Student, staff and partner feature stories.
The roar of 100,000 fans inside Bryant-Denny Stadium blurred into a soft hum as Jaylee Howton’s world came full circle. She had envisioned this exact moment since she was 3 years old — standing in the center of Saban Field as a Crimsonette with her parents watching proudly from the stands. She dreamed about it during countless…
Cate Martin knew very early in her college career she wanted to make a difference in the lives of her peers. What started as curiosity about leadership opportunities quickly became a passion for service, guiding her into a role that would not only shape her collegiate experience but influence many other students as well. Cate…
A student’s university experience is shaped by their involvement both in and outside of the classroom. For William Battle, The University of Alabama became a place to grow not only as a student, but as a leader in the campus community. Coming from Birmingham, Alabama, it was important for William to get involved at UA,…
For Paige Acker-Price, the start of the fall semester is about more than students returning to campus — it is about making sure they find a place to belong. As the director of University Programs (UP), she has spent more than seven years helping students find their place at The University of Alabama through programming that connects them to campus. One of the…
Hailey Peitersen came to The University of Alabama seeking experiences that would help her grow and prepare for life after graduation. It was through that exploration that she found the Engineering Career Development Center (ECDC), a place where she could not only continue her own professional development but also guide and mentor other students navigating the same journey. A junior chemical engineering…
Andrew McClinton’s journey to The University of Alabama started differently than many of his peers. After graduating from high school, he spent five years in the oil industry, working demanding shifts that required long hours and constant physical effort. Over time, that work began to take its toll and forced him to reflect on what he wanted for his…
Before the donations rolled in by the hundreds of thousands, Myles Hudson had UA Miracle counting by 10s. After becoming UA Miracle’s president last year, Myles took the organization to new heights. In February, he led a record-breaking campaign that helped the program raise $394,178 in support of pediatric care at the Children’s of Alabama hospital in Birmingham.…
Gunnar Tuininga now champions a cause he never thought he’d have to consider. Nothing could have prepared Gunnar for the phone call he received in March of 2025 when he was informed that his fraternity brother, Colin LeMoine, had passed away by suicide. The events from that day now run together, but the hysteria and…
Before Avionne Steele could find a student organization, the University of Alabama Afro American Gospel Choir found her. The daughter of a church choir leader, Avionne grew up harmonizing gospel music in her hometown of McDonough, Georgia. Gospel is more than her favorite musical genre. It’s a ministry and a chance to celebrate her faith and spread…
Arriving on campus as a first-year student, she was determined to make The University of Alabama feel like home. What started as a search for community quickly grew into a journey of leadership, service, and personal discovery.
