February 18, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB University Honors Program students, alumni, administrators and faculty will gather on the campus this weekend to honor the program's 25th anniversary.

The founding director of the University Honors Program, Ada Long, Ph.D., will return to campus to deliver a lecture about the program's beginnings. She will be joined by former associate director, Dail Mullins, Ph.D., who will also deliver a brief lecture.

Long, a former UAB English professor, led the program from 1983 until she retired in 2004.

Other speakers this weekend will include several Honors Program alumni, the current program director, Michael Sloane, Ph.D., and associate director, Rusty Rushton, Ph.D. The weekend activities also will include a reception, a luncheon and performances by members of the alumni.

The University Honors Program offers gifted students an intimate, innovative and challenging, interdisciplinary course of study. Courses are team taught by faculty and guest lecturers from various disciplines. Students also have opportunities to participate in social service projects.

University Honors Program students have been awarded Fulbright and Goldwater scholarships, Alpha Lamda Delta fellowships and USA Today All USA College Academic Team awards as well as Rhodes, Marshall and Truman scholarships.

The program also sponsors several public lectures and symposiums each year, including the First Thursday Lecture Series. The series offers college students and the Birmingham community an opportunity to meet and learn from active scholars, leaders, researchers and artists.

Nearly 650 students have graduated from the University Honors Program since it was established. Currently, 231 students are enrolled in program.

The program is housed in a building that was once a church built in 1901. The UAB Spencer Honors House is the site of all honors classes, administrative offices, extracurricular activities, recreation, daily study and discussion among students.