Blackburn Institute

Four Blackburn Fellows Named Capstone Heroes

September 9, 2008

On March 28, 2008, four Blackburn Fellows were selected as Capstone Heroes, an award given each year by the Office of Student Affairs to students, faculty and staff who exemplify the virtues outlined in the Capstone Creed. The awards ceremony for Capstone Heroes is the culmination of the annual Capstone Creed Week, during which several events are held to remind everyone at UA of the ideals to which the University aspires.

Kendra Key, a 2007-2008 fellow, has been noteworthy for using several positions in SGA to positively affect the campus. The former chairperson of the Environmental Concerns Committee, Kendra has been instrumental in the implementation of a University-wide recycling program. She was also a member of First Year Council, co-chair of the Youth Summit committee for SGA, a member of SGA Senate, and a candidate for Vice President of External Affairs in this year’s elections. Also known for her civic involvement, Kendra ran for the position of Delegate to the National Democratic Convention. Finally, Kendra was recently elected 2008-2009 Student Fellows Chair.

Steven Spiehler, a 2005-2006 fellow who has served as Student Fellow Vice-Chair and the 2007-2008 Chair, has also served the University in many ways. For his hard work and diverse interests, he was named a member of the Jasons men’s honorary last spring. Steven currently works as a Residential Advisor for the Riverside on-campus living community and a lifeguard and supervisor at the Aquatic Center. He is a member of the Business Honors Program and won second place in the nation-wide Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition in Healthcare Management. A former Avanti, Steven’s extracurriculars include President of the Mortar Board Honors Society, University Academic Honors Council Justice, and Director of Programs for the Anti-Apathy Campaign. Steven will graduate in May and is considering job offers in the healthcare management field as well as graduate school.

Phillips Thomas, a 2007-2008 fellow, was recently featured in The Crimson White because of her unique dedication to community service through programs offered at the University; she requested that her family, in lieu of a birthday gift, establish an endowed fund for the Honors Academy’s Black Belt Action Program. Phillips is also the incoming Alabama Action Student Co-Director, a HANGTYMERS tutor and a member of A-Team; she serves her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, as an officer and a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Phillips has also remained active in the Honors College and HPSA, served as a member of the Honors College Visitors’ Board, and been involved in the University Fellows selections process.

Jesse Woods, a 2006-2007 fellow and former Blackburn Student Assistant, is well-known at the University as a student advocate for lower textbook prices. The Chair of SGA Senate’s External Affairs Committee, Jesse has frequently traveled to Montgomery to lobby Alabama’s legislators to remove taxes on textbooks; he will be an Executive Advisor to the SGA President for the 2008-2009 administration. Jesse is also a former WAFF-48 Huntsville news station intern and Congressional campaign worker. He is currently doing co-op work with Eastman Chemical Company, serving as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Southern Region Chairman, and attending UA on a Presidential Scholarship.

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