Wenonah High School students returned winners in the Birmingham City Schools District Science Fair on January 21, 2014 at the Southern Museum of Flight. Of all Birmingham City High Schools, Wenonah students placed first in nearly every category. Breanna Jordan rose to the top, winning first place in Biology with her project entitled “WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF ENZYMES ON A PROTEIN?” Students Takiria Lee & Denisha McNearly excelled,  placing first in Physical Science with “DOES THE TEMPERATURE ON A SURFACE EFFECT THE EXTRACTING OF FINGERPRINTS?” In the same category, Wynter Rudolph earned second place honors with “IS THE BURNING SPEED OF A SCENTED CANDLE FASTER THAN UNSCENTED CANDLE?”  In addition, Jaylin McCurdy’s project, “WHAT PAPER ABSORBS THE MOST?” was selected to advance to the Regional Science Fair with her classmates’ exhibits.
As if more accolades were needed, of the many projects submitted district-wide, Wenonah High School won Best Of Show with Takiria Lee’s & Denisha  McNearly’s exhibit, “DOES THE TEMPERATURE ON A SURFACE EFFECT THE EXTRACTING OF FINGERPRINTS?”
Principal Regina Carr-Hope expressed her congratulations to the Science Department and Science chair Jacqueline Taylor Willis. All of Wenonah’s participants will enter the Regional Science Fair that will take place March 1, at UAB

 Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) is now taking applications for its Legacy Youth Leadership Program (LYLP), a BCRI docent training and volunteer program for high school students. Eligibility is open to students in grades 9-12. Applications are available to download at www.bcri.org. Deadline to apply is Friday, February 21, 2014 at 5 p.m.For more information, call 205-328-9696 x 235.
The 2014 LYLP is supported by PNC Bank and utilizes BCRI’s mission, collections, programs, and partnerships to engage area high school students in a series of training experiences and internship opportunities that will help them develop into lifelong learners, productive citizens, and community leaders. The objective of LYLP is to: 1) promote student confidence, self-esteem, character, and community involvement through active participation, and (2) involve students as leaders in project planning and implementation.
Upon acceptance into the program, students are expected to attend a series of 12 weekly participatory workshops. The workshops will help build students’ knowledge base of BCRI’s permanent galleries, archival holdings, and public programs through three segments: BCRI exhibitions, African American history and culture, and leadership development. Students will also be expected to attend BCRI public programs as well as participate in college visits. In the summer of 2014, students who successfully complete the program will serve as Docents (tour guides) at BCRI. LYLP alumni are expected to continue to serve as BCRI volunteers throughout their high school tenure.
LYLP was created to recognize the pivotal role children played in the Civil Rights Movement, including the Children’s March of 1963. The 2013 LYLP students provided guided tours for 4,000 youngsters and chaperones. They also attended a week long National Youth Leadership Summit sponsored by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Ninety-four students have completed the LYLP since its inception in 2008.

The historical university seeks strong leadership in new president

TUSKEGEE, Ala. – On Saturday, the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees selected AGB Search to immediately begin a national search for the next president of this prestigious, renowned and important Historically Black University (HBCU). The announcement was made by Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charles E. Williams.
The board chairman has appointed Trustee Felker Ward to chair the Search Firm Management Sub-Committee. The committee will report to Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charles E. Williams and the board, and stay on top of the day-to-day activities of this critical search. AGB Search will work closely with the board and the committee to identify and present a slate of highly competitive and credentialed candidates who would advance the prestigious legacy of the university founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington.
AGB Search is an affiliate of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), and draws on more than 90 years of experience in educational and institutional governance as well as collaborative leadership.
“We are fortunate to work with one of the finest search firms in the nation to work on behalf of one of the finest universities in the nation,” said Chairman Williams. “As individuals and trustees who are deeply committed to Tuskegee University, we seek to identify the leader who will build on the legacy of excellence and leadership that has been the foundation of Tuskegee over more than 100 years.”
Dr. James Ferrare, managing principal of AGB Search stated: “Tuskegee is known for its rich historical roots and commitment to students, and AGB has supported some of our nation’s most prestigious institutions to find their next leader. We look forward to bringing that same level of commitment to the Tuskegee community.”
With upward trends in student retention and academic performance, faculty teaching, research productivity and enrollment, Tuskegee University remains a globally competitive university that prepares graduates for success and service.
As one of the nation’s leading institutes of higher education, Tuskegee University has had only six presidents in its 132 years of service. With a profound historical legacy of leadership, Tuskegee’s next president will be carefully selected to ensure both continued growth of the university and their next generation of young leaders.
Impassioned and loyal, the Tuskegee University family of alumni, students, faculty, donors, partners and leadership look forward to the opportunity to embrace a new president with vision and a high performance record of leadership.

Founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee University is home to approximately 3,000 students from the U.S. and 30 foreign countries. The institution is accredited by the Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and all of its professional programs are accredited by their respective agencies.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Nearly 100 authors are scheduled to showcase their written works during the Local Authors Expo and Book Fair on Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place. The event is free and open to the public. 
 The event provides an outlet for authors, many of them self-published, to sell their books and to network. But it also gives library patrons an opportunity to discover new talent and talk to authors about their writing style and writing journey. Book topics include Birmingham and Alabama history, civil rights, poetry, memoirs, devotionals, relationships, inspiration and motivation, self-help, children’s fiction, Christian fiction, teen fiction, fantasy, romance, thrillers, science fiction and historical fiction.
“One of the main missions of the library is to connect authors and readers,’’ says Expo coordinator Jared Millett. “The Local Authors Expo lets us shine a spotlight on Birmingham’s own writing community, and it gives the authors an opportunity to promote their works directly to the public.’’ 
 Interest in the expo continues to grow. Foot traffic in the Birmingham Public Library the weekend of the 2013 Expo was 1,800 – double what it was for a normal February weekend and triple what it was for the 2011 Expo.
“I’m excited to do the Expo because I’m going to be among numerous writers who have produced rich and significant works on Birmingham’s history,’’ says Karen R. Utz, who co-wrote “Iron & Steel: A Guide to Birmingham Area Industrial Heritage Sites’’ with James R. Bennett. “Also I’m a huge supporter of the Birmingham Library and all of the wonderful branches. Anytime I can help the library system, I’m there.’’
The Expo will have two writing sessions in the Arrington Auditorium. The sessions are free and don’t require advance registration. 
 At 10 a.m., young adult author and full-time Spanish teacher Anne Riley from Birmingham will lead a session called “How to Write While Having a Life.” She will explain how to make writing a book a manageable task when you also have a job and family. Her first novel, “Shadows of the Hidden,” was released in 2012 and published through Compass Press. Recently, she secured a book deal with Spencer Hill Press to publish her book “Pull.’’
People often ask Riley, a 30-year-old mother of a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, when she finds time to write. She says she makes the time, which can come during her school lunch break, right after school or during a weekend break from home when her husband can watch their children for a few hours.
“You just pick a time that works for you and you do your best to protect it,’’ she says.
At 1 p.m., seejanewritebham.com will offer practical tips on how to use blogging and social media to reach readers and promote one’s work. Featured speakers will be Alabama authors Stephanie Naman and Kathryn C. Lang and seejanewritebham.com founder and blogger Javacia Harris Bowser.
“In our workshop, we will discuss ways authors can use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and a number of other social networking sites to promote their work,’’ says Bowser. “We’ll also discuss the importance of blogging and how to build a platform.”
Also, Books-A-Million will be on hand to talk about a new book publishing service they offer. The company now has the Expresso Book Machine, the only one of its kind in Alabama, which allows authors to submit their works to be published. Customers may also browse the company’s database of over 7 million titles and request that a book be printed and bound in minutes just by using the Expresso Book Machine.
The machine is designed to make self-publishing easy by turning someone’s words and/or images into a book. A person can publish anything from their own poetry or grandmother’s recipes to childhood photos or a novel. Books-A-Million offers a variety of packages and services to meet an author’s needs. Three Expresso Book Machine packages give authors the opportunity to sell their book at the Colonial Brookwood Village store. (Note: The machine will not be at the library on Feb. 1. But store representatives will be at the Expo to take questions and explain the process and services.)
“We are committed to assisting local authors as they work to get their written masterpieces off the ground,” said Mary Gallagher, senior vice president of merchandising at Books-A-Million. “It is our hope that many of the new books found on the shelves at Books-A-Million will be printed and bound by this cutting edge printing equipment.”
Here’s additional information about the speakers:

    •    Birmingham author Anne Riley has written four books and has had two published. She’s already making plans for her next book, which will be a young teen novel set in Alabama.
Her website is www.annerileybooks.com.  Follow her on
Twitter at @anneriley.

•    Guntersville-based writer Kathryn Lang is the author of 10 books including her latest nonfiction work “Place in Purpose.” Lang describes herself as a “hopesmith,” crafting hope for those she encounters through her books, columns, teachings and presentations because she knows that hope makes everything possible. Her website is www.kathrynlang.com.
Follow her on Twitter at @kathrynclang .
 

   •    Billie Thomas is the pseudonym of Birmingham-based author Stephanie Naman, whose day job is in the advertising industry. Her clever and comical murder mystery “Murder on the First Day of Christmas,” follows the adventures of amateur sleuth Chloe Carstairs. She blogs as Chloe at chloegetsaclue.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ChloeGetsAClue.

 •    Javacia Harris Bowser is a blogger, freelance journalist and the founder of See Jane Write, which is a networking organization for women writers. She is also founder of seejanewritemagazine.com.
Her websites include: www.seejanewritebham.com and
www.seejanewritemagazine.com
Follow her on Twitter: @seejanewritemag,
@seejanewritebhm and @writeousbabe
The Local Authors Expo is presented by the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library, a nonprofit association that supports Birmingham Public Library special needs by providing volunteer and financial resources.
For more information and to see a list of the 2014 authors, visit http://www.bplonline.org/programs/LocalAuthors/

Alabama Power saw a surge of hydro generation in 2013 due to ample rain and wise management of water resources. The company generated 8 percent of the electricity needs of its customers from hydro resources last year – double the percentage of hydro generation for 2012.
“Hydro generation is one of Alabama Power’s most cost-effective forms of generation and our customers benefit from our stewardship of this natural resource,” said Jim Heilbron, Alabama Power senior vice president and senior production officer.
The increase in hydro generation is mainly the result of last year’s above-average rainfall. That contrasts with much drier weather in 2012, when many areas of the state were suffering from some level of drought.
Turbine upgrades at Lay Dam also helped the company produce more hydro energy last year. Alabama Power has 14 hydroelectric facilities on 12 lakes across the state.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state.

 The Alabama Blues Project is searching for teen vocalists to join its award-winning Advanced Band. The opportunity is open to middle and highschool students. Members of the Advanced Band receive intensive professional instruction and routinely perform at community events. The band practices together weekly during afterschool camps. Interested candidates should contact the Alabama Blues Project by calling Executive Director Paula Demonbreun at 205-752-6263 or emailing paula@alabamablues.org. For more information about the Alabama Blues Project Advanced Band, please visit www.alabamablues.org.
The Alabama Blues Project is a nonprofit organization in Northport, Ala., committed to preserving and raising awareness about blues music in Alabama. The ABP offers blues education through in-school, summer and afterschool programs.

The Advanced Band
Music students who display a high level of dedication and improvement may be asked to participate in the Alabama Blues Project’s Advanced Band. These young musicians will receive a more intensive learning experience, having the opportunity to rehearse each week as a structured band. While honing their music skills and working together, they also learn to recognize and play a variety of Blues styles and sometimes write original songs. The first Advanced Band was formed in 2005 and as members graduate from high school and leave the band, the legacy continues with new young musicians each year. The band has performed at Cityfest, Kentuck Art Festival, Magic City Blues Festival and Market Street Festival and the Bama Theatre. The band has put on a live show for Alabama Public Television, and met with Bonnie Raitt when she played Tuscaloosa.
In 2006, The Advanced Band performed in Memphis as the Blues Foundation’s “Keeping the Blues Alive” award ceremony and the group recorded a CD before many of the original Advanced Band members graduated from high school in 2007. The Alabama Blues Project’s Advanced Bands have had the opportunity to share the stage with many Blues greats, including Tinsley Ellis, Willie King, Sam Lay, Dr. G.B. Burt, Eddie Kirkland, Bobby Rush, Bettie Mae Fikes and Carroline Shines. The Alabama Blues Project’s Advanced Band is a wonderful opportunity for up-and-coming musicians.

photo by Joe Rada

First HOPE Inside location in the state of Alabama will be at a Birmingham branch of Regions Bank.
John Hope Bryant’s plan to rebuild families, neighborhoods and cities is really quite simple.
“We’re going to move credit scores up 100 points and watch neighborhoods take off,” Bryant said.
The founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE, Bryant joined Regions Financial President, Chairman and CEO Grayson Hall and Protective Life Corp. Chairman, President and CEO John D. Johns on Jan. 23 at Regions headquarters in Birmingham to announce the first commitment for HOPE Inside locations in the state of Alabama.
“This is about helping people succeed financially to make our community stronger,” said Hall. “Financial education gives people the knowledge and information they need to make decisions that will benefit themselves and their families.”
The first HOPE Inside location in Alabama will be housed in the Regions Bank Five Points South branch near downtown Birmingham. HOPE Inside offices offer free adult financial education, individual financial counseling guidance and financial disaster recovery workshops to people who seek to build personal wealth or protect assets from disasters. Through the new HOPE Inside partnership, Operation HOPE will be able to provide customized, one-on-one financial education to more people throughout the Birmingham area.
“Operation HOPE is a global leader in helping individuals and families build financial capacity and achieve financial dignity through their strong financial literacy programs,” said John D. Johns, CEO, Protective Life Corporation. “We are pleased to partner with Regions to bring the HOPE Inside program to Alabama, and we are excited about the impact this program will have in our community.”
Through education, Bryant said, people can reclaim their financial dignity while effectively altering a rising high school dropout rate.
“Kids drop out of high school for a simple reason: They don’t think education is relevant,” Bryant said. “We’re going to plug the aspiration socket back in the wall.”
Bryant said Regions and Protective Life have played key roles in funding and support in getting HOPE Inside to Birmingham, noting that Operation HOPE asked for one Birmingham location and Regions instead provided two. The second one will be in Woodlawn.
A financial advisor to three U.S. presidents, Bryant said his ties to Birmingham go back to his mother, a Birmingham native who reared him in Los Angeles.
He said the problems of lower-income residents of Birmingham are universal to those across the country, regardless of race or background.
“If we can fix it in Birmingham, then we can fix it in Detroit and we can fix it in the South Side of Chicago, and we can fix it so that people in South Central Los Angeles have hope,” Bryant said.

MARION, Ala. – Judson College will host its spring Preview and Scholarship Day on Feb. 15.
High school seniors and transfer students are invited to participate in testing for academic scholarships, tryouts for athletic scholarships, and auditions for performing arts scholarships.
Academic scholarships to be awarded after Saturday’s tests are based on a four-year enrollment period and include one full-tuition scholarship, two $10,000 scholarships, and three $8,000 scholarships. Performing arts scholarships are available in piano, organ, voice and theatre, and athletic scholarships are available for soccer, softball, tennis, basketball and volleyball.
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association will also hold its Alabama competition on the Judson campus that day. Equine competitions are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Equine Science Center, Dunkin Athletic Park, on the Judson College campus.
More information is available on the college website, www.judson.edu, by calling the admissions office at 800.447.9472, or by sending an e-mail: admissions@judson.edu.