UAH hosted its first Sapphire Excellence Awards gala on April 2, recognizing outstanding alumni, partners and supporters whose contributions have strengthened the university and the broader community. The event celebrated individuals and organizations across multiple categories, highlighting achievements in professional success, philanthropy, research impact and long-standing community partnership with UAH.

“Our more than 50,000 alumni are living all across the globe supporting nonprofits, universities, hospitals, businesses and government,” said Kristina Hendrix, vice president for strategic communications. “Tonight, we will be celebrating alumni and friends of the university who have made a significant impact on our beloved institution.”

The inaugural gala marked an expansion of UAH’s recognition program and underscored the university’s commitment to celebrating those who continue to advance its mission through leadership, innovation and service.

Congratulations to the awardees!

• Presidential Community Award
  • Huntsville Hospital Health System
• Charger Champion Award
  • Dr. Kathy Chan and Dr. Francisco Collazo
• Research Impact Award
  • NASA Surya Heliophysics Foundation Model Team
• Distinguished Alumni Fellows
  • Shane Davis
  • Amir Deylami
  • Brad Hill
  • Michelda Johnson
  • Dr. Prabodh Satyal
  • Gerald Smith
• Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD)
  • Lauren Bowers
  • Anvi Dalal
  • Matthew Gardner
  • Caroline Dodd McAnally
  • Taylor Reed
  • Shannon Collins Shaver

UAH women’s basketball capped a landmark 2025–26 season with an NCAA Division II national semifinals appearance, finishing with a program-record 32 wins and setting new marks for conference victories, home wins and NCAA Tournament success. The Chargers claimed their first-ever Gulf South Conference regular season title, earned a Top 25 national ranking for the first time and hosted the NCAA South Regional, solidifying the most accomplished season in program history.

Individually, UAH senior Lili Wilken capped her historic season with a program-record 836 points, while the team also collected numerous postseason honors, including conference and national awards for both players and head coach Allen Sharpe.

The UAH College of Nursing will transition to a four-semester BSN program beginning in Fall 2026, creating a more consistent academic workload and better aligning with workforce demands and student needs. Developed with faculty and student input, the redesigned curriculum emphasizes integrated learning and earlier clinical application, while maintaining an accelerated option for second-degree students.

“This change reflects our commitment to ensuring our program supports both student success and the evolving needs of the nursing profession,” said Dr. Karen Frith, dean of the College of Nursing.

UAH and Northrop Grumman celebrated more than 60 internship and full-time offers extended to UAH students and graduates, highlighting the success of the university’s long-standing i4 employer engagement model. The program’s structured, multi-phase approach connects students with employers early and supports their development through to career placement.

“Seeing those relationships translate into internships and full-time roles underscores the value of engaging students early and investing in their development over time,” said Candace Phillips, senior coordinator of career services at UAH.

As part of the 2026 Business of Space Conference, a featured fireside chat highlighted the successful collaboration between NASA and Blue Origin, including the restoration of the historic Apollo-era Test Stand 4670 and its 500th hot-fire test since 2023. The partnership demonstrates how public-private collaboration can advance space exploration while driving innovation and economic growth.

The 2027 Business of Space Conference is set for Feb. 28–March 2, 2027.

UAH Charger Athletics officially dedicated its softball facility as Les Stuedeman Field on April 3, celebrating the remarkable career and lasting impact of longtime head coach Les Stuedeman.

During her more than two decades leading the program, she built UAH into a national contender, compiling a 1,268-431-1 record, 26 NCAA Tournament appearances and multiple regional titles. Alumni, former players, university leadership and community members came together to celebrate Stuedeman’s decades of leadership and achievement at the dedication ceremony.

The Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony will be held Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena. The ceremony will be live-streamed – check the Commencement page for details!

Click the link below to check out a list of other upcoming events across campus! 

The University of Alabama in Huntsville

301 Sparkman Drive

Huntsville, AL 35899

contactus@uah.edu

256.824.1000

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