At UA, Kindness Counts, Thanks to a Student Group

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Student Government Association and Crimson Kindness recently partnered to introduce a new program called Kindness Counts, and the groups invite all UA faculty and staff to participate.

The initiative seeks to foster a culture of kindness on campus by rewarding a small group of kind students every other week based on nominations. If a faculty or staff member notices a student doing something kind, such as holding open a door, helping a classmate or consistently volunteering in class, they use this link to nominate the student to receive a small gift card or other prize.

A group of SGA and Crimson Kindness members reads submissions biweekly and contacts faculty or staff members if their student is selected. Only faculty, staff and the members of the two organizations are able to nominate students.

Peyton Strickland, a freshman at UA, got the idea from a teacher at Pelham High School named Melissa Copes. Copes was in charge of Peer Helpers, a leadership program that facilitated volunteer opportunities for PHS students at places such as the Ronald McDonald House and the Shelby County Humane Society. Another Peer Helpers program was Kindness Counts.

“When I arrived at UA, I wanted to do something like that here on campus but on a larger scale due to the resources that are available,” said Strickland, an aerospace engineering major. “Being in the SGA’s First Year Council gave me the opportunity to turn that idea into action.”

After discovering the possibility of a partnership with Crimson Kindness, Strickland reached out to Taylor Sheeran, president of the organization. Sheeran implemented the plan.

Crimson Kindness is a student organization that’s been around for over four and a half years. Its goal is to create a community of kindness on campus. Sheeran, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, says Kindness Counts has hit the ground running this semester.

“It was an idea that we’d had in Crimson Kindness before but we weren’t really big enough to execute it on our own, so we were thrilled when Peyton reached out to us,” Sheeran said. “There is definitely potential for this to grow into something bigger.”

Strickland’s next step involved enlisting the help of Gene Fulmer, SGA business senator, who helped him to write the act. The act passed unanimously, and the SGA committed $200 to the cause, matching the contribution of Crimson Kindness.

The first students were recognized the week following spring break. One student received a nomination after holding the door open for an entire class at the end of the period, and another has shown a tremendous amount of school spirit at many sporting events on campus in their time at UA.

“We are looking for the small things that students do that go unrecognized but help make UA a place like no other,” Strickland said. “We want students to know that even the simplest of acts can make a difference in another student’s day and life.”

Link to nominate:

https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bkgfpCRQIPNusm1