UA Family Remembers April 27, Recognizes Capstone Heroes

September 6th, 2011 - Filed under: News

UA President Robert Witt speaks to audience.
High Quality Photo

 

Students, faculty and staff gathered around Palmer Lake at dusk on Aug. 28 to remember those students lost in the tornado, honor those who acted heroically in the aftermath, and celebrate the University’s moving forward since then.

Standing in the glow of luminaries, the audience heard speakers including UA President Robert Witt, Head Football Coach Nick Saban and Men’s Head Basketball Coach Anthony Grant among others as they praised the University’s strength of community and recognized six people as Capstone Heroes.

“From the first hour after the tornado to this very day, literally thousands of University of Alabama students, faculty and staff have committed hundreds of thousands of service hours to help our community and our campus,” said Witt.

After Witt’s opening remarks, the University Singers performed “I’ve Been in the Storm So Long,” and Dr. Mark Nelson, vice president for student affairs and vice provost, recognized the students killed in the tornado: Scott Atterton, Danielle Downs, Melanie Nicole Mixon, Ashley Harrison, Morgan Sigler and Marcus Smith.

Grant  then presented The Capstone Heroes Award, honoring students, employees, alumni and members of the community who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Recipients were Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, UA Army ROTC Cadet Charlie Stimpson, UA Greek Relief, UA student Amanda Phillips, and UA staff member Susan DeBruin and her husband Derek. They were praised for their courage, generosity and unselfishness, qualities expressed in the University’s Capstone Creed.

Maddox was praised for the compassionate leadership he provided to the Tuscaloosa  community. Stimpson was recognized for providing medical aid to storm victims both in the field and at DCH Medical Center. Phillips, who went home to Texas after the storm, led a  collection effort that brought an entire truckload of supplies back to Tuscaloosa storm victims.

Greek Relief, a volunteer effort by UA fraternities and sororities initially focused on serving hot meals to storm survivors and first responders, grew to include collections of water, toiletries and other supplies, and cash donations, in addition to serving 52,000 hot meals.

The DeBruins left their own damaged home to render aid to the injured and displaced.

After the awards were presented, Saban offered remarks, challenging the audience to learn from the example of the heroes of April 27 and keep service to others always in mind.

After the ceremony, attendees gathered for a reception at Ferguson Plaza, featuring food from Bama Dining and some of the restaurants damaged or destroyed by the storm.

 

Close