August 1, 2000
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Cullman High School student has been awarded the first comprehensive scholarship from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business and the Unus Foundation. Cassie Morgan, 17, received the first Nail/Edwards Scholar Award, which carries with it complete financial assistance for tuition, fees, books, room and board at UAB — a financial package valued at more than $10,550 per year for four years. The Unus Foundation is a non-profit scholarship-oriented organization founded by its president, Stephen Chazen. By next fall, 30 students will have Unus Foundation scholarships throughout the nation.
The Nail/Edwards Scholar Award is named in honor of Lance Nail, Ph.D., an assistant professor of finance at UAB, and Kim Edwards, a UAB graduate in finance and accounting who went to work at Unus Foundation. The award will be given annually to graduating seniors from Alabama public high schools who have been admitted to the pre-business program at UAB, intend to obtain a business degree at UAB, and who have a minimum ACT score of 27 or a minimum SAT score of 1200.
Besides Cassie, two other students, who were finalists for the Nail/Edwards Award, were awarded scholarships. Kristy Humaideh, 17, of Hanceville High School, won two, four-year scholarships, a Marshall Scholarship ($5,275 a year) and a Pizitz Scholarship ($2,500 a year). Josh Long, 17, also of Cullman High, won a Marshall Scholarship.
All three students visited the UAB campus March 9 with their high school counselors. During the visit the students were interviewed by faculty and staff of the UAB School of Business and the Unus Foundation.