Drake State Dean’s List, new UAH scholarship fund highlight Huntsville colleges news

Huntsville is a mecca of academia, thanks to the research established here decades ago by NASA and the history of success of the colleges and universities that call the Huntsville metro home. And Hville Blast wants to make sure and call attention to the happenings on the campuses of Alabama A&M, Oakwood University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Drake State Community & Technical College.

This week, we saw announcements from UAH regarding a family of alumni who have established a scholarship find, we heard about a new Army-readiness program at AAMU and the Dean’s List for the spring semester was announced at Drake State. Read more below!

UAH family establishes new scholarship fund

The University of Alabama in Huntsville announced this month that a multi-generational UAH family has continued their legacy of giving by establishing the Dailey and Pope Family History Scholarship.

Vella Dailey (B.A. History ‘76) credits UAH with playing a significant role in her family’s success. Vella and her husband, Everett, attended UAH, and their daughter, Amy Dailey Pope, also attended UAH, graduating in 1985 with a BS/BA in Administration Management and Marketing and in 1990 with a Master’s in Management. Vella also worked at UAH in the Human Resources Department.

That connection, including her grandson Russell Pope’s (B.A. History ’21) positive experience with the Department of History at UAH, prompted Vella to endow two scholarships at UAH, most recently the Dailey and Pope Family History Scholarship with a $25,000 gift to support undergraduate students pursuing a degree in history.

“There’s so much these scholarships can do. It behooves us to support what we think is worthwhile.”

Vella Dailey, UAH class of 1976

Alabama A&M forms partnership to boost Army readiness

The key research units of Alabama A&M University and Georgia Tech have formed a partnership aimed at helping sustain the Army’s readiness and modernization.

The AAMU-RISE Foundation and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have entered into a formal partnership to offer joint services to the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center; the U.S. Army Program Executive Office – Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors; and the Project Management Office – Aircraft Survivability Equipment.

The partnership was facilitated by the Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation and undergirds efforts by the Biden Administration to strengthen the research and development capabilities of historically black colleges and universities, such as the public Alabama A&M and the private Tougaloo.

“The mission and success of the AAMU-RISE Foundation has a profound impact on our campus, the Tennessee Valley community and our nation.”

Dr. Daniel K. Wims, president, Alabama A&M

Drake State announces Dean’s List for spring semester

Drake State Community & Technical College announced this week the students who made the Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester. To make the Dean’s List, students must maintain a 3.50 to 3.99 GPA.

The following students made the Dean’s List for the spring semester:

• Candace Abbington / Cosmetology 
• Kaitlyn Acklin / Cosmetology
• Ali Alhashim / Welding
• Quiana Battle / Medical Assistant
• Christian Baugher / Welding
• Ksean Belanger / Business Management
• Olivia Bias / Automotive
• Tyler Brandon / Electrical Technology
• Peter Conn / Welding
• Katelynn Coots / Liberal Arts
• Jordan Crandall / Machine Tool
• Michelle Dees / Medical Assistant
• Joseph Elkins / Electrical Technology
• Tristian Ervin / Automotive
• Jose Fernandez / Computer Information Systems
• Taliah Fletcher / Cosmetology
• Ci’Ana Germono / Cosmetology
• Alyson Guthrie / Automotive 
• Jacob Hilburn / Automotive 
• Asia Jefferson / Computer Information Systems
• Marcus Kyser / Computer Information Systems
• Kaletha Page / Cosmetology
• LaShante Robinson / Cosmetology
• Darious Taylor / HVAC
• Sasha Turner / Cosmetology
• Chanda Williams / Medical Assistant

Check back next week for more news on Huntsville’s colleges and universities. Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss announcements on what’s happening in and around Huntsville.