Rinehart says he chose the students based on leadership abilities and representation from the various sections in the band. All seven of his nominations were selected to participate.

“I knew that I had selected very strong candidates,” he said. “I’m always saying that the students we have here at South Alabama can stack up against any school in the country, and I was right!”

The members of the Jaguar Marching Band selected are Grant Skinner, junior, drum major; Cecelia Prentiss, senior, assistant drum major; Michaela Rader, senior, feature twirler; Sam Goecke, junior drumline; Tyler Butler, senior, trumpet; Israel Valenzuela, senior, saxophone; and Victoria French, senior, piccolo.

“After learning about what this experience has to offer, I knew it would be a great opportunity to showcase the talents of not only members of the Jaguar Marching Band, but of musicians around the country that have most likely had their marching season affected due to the ongoing pandemic,” Skinner said.

The Intercollegiate Marching Band will perform “End of Time” by Beyonce in a video that will premiere online on the Intercollegiate Marching Band YouTube channel.

“This is going to be a historical performance,” said Dr. Mark Spede, president of CBDNA and the director of bands at Clemson University. “In this unusual year when bands have been unable to perform their traditional pregame and halftime shows during college football games, we are pleased to offer this opportunity.”

All band members were required to learn the music, then record and submit a video of themselves performing it. Those videos were edited together into the final product.

“I had a great experience being a part of the virtual band,” French said. “I am looking forward to seeing the final product and witnessing the wide variety of band members come together to create this show.”

COVID-19 has canceled many activities, but the virus allowed people to get creative and expand opportunities for band members across the nation.

“With the creation of this video, hundreds of students have been given the opportunity to perform at one of the nation’s most popular sporting events,” Butler said. “That is a pretty special opportunity as a musician.”

(Courtesy of the University of South Alabama)

Kozelsky added that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the need to invest in digital resources.

“When classes went on-line last March and this fall due to COVID, we learned that many of our students did not have computers,” she said. “Many only had tablets or their cellphones to complete highly complex assignments.”

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, eighteen percent of Alabama households do not have computers and thirty-one percent do not have internet access.

“There will always be a need for university investment in digital labs and computer labs,” Kozelsky said. “Even if the state makes gains in expanding internet access and equipping students with computers, technology will continuously evolve beyond our students’ ability to afford.”

The digital lab is expected to be ready for the fall 2021 semester. Initially it is believed the grant will be enough to fund room renovations and between 10-12 computer stations. Donations will help fill gaps the grant cannot cover as well future expansion. It also has the potential to benefit the entire student body since all students must take a history course before graduation.

“The lab will also be available to other departments for scheduling digital humanities classes. Our goal is to make it of widest possible benefit,” Kozelsky said.

(Courtesy of the University of South Alabama)

The Gosas have been generous supporters of the University. Dr. Bob Wood, dean of the Mitchell College of Business, emphasized the impact the Gosa’s donations make in the lives of students. “This transformational gift will positively impact countless business and nursing students in the years to come and allow them to complete their degrees without the overriding concern of the cost of tuition,” Wood said.

Gosa met his wife, Pat, while attending South. She spent her career as a registered nurse and, together, they want to provide opportunities in the healthcare field.

“The College of Nursing is so honored and grateful to Jake and Pat Gosa for their generous gift to ensure more South Alabama graduates are working in nursing practice to provide comprehensive healthcare to patients,” said Dr. Heather Hall, dean of the College of Nursing.

Gosa hopes that current USA students will become supporters of the University in the future. “You’re going to restart your life after graduation,” Gosa said. “You can create any life you would like; you just need a plan. I encourage you to look back at what the University of South Alabama meant to you, and remember your roots.”

(Courtesy of the University of South Alabama)

The project is a collaboration between South, the University of Alabama, the University of North Carolina, the University of California, Irvine, communities in Alabama’s Black Belt region, the Consortium for Alabama Rural Water & Wastewater and state and federal officials.

White has studied wastewater treatment for 25 years and has been able to bring academia, government officials, state agencies and the private sector to the table to address the problem connected with poor infrastructure.

In addition to the initial award, Columbia World Projects will match up to $5 million raised separately. White and his colleague Dr. Mark Elliott, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at the University of Alabama recently submitted a $5 million proposal to the United States Department of Agriculture they hope can be used as a match.

“Finally, with some projects funded, we are beginning to make a difference,” White said. “If not for COVID-19, many onsite systems would have been installed in the spring. But soon both onsite and clusters of homes in Hale, Wilcox, and Marengo counties will have functional sewer.”

Alabama’s Black Belt historically includes 17 counties that stretch from southwest of Tuscaloosa across the state to the Georgia line southeast of Auburn. Named for its dark impermeable soil that does not support standard septic systems.

The project calls for installing and testing new wastewater treatment systems at select pilot site clustered and decentralized, connecting neighboring homes or businesses in a single system that collects, treats and re-uses water, reducing the cost of upkeep.

Data on how to adopt such treatment systems will be collected and published on an open-source platform, so that governments and rural communities worldwide can benefit from what is learned.

“I think we are on our way to making good things happen. Better public health protection, better environmental health protection, better economic development outlook,” White said.

(Courtesy of the University of South Alabama)

“I always admired and respected business leaders, so it was only fitting to study business administration, plus I wanted to understand the stock market,” Hunter explained.

He also decided he need a bike to get around campus. Shocked by the high prices of quality bicycles, Hunter bit the bullet and decided if he was going to spend that much money, it was going to be a commitment — he rode it everywhere during his time at South.

Following graduation in 2009, he started his career and eventually landed a job in Chicago as a financial analyst for a large healthcare company. The job was fine, but Hunter wanted more—knew he should be doing more—to inspire and motivate others.

“In May, after a long and exhausting fast, the Huntertale idea was born. I knew this idea was given by God as a test and testimony,” he said. “I wanted to do something cool that I could share with my kids and grandkids.”

That something needed to be epic, something inspiring. That’s when he went back to his bike. Hunter had been riding some but was spending most of his time sitting at his desk. He decided to quit his job, get into shape, and make the 1,000-mile trek from his home in Chicago to his hometown of Mobile.

“My family and friends were worried because they thought I would be a victim of racism due to our current political climate,” Hunter said. “Someone almost persuaded me to not take the trip, but as soon as I laid my head on the pillow, I remembered my motivation.”

Hunter wanted to use his social media savvy to promote, not only his ride but also the businesses he visited along the route and share ideas with others. But first, there were plenty of details to iron out. He thought he might be able to make it in 10 to 14 days before thinking better of it and decided to extend the trip to 21 days.

His business partner insisted he map out a detailed route and she would update his progress on his website jaysumhunter.com.

“Doing this and putting it out to the world made it real and at that point I was all in,” he said.

After 45 days of hard training and preparation, he felt confident about the trip. On Aug. 3, he set off on his journey, making his way south but the road took its toll.

“The toughest part was being exposed to the sun all day and becoming mentally and physically fatigued after seven days, knowing you have two more weeks to go,” he said.

It wasn’t all hardship, Hunter experienced many memorable moments including crossing the Ohio River from Illinois into Kentucky, seeing wildlife along the route and the amazement of people when they learned what he was doing. He allowed himself the comfort of a hotel bed each night and savored every moment he was able to coast downhill giving his aching legs a much-needed break.

Finally, on Day 21 Hunter pedaled into Mobile and into the teeth of Tropical Storm Marco that was lashing the area. Perhaps a fitting end to a difficult endeavor.

“I was planning a grand celebration of me taking a photo with the bike over my head, but after biking in the tropical storm I just wanted a hot shower and to see my grandma,” he said.

Back in Chicago, Hunter is looking to restart his career, confident of his future knowing he can step far outside of his comfort zone and succeed. He also has a great story to tell.

(Courtesy of the University of South Alabama)