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MONDAY, OCT. 2 – SUNDAY, OCT. 8

BEST BETS

TAKING BOLD STEPS TO EXPAND, IMPROVE GRADUATE EDUCATION – Within the last year, UA has added  seven new master’s programs, two new doctoral programs, eight graduate concentrations and four new graduate certificates. UA’s growing graduate degree programs fulfill a mandate in the University’s Strategic Plan to create opportunities for a premier education and bolster productivity in research and scholarship, said Dr. Susan Carvalho, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. For more information or assistance in lining up interviews with Carvalho, contact Taylor Bryant, in UA communications, at 205-348-8718 or taylor.bryant@ua.edu.

SABANS NAMED HONORARY ALUMNI — Football Head Coach Nick Saban and his wife, Terry Saban, have been name honorary alumni of UA. The honor, given on behalf of the UA National Alumni Association, was recently presented at a NICK@NOON Luncheon at the Bryant Conference Center. The executive board of the National Alumni Association voted unanimously to honor Nick and Terry for “exemplifying the Capstone spirit by going above and beyond by contributing to and benefiting the University and community.” January 2017 marked Nick and Terry’s 10th year at the University. During that time, they have donated $7 million to non-profit organizations that support children, teachers, family and student causes, contributed over $350,000 to the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, built two playgrounds in Tuscaloosa, been major supporters of the local YMCA and renovated Brewer’s Porch Children’s Center. For more information, contact Taylor Bryant in UA communications, 205-348-8718, taylor.bryant@ua.edu.

UA HOMECOMING — The theme for the 2017 Homecoming week is “Sweet Home Capstone.” Activities begin Sunday, Oct. 8, with the 29th annually Roll Tide Run at 11 a.m. in the Quad. The election of Homecoming Queen will be Tuesday, Oct. 10, and the annual Pep Rally and Bonfire will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, at the Quad. The Homecoming Parade will be Saturday, Oct. 14 at a time to be announced. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, UA communications, richard.lecomte@ua.edu, UA communications, 205-348-5320 or see http://homecoming.sa.ua.edu/.

DOCTORAL STUDENT NAMED ONE OF WORLD’S BEST HORN PLAYERSTitles like best of the best still don’t sit well with UA doctoral student Joshua Williams. But, the 25-year-old Tuscaloosa native will have to get used to them, because the French horn virtuoso recently won first place in the professional division of the International Horn Competition of America held in Fort Collins, Colorado. The UA music student’s achievement is among the most monumental in the 100-year history of UA’s music school, said Charles “Skip” Snead, director and professor in UA’s School of Music. Contact Williams at jpwilliams1@crimson.ua.edu, 205-246-8358 or Snead at ssnead@ua.edu or 205/348-7110. For assistance, contact Jamon Smith in UA communications, 205-348-4956 or jamon.smith@ua.edu.

BEAT AUBURN, BEAT HUNGER – The annual food drive to benefit the West Alabama Food Bank began Oct. 1. For more details, contact Richard LeComte, communications, richard.lecomte@ua.edu or 205-348-3782, UA communications at 205-348-5320 or go to the Facebook page here.

EVENTS

MOUNDVILLE FESTIVAL SLATED FOR OCT. 4-7 — The annual Moundville Native American Festival will be held Oct. 4-7 at Moundville Archaeological Park. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The cost is $10 for students; $10 for seniors; and $12 for adults. For more information, contact UA communications, 205-348-5320.

NURSING HALL OF FAME TO BE OCT. 5 Five nursing professionals will be inducted into the 2017 Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom in Tuscaloosa. Tickets may be purchased for $100 by phoning 205-348-7429. Deadline for tickets is Sept. 28. For more information, contact UA communications, 205-348-5320.

RESEARCHER TO ADDRESS PREVENTION, SIGNS OF SHINGLES — Dr. Jen Clem, UA assistant professor of family medicine in the College of Community Health Sciences, will present “Shingles” at noon Oct. 5 in the Bryant Conference Center as part of a lecture series for UA’s OLLI program. The presentation will include information on the signs, symptoms and causes of shingles. Clem will also address the treatment and prevention of shingles. For more information, contact Amelia Neumeister, communications specialist, in the College of Community Health Sciences at abneumeister@ua.edu or 205-348-2041 or Taylor Bryant in UA communications, 205-348-8718 or taylor.bryant@ua.edu.

LOOKING AHEAD

RURAL COMMUNITIES FACE HEALTH-CARE CHALLENGES — A discussion of The Challenges of Rural Health Care will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Health Services Library within UA’s School of Medicine Building. The discussion is part of the College of Community Health Sciences’ board of visitors meeting. While rural communities often have populations that are older, sicker and poorer than suburban areas, they also struggle to attract and retain physicians and other health-care professions and to support hospitals. The informal panel discussion is designed for brainstorming ideas and innovative solutions and for building alliances and collaborations. The board is a group of volunteers who assist in the development, planning and advancement of the College. For more information, contact Leslie Zganjar, 205-348-3079, lzganjar@ua.edu or Chris Bryant in communications, chris.bryant@ua.edu