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Sheraton Four Points Hotel,
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May 2, 2008 |
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Chancellor Malcolm Portera, right, whose engagement efforts put Alabama on the economic development map, displays his Distinguished Special Achievement Award, presented to him by Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs, at the May 2, 2008, Awards Luncheon.(Photo by Chip Cooper) |
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TUSCALOOSA — Dr. Malcolm Portera, chancellor of the University of Alabama System, was one of five persons receiving distinguished achievement awards Friday at the second annual engagement awards luncheon sponsored by the Division of Community Affairs.
The event was held at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel and attended by more than 200 from the University and surrounding area.
In accepting the award, Portera, also the main speaker for the event, thanked “faculty and students who are taking this university to the community.” He also thanked the community partners “who are working with the university on the many outstanding projects we heard about today.”
Others receiving distinguished achievement awards given by the Center for Community-Based Partnerships, an outreach center now in its second year of operation, were:
• Dr. Charles L. Karr, dean of the College of Engineering, for supporting faculty and students who have built ballparks, helped with tornado damage recovery, and established an engineering academy in the Black Belt. “How can I say no” to these and other enterprising and capacity building projects, Karr said on receiving the award.
• Dr. George L. Daniels, assistant professor of journalism, for supporting a variety of programs that prepare high school students for careers in journalism, including the Multicultural Journalism Program now in its 25th year at the University.
• Dr. Fred D. Primm Jr., Sumter County superintendent of education, and Ms. Grace Hall-King, school improvement specialist, for their leadership of a number of programs, including the widely acclaimed 100 Lenses Project in which students of all ages tell the story of their lives and communities through photographs.
In his remarks, Portera recounted the University’s pivotal role in making Alabama third in the nation in automobile manufacturing. He credited this success and others to the “extension mission this University has assumed for itself.” He urged his listeners to remember three things: “Government can help; every citizen deserves a chance; the University’s role is to remove obstacles.”
Although UA is not a land grant institution, several speakers, including Dean Carolyn Dahl of the College of Continuing Studies, said that because of engaged scholarship, the University of Alabama “is the only non-land grant institution to be a member of the Outreach Scholarship Partnership,” a prestigious group of major universities whose other members are Pennsylvania State University, University of Wisconsin–Extension, Ohio State University, University of Georgia, North Carolina State University and Michigan State University.
Dr. Cassandra Simon received one of the longest ovations when she told of plans for a new research journal charged with bridging the traditional gaps between teaching, research and service on American campuses. “It will be the best journal in engagement scholarship,” she assured her audience.
Assistant Provost Janet Griffith, who was assisted by Provost Judy Bonner and Interim Vice President for Research Joe Benson, announced and presented these additional awards:
• For faculty-initiated project: Dr. Lisa Hooper, College of Education, for research in families and adolescent health; Dr. M. Renne Umstattd, College of Environmental Sciences, for research on healthy habits on the campus.
• For student-initiated project: Elliot Knight, graduate student in American Studies, and Whitney Green, Black Belt Community Foundation, for the Black Belt 100 Lenses project; also, Karla Renee Horton, Ph.D. student in materials science, for a “science in everyday experience” project; Ryan Browne, graduate student in creative writing, for introducing poetry writing and appreciation in Alabama prisons; and Austin James, graduate intern with Creative Campus, for work with West Alabama Boys and Girls Clubs.
• For community partner-initiated program (Parent Leadership Academy): Dr. Joyce Levey, superintendent of Tuscaloosa city schools; Dr. Frank Costanza, superintendent of county schools; Dr. Milla D. Boschung, dean, College of Human Environmental Sciences; and Dr. B. Joyce Stallworth, associate dean, College of Education. Also, community partner-initiated project: Suzanne Dowling, UA media relations specialist, for “Arts’n Autism,” with members of Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Annette Watters, associate director for Entrepreneurial Initiatives in the College of Commerce, who chairs CCBP’s Seed Fund Committee, urged faculty, staff, students and community partners to apply for funds to get new projects started. “Winning proposals,” she said, “will show how our small grant can launch a project that becomes self-sustaining or leads to an even larger grant from the government or a foundation.”
The next deadline for proposals is Monday, May 5. Future submission dates will be announced later and posted on the CCBP website. For application forms see http://www.ccbp.ua.edu/documents/CCBP2007-08GrantApp030508.pdf).
“The scholarship we honored today reflects a growing interest in and appreciation for the engaged university,” said Dr. Samory T. Pruitt, vice president for Community Affairs, whose leadership led to the establishment of the program. “I congratulate the winners, those who nominated them, and the awards committee for their fine work.”
Winners receive a large framed certificate and a stipend to be used in carrying out further research in their disciplinary area.
(CCBP interns Jessie Gable and NiCarla Friend contributed to this report.)