MEDIA ADVISORY: UA’s Spring Commencement Exercises

UA’S SPRING COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Suzanne Dowling, 205/348-8324, 205/394-5264, sdowling@ur.ua.edu

Cathy Andreen, 205/348-8322, candreen@ur.ua.edu

Bill McDaniel (Broadcast Media Only), 205/348-8327, bmcdaniel@ur.ua.edu

Chandra Clark (Broadcast Media Only), 205/348-2711, cclark@ur.ua.edu

Morning Ceremony: (bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees): The Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, and Colleges of Communication and Information Sciences, Education, and Nursing.

Afternoon Ceremony: (bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees): Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Human Environmental Sciences, and the School of Social Work.

UA TO BROADCAST COMMENCEMENT LIVE VIA INTERNET –The University of Alabama will broadcast its commencement ceremonies live over the Internet on May 10. Both the 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ceremonies will be available. Those who wish to view the ceremonies on the Internet can go to the main UA Web page at http://www.ua.edu/ to find the webcast link. The webcast will be archived on UA’s Web site and will be available for viewing until May 31.

SCHOOL OF LAW SPEAKER — Joe Espy III, president pro tempore for the UA Board of Trustees and an officer and director of the Montgomery law firm of Melton, Espy and Williams.

 

NOTEWORTHY/INSPIRING GRADUATES

Michael Thompson (finance): UA golfer plays in the Masters, wins the SEC, AND earns his degree in finance. No one would fault Thompson if he had to postpone graduating a semester or two. He’s been pretty busy this semester. He played in the Masters, the PGA’s most prestigious tournament; became the Tide’s first SEC individual golf champion in 56 years; and helped his team win the SEC championship. But Thompson wouldn’t excuse himself. So on May 10, he’ll be receiving his degree on time. For more information, contact Suzanne Dowling at 205/348-8324, 205/394-5264 or sdowling@ur.ua.edu

JOSEPH SYKORA (accountancy): UA Golf champion gets his own “Master’s”: While UA golf teammate Michael Thompson was playing in the Masters golf tournament last month, Sykora was completing his own master’s competition: his master’s degree in accounting. Amazingly this is the second degree Sykora has earned while being on the golf team. A native of Daphne, Sykora earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2007 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. In addition to helping UA secure an SEC golf championship, Sykora was the individual medalist at the Topy Cup US-Japan Intercollegiate and the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate. He was also the Alabama State Match Play Champion and participated in the U.S. Amateur Match Play Championship. He is the 2008 recipient of both the Paul W. Bryant Student-Athlete Award and the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the Southeastern conference, a two-time member of the ESPN Magazine Academic All-America At-Large first-team and was voted the SEC Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007. For more information, contact Suzanne Dowling at 205/348-8324, 205/394-5264 or sdowling@ur.ua.edu

RICHARD HENDRIX AND GREG CAGE (communications, criminal justice/psychology): Tide basketball players and roommates Richard Hendrix and Greg Cage are graduating in a team-record three years. Hendrix is a communications major, Cage a criminal justice/psychology major. But after graduation, Hendrix will try for the NBA while Cage, a National Merit Scholar, will continue to play for the Tide as he works on an MBA and then a law degree. For more information, contact Suzanne Dowling at 205/348-8324, 205/394-5264 or sdowling@ur.ua.edu

LYNNETTE MOATS (nursing): Path to patients requires patience. There were times, Lynnette Moats says, when quitting work to pursue a nursing degree seemed like a 4-year poverty sentence for her entire household, including her daughter and the two nieces she’s home schooled throughout her college career. But now graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, she says she feels she’s on the cusp of escaping a poverty sentence that, without an education, “could be lifelong” for both her and her daughter. Moats says her career shift didn’t come without adjustments, including Moats’ daughter and nieces sometimes attending UA classes alongside her, particularly during the early portion of her college career. Moats, who lives in rural Tuscaloosa County near Moores Bridge, may be reached at moats002@gmail.com or 205/330-0077.

TERENCE WILLIAMSON (civil engineering): Another UA national champion…in turkey calling. Whatever call a turkey is listening out for, Terence Williamson, a degree candidate in civil engineering, knows what to do. Williamson, an avid deer, turkey and waterfowl hunter, recently placed second in the U.S. Open Qualifier and the Arkansas Sportshow Regional Turkey Calling Championship. He was also the first runner-up in the friction division of the 2008 Wild Turkey Bourbon Grand National Calling Championship. Despite his dedication to both turkey calling and engineering academics, Williamson admitted that it is sometimes hard to maintain a balance between the two. “It is not always easy to work on CE401 homework while I am traveling to competitions or doing promotions for my sponsors,” explained Williamson. “However, it has been a great experience that I would not trade for anything.” For more information on Williamson, contact Mary Wymer at 205/348-6444 or mwymer@eng.ua.edu

MICHAEL SMOTHERS (construction engineering): Alabama Construction Industry Gets a Boost From UA’s Newest Program. The Alabama construction industry is beginning to reap the benefits from UA’s newest program. The Capstone launched its construction engineering program in 2006 and is graduating its first student on May 10. Michael Smothers will be the first student to receive a construction engineering degree from UA. UA’s program is one of 10 in the country and the only construction engineering program in the Gulf States Region. “UA’s construction engineering program is perfect for students interested in working for general contractors as opposed to strict design work. I learned the basics of engineering design principles, but also diverged into management and estimating courses,” said Smothers. Smothers, originally from Talladega, has accepted a position with Turner Construction Co. at the Dallas location, and he will begin work in June. For more information on Smothers, contact Mary Wymer at 205/348-6444 or mwymer@eng.ua.edu

PEYTON BLANKENSHIP (theatre): Costume design student depicts character’s essence at a glance. Making actors comfortable on stage has been a big part of Blankenship’s role as a costume designer in UA’s theatre and dance department. “I always liked dress up,” says Blankenship, who will receive her degree in theatre at the May 10 ceremonies. “And, I don’t think I ever really got over that, so I’m making a career out of it. Halloween was always my favorite holiday. You get to wear costumes and pretend you are somebody you aren’t.” After graduation, Blankenship has her career sights set on costume design for independent regional film makers. Blankenship may be reached at 256-466-0593 or blank001@bama.ua.edu. Donna Meester, assistant professor of theatre and dance, can comment on Blankenship. Meester may be reached at 205/348-9032 or dmeester@bama.ua.edu.

RUSSELL BLEDSOE (interactive technology): First eArmyU bachelor’s recipient now becomes its first graduate degree recipient. In 2006, Army Staff Sgt. Russell Bledsoe of Cullman became the eArmyU’s first degree recipient from UA. Now, two years later, Bledsoe has earned his master’s degree in interactive technology from the online degree program, now called GoArmyEd. This program is designed to offer eligible enlisted soldiers the opportunity to work toward a college degree or certificate anytime, anywhere. Bledsoe may be reached at bleds002@bama.ua.edu. For more information, contact Suzanne Dowling at 205/348-8324, 205/394-5264 or sdowling@ur.ua.edu

ANTONIO LONDON (interdisciplinary studies): Former Tide star completes his degree 15 years after leaving for the NFL. Antonio London, a linebacker on the 1992 national championship football team at UA, has earned his bachelor’s degree through UA’s External Degree Program. He left UA in 1992 for the NFL where he played linebacker for six seasons for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. For more information, contact Lisa Young, UA External Degree Program, 205/348-0090, lyoung@ccs.ua.edu