy. Currently, she is completing a documentary film on the Slow Food Movement which will serve as an educational tool for multiple audiences. Godorecci is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an active community volunteer.

The 2009 Premier Award recipients will also be recognized in an awards ceremony during UA Honors Week this spring.