University of Alabama company in next round of Launchpad Start-up Competition
Tuscaloosa News – June 21
A Tuscaloosa startup company, 2B-Electronic, is among 10 companies from across the state that were selected last week to compete for money to get their businesses off the ground. The teams will now vie to win a share of up to $300,000 in the latest round of the Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition. University of Alabama-affiliated 2B-Electronic proposes to have an inexpensive, real-time measurement of muscle activity to aid in reaching health goals, according to the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, a nonprofit organization that promotes economic development in the state and sponsors the Alabama Launchpad competition. The UA researchers behind 2B-Electronic are developing a low-cost EMG, or electromyography, device, according to UA. EMGs interpret electrical activity produced by muscles and can check both muscle health and nerve cells while aiding in the diagnoses of diseases. The devices can cost about $2,500. The UA team is headed by Brandt Hendricks, who recently earned a degree in kinesiology at UA, and includes Patrick LeClair, an associate professor of physics, and others. The team recently constructed a low-cost versatile circuit that can detect, amplify and interpret muscles’ electrical signals, according to UA. It could become a much less costly EMG. It can also serve as a heart-rate monitor and shows promise as an EKG instrument.
Unemployment rate for Tuscaloosa metro area remained flat in May
Tuscaloosa News – June 20
The Tuscaloosa area’s unemployment rate remained flat in May staying at 5.9 percent, according to unemployment numbers released by the state on Friday. That was “despite a slight increase in labor force which generally raises the unemployment rate,” said Ahmad Ijaz, director of economic forecasting at UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research. The University of Alabama economist said the latest numbers show the metro area — Tuscaloosa, Hale and Greene counties — added 600 jobs in May and has gained 2,700 jobs during the past 12 months. “All of the jobs added last month were in the services sector — professional and business services, health services and leisure and hospitality — again low-wage sectors, and as long as we continue to add jobs in these sectors, consumer demand will continue to remain weak and the economic growth will continue to remain sluggish,” he said. Alabama’s May jobless rate was 6.8 percent, down from 6.9 a month earlier. Last May the state rate was 6.4 percent.
COLLEGE NEWS: June 22
Tuscaloosa News – June 22
… University of Alabama: Christopher Brakefield of McCalla was recently initiated into Phi Kappa Phi at The University of Alabama. Lisa McKinney, accounting lecturer at UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce, was recognized with the outstanding accounting educator award from the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. The computer-based honors program at UA has named 33 of 40 students for the 2014 freshman class. The remaining seven will be announced at a later date. The freshmen admitted to the program are: Birmingham: Melissa C. Mathews and Michael A. Outlaw. Harvest: Cassidy M. Elliott. Hoover: William J. Freeman. Huntsville: Evan A. Eichstaedt. Muscle Shoals: Reid M. Ruggles. Prattville: William Grayson Webster. … Meredith Rickard of Atascadero, Calif., received the Henry Pettus Randall Jr. Endowed Research Scholarship for her senior year at UA. Other winners were: Lindsay Cobb, senior, Collierville, Tenn.; Molly Cook, junior, Vestavia Hills ….
Students share Christ’s love in Brazil amid World Cup frenzy
BRnow.org – June 23
There were no flashbulbs or television cameras, only teammates – mostly children half his size and barefoot – who celebrated and mobbed Dane Van Ryckeghem after he assisted in a goal during the game. The frenzy of World Cup soccer had nothing on the jubilant Brazilian neighborhood kids playing with visitors from the United States on a soggy field on the outskirts ofRio de Janeiro. Van Ryckeghem, a student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, traveled to Brazil with a team of 12 other student volunteers with a mission of sharing the love of Christ against the backdrop of the largest sporting event in the world – the 2014 FIFA World Cup. “I really wanted to spend my summer doing more than just working at a job and then going back to school,” Van Ryckeghem said. “I wanted to do something that made a difference, and I wanted to see the world.”
TownHall.com – June 20
Smith wins Miss Spirit of America title
Decatur Daily – June 22
A Hartselle native claimed the Miss Spirit of America title Sunday night. Megan Smith competed against 16 young women to win the pageant formerly known as Miss Point Mallard. The University of Alabama junior, 20, also won the community service award and tied for the top score in swimsuit … Smith, a graduate of Hartselle High who represented Morgan County at the state’s 2012 Distinguished Young Woman program, is studying political science with a minor in education studies. Her platform is Education Renovation: Redefining Classrooms from the Outside In. Smith is the daughter of Jeff and Pam Smith.
Emily Glasgow represents Ashville High at Girls State
St. Clair Times – June 20
Emily Glasgow has been chosen to represent Ashville High School at the 2014 session of American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State, held on the campus of the University of Alabama. For one week, she will become a citizen of an imaginary state, taking part in the political life of her community, primarily through campaigning fir and electing city, county and state offices. … Glasgow plans to campaign for the office of coroner.