UAB Briefs: Former UAB hoops player nominated as NCAA Woman of the Year
In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus.
A former UAB basketball standout has been named a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The Civitan-Sparks Clinics is selling tickets for its James Bond-themed fundraiser in November.
And UAB is once again offering free community English language classes.
Know people, places and programs on the UAB campus that deserve a mention? Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.
A STAR OFF THE COURT
Deanna Kuzmanic, a former player on the UAB women’s basketball squad who distinguished herself both on the court and off, has been named a Top 30 finalist for the 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, according to UAB Media Relations.
She’s the first UAB student-athlete since 2011 to be a Top 30 finalist for the award, which recognizes women for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and community service.
In October, the pool for the award will be narrowed to nine finalists — three from each NCAA division. The winner for 2019 will be named and the Top 30 honorees recognized at a banquet in Indianapolis on Oct. 20
A native of Mount Prospect, Ill., Kuzmanic graduated from UAB this spring with a B.S. in mathematics and a minor in STEM education. She received the Conference USA Academic Medal four times, was named to the All-Academic team in the conference three times and received the Conference USA Postgraduate Scholarship Award.
As a player, she was twice named to the Conference USA All-Conference Team.
Kuzmanic also completed more than 125 hours of community service as a student. Among her many activities, she served as a reading mentor in elementary schools in the Birmingham area.
Currently, Kuzmanic is playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico and, after her basketball career, plans to teach high school math and coach basketball.
“I want to take my experiences as a student athlete to the high school level to show the aspiring athletes how important academics are as well,” Kuzmanic said in a UAB news release.
“I really want to be a positive influence in the lives of kids,” she said.
NCAA Woman of the Year nominees are selected from a pool of 585 women — from 20 sports over all three NCAA divisions — who are nominated by their universities.
Former Georgia track and field standout Keturah Orji was named the NCAA Woman of the Yea for 2018
BOND NIGHT
The Research Civitan Club will host its annual gala on Saturday, Nov. 2, to raise money for the Civitan-Sparks Clinics at UAB.
The gala, Bond Night: 007, will be an elegant James Bond theme and will include food, games, prize drawings and other activities.
The Civitan-Sparks Clinics provide evaluation and intervention for people with a wide range of physical, developmental, learning and behavioral challenges and does so in a family-centered, culturally sensitive setting.
The facility has provided evaluation and diagnostic services for developmental, behavioral and genetic disorders for nearly 45 years, according to Megan McMurray, an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and one of the event organizers.
“We hope the public and the UAB community will join us in dressing up for a night of fun and excitement to benefit this good cause,” McMurray said in a UAB news release.
The gala is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for the public and UAB faculty and staff. Tickets are $15 for graduate students, interns, residents and postdoctoral employees.
To purchase tickets or make a donation, go to eventbrite.com.
LEARNING ENGLISH
Free community English classes — hosted by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the School of Education — are now available at UAB on Thursday nights and Friday mornings, according to UAB Media Relations.
The English lessons, which are taught by community volunteers or by graduate students being trained to become ESL teachers, incorporate integrated listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar skills.
Two classes with five different levels, ranging from emerging English language learners to advanced, will be offered every Thursday from 7:30-9 p.m., through Dec. 5, and every Friday from 9:30-11 a.m., through Dec. 6.
English language learners who wish to take a class will be given a placement test that evaluates their listening, speaking, reading and writing English language knowledge. A placement test is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the UAB Education Building, 901 13th St. South, Room 118.
There is no cost for the participants. For more information, contact 975-5045 or jprado@uab.edu.