March 7, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business has received a gift of $25,000 from Birmingham accounting firm Mackle, Splawn, Tindall and McDonald LLP to create an endowed accounting scholarship in memory of David E. Mackle Sr.

The scholarship is named for the firm’s founder, David Mackle, who passed away in 2002. The 51-year-old firm provides an array of accounting services, including auditing, business consulting, general ledger and financial statement preparation, tax planning and preparation, and estate and retirement planning.

“UAB is as important to our firm, as we believe it was to Mr. Mackle,” said Brian Barksdale, partner in Mackle, Splawn, Tindall and McDonald. “We provided this gift as a show of our support for the UAB School of Business, Department of Accounting and Information Systems and its students as a way to promote the accounting profession.”

The earnings from the scholarship will be used to provide a student with tuition and fee assistance. High school seniors accepted to UAB in the accounting program or students currently enrolled in the program, and who show solid academic promise or achievement and financial need, are eligible for the scholarship.

“This scholarship is a great way to honor an accomplished individual like Mr. Mackle,” said Frank Messina, Ph.D., interim chairman of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems. “Through this generous contribution, we will be able to recruit and assist deserving students majoring in accounting at UAB. Financial support from the business community is critical for us to continue to offer quality education experiences to our students and we are grateful to the partners and firm of Mackle, Splawn, Tindall and McDonald for their friendship and support.”