The Department of Biology recognized a number of undergraduate and graduate students at its 2018 Spring Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on April 12. Department chair Dr. Steven Austad, along with other senior faculty members, honored the following students:

Dr. Austad also honored Martin C. Nowak with the 2018 Alumni Award. Nowak earned his B.S. in Biology from UAB and from 1998 to 2002, served as the Chief Executive Officer of UAB Hospital. From 2002 to 2005, he was the Chief Planning and Strategy Officer for the UAB Health System. Today, he owns Nowak & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm. He has served on numerous the Alabama Hospital Association and been honored with numerous awards over the course of his career, including the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Alabama Hospital Association (2002), and a "Top 100 Who's Who in Healthcare" by the Birmingham Business Journal (2002 and 2007).

Lastly, Dr. Austad and Dr. Thane Wibbels paid tribute to former student Michael David Luketic, who passed away on April 4. Those wanting to honor Luketic’s memory can give to the Foundry Ministries or to the Michael David Luketic Graduate Scholarship Fund in Marine Biology at UAB.