Campus Achievements and Updates
- November 7th, 2016
- in Messages from the President
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students:
It has been a wonderful semester for the Capstone, and I’m excited to share with you a few highlights of our student and faculty achievements as well as updates for our campus.
Two student groups recently received national recognition for their hard work. The staff of Alice magazine was presented a 2016 Magazine Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press in late October—it is considered the college equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize for student writers and publishers. Another top honor went to the College of Communication and Information Sciences’ Capstone Agency when they were recognized by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) as the Society’s top-run student agency. I am very proud of these accomplishments, and if you know any of the outstanding students involved with these organizations, be sure to tell them congratulations.
On the heels of the World Series, I’d like to point out one of our exceptional students who designed a sports app. You may have seen any number of news stories about engineering student Matt Bowen who started his own company after creating an app called Pitch Analyzer, which provides professional-level technology to recreational baseball players to help them monitor and improve their performance. Matt worked alongside Dr. Jeff Gray through UA’s Emerging Scholars program and is now in business with two other UA students (Jacob Zarobsky and Andrew White) as well as his brother Will, an alumnus of the University. There is no limit to what you can accomplish when you team up with other members of the Capstone family.
We celebrate with our remarkable faculty as well. Two of our professors are members of the prestigious 2016 Fulbright Scholar Program. Dr. Randall Schumacker of educational research is a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Macau where he will teach a course and assist faculty and graduate students in their research. Dr. Pamela Payne-Foster of the College of Community Health Sciences’ Institute for Rural Health Research is the recipient of a Fulbright Specialist Project grant and will work at the Cadi Ayyad University in Morocco. These significant awards are but a glimpse of our esteemed faculty’s achievements.
Our campus will continue to progress and improve to meet the needs of our faculty, staff and students. Last week the Board of Trustees approved two items about which we are particularly thrilled. With the support of loyal alumni, we will begin construction in early 2017 of the previously announced Adapted Athletics Facility that will allow our student athletes and other students with disabilities to enjoy sports and recreation in a custom facility. We’re also excited to announce a Performing Arts Academic Center to be located on the historic Bryce property. This facility will be an amazing addition to an already beautiful campus, and our world-class theatre and dance department will now have a space more deserving of their performances.
It has been a great semester so far, and I look forward to celebrating many more successes with all of you. Have a great week and Roll Tide!
Sincerely,
Stuart R. Bell
President