UAB Students Win Alpha Lamda Delta Graduate Fellowships

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) senior Brian Cabaniss, 22, of Florence and recent UAB graduates Pooja Aggarwal, 22, of Decatur and Rebekah Smith, 22, of Muscle Shoals have each been awarded graduate fellowships from the Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society for 2006-2007.

April 19, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, AL — University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) senior Brian Cabaniss, 22, of Florence and recent UAB graduates Pooja Aggarwal, 22, of Decatur and Rebekah Smith, 22, of Muscle Shoals have each been awarded graduate fellowships from the Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society for 2006-2007.

Cabaniss, Aggarwal and Smith received three of the 23 fellowships awarded annually by Alpha Lamda Delta for graduate study. The three award winners will receive stipends.

Cabaniss, a biology major, will receive a $5,000 stipend. He is a 2002 graduate of Henry A. Bradshaw High School in Huntsville. He has been a member of the Honors Program and was accepted into the UAB Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP). Cabaniss, who will graduate in May, plans to enter medical school and to pursue a career in academic medicine. He is the son of Russell and Laura Cabaniss of Florence.

Aggarwal, 22, graduated from UAB in December with a degree in art studio and plans to attend medical school. She received a stipend of $3,000. While at UAB, Aggarwal was accepted into the UAB Early Medical School Acceptance Program. She also was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.

She is a 2002 graduate of Austin High School in Decatur where she was valedictorian. She is the daughter of Pravin and Prabha Aggarwal of Madison.

Smith also received a $3,000 stipend. She graduated from UAB in December with a degree in biology. While at UAB, she was accepted into the Early Medical School Acceptance Program. In 2005 she was named as the Most Outstanding Undergraduate Student in the Department of Biology.

Smith plans to attend medical school at UAB this fall and to pursue a career in pediatric medicine. She is a 2002 graduate of Muscle Shoals High School. She is the daughter of Harry and Joy Smith of Muscle Shoals.

Alpha Lamda 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.