M O V I N G U S A U P W A R D & O N W A R D

LeadOn FALL 2017

Sto work in health care facilities all over the country.

Each day they use the education and training they

received to help serve the communities where they

live. This expertise is one of the factors employers

look for when they are hiring new nurses and

is what led Clarence Ball to reconnect with the

University and its nursing program.

Ball, the President and CEO of Ball Health

Care Services, a network of nursing and

rehabilitation facilities that is headquartered in

Mobile, wanted to establish a stronger relationship

to help introduce future nurses to opportunities

outside of the hospital.

“Our hope by establishing a scholarship

endowment is that we will help promote

opportunities in the type of care our facilities

provide and will show USA students a wider vision

of their future possibilities and the rewards of

working in long-term care.”

Clarence Ball President and CEO Ball Health Care Services

Ball S holarship: More Options for Nurses South Alabama College of Nursing graduates go on Scholarships help South continue to attract the

best students to our campus and lift the financial

burden most face. Allowing education to be the

focal point is necessary for nursing students who

typically find it difficult to manage employment

during their schooling because of their discipline’s

intense clinical requirements.

“The rigor of the program and the clinical hour

requirements make it very difficult for students

“Most don’t think about the type of care we provide until a loved one needs it, and I want to hire nurses who’ve received the best

training available. Hiring a South Alabama graduate would be an added plus.”

— CLARENCE BALL

to work while attending school,” former dean of

nursing Debra Davis said. “Scholarships make it

possible for students to concentrate on their studies

as each course in the curriculum builds upon

previous courses.”

Experts predict the baby boomer generation

will live longer than its predecessors. In order to

prepare for this growth in the numbers of adults

needing long-term care, Ball knows his facilities and

similar ones across the nation will need more highly

skilled clinical nurses entering the profession.

“Our goal is to expose more nurses to geriatric

care early on and the many possibilities that are

available to them in our nursing and rehabilitation

facilities,” Ball said. “Most don’t think about the

type of care we provide until a loved one needs

it, and I want to hire nurses who’ve received the

best training available. Hiring a South Alabama

graduate would be an added plus.”

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA // LEAD ON 1

Back: (L-R) Chris Tracy Matthew Kizzla Talis Battle Brian Murphy David Heap. Front: Ashleigh Neese Steve McClellan

Building the Future in Resear h

EEach year as the school year ends and thoughts of

summer begin, many students have to face the decision

of whether to find a job to save for the fall semester or

to pursue an opportunity that may help them advance

in their future career. This summer five undergraduate

students were given the opportunity to do both. Thanks

to support from Wells Fargo, these students got to focus

on their dream of working in health care as Mitchell

Cancer Institute (MCI) Summer Research Program

paid interns.

“I got the chance to shadow an oncologist in high

school and thought the work they were doing was

fascinating,” said Josiah Perry, a freshman biomedical

science major at South. “This program will help guide

me going forward, and I am really excited about the

opportunity I’ve been given.”

For 10 weeks the students are paired with an MCI

scientist to work on projects that tie into the researchers

current scope of work.

“We are very grateful to Wells Fargo for believing

in this program enough to reward our students with

stipends,” said MCI manager of basic and transitional

research opportunities, Steve McClellan. “It elevates

the level of the program. Our interns work 40-plus

hours a week on their projects, and to be able to

reward them for this time and dedication makes

a big difference.”

MCI places a strong importance on exposing

students early to the work and opportunities

in research.

“A critical part of the MCI mission is to help

promote STEM (science, technology, engineering

and math) education at all levels,” McClellan said.

“We use this program to help students get a healthy

understanding of what research is about and hopefully

help bring the next generation of scientists into

the world.”

Students from colleges all over the state apply to

be a part of this intensive program and they express

similar reasons for wanting to come to MCI.

“This program is giving me an understanding of

how much time goes into research,” added Matthew

Kiszla, a sophomore biochemistry and pre-medicine

major at the University of Alabama. “I want to go on

to medical school, and it will be important as a doctor

later to understand the time it takes to develop the tools

given to me.”

The support from Wells Fargo and the training

the students receive during their time at MCI will

help place them on a path for successful careers in

their future.

“The Summer Intern Research Program at MCI

combines two of our core philanthropic focus areas –

education and human services,” said Wells Fargo area

president Chris Tracy. “We are extremely proud to

support this program, as it works to prepare the next

generation of researchers and professionals who will

make continued breakthroughs in cancer treatments

and strides toward a cure.”

“Wells Fargo has given us the opportunity to

Ashleigh Neese Sophomore Birmingham-Southern College Pre-Pharmacy and Chemistry major

Back to front: Matthew Kizzla Josiah Perry Ashleigh Neese Talis Battle David Heap

“The Summer Intern Research Program at MCI combines two of our core

philanthropic focus areas—education and

human services.” — CHRIS TRACY, WELLS FARGO

broaden our horizons as we decide on what specialties

we want to study and being able to be an MCI summer

intern is a great chance to see up close everything

that research is and does,” said Talis Battle, a senior

environmental engineering and pre-medicine major at

the University of Alabama.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA // LEAD ON 2

John Pettway Parker Harrell Arrissa Chappell Katelyn Lochner & Jeremy Reaves

Making the Grade

LLife for a USA student-athlete is more than the home

runs, three-pointers and touchdowns we see when they

are in action. They put in long hours in weight rooms

and at practice, but the thing most don’t notice is the

hours spent working toward the other dream

that brought them to South Alabama, earning a

college degree.

To assist student-athletes with their academic

journey, South has a team of support within the walls

of the Student-Athlete Academic Services Center.

“Our mission is to provide the resources necessary

to foster academic success and personal development

among our student-athletes. We want our student-

athletes to perform well when competing but more

importantly, want them to succeed in the classroom,”

assistant athletic director for academic services Jason

Kelly said.

Student-athletes can count on the assistance of

academic counselors, and the center makes available

tutors, private study rooms, and a computer lab—all

designed to ensure academic achievement.

“College is so different from high school, and

learning how to study is something all students face

whether you play a sport or not,” junior volleyball

standout Arissa Chappell said. “We have so much

support at the academic center. We are able to get

tutors if we need them, have quiet spaces so we can

focus, and connect with other student-athletes.”

A passionate group of Jaguar fans, better known

as the JAG-GALS, wanted to ensure the center has the

tools needed to help athletes thrive academically.

“We recognize the percentage of student-athletes who

go on to be professional in something other than the

sport they play,” JAG-GALS director Kim Feagin said.

“We want to be cheerleaders on the field and in the

classroom. Especially because we know how hard they

work to excel at both.”

Their support does not go unnoticed, everyone

within the South athletic department knows just who

they are and what they mean to the student athletes.

“We know exactly who the JAG-GALS are,” senior

football player Jeremy Reaves said. “It’s an honor to

know we’ve got a group who supports us twice as much

in the classroom as they do when we are in the game.”

The hard work off the field has paid off. This

spring 93 student-athletes made the Sun Belt

Commissioner’s List for having a yearly GPA greater

than 3.5, the most ever in school history. For the 2016-

17 academic year, 171 student-athletes were honored

academically, also the most ever in school history.

“We know exactly who the JAG-GALS are. It’s an honor to know we’ve got a group who supports us twice as much in the classroom as

they do when we are in the game.”

—JEREMY REEVES, FO OTBALL

John Pettway & Parker Harrell

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA // LEAD ON 3

Preserving Our History

TThere is an old saying that you have to know where

you come from in order to know where you’re going.

The Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript

Library, which is housed in the Marx Library on the

main campus, provides a unique look into the past for

students, faculty, researchers, and local residents.

Carroll and Vicki Barrett, both South Alabama

alumni, have added a remarkable collection of

family papers, books, and photography from the 16th

through the 20th centuries to the archive. The Dellet-

Torrey Collection adds unique new imprints from

the past that will heighten the impact of the McCall

Collection on the work of future scholars.

“My husband Carroll and I couldn’t imagine

a better way to preserve our families’ history than

to donate this collection to the University of South

Alabama’s Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and

Manuscript Library,” Vicki said.

The family collection has been passed through

Carroll’s family for over 200 years. It provides insight

into what life was like in Alabama in the 1800s.

“The Dellet-Torrey Collection adds to the

resources we can provide to our students and faculty,”

assistant librarian Deborah Gurt said. “Having

something as rare as this entrusted to us is a validation

of what we do, and it offers great opportunities to

students and scholars.”

Most of the collection was kept through the

years at Dellet Park in Claiborne, AL, the home of

James Preston Dellet. He was elected to the first State

House of Representatives in 1819 and had the honor

of being the first Speaker of the Alabama House of

Representatives. He was also a U.S. Congressman

from 1839-1841 and again from 1843-1845.

“The condition in which this collection was

brought to us is remarkable,” Gurt added. “James

Dellet was a prominent figure in the early days of

Alabama state politics, and his books and papers

allow researchers a unique window on to the political

climate of that period.”

The collection also features material related to

Alabama State Senator Rufus Campbell Torrey,

Carroll’s great-great grandfather. Torrey was a

teacher, lawyer, and judge. He was elected a member

of the convention called to revise the state constitution

in 1875.

“We have tried to be careful custodians of our

portion of this historical legacy,” Vicki said. “It’s been

a great source of pride to have a family steeped in

early Alabama history. We hope that this donation

will allow interested students, faculty and citizens

access to information about Alabama politics and life

in the early and mid-1800s.”

Little Things Give Hope

OOver the course of the year you may have noticed the

familiar image of a hot air balloon posted near the

checkout counter at your neighborhood Publix grocery

store. The hundreds of balloon cut outs represent hope

for USA Children & Women’s Hospital (USA C & W).

“Being an active part of our local community is

very important to the Publix Corporation,” Publix

District Manager Greg Boxx said. “We try to assist the

community and promote organizations who are serving

our customers.”

Local Publix stores have hosted an array of special

events in addition to seeking support from customers in

the checkout line to promote the work and mission of

USA C & W.

“We will do anything from a kissing a pig to a pie

in the face to support our Children’s Miracle Network

partner USA C & W,” Boxx said. “But we get the most

support from asking our customers and letting them

Rare books from the Dellet-Torry Collection

Deborah Gurt assistant librarian viewing pieces of the Dellet-Torry Collection

Publix customers and employees at a Mobile Publix Supermarket supporting USA C & W.

know their donation stays right here and helps those

close to home.”

The magic behind the support comes from the

Publix team members who care deeply for this cause

and enjoy finding fun and creative ways to ensure their

small part has a big impact for USA C & W.

“Each year we get the chance to visit the hospital

and it reminds all of us why this is so important,” Boxx

added. “To know what you’re doing and to feel like

you’ve helped it feels really good. It reminds you that it’s

all of our job to help take care of this community.”

“Each year we get the chance to visit the hospital, and it reminds all of us why

Lead On is a publication featuring the impact of recent philanthropic gifts made to the university. If you have questions or comments, please contact the this is so important.” development office at (251) 414-8116 or development@southalabama.edu.

— GREG B OXX, PUBLIX

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA // LEAD ON 4