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Trailblazing Alumni Chris McCauley September 27, 2022

 On Friday, September 23, 2022, the UAB National Alumni Society (NAS) hosted its annual meeting and awards dinner honoring the recipients of both the 2022 Alumni Awards and the UAB Young Alumni Rising Star Awards. This was the first time that recipients for both awards were be acknowledged at the same event.

In total, the NAS distributed five Alumni Awards at the event, including: Honorary Life Membership Award, Honorary Alumni Award, Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and Volunteer of the Year Award.

Along with the Alumni Awards, the NAS honored recipients of the UAB Young Alumni Rising Stars Award. This award was established to recognize young alumni who have “demonstrated an ability to excel personally and professionally while committing time and energy in service to the University and local community.” In total, five alumni received the UAB Young Alumni Rising Star Awards at the September 23 event.

The College of Arts and Sciences would like to acknowledge and celebrate six stellar alumni from the College who were honored at the event.

Congratulations to the following two alumni for winning Alumni Awards:

Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Kierstin Cates Kennedy, World Languages and Literatures with a concentration in Spanish, 2002

Kierstin Cates Kennedy, M.D., is Chief of Hospital Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor at UAB Medicine. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to a UAB graduate whose professional and community accomplishments are outstanding. The recipient must be one who is distinguished in his/her profession or other worthy endeavors, has demonstrated a continual interest in UAB, and who is a member in good standing of the UAB National Alumni Society.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Adam Roderick, Psychology, 2009

Adam Roderick is the Manager of Learning and Development at Milo's Tea Company. The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who has dedicated their time and effort to improving the University through volunteerism.

UAB Young Alumni Rising Stars Awards

Also, congratulations to the following four alumni for winning UAB Young Alumni Rising Stars Awards:

  • Briana Bryant (Communication Studies, 2018) – Southern Research
  • Dr. Bliss Chang (Biology, 2015) – Columbia University
  • Dr. Zachary “Kane” Jones (Psychology, 2012) – United States Air Force
  • Hernandez Stroud (History, 2010) – Brennan Center for Justice

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