UAB National Alumni Society Scholarship Guidelines
Adopted 9/89
Revised 1/98
Revised 1/5/04
Revised 6/15/07
UAB NATIONAL ALUMNI SOCIETY
SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES
I. W. Sanders Murell Alumni Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship was renamed in honor of W. Sanders (Sandy) Murell, the first Director of Alumni Affairs for The University of Alabama at Birmingham and the first Executive Director of the UAB National Alumni Society. During his 26-year career with UAB, Mr. Murell worked tirelessly to increase alumni participation in University life and to promote membership in the UAB National Alumni Society. Following his retirement in 2003, the Board of Directors voted to name these significant scholarships in his honor as a way of encouraging children of UAB graduates to follow in their parent’s footsteps by attending the University.
A. Requirements
1. Student must be admitted to UAB.
2. Must be an entering freshman. The scholarship is not open to transfer students or graduate school students.
3. Completed application must be received.
4. Students must attend UAB immediately following graduation from high school.
5. Demonstrated leadership, extra-curricular activity and community service during high school.
6. Parent must hold an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree from UAB and be an active member of the UAB National Alumni Society. Preference will be given on the basis of number of years of membership in the UAB National Alumni Society.
7. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 in order to keep the scholarship.
8. Preference will be given to students with an ACT score of 25 or higher.
9. Students must be enrolled full time.
B. Applications
Applications may be obtained by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid or the UAB Office of Alumni Affairs. Each student who has been accepted to the University will be mailed an application, and it will also be available on the Society’s website at www.alumni.uab.edu
C. Selection
The Office of Student Financial Aid will verify student’s admittance to the university and forward all applications received. The Office of Alumni Affairs will verify legacy status and forward all applications to the selection committee for review.
The selection committee will consist of at least three NAS Board members, one of which could be a former Board member, and at least one UAB staff person (preferably from Student Affairs).
The selection committee shall consider academic performance, leadership, and career goals in making their selection. The committee shall determine the relative weight given to each criterion. There are no restrictions to applicants based on sex, race, nationality, country of origin, physical disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
D. Award
This is a renewable scholarship valued at $8000 ($2000 per year). The selection committee will review the amount of eligible students and the available dollar amount each year, to determine the number of awards to be given.
E. Disbursements
Funds will be disbursed prior to the beginning of the fall and spring semesters each year, for up to four years as long as requirements are fulfilled. $1000 will be disbursed each semester (fall/spring only).
II. UAB National Alumni Society Dr. Charles A. McCallum International Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually to recognize UAB National Alumni Society international chapters located in Thailand and Taiwan, and to honor Dr. Charles “Scotty” McCallum, UAB president emeritus, who helped to establish these two chapters.
A. Requirements
The student must plan to attend UAB through the fall semester after being selected, and have current citizenship in either Thailand or Taiwan. The student must also have a G.P.A. or 3.5 or better.
B. Applications
Applications may be obtained from the UAB Center for International Programs or in the UAB Office of Alumni Affairs.
C. Selection
Selection will be based on an application, essay and interview. A committee of at least five and no more than seven individuals selected by the UAB Center for International Programs shall select the recipient. This committee should include at least one representative from the Society’s Board of Directors. Selections should not be made prior to May 1 and should be completed at least four weeks prior to the beginning of fall semester.
D. Award
This is a one-time scholarship of $500, which should be awarded by the fall semester of each year.
E. Disbursements
The total disbursement will be transferred prior to the beginning of the fall semester to the student’s account. No cash disbursements will be made.
III. Mr. and Ms. UAB Scholarship Awards
This award is presented each year to one male and one female UAB student. It is presented at halftime during the homecoming game.
A. Requirements
1. Applicants should intend to be enrolled at UAB during the entire year following their selection.
2. Students must have demonstrated a record of leadership and active participation in extracurricular activities, with exceptional performance in one or more areas.
3. A GPA of 2.0 is required.
4. Undergraduate students attending full and part-time are eligible.
5. Students must be enrolled both spring and fall semester of the upcoming year.
B. Applications
Applications are made available through the Office of Student Life and the UAB Office of Alumni Affairs at the beginning of fall semester.
C. Selection
The Office of Alumni Affairs will review applications. All students who meet the requirements will be interviewed.
A series of two interviews with a panel of judges will be conducted. This panel will be comprised of members of the National Alumni Society Board of Directors. Faculty and or staff members of UAB will be invited to serve o the selections panel as well. Attempts are made to interview all applicants in the preliminary round, with only five males and five females being asked to return for the finalist round of interviews with a different set of five judges. The number of individuals who are selected to advance to the second round of interviews, may be increased by the panel if they feel the scores from the first round were too close, or if any other questionable situation should arise.
Judges will be required to attend an orientation session presented by the UAB Office of Alumni Affairs, the purpose of which is to brief the judges on the award criteria and expectations of Mr. and Ms. UAB. Judges are asked to score applicants from 1 - 5 in a number of areas including but not limited to:
- Appearance
- Personality
- Sense of Humor
- Poise & Self Confidence
- Communication Skills
- Leadership Abilities
- Knowledge of UAB
- Evaluation of Application
Judges are allowed to keep their score sheets for each applicant for comparison until the end of the evening, since earlier interviewees may be unfairly ranked too high or too low.
From the group of individuals in the finalist round of interviews, one male and one female alternate and one male and one female winner will be chosen on the basis of their final interview. Previous scores are not used in the final rounds. In the case of tie scores, the judges in the finalist round will determine the winners based on discussion and a vote. Should any questions or conflicts arise during the interviews, they will be addressed at that time by the panel, within the confines of these guidelines.
D. Awards
This scholarship is in the amount of $1500 per student.
E. Disbursement
Funds from the National Alumni Society will be made available to the winners in two installments, one at the beginning of the spring semester and one at the beginning of the fall semester. These are considered awards; therefore, if there is no existing balance for tuition and fees in the student's account, then a cash disbursement may be made.
IV. Joseph F. Volker Alumni Society Scholarships
In an effort to recognize the accomplishments of currently enrolled UAB students, the UAB National Alumni Society established a scholarship award program named in honor of the late Dr. Joseph F. Volker. These awards shall be available to full-time sophomore, junior, senior, graduate and transfer students. These shall be one-time awards, with the dollar amount and number of awards being based on the available funds each year. The amount of the award is generally $3500 per student.
A. Requirements
1. Completed application received by Financial Aid
2. Proof of full-time enrollment as determined by the registrar's office
3. Good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in all course work completed
4. Demonstrated leadership abilities during college enrollment, either academic, extra-curricular, or job oriented
B. Applications
Applications may be obtained by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid.
C. Selection
The Office of Student Financial Aid will forward recipient’s information for final vote of the UAB National Alumni Society Board of Directors.
D. Awards
These are one-time, non-renewable awards. The amount is generally $3500 per student.
E. Disbursements
The funds will be transferred into the recipients’ student accounts prior to fall semester. There will be no cash disbursements.
V. License To Learn Scholarships
UAB National Alumni Society License To Learn Scholarships are designed to provide additional financial aid to currently enrolled, undergraduate UAB students. The scholarships will be based on both merit and need. These awards are funded by the sale of the UAB license plates.
A. Requirements
1. The student must be a resident of the State of Alabama and must have a completed application on file.
2. The student must be enrolled on at least a part-time basis. The student must be enrolled both semesters in an academic year and maintain an overall 3.0 GPA. The award is for undergraduate students who are transfer students or currently enrolled UAB students.
3. The student must have an existing GPA of at least 3.0 from prior college or high school experience. If the student previously held poor academic standing, then the student must have completed at least twelve credit hours at UAB and have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA.
4. Financial need should be demonstrated using the standards of the Office of Financial Aid.
B. Applications
Applications may be obtained in the Office of Student Financial Aid.
C. Selection
The Office of Financial Aid will review all students who qualify and forward the appropriate number of applicants to the UAB Office of Alumni Affairs. The appropriate committee will review the applications and select the recipients based on the information provided in the application. There will not be an interview.
D. Awards
This $3000 scholarship is renewable for an additional year if requirements are met.
The number and amount of scholarships awarded will be determined by the revenue available from the sale of the UAB affinity license plates.
E. Disbursement
The funds will be disbursed in two payments of $1500. The first transfer will be made prior to the beginning of fall semester and the second payment will be prior to the beginning of spring semester.
F. Default
In the event any student receiving a License to Learn Scholarship fails to meet the eligibility criteria for renewal, or fails to enroll and utilize the award in at least one of the two academic semesters, then another nominee may be selected to receive the remainder of the award if he/she meets the criteria.
VI. Distinguished Alumni Scholarship
The Student Relations Committee established a new scholarship endowment in 1994 to honor the Society's Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Funds for the establishment of this endowment were generated by the Society's special fundraising events and other gifts.
A. Requirements
Applicants must have:
1. Completed application from the department liaison
2. At least two letters of recommendation
3. Minimum GPA of 3.5
4. Demonstrated leadership abilities while at UAB
5. The possibility of becoming an active and supportive alum
6. Community involvement
B. Applications
Applications are available through the office of the designated school contact.
C. Selection
The Office of Alumni Affairs will work with the department or area in the field of study of the current distinguished alumnus/na. The contact in the school will collect the applications and work with the dean and the recipient of the award. Six students will be forwarded to the Office of Alumni Affairs and interviewed by a panel of UAB alumni, faculty/staff based on an interview.
D. Award
The recipients of this $4000 award will receive a non-renewable, one-time disbursement at the beginning of the fall semester for tuition and fees only. No cash disbursements are allowed.
E. Disbursement
A one-time disbursement of funds will be transferred prior to the beginning of fall semester.
VII. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1999 with funds from the Alumni Society Golf Tournament and the Alumni Casino Night. The Society supported the establishment of this scholarship in order to assist with the recruitment of talented performing student artists to UAB.
A. Requirements
1. Must be a high school graduate.
2. Must be accepted to UAB.
B. Application
There are no applications for this scholarship. The scholarship is widely publicized via state and national music publications, and posters are mailed to all music teachers.
C. Selection
Via audition and testing, the student must prove to be of substantial talent and show promise for continued excellence in music. There will be a strong focus on incoming freshmen; however, current UAB students and transfer students are eligible to apply.
Auditions are arranged through Jeff Reynolds in the UAB Department of Music.
D. Award
This is a one-time $1,000 scholarship.
E. Disbursement
The funds are disbursed prior to the beginning of the fall semester.