UA In the News — July 21

High schoolers learn about STEM program through UA camp
Tuscaloosa News – July 21
Xavier Turner is a rising junior at Sumter Central High School. Turner loves science, but there are only a few opportunities to really see the different fields it can encompass at his school. “Our lab is a little underdeveloped,” Turner said. This week, Turner has been more than 30 students from across West Alabama taking part in the STEM Entrepreneurship Academy at the University of Alabama. The weeklong camp demonstrates the different aspects of STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
Tuscaloosa News gallery – July 21
WVUA 23 (Tuscaloosa) – July 20
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – July 20

Willie Mays statue unveiled at Regions Field was created at UA
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – July 20
…with the assistance of The University of Alabama and it’s foundry, began bringing that passion to bronze. “It’s hot work. It’s heavy work, but no, not hard work. It’s fun work.” After forming a rubber mold and ceramic shell…and turning up the heat…and turning it up again…it’s time to take Mays home.
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – July 20
NBC 13 (Birmingham) – July 20
Tuscaloosa News (gallery) – July 20

New College brings new ideas
(Jasper) Daily Mountain Eagle – July 20
For the past couple of months, students from New College at the University of Alabama have been taking part in the Walker County Internship Program. The program allows students to partner with Walker County-based nonprofit organizations, working on a variety of issues with a focus on community problem-solving. “The Walker County Internship Program is a life-changing experience for our students, and we are immensely grateful for the partnership we have with the Walker Area Community Foundation,” New College Director Natalie Adams said. “Living and working in Walker County gives our interns opportunities to see the value of sustained community engagement. The internship provides a hands-on education in the duties and benefits of citizenship. And through the example set by the Community Foundation and other nonprofits in Walker County, our students do more than learn — they experience — the impact a commitment to civic life has in a community.” The program is a partnership between the WACF, New College and the David Matthews Center for Civic Life. The program started in 2011, with 2016 marking five years for the partnership.

UA Center releases disaster guide for coastal areas
Andalusia Star-News – July 21
The University of Alabama’s Insurance Research Center released a guide today to help homeowners on the Gulf Coast prepare for weather-related disasters. “Some 20,000 homes along Alabama’s coastal counties are not insured for wind damage, and thousands more are functionally uninsured,” said Lars Powell, director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research. “The new Alabama Coastal Insurance Shopper’s Guide will help people better prepare for, and recover from, hurricanes, and potentially save money in the process.” The guide was produced by the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce in partnership with Smart Home America and Coastal Alabama Partnership.
 
Internship gives St. Louis native a taste of small-town life
(Jasper) Daily Mountain Eagle – July 21
When Madison Drury went on church mission trips as a middle and high school student, she had no plans of trying to turn community service into a career. During her first years at the University of Alabama, she struggled to select a major because she had so many interests. Drury, one of five students who participated in the Walker County Internship Program this summer, eventually decided on a major in psychology. Her self-designed course of study through UA’s New College program emphasizes social justice, community engagement and development and nonprofit management. “I just like saying ‘helping people,’” Drury said after listing the various components of her New College depth study, essentially a second major.

Pell Grants may be available year round
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – July 20
Thousands of University of Alabama students use Pell Grant money to help pay their way through school. Next year they’re getting some very good news. Dr. Steve Katsinas, Director of the Education Policy Center at The University of Alabama, estimates UA students could see as much as $10 million of newly available Pell Grant money in 2017. Katsinas estimates about 6,000 Pell Grant recipients attend The University. He led the Alabama-Mississippi Policy Fellows Initiative to reinstate year-round Pell Grant funding, which allows students enrolled at two and four year colleges to finish school faster. The U.S. Senate passed a bill in June to reinstate summer Pell Grants for next year.

Old Cahawba Public Archaeology Days begins Thursday
Tuscaloosa News – July 20
The history and artifacts from Alabama’s first capital will be on display during Old Cahawba Public Archaeology Days, a three-day event beginning Thursday. “It is a great opportunity for someone to get down and see how we excavate a historic site and see some of the things that are coming out,” said Matt Gage, director of the University of Alabama’s Office of Archaeological Research.

UA to hold Public Speaking workshop
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) (Live Interview) – July 20
It’s now time to chat about an upcoming workshop that will help you conquer your fear of public speaking, and it’s a big problem. It’s taking place at The University of Alabama. We have Brenda Truelove and Dr. Alexa Chillcut joining us with all of the details. The workshop is a one day intensive very dynamic, hands-on workshop. It’s for people not just to learn how to overcome the fear of public speaking, because we know that’s huge, but also to work on their professionalism, understanding how to deliver a creative and dynamic pitch or presentation.