April 8, 2008

• UAB students' academic success honored

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seniors Sara Singhal, 20, of Huntsville; Sheila Venkatesh, 20, of Augusta, Ga.; and Suzanne McCluskey, 21, of Jacksonville have each been awarded graduate fellowships from the Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society for 2008-2009.

Singhal, Venkatesh and McCluskey received three of the 23 fellowships awarded this year by Alpha Lambda Delta for graduate study. More than 120 students competed for the award. The three UAB award winners each will receive stipends of $5,000.

All three are students in the UAB Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP), a select program that gives academically superior high school seniors admission to the School of Medicine at UAB immediately after high school graduation, provided that they complete a baccalaureate degree at UAB.

Singhal is majoring in biology and philosophy, and she is a student in the honors programs of both the Department of Biology and the Department of Philosophy. She is a 2005 graduate of the Randolph School in Huntsville. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Surendra N. and Adesh Singhal of Huntsville.

Venkatesh is a biology major. She is a 2005 graduate of Lakeside High School in Evans, Ga. In addition to EMSAP, Venkatesh is a student in the UAB Honors Program. She is the daughter of Srini and Meena Venkatesh of Augusta, Ga.

McCluskey also is a student in the UAB Honors Program as well as the Department of Biology's Honors Program. She is a 2004 graduate of Jacksonville High School. She is the daughter of Dennis and Susan McCluskey of Helena.

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence displayed by students during their first academic year at college. Members may apply for the fellowships during their senior year or after receiving their bachelor's degree. Alpha Lambda Delta has awarded more than $1.5 million since the fellowship program began in 1940