Recognition
Computer-Based Honors students are highly-regarded scholars, researchers and leaders. Based on their research experiences on campus, the best and brightest are recognized with challenging internships and national awards.
Being in CBH allows students to stretch their capabilities and learn in a dynamic and fun environment. This environment encourages students to excel in both academic and extracurricular activities. Students leave CBH with practical research experience that sets them apart from others. This distinction, coupled with strong alumni support gives CBH students an advantage after completing their undergraduate degree.
The Best Internships
Drew Lewis participated for a second year in the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) program at the College of William & Mary.
Heath Howell was a HHMI intern with Dr. Berni Kuhajda at UA.
Jennifer Phillips participated in the NSFREU as an intern with the Center for Materials for Information Technology.
Cody Locke was a second term HHMI intern this summer. During his internship, he attended a two-week summer workshop on the process of science, learned to apply new techniques to his research on the molecular basis of epilepsy.
Taylor Nichols interned with Governor Bob Riley as part of the Montgomery Experience in the Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Market Information division.
Beth Hill worked as an HHMI intern with Dr. Paul LeBlanc, investigating the effect of apoptotic target cells on nitric oxide production in activated macrophages.
The Best Awards
USA Today Academic All-Americans
Four students from The University of Alabama have been named to this year's USA Today All-USA College Academic Team—two of whom are members of the Computer Based Honors Program.
The first of these students, Cody Locke, is a biology major from Boaz, Alabama. He has has been recognized with numerous other honors, including the Benjamin Cummings Biology Prize, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Merit Award, and is editor in chief of the Journal of Science & Health at The University of Alabama, and president of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. In addition to his extensive research on the genetics of such diseases as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, through his Computer-Based Honors Project, Cory has also developed the world's most comprehensive genetics website for the study of epilepsy, carpedb.ua.edu.
Aundrea Lollar, a chemical and biological engineering major from Northport, Alabama, also earned a spot on the USA Today Team. Her work in the laboratory has helped to develop new ways of connecting mercury control, behavior and site-specific characteristics that facilitate a cleaner and safer way of providing energy. is currently working to make surgical techniques cheaper and safer through her research in the loss of heat through the surfaces saline solutions that are used in irrigation during surgery. Aundrea is also the president of the UA chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and spends a portion of her free time tutoring students in math and science on both the high school and college levels.
The final CBH student to earn this award was Taylor Nichols from Northport, Alabama. He has worked extensively to provide college students the opportunity to become educated and concerned voters through Voice of the Educated Student Coalition, or VOTES. In addition to Taylor 's work in founding VOTES, he created the Alabama Collegiate Summit in order to provide a new generation of concerned, active, and motivated leaders in politics. He also serves as president of Alabama Students for Constitutional Reform; in 2005, Taylor received the William P. Bloom Scholarship in recognition of his achievements in uniting the campus and promoting social responsibility. Taylor recently finished an internship with Governor Bob Riley, and is working to finish his degree in Economics.
Hollings Scholars
Of the 101 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, three were awarded to Computer Based Honors Students at The University of Alabama this year. The prize for each individual is $8,000 per year for full-time study during the junior and senior years and $6,500 for a 10-week internship at NOAA or an NOAA-approved facility during the summer between the junior and senior years. This scholarship was designed with the hope of improving undergraduate research and training in natural and environmental sciences.
Michelle McGaha, an industrial engineering major from Albertville, AL and a member of CBHP was one of the studnets selected for this honor. At UA, she is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Pi Mu and Tau Beta Pi honorary societies and was named Computer-Based Honors Most Outstanding Freshman and Sophomore Student of the Year. Through the Computer-Based Honors program, Michelle has worked to develop programs that helped determine safest route between two locations and currently is working on a program to convert 2-dimensional images into 3-dimensions models for research in variations in strain, temperature, and pressure on mechanical components. She is also an Honors College Ambassador and an Ambassador of the College of Engineering, and is president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
Jackson Switzer, a biochemistry major from Gulfport , Mississippi was the second CBHP student chosen for this award. At UA, he is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Epsilon Delta honoraries, received a Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award and was named a Blackburn Institute Student Fellow. Jackson is a Presidential Scholar, and is working with Dr. David A. Dixon studying computational chemistry.
Dylan Whisenhunt, a chemical and biological engineering major from Vestavia Hills, AL was also honored with a Hollings Scholarship. At UA, he is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta honoraries and received a McWane Honors Undergraduate Research Fellowship and a Computer-Based Honors Program Fellowship. Dylan participates avidly in Sigma Nu, Capstone Men and Women, the Interfraternity Council, and GEAR UP. He has spent part of his time at UA working with Dr. Duane Johnson researching the production methods of biodiesel fuels. In addition, Whisenhunt spent the summer in Oxford with the Alabama study abroad program.
Goldwater Awards
Thomas Glenn Kelly earned one of the highly coveted Goldwater Awards for excellence in science and mathematics. He is a member of Omega Chi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi, Computer-Based Honors Program, Alpha Lambda Delta and Golden Key, and has conducted extensive research with Dr. David Dixon on three projects in the UA chemistry department, which were displayed last April at the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Poster Competition. In his first project, Thomas studied potential uses for transitional metal catalysts in relation to methane, the results of which are being prepared for publication in an academic journal. He will be presenting his findings at a national conference on chemical engineering in the near future. Currently, Thomas is researching the fluoride affinities of fluoride phosphines, which have potential applications as electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries, and he hopes to one day become a professor of chemical engineering.
Fulbright Award
Amanda McMillan of the Computer Based Honors Program was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in order to teach English as a second language in Germany . At UA, she majored in mathematics and German. As a Fulbright scholar, Amanda will receive round-trip transportation, tuition, book and research allowances, supplemental health and accident insurance, and living expenses for an academic year in an effort to create positive relationships and intercultural understanding between people from more than 150 countries.