UA taps Whitaker as interim provost
Birmingham Business Journal June 10
The University of Alabama on Wednesday named Kevin Whitaker as interim provost. Whitaker will take the place of Joe Benson, who announced that he will retire this summer after 37 years at UA, according to a release from the university.
Jacks Miss Alabama preliminary talent winner
St. Clair Times – June 11
For the second consecutive year, Springville’s Cassidy Jacks has participated in the Miss Alabama Pageant. Last year, Jacks placed in the Top Ten as Miss Tuscaloosa. This year, Jacks was Miss Metropolitan, and was the talent award winner during Friday’s preliminary. She sang “At Last.” Miss Phenix City Meg McGuffin won the 2015 Miss Alabama Pageant Saturday night. McGuffin is a graduate of Auburn University. Jacks is the 20-year-old daughter of John and Kristi Jacks of Springville. “This year, I knew what I was getting into,” Jacks said Friday after winning the talent award. “I had a little bit of an idea of what was going to happen the week of. So I wasn’t quite as nervous and I was so excited. A lot of preparation this year went into being on that stage. I worked very hard year-round, especially from the time I won my preliminary back in August 2014. Jacks said there were no words to describe how she felt when her name was called as Friday’s preliminary talent winner. “You picture that, and you wonder what’s going to happen,” Jacks said. “But there are absolutely no words to describe that feeling when they call your name out. I just look forward to being on stage.” She just finished her junior year at the University of Alabama.