Computer science instruction to get boost
Decatur Daily – Dec. 6
Per capita, Huntsville has one of the highest concentrations of software developers in the nation, said Jeff Gray, a computer science professor at the University of Alabama. But a majority of people in those well-paying jobs aren’t from Alabama. While the state’s colleges teach computer science, its K-12 system doesn’t. Or at least not widely enough to reach most students. “Huntsville is fourth in the nation in (science, technology, engineering and math) workers, but we’re not training our children to get these jobs,” Gray said. Gray is scheduled to lead several workshops around the state through early February to introduce computer science to more than 275 elementary school teachers. A workshop is scheduled Jan. 30 in Decatur. Gray expects to conduct about 20 workshops in the state during the next year, with a goal of training more than 500 Alabama teachers. The idea isn’t to teach students how to use technology — many already know that — but to teach them how technology works and is created. “We want to create the ability for students to work at Microsoft, not just use Microsoft products,” Gray said.
Florence Times Daily – Dec. 6
Top needed foods this season
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 9
Local food banks are needing your help for families in need. The University of Alabama has put together a list of the top ten foods that folks in our area truly need. “So, the number one thing on the list would be peanut butter, and not just peanut butter necessarily, but possibly peanut butter that is sugar free,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Kenney. “Another thing that folks struggle with is protein in general, so a lot of Spam could be something that folks could really use.”
Alabama’s 15th Annual Commercial Real Estate Conference & Expo Set for Jan. 30th
Al.com – Dec. 9
The 15th Annual Alabama Commercial Real Conference & Expo (ACREcon) will be held Friday, January 30th, at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center in Birmingham where Daniel Corporation will serve as event host and Capital One Multifamily Finance as title sponsor. ACREcon, the only statewide commercial real estate conference in Alabama, established a new record last year with over 500 real estate and business industry professionals in attendance. Each year’s conference format incorporates a slate of key industry speakers for continuing education and professional development while providing ample time for networking with peers. Theme: Accelerating commercial real estate sales & leasing trends continue to provide opportunities of engagement for real estate practitioners and affiliates across Alabama. ACCELERATE will be the 2015 theme for the annual conference presented by the Alabama Center for Real Estate, housed within UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce.
UA alumna writes fifth book for African American young adults
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Dec. 8
Here to talk about her new book “He’s Got Game” is Chandra Sparks Splond. She’s an author for young adult readers. You’ve published five books so far. What is your latest book about? “He’s Got Game” is the story of a 16-year-old boy who is determined to be the first in his family to graduate from college. Have you always dreamed of writing books? Yes. I’ve wanted to write books since I was 14. As I got older, I decided I wanted to focus on the African-American market because I never really saw any book covers with people who looked like me or read stories that reflected my reality … I ended up majoring in journalism at the University of Alabama because that was the closest I could get to writing, but I found that I hated it because the writing was too structured. I eventually took a class in copy editing, and I found that not only did I like it, I was really good at it. So good that I was offered a job in New York right out of college.
Finals Week Studying at UA
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 9
Joseph Germany, a junior double majoring in English and Economics, studies inside the Gorgas Library on the campus of the University of Alabama Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014. The Gorgas Library, will be open 24 hours a day this week during final exam week. Friday Dec. 12 Gorgas Library will be open 12 a.m. until 7 p.m.. UA’s winter commencement is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
University of Alabama plans holiday book sale
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 10
The University of Alabama Press will hold its annual holiday book sale this weekend on the second floor of the McMillian Building at 200 Hackberry Lane. Sale hours are 2-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, email Courtney Blanchard at ceblanchard@uapress.us.edu or call 205-348-5181.