When Gavin Weakley packed up and left Louisville, Kentucky, for The University of Alabama, he came for the opportunity, and he got more than he ever expected. As a National Merit Finalist for the state of Kentucky, UA offered him a financial package that exceeded his expectations, and he decided to make the move and call Tuscaloosa his home.
Gavin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in Spring 2024 and capped it all off with a master’s in business administration through the STEM to MBA program this spring. However, Gavin decided to build more than just his degree at the Capstone.
UA’s Habitat for Humanity (one of the student teams supported by Student Life’s Center for Service and Leadership) first caught Gavin’s attention during his freshman year, though COVID restrictions meant in-person work was paused for the time being. He stayed busy with Al’s Pals, a mentorship program he would continue throughout his time at UA (and another one of the student teams supported by the CSL), but he kept Habitat in the back of his mind. By his sophomore year, in-person volunteer work returned, and Gavin was ready to jump in.
“I really like volunteering. I had a great time with Al’s Pals. I love those kids!” he said. “Second was the learning aspect. With Habitat, you’re getting some hands-on skills that could be applicable to you in your own life, or for me, figuring out what I want to do later in life.”
Starting out as a volunteer, Gavin regularly signed up for Habitat’s build days, which are four-hour shifts where UA provides transportation to and from the work sites, and these students spend the day doing hands-on construction tasks.
“You are learning how to use a circular saw, how to do roofing, how to put up siding, just overall measurements and how to handle yourself on a job site, which is an important skill to have, even for your own projects at home or anything you may encounter. Being on the job site and enjoying the work made me realize I wanted to go into construction,” he said.
Over time, his involvement deepened. By his senior year, he was vice president of recruitment, handling event tabling, communication, and volunteer reminders. In his graduate year, he served as president. During his presidency, Gavin launched a new fundraiser called the Stud-a-Thon, where businesses purchase wooden studs that are decorated and then incorporated into Habitat houses. He also coordinated volunteer logistics, worked closely with the local Tuscaloosa Habitat chapter, and collaborated with other campus organizations.
For Gavin, the work was about more than just volunteering. It was a chance to build skills and contribute to a meaningful cause that impacts families’ futures.
“A lot of people think that they’re just like giving houses away, but it’s pretty much like they’re a bank, but a nice bank where they don’t charge interest, so you’re only paying for what the house is actually valued at the start,” he said. “That goes into one of my other passions of affordable housing and helping people out and allow[ing] them to build generational wealth, which in some case, they may not have had the opportunity to do so.”
And while building houses, UA Habitat for Humanity gave Gavin a home of his own.
“The people that volunteer and the professional builders are performing some great work in the community, and I love those guys and hope to continue talking to them,” he said. “On campus, Habitat gave me a way to meet new people that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
After completing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam during his final summer break, Gavin moved to Dallas to begin his new career as a project engineer. He says his experience with Habitat not only helped him find his future career path, but it also helped him land the job.
“During the interview process, they love to talk about the volunteer experience with Habitat, just because it is not something they see on everyone’s application, and I can talk about it for quite a bit and all the organization skills it gave me,” he said.
From building homes to building a future, Gavin’s journey at UA was more than academic – thanks to his involvement in Student Life, it laid the foundation for a life of purpose, leadership, and community impact.