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MONDAY, JUNE 26 – SUNDAY, JULY 2   

RESEARCH

RESEARCHERS DETERMINE WOODEN STRUCTURES NOT PART OF FORT ARMSTRONG — There has long been speculation by local historians that three historical log buildings, originally from the old Williamson “Snow Hill” plantation, could have been associated with an early 19th century military structure known as Fort Armstrong. UA researchers, however, have discovered that the long-time speculation holds no merit. The results were recently published in Dendrochronologia in an article titled “The Search for Fort Armstrong: Dendroarchaeology of the Williamson ‘Snow Hill’ Plantation, Cherokee County, Alabama, U.S.A.” For more information, contact Kim Eaton, media relations, at 205/348-8325 or kim.eaton@ua.edu.

BEST BETS

GRADUATE’S INSPIRING VICTORY OVER HARDSHIP FEATURED IN NEW BOOK – Growing up in a home with a drug dealer dad and a drug addict bipolar mom, Michaela Guthrie saw domestic violence on a regular basis. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. Before she reached her 13th birthday, she had attended 10 elementary schools due to her mom constantly running from, and then returning to, her dad. She dealt with poverty, being placed in foster care three times, seeing her mom shoot herself, the death of her older sister and the loss of her mother. But, none of that broke her. Instead, her life experiences motivated her, and she received enough scholarships to give her a full ride at UA, graduating with both a bachelor’s and a master’s in social work in four years. She now works at Georgia Cares in Atlanta where she helps the victims of sex trafficking. Her inspiring story is featured in a new book by Emmy Award–winning ABC News chief national correspondent and “Nightline” co-anchor, Byron Pitts. The book, “Be the One: Six True Stories of Teens Overcoming Hardship with Hope” was released in May. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA media relations, 205-348-4956 or jamon.smith@ua.edu.

SWIM TO THE TOP — Sponsored by UA’s Division of Community Affairs, the goal of Swim to the Top is to provide swim instruction to make children proficient survival swimmers. The program includes daily fitness, nutrition learning and academic enrichment activities to address the needs of the whole child. The program pairs swim instructors — graduate students in the department of kinesiology — as well as physical education instructors and enrichment and nutrition instructors with Barnes branch YMCA summer attendees. Now in its fourth year, this program is a partnership comprised of UA’s Center for Community-Based Partnerships and the College of Education, the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority and the Benjamin Barnes YMCA adjacent to A. L. Freeman Park. A showcase for the program will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Barnes YMCA gymnasium. Swim to the Top is one of a number of community-based partnerships implemented by UA’s CCBP, an initiative of the UA Division of Community Affairs. Dr. Holly Morgan serves as the director of Community Education. She can be reached at hgmorgan@ua.edu or at 205/348-9854. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, richard.lecomte@ua.edu, 205-348-3782.

SATURDAY IN THE PARK FEATURES RIVERCANE ARROW MAKING — UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park will hold its Saturday in the Park program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 1, in front of the Jones Archaeological Museum. The topic is Rivercane Arrow Making with Greg Drowningbear. Saturday in the Park is a series of demonstrations and presentations related to Native Americans, archaeology, natural history, sustainable gardening and more. Most programs have a hands-on activity for children. For more information, contact Kim Eaton, media relations, at 205/348-8325 or kim.eaton@ua.edu.

SUMMERTIDE THEATRE – UA’s professional summer theatre is performing “Smoke on the Mountain, “a musical set in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains, through Friday, June 30, at the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center in Gulf Shores. The show depicts the Sanders family as they return to performing after a five-year break. Tickets are available at SummerTide.org or by phoning the box office at 251-968-6721.Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, media relations, richard.lecomte@ua.edu or 205-348-3782.