Blackburn Institute

First row: Laura Dover, Daniel Odrezin, Kendra Key, Ambria Lankford, Mary Harmon Rountree, Phillips Thomas, Megan Courington, Joan-Marie Manolakis, Joan Reichwein, Robert McMillan, Danielle Blevins.

Second Row: Justin Zimmerman, Yongxiang “Kenny” Liang, Natalie Latta, Becky Reamey, Kristin Schneider, Martha Griffith, Meri-Glenn Freeman, Dana Lewis, James Dawkins, Marc H. Shook (Director).

Back Row: Robert L. Harris, III, Andrew Vincent, Alex Chandler, Leroy Nix, Barrett Sullivan, Alex Flachsbart, Ryan Robichaux.

Not Pictured: Richard Powers.

"Danielle" Blevins, a second year Law Student at the University of Alabama School of Law

• Former President—Capstone Association of Black Journalists
• Member, National Association of Black Journalists
• Former President, ASSCA (Alabama Student Society of Communication Arts) Ambassadors—
• Former, Student Executive Council
• RTNDA (Radio & Television News Directors' Association) Vice-President
• Former Member, Emma Bowen Foundation Scholar/ Fox 6 News
• Former Member, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society-Secretary (2006)
• Former Member, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
• Former Member, Kappa Tau Alpha Mass Communications Honor Society
• Member, Chi Alpha Student Ministries (Former Vice President)
• University Honors Program
• Media Planning Board, 2008-2009
• Academic Honor Council, 2008-2009
• Investigative Reporter and Editors (IRE)
• Secretary, Anderson Society
• Mortar Board Honor Society
• Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society

Alex Grady Chandler, from Daphne, graduated from UA in December of 2008 with a degree in Global Supply Chain Management and Chinese. Alex is currently living in Taipei, Taiwan, as a Rotary International Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar where he is studying intermediate and advanced Chinese at the Taipei Language Institute. While a student at UA, his activities included:

• 2008-09 Rotary Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar
• University Stewards--Founding Board and Vice President of Training
• Founder and President of Chinese Culture Club
• Member--Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Order of Omega, UHP

Megan Courington, a native of Decatur, Alabama, she graduated from UA in December of 2008 with a degree in Telecommunication and Film. She currently works for the University of Alabama as a recruiter. While a student at UA, her activities included:

• Member, the XXXI, Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, Blue Key, and Anderson Society
• President, College of Communication and Information Sciences Student Executive Council (2007-2008)
• Intern, WVUA-7 Sports
• Media Planning Board, University Standing Committee
• Radio-Television News Directors' Association
• Alabama Student Society for Communication Arts Ambassador for College of Communication and Information Sciences
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key, Alpha Lambda Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Lambda, and Cardinal Key Honor Societies
• National Honor Roll
• Member, Kappa Tau Alpha Mass Communication Honors Society
• Member, Student Leaders Council
• Member, Alpha Chi Omega sorority

James "Jimbo" Dawkins, a Senior from Birmingham, majoring in English and Pre-Medical Studies

• Member, The Other Club
• Member, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity
• Student Government Association--Academic Affairs Committee
• University Honors Program
• Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Blackburn Office Worker
• Moral Forum Scholarship Winner
• Legislative Council
• Deputy Attorney General, Opinions and Mediation
• SGA Senator, College of Arts & Sciences

Laura Dover, Graduated in May 2010 with a double major in Philosophy and Spanish. Laura is a Medical Student at UAB Medical School

• Member, University Stewards
• Member, Freshman Forum Professional Development Team
• Vice President, The XXXI
• Member, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honor Society
• Volunteer, Good Samaritan Clinic
• ESL Volunteer, Northridge High School
• Member, Phi Mu Sorority
• Member, Honors College Ambassadors
• Member, Anderson Society, Mortar Board, Blue Key
• Member, The Other Club

Alex Flachsbart, Graduated in May 2010 with a Masters in Economics. Alex is now serving with Teach for America in Alabama's Blackbelt Region

• Founder and Chairman, BamaBike Initiative (campus-wide rental bike program)
• Graduate Council Fellow
• USA Today All-Academic Team

Meri-Glenn Freeman, a second year law student at the University of Alabama School of Law

• Miss University of Alabama, 2008
• Member, Freshman Forum: Government Track, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, NSCS, Elliott Society, The Other Club, HPSA, Order of Alpha, Omicron Delta Kappa
• Vice-President, Coordinating Council of Honors Societies
• Deputy Director of Communications, SGA Department of External Affairs
• SGA, Senate Assistant, Public Relations Committee
• President, Lambda Sigma
• Vice Chair for Students for Riley
• Summer Intern (2008), Office of Governor Riley
• Summer Intern (2008), Representative Spencer Bachus
• Secretary, Capstone Mentors
• Vice-President, Chi Omega Sorority
• Honors Program, In-House Honors Ambassador
• Student Leader/Mentor, UHP Program at Cottondale
• Mentor, Davis Emerson Middle School and Holt Elementary School

Martha Griffith, a second year Law Student at the University of Alabama School of Law

• Member, Capstone Men and Women
• Past Director, Alabama Collegiate Summit
• Member, The Other Club
• Member, Lambda Sigma, and Cardinal Key Blue Key, Moartar Board, Anderson Society, Omicron Delta Kappa and Order of Omega Honor Societies
• Member, VOTES Coalition Board of Directors
• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Member, The XXXI

Robert L. Harris, III, a second year Graduate Student from Alexander City, pursuing a Master's in Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Alabama

• Former Member, Freshman Forum: Government Track
• Justice, SGA Student Judicial Board
• Executive Board and Founding Member, University Stewards
• Former Vice-President, The Other Club
• Former Resident Advisor, Housing and Residential Communities, Harris Hall
• In-House Recruiter and Office Aide, Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• State Political Advisor and Board Member for Students for Barack Obama
• Member, National Council of College Democrats of America
• Former Political Director, Alabama State Federation of College Democrats
• Member, College Democrats, University of Alabama
• Independent Contractor, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Company (2006-2007)
• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, Calvary Baptist Church (Tuscaloosa, Al)
• Participant, Collegiate Summit
• Former Executive Member, Up Til Dawn St. Jude’s Research Fundraiser
• Russell Foundation Scholar, Scholarship

Kendra N. Key graduated from the University of Alabama in 2010 with a degree in Political Science. She is currently working as a Legislative Officer for the DC Public Schools. While an undergraduate at UA, her activities included:

• 2009 Truman Scholar
• 2008-2009 Blackburn Institute Student Chair
• 2008 Capstone Hero Award Recipient
• Former Member, SGA Senate, College of Arts and Sciences; First Year Council
• Founding National State Farm Youth Advisory Board Member
• Member: Lambda Sigma, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, Carl A. Elliott Honor Societies; National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Blue Key, Anderson Society
• SGA Department of Environmental Concerns
• University of Alabama Recycling Initiative Founder
• West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Task Force
• Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility Scholar
• Volunteer: Friendship Baptist Meals on Wheels, Tombigbee Girl Scout Troops, Save First Tax Preparation Initiative, Tuscaloosa Cure SMA
• President, Mortar Board Senior Honorary
• Coordinator, City of Tuscaloosa Mayor's Youth Council

Ambria Lankford, graduated from The University of Alabama in 2008 with a degree in Biology and Spanish. She is presently a student at The University of Alabama School of Law. While an undergraduate at UA, her activities included:

• Member, The 19th Order of The XXXI
• Volunteer/Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tuscaloosa
• Volunteer Teacher, Junior Achievement (Alberta Elementary School)
• Leadership Chair, CCSO
• Vice President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Theta Sigma Chapter
• Chair, 2005-2006 SGA High School Leadership Conference Committee
• National Achievement/Presidential Scholar
• National Achievement Mentor

Natalie Joy Latta, Graduated in May 2010 with a double major in Political Science and English and is now serving with the Peace Corp

• Member, University Honors Program
• Treasurer, Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society
• Member, 2008-2009 SGA Executive Advisory Board
• Vice President, UA College Democrats
• Membership Director, Alabama State Federation of College Democrats
• Recipient, Buford Boone Scholarship
• Recipient, Kiwanis Family Scholarship
• Member, Springville Chamber of Commerce
• Intern, Senator Richard Shelby
• Member, Birmingham Museum of Art
• Ambassador, Office of Parent Programs

Dana Lewis, a Senior from Huntsville, majoring in Public Relations and Political Science and minoring in the Computer-Based Honors Program

• Event Chair, Tuscaloosa's First Step Out: walk to Fight Diabetes
• Chair, Honors College Student Advisory Board
• Carl A. Elliott Society, Alpha Lambda Delta, Lambda Sigma, Golden Key, NSCS, ODK, Mortar Board, Blue Key, The XXXI, Anderson Society, Phi Beta Kappa, University Honors Program, Computer-Based Honors Program
• 2006 National Youth Advocate, American Diabetes Association
• ADA National Youth Strategies Committee
• Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN) Youth Advisory Board
• 2007 Most Outstanding Freshman, University of Alabama
• 2007 Outstanding Undergraduate Student, UA Community Service Center
• 2008 All-USA College Academic Team
• Created and taught Freshman Seminar in Fall 2008
• 2009 Truman Finalist
• 2009 Ramsey Award
• 2009 Society for New Communications Research Excellence Award
• Co-founder and Organizer, Social Health 2010 (International Health Unconference)

Yongxiang “Kenny” Liang, a Senior from Birmingham, majoring in Economics and Finance and minoring in the Computer-Based Honors Program

• President and Co-founder, Sustained Dialogue
• Member, ODK and Cardinal Key
• Chairman, SGA Voter Participation Committee
• Member, CCSO Outreach Team and Intercultural Student Council
• Chairman, Freshman Forum Government Track Service Committee

Joan-Marie Manolakis, graduated from The University of Alabama in 2008 with a degree in Chemistry and Spanish. She is presently studying dentistry at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. While a student at UA, her activities included:

• Phi Beta Kappa
• President, The XXXI
• Vice-President, Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society
• Member, Anderson Society, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Blue Key, Order of Omega, Cardinal Key, Sigma Alpha Lambda
• Member, Capstone Men and Women
• Member, The Other Club
• SGA Senator, College of Arts and Sciences
• Chairman, UA-AU Better Relations Day
• Member, University of Alabama Triathletes
• Chaplain, Phi Mu sorority
• Chairman, Alabama Collegiate Summit
• Member, VOTES Coalition
• Co-chairman, Freshman Forum Youth Summit Committee
• University Honors Program
• Assistant, Shelton State Community College ESL Program
• Tutor, Spanish Outreach

Robert McMillan, a Senior from Monroeville, majoring in History and minoring in Sociology

• Member, Freshman Forum, Ethics and Social Responsibility track
• Alabama Action Student Leader
• Resident Advisor, Rose Towers Community

Leroy Nix, a Third Year Law Student from Maplesville

• Senator, Student Bar Association
• Former President, Black Law Students Association
• Tuscaloosa Soup Kitchen Volunteer
• Cum Laude graduate, University of Montevallo
• Legislative Aide to Senator Sessions

Daniel Keith Odrezin, a second year Law Student at the University of Alabama School of Law

• Member, Zeta Beta Tau fraternity
• Member, Student Government Association- 2006 Deputy Chief of Staff, 2007 Executive Advisor to the President, 2008 Executive Advisor for Student Safety
• Member, Order of Alpha
• Member, Cardinal Key
• Memeber, Order of Omega
• President, Jasons Mens' Honorary
• Member, Hillel Jewish Foundation

Richard “Dick” Powers, Trial Attorney, Department of Justice Antitrust Division in Atlanta, GA

• RECON Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, Baghdad, Iraq
• Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 2004-March 2005
• Infantry Officer, United States Army 2001-2006
• Graduate, United States Military Academy at West Point, 2001
• Junior/Senior Editor, Alabama Law Review
• Juris Doctorate, University of Alabama School of Law 2009, Cum Laude
• Truman National Security Fellow

Rebecca “Becky” Reamey, a Doctoral student in Higher Education Administration from Tuscaloosa, AL

• Current Graduate Student Association Research and Travel Chair
• Adjunct Professor at UAB and Samford University for Speech and Writing Communication
• Completed Master's Degree in Communication management from UAB
• Former Scheduler for Bob Riley's Gubernatorial Campaign
• Attended UA for undergrad and served in various leadership roles across campus including CCSO Leadership Chair.
• Member of various honor societies as an undergrad including The XXXI

Ryan Patrick Robichaux, a Third Year Law Student from Pelham

• Governor, The Catholic University of America Board of Governors
• President, University of Alabama School of Law Federalist Society
• Symposium Chairman, Journal of the Legal Profession
• Campbell Moot Court Board, Intellectual Property Team
• Legislative Aide Senate for U.S. Senator Sessions 2004-2006
• Undergraduate Student Government President 2003-2004, The Catholic University of America
• Legislative Aide Senate for U.S. Senator Sessions 2004-2006
• Undergraduate Student Government President 2003-2004, The Catholic University of America

Mary Harmon Rountree, a fifth-year student from Tuscaloosa, majoring in Communication Studies and Political Science. Mary recently became an officially licensed Real Estate Agent and currently works with Hamner Real Estate.

• Former President, UA College Democrats
• Public Relations Committee, FirstConnection
• Former Member, Freshman Forum: Public Policy Team
• Former Member, First Year Council
• Former Member, Student Alumni Association
• Former Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Former Member, Alpha Lambda Delta
• Former Member, Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority
• Real Estate Agent
• Vice President for Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party for Youth Affairs
• Spanish Teacher, The Capitol School
• SES Coordinator, Tuscaloosa City Schools and Capitol School

Kristin Marie Schneider-Muñoz, a Senior from Dallas, TX, majoring in Marketing and Interdisciplinary Multicultural Communication

• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• University Honors and International Honors
• Presidential/Hispanic Scholar
• Outstanding Performance Award, New College
• Published Freelance Journalist, Latino Leaders Magazine (nationally published magazine)
• Editorial Intern, Latino Leaders
• Recipient of Hispanic Heritage Silver Medal in Journalism
• New College Council Officer
• C&BA Senior Lab Assistant

Joan Reichwein Smith, graduated from The University of Alabama in 2008 with a degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering; she is now employed with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center. She lives in Huntsville with her husband Will. While a student at UA, her activities included:

• Materials Advantage Student of the Year, 2007
• Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity: Former Housing Chair and Treasurer; Current Philanthropy Chair
• Foundry Education Foundation: former Intern and current College Industry College Delegate
• Metallurgical Engineering Student Chapter: Engineering Coordinating Council Representative and Interdepartmental Liaison
• Co-op Program for U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center
• Intern, National Science Foundation (Summer 2006)
• Member: Golden Key; Phi Eta Sigma; Minerals, Metals and Materials Society; American Foundry Society
• President's Cabinet, Linly Heflin, and Citation Corporation Scholar

Wayne "Barrett" Sullivan, a Senior from Huntsville, majoring in Finance and minoring in Economics and Computing Technology and Applications

• University Programs, President
• Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Junior Advisor
• Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
• Member, NAACP
• Member, Alpha Lamba Delta Honor Society
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Member, University Honors Program
• Volunteer, Salvation Army of West Alabama
• Volunteer, Oakdale Primary School
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., President
• Student Leaders Council
• Media Advisory Board

Phillips Newbern Thomas, second year Law Student at the Universtiy of Alabama School of Law

• Member: Phi Eta Sigma; Alpha Lambda Delta; Lambda Sigma; National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Student Co-director, Alabama Action
• Member, A-Team
• Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Member, National Pan-Hellenic Council
• Student representative, Honors College Visitors Board
• Teacher, Children's Church at First Missionary Baptist Church
• Choir member, First Missionary Baptist Church
• Horseback riding (English)
• Mentor, Holt Elementary

Andrew Vincent, graduated from The University of Alabama in 2008 with a degree in Biochemistry. He is presently a student in the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of South Alabama. While a student at UA, his activities included:

• Recipient, Goldwater Scholarship
• Recipient, Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award
• Secretary, Lambda Sigma Phi Fraternity
• Historian, Alpha Epsilon Delta Premedical Honorary
• Recipient, National Merit Scholar
• Volunteer, MPower Medical Clinic
• Recipient, Eagle Scout Rank
• Member, Computer Based Honors Program / University Honors Program
• Member, Omicron Delta Kappa and Gamma Sigma Epsilon Honors Societies
• Former member, Freshman Forum
• Member, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
• Technology Coordinator, Leigh Covington Tax Collector Campaign (Tuscaloosa County)
• Researcher, Computational Chemistry (Dr. David Dixon, mentor)
• Justice, Academic Honor Council

Justin Zimmerman, currently pursuing a master's in Public Administration at the University of Alabama. Justin will be working as an intern at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C. this fall

• Scholarship Chair and Community Service chair for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
• Member, Sigma Alpha Lambda
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• National Collegiate Scholar
• University Honors Program
• Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honorary
• Teach 4 America Campus Campaign Coordinator
• Graduate Assistant Crossroads Community Center