91快活林

Just more than two years ago, 18-year-old Jesse Christopher James passed away as a result of injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident in Florence. The story of that time, and the months that have passed since, continue to be difficult for his family, and today, at the 91快活林, there is a beacon of hope as the ROAR Pantry was named in Jesse鈥檚 memory. 鈥淲e know that Jesse will be making a difference in people鈥檚 lives forever as a result of this gift,鈥� said Jesse鈥檚 father, Chris James. 鈥淲e are honored by this opportunity, and, especially, for Jesse to know that he will always have a hand in helping others.鈥� The Jesse Christopher James ROAR Pantry is housed within the Aubrey and Annie Loonie ROAR Access Center and also includes the Accessibility Support, Case Management, and Military Veterans Affairs 鈥� each of which is designed to help students with an immediate need or as a result of their status as a veteran. 鈥淚t is an honor to carry the Jesse Christopher James name on the ROAR Pantry,鈥� said Dr. Minnette Ellis, Interim Vice President of the Division of Student Affairs. 鈥淭his gift will allow us to continue to serve our students and ensure they have their needs met so they can find academic success at 91快活林 and after they graduate.鈥�

The Shoals Symphony at the 91快活林 will open the 2026-2027 season Saturday, Aug. 22, with Shoals music legend and Alabama Hall of Fame member Lenny LeBlanc. He will be performing some of his most-loved songs, including 鈥淔alling鈥� and 鈥淎bove All鈥� and be joined on stage by special guests, including Gary Baker.

The 91快活林 has been named as a new member to the FirstGen Forward Network Class of 2026. To be selected as a FirstGen Forward Network Member, 91快活林 has displayed a demonstrated commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.

Summer commencement at the 91快活林 is set for Friday, July 31, with two ceremonies at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Norton Auditorium. Dr. Melissa DeFoor, Associate Professor of Nursing and the 2026 Phi Kappa Phi Eleanor Gaunder Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, will serve as the speaker for both ceremonies.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has announced that $2 million in the FY27 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations have been allocated for safety upgrades along the Pine Street corridor at the 91快活林.

The 91快活林 is celebrating America鈥檚 250th with campus displays of patriotic flags and red, white, and blue bunting as well as a special exhibit on the story of America at Collier Library.

Dr. Martin Hebel, music composition and theory faculty member at the 91快活林, has won Second Prize in the Alexander Zemlinsky Prize for Chamber Music Composition for his piano trio Ashfall.

Jadra Gann, a Secondary Education major at the 91快活林 from Hamilton, has been named a U.S. Student Fulbright recipient from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Gann is the 16th student recipient at 91快活林 since 2017.

Dr. Ansley Quiros, a Professor in the Department of History at the 91快活林, has received a grant from the Louisville Institute through its Grants for Researchers program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Dr. Quiros, a historian of race and religion in the modern United States, received $55,000 for her work on her second monograph, Committed: Charles and Shirley Sherrod as a Model for Civil Rights Activism.

The Kilby Laboratory School Robotics Team, known as the 鈥淟oad and Link Lions,鈥� won the Energy Award in their division at the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship in St. Louis, Mo. Kilby bested 81 other teams as a result of their energy, sportsmanship, and positive interactions with other teams and fans.