Category Archives: Education

AJU supports larger study of tuition spiral

Andrew Jackson University has made several big splashes in recent months. The wholly online institution of higher learning recently announced a plan that would eventually do away with students having to pay tuition costs for students. The university has now added rather vocal support of Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s expanded look into the tuition spiral (it looks like there’s already been a lot of research begun on the topic by our government agencies while searching, here’s one example).

Actually if you scroll down the page (which Andrew Jackson is currently on as well), you’ll see that it’s become a buzz word recently. We’d normally reserve this for that other section of the site, but we’re wondering what do you think – about the announcement and the problem as it affects us as a whole?

11th Circuit reverses Baker case decision

The 11th Circuit United States Court of Appeals has just posted this decision, ordering that the case brought by former physical education teacher Bruce Baker against the City of Birmingham’s Board of Education proceed. Since we can’t find any details about the original case, we’ll just link to their opinion as posted on their website.

Hunter Bledsoe places second

While he didn’t win – Hunter Bledsoe did place second! Considering that more than 55 million students participate in the National Geographic Bee each year, that is certainly an accomplishment.

Bledsoe, a 13 year-old from Trussville, AL, earns a $15,000 college scholarship for his performance at today’s 20th annual Geographic Bee earlier today.

So what question did Akshay Rajagopal of Lincoln, Nebraska win with?

The urban area of Cochabamba has been in the news in recent years due to protests over the privatization of the municipal water supply and regional autonomy issues. Cochabamba is the third largest conurbation in what country?

The answer was Bolivia.

Cheer on Hunter Bledsoe today!

Hunter Bledsoe from TrussvilleIf you’ve got the National Geographic Channel available to you this afternoon at 4 p.m., you may want to tune in and cheer on Trussville’s Hunter Bledsoe competes as one of the ten finalists in this year’s National Geographic Bee in Washington, DC. this morning beginning at 9 a.m. CT.

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XO laptops delivered; what about the boxes?

The first major delivery of XO laptop computers were made to students at Glen Iris Elementary School earlier this week. Approximately 700 computers were distributed. We all know how environmentally friendly the laptops are but what about the packaging?

XO laptop boxes recycled

AEC Program Coordinator Jenny Dorgan gets assistance from a student at Glen Iris Elementary School while preparing the boxes that delivered approximately 700 laptops for recycling. Photo courtesy of the Alabama Environmental Council.

Well, the Alabama Environmental Council let us know that they recycled 100% of the packaging from the first disbursement of the laptops (including all of these boxes that you’re seeing).

UPDATE: Blaze is lighting up UAB’s campus

Blaze

Bob Farley/f8Photo

The 3-ton, smoke-breathing statue of UAB’s mascot, Blaze, was unveiled Tuesday afternoon in front of the Bartow Arena. The 9 foot tall by 16 foot long, 7,000 pound smoke spewing statue created by artist T.J. Neil of Homosassa, FL. It cost approximately $30,000 was commissioned by the UAB National Alumni Society. UAB president Carol Garrison said the statue will breath smoke on special occasions, the first of which will be this weekend’s commencement (it starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday).

UPDATE: 5.1.2008; Click on the image above to view a few other images from the unveiling.

Langford’s had a busy day…

Langford with school children. acnatta/Flickr

Mayor Langford speaks to students at Phillips Academy during Wachovia’s Way2Save event on April 22. acnatta/Flickr.

Larry Langford’s been a busy individual this morning. Here he’s seen talking to area school children during today’s Wachovia Way2Save event. Representatives from four area schools each received $2,000 for their scholarship funds at the event. The mayor spent most of the time he was at the event taking pictures with the children and answering questions about this morning’s approval of his proposal to pay for free bus rides in Birmingham beginning in May and running through August by the City Council.

According to the blog post made earlier today by The Birmingham News, the BJCTA board still needs to approve the proposal during their board meeting tomorrow.