Blackburn Institute

Row 1: Karis Browder, Lynn McConnico, Caroline James, CadeAnn Smith, Fernanda Lima, Mallory Meissner, Heather Mackel, Johnjerica Hodge, Alicia Lewis

Row 2: Anna Foley, Lauren Floyd, Amelia Haas, Marshall Houston, Jay Saxon

Row 3: Katherine McClellan, Jessica Kuperberg, Taylor Arabian, James Tarbox, Andres Peña, Elliot Knight, David Simpson, Brian Davis, Stanley Phillips, Ben Burch, Matt DeMonbrun, Evan Ward

Not Pictured: Wilson Boardman, Nichole Ramirez

Taylor Arabian, a Senior from Montgomery, Alabama, majoring in Finance and Spanish

• Member, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
• Member, Honors College Ambassadors
• Volunteer and Mentor, Hispanic Jumpstart Program
• Member, Capstone Investment Management Group

Wilson Boardman, Currently serving with Teach for America in Denver, Colorado

• Freshman Experience Intern and Student Director of Honors College Connection
• Treasurer, Anderson Society
• Member, Mortar Board
• Member, Carl Elliott Society
• Member, Blue Key
• Documentarian, Documenting Justice International: Cuba

Karis L. Browder, a Medical Student at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN

• Member, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc.
• 5th grade math mentor, Mathews Elementary
• Desk assistant, Lakeside community

Major "Ben" Burch , a Graduate Student in Molecular Biology from Birmingham, Alabama

• Undergraduate Researcher, Department of Biological Sciences
• Outstanding Undergraduate Award, Department of Economics
• Recipient, UA Presidential Scholarship
• Recipient, Lois D. Luckie Memorial Endowed Scholarship
• Recipient, Alumni Scholar Award
• Recipient, Bill Barringer Scholarship, Alabama Youth in Government
• President, Sustained Dialogue
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Member, Honors College Lecture Series Advisory Board
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Member, University Honors Program
• Justice, Student Government Association Judicial Board
• Alumnus of Freshman Forum, SGA Executive Programs, and Colleges Against Cancer Executive Board

Brian Davis, a Senior from Montgomery, Alabama, majoring in Electrical Engineering

• Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Co-chair Guide Right, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated
• Member, National Society of Black Engineers
• Mentoring Committee Chair, Collegiate 100
• Kappa Campus Clean-up
• Volunteer, Boys and Girls Club
• Coordinator, Elementary School Supply Drive
• Coordinator, “Straight to the Top” forum.
• Coordinator of the “Capstone Connection” forum in collaboration with Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity

Robert Matthew DeMonbrun, working as a Community Director for the Univeristy of Alabama

• Graduate Assistant, Office of Campus Programs
• Member, 42 Days Committee on Student Retention and Success
• New Member Education Mentor, Sigma Nu & Delta Sigma Phi Fraternities
• Special Projects Coordinator, NASPA Parent & Family Relations Knowledge Community
• Ambassador, NASPA Placement Exchange
• Alumnus, Sigma Nu Fraternity, Middle Tennessee State University
• Former Member, Order of Omega
• Former Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Former Member, Phi Eta Sigma & Golden Key Honor Societies
• Researcher, Educational Policy Center
• Instructor, New College

Lauren Floyd, a Senior from Hoover, Alabama, majoring in English and minoring in the Blount Undergraduate Initiative

• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Volunteer and Mentor, PATS
• Volunteer, Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter
• 2008 Intern, University of Alabama Press
• Resident Advisor

Anna Foley, a Senior from Dallas, Texas, majoring in English and minoring in Spanish, the Blount Undergraduate Initiative, and Economics

• Honors College Freshmen Experience Intern and Student Director of Honors Connection
• Member, Honors College Student Advisory Board
• Reformed University Fellowship
• Member, University Honors Program and International Honors Program
• Recipient, Returning Scholar's Award, University English Department
• Member, Chi Omega Sorority

Amelia Brannan Haas, a Senior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in Psychology and Pre-Med

• SGA Academic Honor Council Liaison
• Chief Justice-elect, Alabama Honor Council for the College of Arts and Sciences
• Member, Psychology Honors Program
• Runner-up, 2008 James P. Hayes Moral Forum Debate
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Member, Delta Delta Delta Sorority
• Member, University Honors Program
• Head Counselor, Camp Skyline Ranch for Girls, Mentone, Alabama
• Member, Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Eta Sigma, and Psi Chi Honor Societies

Johnjerica Hodge, a first year Law Student at the University of Alabama School of Law

• SGA, Liaison For Stillman College and Shelton State University
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Member, Alpha Lambda Delta
• Member, Golden Key Honor Society
• Member, Pre-Law Student Association
• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Member, Sigma Alpha Lambda
• Member, Phi Beta Kappa
• Who's Who Among College Students

Marshall Houston, a Senior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in Economics and English

• Member, University Fellows Experience
• Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility Scholar
• Member, Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi
• Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society
• Vice President, Honors College Ambassadors
• Assistant Vice President for External Affairs, Student Government Association
• Vice President, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity
• Volunteer, SaveFirst Tax Preparation
• Former Debate Coach, SpeakUp! Tuscaloosa
• Former Mentor, Holt Elementary School
• Former Intern, A+ College Ready
• Documentary Filmmaker, Documenting Justice 2008-2009
• Co-Creator, "Portraits: Layers of the Black Belt" photojournalism exhibit

Caroline James, a Senior from Montgomery, Alabama, majoring in Psychology and Communications and minoring in Philosophy

• McNair Scholar
• SGA Director of Diversity
• Vice President for Community Service, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Young Women Leader, Women’s Resource Center
• Mentor, Martin Luther King Elementary School
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
• Service Chair, Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity
• Founder, Tuscaloosa's Diversity Day and "WE are UA Day"
• University Equal Opportunity Board

Elliot A. Knight, a second-year doctoral candidate pursuing an Interdisciplinary Ph.D.

• Founder and Co-Director, Black Belt 100 Lenses Project
• Intern, Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art at the University of Alabama
• Research Assistant, Center for Community-based partnerships
• Proprietor, Image(n) Photography Studio

Jessica Kuperberg, a Junior from Bethesda, Maryland, majoring in Biochemistry

• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, Honors Program Student Association
• Member, Future Alumni for Tradition and Excellence
• Committee Member, University Programs
• Member, University of Alabama College Democrats
• Intern, Office of the Public Defender, Montgomery County, Maryland
• Undergraduate Research, Dr. Dixon’s Lab, Computational Chemistry
• Undergraduate Research, Dr. Busenlehner’s Lab, Bioinorganic Chemistry
• Volunteer Coordinator, Adapted Aquatics Program

Alicia Lewis, a third year law student from Atlanta, Georgia. Alicia earned a B.A. in Political Science at Auburn University and an MPA from The University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Member, Black Law Students Association
• Member, Golden Key National Honor Society
• Summer Law Clerk, for Troy King at The Alabama Attorney General's Office in Montgomery, AL
• Author of the first statewide proclamation creating Sexual Assault prevention week for the state of Alabama, signed by Governor Bob Riley in 2007.
• Fundraising coordinator for the Children's Miracle Network and The Children's Hospital of Birmingham.
• Recipient, Presidential Daily Point of Light Community Service Award(#3410)
• Finalist, Miss Alabama Pageant Community Service
• Project Uplift mentor of the year
• Civil Rights Law Review Junior Editor

Fernanda Lima, a Junior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in Accounting and Dance

• Member, University Fellows Experience
• Member, University Honors Program
• Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility Scholar
• Director of Leadership, Source Board of Governors
• Former Chairperson, SGA Liaison Committee of Freshman Forum
• Former Materials Manager, Alabama Action
• Member, Alabama Repertory Dance Theater
• Member, Honors College Ambassadors
• Former Mentor, Holt Elementary School
• Volunteer, Womens Resource Center
• Member: Carl A. Elliot Society, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, Nu Delta Alpha, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Childrens Ministry Volunteer, Calvary Baptist Church
• Bible Study Leader, Calvary Baptist Church
• Representative, Student Leaders Council

Heather Mackel, a Senior from Carrollton, Georgia, majoring in Food and Nutrition

• Member, 2008-2009 Avanti Team
• St. Francis Catholic Center College Ministry, Search Team
• Camp Counselor, Girls Catholic Leadership Camp
• Former Volunteer, Catholic Family Services
• Former Resident Advisor
• Former Co-Director Search Retreat, St. Francis Catholic Ministry
• Dean's List

Katherine McClellan, a Junior from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in Political Science and Journalism

• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative Program
• Member, The Navigators
• Member, Freshman Forum
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Member, Chi Omega Sorority
• Participant, Alabama Action 2008
• Justice, SGA Student Judicial Board
• Secretary, Lambda Sigma Honor Society
• Member, The Navigators Servant Leadership Team

Evelyn “Lynn” McConnico, a Graduate Student from Furman, Alabama, in the School of Social Work. Lynn received her undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama, where she majored in Political Science and minored in English.

• Volunteer, Big Brother/Big Sister
• Young Women Leadership Program
• Volunteer, Boys & Girls Club
• Member, SGA Diversity Committee
• Parent Program Ambassador
• National Association of Dean’s List
• Legal Clerk for the District Attorney’s Office
• YMCA tutor for after school programs
• Social Work Intern, Tuscaloosa Housing Authority
• Social Work Intern, Jefferson County Family Court

Mallory Meissner, a Senior from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, majoring in Finance and Dance

• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Member, Alpha Lambda Delta
• Member, Phi Kappa Phi
• Vice President, Lambda Sigma
• Volunteer, Tuscaloosa Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
• Chairman, Leadership Nominating Committee
• Leadership Nominating Committee Chair, Pi Beta Phi Sorority
• Member, Million Dollar Band Crimsonettes
• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Board Member, Tuscaloosa County Junior Miss
• Member, Commerce Associates
• University Stewards

Andres Peña, a Senior from Bay City, Texas, majoring in Management

• Survivorship Chairman, Colleges Against Cancer
• Co-Chairman, Relay for Life
• Volunteer, Young Men's Leadership Program & Women's Resource Center
• Mentor, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary
• Honoree, University Honors Program Management

Stanley Phillips, a Senior from Montgomery, Alabama, majoring in Management Information Systems

• Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Vice President of Outreach, Collegiate 100
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Nichole Ramirez, a Senior from El Paso, Texas, majoring in Aerospace Engineering and minoring in Mathematics

• Intern, Marshall Space Flight Center
• NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, UA
• NASA MUST Scholarship Program
• President, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), UA
• Social Action and Philanthropy Chair, Hillel, UA
• Mentor, Davis Emerson Middle School
• Member, Capstone Mentors
• Member, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Golden Key Honor Society
• Member, University Honors Program
• AIAA Outstanding Junior

Jay Saxon, a third year law student from Birmingham, Alabama. Jay is a 2005 graduate of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He also received his MA with Merit in International Relations and European Studies from Central European University.

• Executive Editor, Alabama Law Review
• Member, Princeton Nassoons, Princeton’s oldest a cappella group
• President, Princeton University College Democrats
• 2005-06 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Budapest, Hungary
• Member, Board of Governors of the Ivy Council

David Simpson, a Junior from Homewood, Alabama, majoring in Political Science and Economics and minoring in Mathematics and Liberal Arts

• Member, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Former member, Capstone Men and Women
• Member, Alpha Lambda Delta
• Member, Gamma Beta Phi
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
• Member, University Honors Program
• Former Member, Million Dollar Band
• Volunteer, SaveFirst Tax Preparation Initiative
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Member, Sigma Alpha Lambda
• Member, Golden Key International Honor Society

CadeAnn Smith, a Senior from Cullman, Alabama, majoring in Criminal Justice and Political Science

• 2010 Scott Deaton Endowed Memorial Scholar for Criminal Justice
• Homecoming Director, 2009, Service Projects
• SGA Arts & Sciences Senator
• Member, International Honors Program
• Member, First Year Council
• Member, Freshman Forum
• Member, Pre-Law Student Association
• Student Events Director, Students for Byrne
• Member, Criminal Justice Student Association
• Chairperson of Senate Committee on Environmental Concerns
• President, Alabama Students for Constitutional Reform
• Homecoming Director, 2010, Reception and Halftime Festivities
• Treasurer, Collegiate Legislature
• Networking Chairperson - College Republicans

James Tarbox, a first year Law Student at the University of Alabama School of Law

• Justice, SGA Student Judicial Board
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Member, Alpha Lamba Delta
• Member, Tuscaloosa Winds Community Band
• Member, UA Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble
• Member, College Republicans
• Former Chairman, National Order of the Arrow Shows
• Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
• 2 Term Lodge and 2 Term Section Chief, Order of the Arrow

Evan Ward, a Junior from Prattville, Alabama, majoring in History and International Studies and minoring in the Blound Undergraduate Initiative

• Blount Scholar
• Member, Blount Undergraduate Initiative
• Member, University Honors Program
• Member, International Honors Program
• Member, Phi Eta Sigma
• Resident Assistant for Housing and Residential Communities