The Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership is proud to announce that 39 students have been selected to comprise the inaugural class of Shelby Scholars – an undergraduate program within the Institute. This prestigious undergraduate initiative is set to shape the future leaders of our state and nation. In 2023, Senator Richard Shelby donated his congressional materials to The University of Alabama to be archived for research and academic purposes and to benefit future leaders. Following his donation, the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership was created and endowed through appropriated federal funds and funds from The University of Alabama.
“It’s an honor to be selected as an inaugural Shelby Scholar,” said Samad Gillani, president of the Student Government Association from Hoover, Alabama. “We are all excited to benefit from this program, learn from accomplished leaders and better understand policymaking. I believe the group’s multidisciplinary makeup will lead to meaningful conversations about the various qualities of leadership impacting policy and public service.”
The launch of the Shelby Scholars program marks a significant milestone in the Institute’s history. This year’s cohort represents the first class to benefit from the program’s rigorous and comprehensive curriculum.
Stewart Hall, chair of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership’s Board of Advisors and CEO of Public Policy Holding Company, shared, “Our Board’s vision for the Shelby Scholars program is to cultivate future leaders who will make impactful contributions to our state and nation. We were deeply impressed by the caliber of applicants and are excited to support these promising students who have already demonstrated leadership excellence on and off campus.”
Finis E. St. John IV, executive director of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership and UA System Chancellor and Trustee emeritus, expressed enthusiasm about the program’s impact: “We look forward to working with these outstanding scholars. We know that these students will be leaders in the future in many fields, and our goal is to help prepare them for successful careers.”
As part of their curriculum, Shelby Scholars will participate in two exclusive classes this academic year: a speaker series featuring local, state and national leaders and a course on the Constitution’s role in modern society led by former UA Law School Dean and Shelby Institute Academic Director Mark E. Brandon. Outside of the coursework, Shelby Scholars will receive curated professional mentoring and support to participate in selective experiential learning opportunities, such as internships and undergraduate research.
The Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership is committed to fostering the next generation of leaders through a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary approach. The Shelby Scholars program offers a credit-bearing curriculum designed to provide students from any academic field with a deep understanding of policy and public service through unique programming, experiential learning, and interactions with prominent guest lecturers.
The inaugural class of Shelby Scholars includes:
Hannah Adams, Birmingham, AL
Kalleigh Ahern, Brentwood, TN
Jack Allison, Birmingham, AL
Ella Kate Brooks, Sylacauga, AL
Olivia Brown, Homewood, AL
Taylor Carnley, Opp, AL
Maria Derisavi, Great Mills, MD
Alexandra Dunn-Cordova, Bellevue, WA
Olivia Frazier, Birmingham, AL
Samad Gillani, Hoover, AL
Katherine Gray, Tuscaloosa, AL
Aubrei Grisaffe, Tulsa, OK
Andrew Hall, Birmingham, AL
Hudson Hanner, Gardendale, AL
Raegan Harris, Duncanville, AL
Pierce “Jack” Harris III, Guntersville, AL
Emma Hou, St. Louis, MO
Alton Hudson, Huntsville, AL
Marah Inman, Hattiesburg, MS
Sophia Lotzow, Bainbridge, IN
Teegan Mathey, Aurora, IL
Cameron Morgan, Butler, AL
Hannah Kate Newman, Ooltewah, TN
Bennett Ogle, Farragut, TN
Ally-Anna Outlaw, Brundidge, AL
Morgan Patrick, Hoover, AL
Autumn Pernell, Tuscaloosa, AL
Julienne Pharrams, Deatsville, AL
Chloe Pickle, Hamilton, AL
Michael Regnier, Wake Forest, NC
Finley Richardson, Saraland, AL
Claire Roberts, Tuscaloosa, AL
Matthew Savas, Crystal Lake, IL
Counts Shanks, Springdale, AR
William Shelby, Tuscaloosa, AL
Samantha Simmons, Hartselle, AL
Taylor Simmons, Cullman, AL
Andrew Stovall, Winfield, AL
Reagan Wells, DeFuniak Springs, FL
Applications for the 2025–2026 Shelby Scholars class will open in Spring 2025. For more information, please visit Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership.
This story was originally published by The University of Alabama.
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