Volker Hall’s namesake was a man of firsts

During the 1996 Olympic Games, Legion Field was a host site for soccer games, which more than 431,000 people attended. UAB also was home to a practice site for Olympians.

In 1974, two optometry students screened two young children for vision issues. The school’s tradition of community engagement continues to this day as remain involved in the community, whether through providing vision screenings and eye exams in senior centers, elementary schools, Black Belt communities and more or teaching cow eye dissections at Ramsey High School.

In the 1970s, students registering for UAB’s University College would queue in long lines to meet with advisers, determine their course schedule and fill out punch cards for the record-books. Things look a bit different today, thanks to new student orientation program Blazer Beginnings.

The intersection of 20th Street South and Seventh Avenue looked a bit different in 1971, and this section of campus will undergo even more changes this summer as the Kracke Building and Pittman Center for Advanced Medical Studies will be razed to make way for the new Altec Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building.

In the late 1970s, two students chatted next to “Untitled” by Michael Frohock, a sculpture made of COR-TEN steel installed in the Mini Park 1976. Find “Untitled” on the West Campus/Alys Stephens Center walking trail, one of three two-mile walking trails that showcase UAB’s statues or sculptures in 30 minutes or fewer.

In May 1971, Bracie Watson, a senior majoring in biology, became the first Black student elected president of the UAB Undergraduate Student Government Association. And UAB USGA presidents continue to be changemakers — hear 2020-21 President Tyler Huang tell his story in a UAB United video and UAB News.

From the appoint of Aaron L. Lamar Jr. to associate vice president and dean of Student Affairs in 1978 to being named America’s No. 4 Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes, UAB has demonstrated a long commitment to its shared value of diversity and inclusiveness.

In June 1970, UAB awarded its first degrees to 478 students. During this year’s commencement ceremonies — the first ones in person since fall 2019 — more than 8,550 will be awarded.

Nearly four decades after a broadcast delivered by Jack Lazarus, the Alabama Broadcasters Association named 90.3 WBHM Radio Station of the Year at its annual ABBY Awards ceremony March 29.