Intervention program focuses on childhood obesity
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 12
University of Alabama faculty are among recipients of $45,000 in funding for a childhood obesity prevention plan in Greene and Sumter counties through Project UNITED’s Intervention Pilot Program. The project will run through June 2015 and focus on the home environment of children between the ages of 2 and 5 in the two counties. UA faculty members on the project are Linda Knol, associate professor in the department of human nutrition and hospitality management; Sheila Black, associate professor of psychology; and Harriet Myers, associate professor and clinical psychologist in UA’s College of Community Health Sciences. Community members participating in the program are Debra Clark, founder of the Health and Wellness Educational Center in Livingston; Darlene Robinson, a community health advocate in Eutaw; and Yawah Awolowa, founder of Mahalah Farm in Cuba.
New director appointed to Cyber Institute
Crimson White – Sept. 15
Reginald Hyde, former deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security in the U.S. Department of Defense is becoming the new executive director of the Cyber Institute. “The University wanted to move forward with cyber research,” Hyde said. “We are trying to look at these as human being projects. This is a multidisciplinary effort focused on enhancing undergraduate research heavily concentrated on solutions.” With experience in strategy, counterntelligence, technical operations and security among others, Hyde has almost 30 years of experience in government. He served in instrumental roles in the U.S. Department of Defense and the CIA for a majority of his career. “The Cyber Institute was new, effective April of this year when the Board of Trustees officially approved it,” said Carl Pinkert, UA vice president for research. “The exciting thing is that we have opportunities to develop novel technologies and intellectual property that students as well as faculty members are involved in.” Hyde earned his bachelor’s degree and a juris doctor degree from The University of Alabama, and would later earn a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University.
More than 500 expected at Druid City Garden Project’s third annual Garden Party
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 12
Proving the local-food movement has taken root, the first Garden Party, Druid City Garden Project event pairing local restaurateurs with area farmers, sold out. But novelty, right? Then the second sold out, too. And this year the third Garden Party expects to draw more than 500 to the River Market on Sunday. This was all part of the master plan, of course. “No!” Lindsay Turner, executive director of the Druid City Garden Project, said, laughing. “The very first year, if I’m being completely honest, we decided to throw the event six weeks before, and had to put the entire thing together in record time.” … A recent study led by Caroline Boxmeyer, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, concluded that the Druid City Garden Project’s lessons are sinking in. “The gardens make kids more interested in learning,” Turner said. “Kids learn better when they’re actively involved. They’re more excited on garden days, and are retaining lessons better.”
Dates announced for on-campus flu shots at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 12
The University of Alabama on Monday will begin a campaign offering flu shots to faculty, staff and students. “Getting a flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease,” said Dr. Richard Streiffer, dean of the College of Community Health Sciences. Nurses from the College’s University Medical Center, the University’s Student Health Center and Capstone College of Nursing will travel to sites across campus, including the Quad, UA buildings and student dormitories, during September, October and November to provide the flu shots. The shots are provided at no charge, and insurance is not required. Students and employees are asked to bring their Campus Wide Identification with them to the campus flu shot stations.
CBS 12 (Chattanooga, Tenn.) – Sept. 15
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 14
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 14
WZDX-Fox (Huntsville) – Sept. 14
WAAY-ABC (Huntsville) – Sept. 14
New York fashion designer Smith Sinrod celebrates her University of Alabama roots
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 14
Smith Sinrod’s fashion line was born through hand gestures and drawings in a small factory at the end of a long alley in a suburb of Bangkok. She, her mother and her sister were chasing a lead to find producers of Thai silk. They were ushered by a Thai-speaking woman through a small door with bars on the window and into a small room to match, where they waited to meet the factory owners. “We sat in a room full of silk jackets,” she said. “Questioning life.” An hour later when the owners arrived, she discovered the language barrier. She persevered, and a few hours later she hammered out a deal with the factory. Soon she was producing her own line and shipping it home to the United States … Sinrod, a 2009 University of Alabama graduate from Pensacola, Fla., designs her own clothing line, “by Smith,” based in New York. She makes what she calls timeless pieces for professional working women from their mid-20s to late 50s. Her largest market is in the Southeast. Sinrod will visit Tuscaloosa as part of her second Airstream tour, a route around the Southeast in a luxury trailer to display her line and receive feedback. On Thursday, she will showcase her clothing line outside Doster Hall on the UA campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will host a shopping event with two local artists outside Grace Aberdean Habitat Alchemy, 2124 Ninth St., Tuscaloosa, starting at 6 p.m.
Miss America contestant Jade Kenny: time in Tuscaloosa was a ‘turning point in my life’
Al.com – Sept. 12
Miss Maryland 2014 Jade Kenny was surprised to hear her name when she was announced a winner at the final night of preliminary competition at the 2015 Miss America competition. “It didn’t quite register,” she said. “I kept looking around to see where the winner was coming from and then Miss Louisiana was like ‘Oh no, it’s you. Get out there.’ I did not expect it at all.” Kenny is one of two University of Alabama graduates competing for the Miss America crown this week. The other is Miss Alabama 2014 Caitlin Brunell. Earlier in the week, both fared well in the Quality of Life competition. Brunell won the award and a $6,000 scholarship. Kenny was second runner-up and won $2,000 for the community service project-based award.
New York three-peats at Miss America; Miss Alabama in top 10
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 14
Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was named the new Miss America Sunday night, marking the third year in a row that a contestant from her state has walked away with the crown in the nationally televised pageant. … The first runner-up was Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett. The top 10 also included: — Miss Alabama Caitlin Brunell; Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray; Miss Arkansas Ashton Jo Campbell.
Phi Mu Sorority cheers on alumnae in Miss America Pagaent
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
This is the third consecutive year Miss New York took home the title. Miss Alabama had as many people supporting her tonight. Caitlin Brunell is Miss Alabama and a University of Alabama graduate. She rounded out the Top 10 contestants. Her sorority sisters held a watch party tonight at the Phi Mu sorority on the Tuscaloosa campus. As you can imagine, they are very proud of her accomplishments. Caitlin, you may recall, started Caitlin’s Closet, to help provide prom dresses for girls in need.
LOCAL Q&A: Judah Martin, University of Alabama journalism student
Tuscaloosa News – Sept. 12
Senior Judah Martin was surprised when he received his letter of acceptance from the University of Alabama, because it arrived before he’d even finish filling out an application. Q: Who are you and what do you do? A: My name is Judah Martin and I am a senior majoring in journalism, vice president of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), secretary of the Capstone Association for Black Journalists (CABJ) and I work for media relations for the college of engineering. Q: What brought you to Tuscaloosa? A: I kind of applied to UA, but I never finished the application. And because I did not think I would actually end up going here. But I actually got a letter of acceptance even though I did not finish the application. … I guess it was fate.
Former foster children going to college gather to say thank you
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Sept. 15
Former foster children going to college in western Alabama got a chance to thank some of the people who made it possible. The United Methodist Children’s Home in Cottondale held an open house on Saturday. The home helps kids who have been impacted by foster care and other issues. Eight young adults live in the home now and six of them attend college. The United Methodist Church helps them pay for college, allows them to live in a home and helps them with transportation. “Anything that a traditional family, somebody in college has, we step in and we are their family while they’re here at the university,” Rebecca Morris said. Students living in the home attend the University of Alabama or Shelton State Community College.
Crimsonettes find home at Bama
Crimson White – Sept. 15
Not every university has a widely known majorette line, but at The University of Alabama, the Crimsonettes are celebrated. Haley Williams, a Crimsonette and senior majoring in general studies in human environmental sciences, said
the Crimsonettes are an important part of UA. “It’s a blast,” Williams said. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it being able to represent The University of Alabama with my best friends and do what I love.” Williams said she always wanted to twirl in college. She did her research on schools with majorette teams and found UA to be a perfect fit. Williams has been nationally competitive in baton for years, and said she found the idea of a large team appealing. Hailing from Michigan, Williams did not realize the recognition associated with being a Crimsonette. She said she considers it an honor to be a part of such a historic tradition.
Man goes to insane lengths to propose to girlfriend in Nick Saban’s office
USA Today – Sept. 13
Kayla Posey loves the University of Alabama and while she was a student, worked her way up through the football office to eventually become one of Nick Saban’s student assistants. So back in May when her boyfriend Drew Clayton was thinking of the perfect way to propose, he knew it had to be Alabama-themed. According to AL.com, Clayton, with the help of Posey’s friends in the Alabama Football office, set up her engagement ring in one of Saban’s national championship ring boxes on the coffee table in his office. Clayton then hid in Saban’s private bathroom while he waited for Posey to arrive. She was sent out for lunch as a distraction. … When Posey came back to the office, she was told Saban’s rings needed to be shined for a very important visitor. So she walked into his office, opened the box and saw her engagement ring. Clayton then walked out of the bathroom and got down on one knee. She said yes. And the best Alabama proposal was complete.
HLN (Headline News) – Sept. 13
SPLITSVILLE? Why Alabama isn’t Scotland
Anniston Star – Sept. 14
If Scottish voters decide Thursday to break away from the United Kingdom, northern Europe will gain another oil-rich, left-of-center nation. Mike Whorton, a socially conservative real estate agent from Wetumpka, will be cheering them on. “It’s going to give us hope,” Whorton said. “If they can do it, we can do it as well.” Whorton is chairman of the Alabama chapter of the League of the South, a group that advocates secession by some or all of the states of the old Confederacy. On Thursday, Whorton and other secessionists plan to gather at the League’s convention center in Wetumpka — a 200-seat, church-like building with Confederate and Alabama flags posted out front — to watch the vote from across the Atlantic. (University of Alabama graduate students Ramsey Archibald, Alexis Barton, Kirsten Fiscus, Chris Kowalski and Alex Woolbright contributed reporting.)