Breanna Fisher is a student on the UAB Honors College’s Personalized Path pursuing an undergraduate certificate in leadership through the Honors Leadership Academy. She is double majoring in psychology and criminal justice from the College of Arts and Sciences.

As a first-generation college student, there were many reasons Breanna chose the Personalized Path. After moving to a new city with no family, she sought to create a sense of belonging for herself in an unfamiliar environment. The Personalized Path opened the door to new opportunities for leadership and involvement, but it was the Honors Leadership Academy that unlocked meaningful connections and personal growth. Through the academy, she has learned how to invest in herself, find her voice, develop her leadership style, and inspire the communities she serves.

Honors College leadership has given Breanna a space where she felt supported to pursue her passions and learned how to use them to create change. Her leadership journey started as Student Mentor and Retreat Team (SMART) Leader and later, a Coordinator. On campus, she serves as the president of the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA), research assistant in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, and community engagement and volunteer training coordinator for UAB AmeriCorps.

After receiving a Ph.D., Breanna plans to use her knowledge and skills to build a career as a researcher to understand community challenges, and as an educator to create policies to make sustainable change.

While she keeps a busy schedule, Breanna dedicates her free time to exploring Birmingham’s character and culture – finding new places to visit and appreciating nature through its many trails.

Jasmine Zhang is a student in one of the UAB Honors College’s specialized programs, the University Honors Program (UHP). She is pursuing a major in neuroscience from the College of Arts and Sciences.

With humanities-based interests and a strong background in writing, Jasmine selected UHP to explore a variety of subjects related to interdisciplinary arts and sciences. With access to small classes and meaningful discussions, she felt challenged yet supported by the faculty and their courses that enabled her to pursue varied interests beyond her STEM-focused coursework, in and out of the classroom.

As a student in the Honors College, Jasmine has been exposed to different initiatives including the annual Blazing Hot Topics Networking Dinner, which allowed her to connect with community leaders and students who share her interests. With hopes of attending medical school and becoming a physician, she appreciated connecting with honors alumni at the Insider Tips for Success in Medical School event, where she learned how they navigated successful careers in healthcare after completing medical school.

With these experiences, Jasmine also learned how to lead with the intent to listen to others and advocate for their needs. She practices her leadership skills as an Honors Ambassador and UHP representative on the Honors College Leadership Council (HCLC). She volunteered with many honors initiatives including Blazer Kitchen during Day of Service and STAIR of Birmingham for her UHP community service project. Additional campus involvement includes Alpha Xi Delta, 1917 Clinic, PATH Clinic, and Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP). She also serves as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology and hospice volunteer.

Jasmine’s favorite way to spend her free time is running, particularly in half marathons.

Jason Mbila is a student in one of the UAB Honors College’s specialized programs, the Science and Technology Honors Program (STH). He is pursuing a major in biomedical sciences from the School of Health Professions.

Early in his undergraduate journey, Jason knew he wanted to be surrounded by like-minded students who shared his passion for science and impactful research. As one of the first experiences during his freshman year, the STH Retreat gave him this sense of fulfillment because he was connected to the community of students he searched for at UAB.

Jason attributes his growing confidence to the Honors College because he was encouraged to confront uncomfortable situations and embrace challenges by speaking up in his classes, starting conversations with new people, and applying for student leadership. That confidence led him to apply and serve as a Student Mentor and Retreat Team (SMART) Leader and health and well-being chair on the STH Executive Council. During his freshman year, he also volunteered to participate on the Honors College’s team in one of UAB’s beloved homecoming traditions, the Gurney Derby.

Leadership is integrated in Jason’s journey at UAB. Based on his academic achievements and community involvement, he was voted Mr. UAB 2026 in the coveted Mr. and Ms. UAB Scholarship Competition. His other involvement includes UAB Trailblazers, Leadership and Service Council, Blazer Mentorship Collective, and Children’s of Alabama volunteer.

When he’s not in class or conducting research, Jason enjoys playing pickleball with friends and running.

Niharitha Hariharan is a student in one of the UAB Honors College’s specialized programs, the Global and Community Leadership Honors Program (GCL). She is pursuing a major in cancer biology, a joint program between the College of Arts and Sciences and Heersink School of Medicine.

As a STEM-based major, Niharitha chose GCL because she wanted to explore additional interests on campus and strengthen her leadership skills. She credits GCL courses and experiences in helping balance her academic goals and grow professionally outside of the classroom, becoming a well-rounded student.

Niharitha’s passion for understanding differing perspectives and creating a safe space for students piqued her interest in leadership during her freshman year. She became involved in the Honors College Leadership Council (HCLC) as the community service chair to help plan memorable activities that help students engage with the community and make an impact. She also serves as president of the GCL Leadership Council to ensure student needs are addressed through various initiatives. On campus, she is a member of CURE Childhood Cancer and Spanish Club.

When Niharitha finds free time, she loves staying active in the gym. During finals week, she also looks forward to the Honors College’s Finals Frenzy, a week of encouragement with themed programming, to relax and catch up with friends between exams.

Neha Sharma is a student on the UAB Honors College’s Personalized Path. She is pursuing a major in health care management from the School of Health Professions.

When offered to join the Honors College, Neha chose the Personalized Path due to its flexibility and vast selection of seminars that aligned with her interests and major. The honors seminar, Blazing Your Path to Wellness, taught her how to focus on her personal wellness and find strategies that address the city’s need to improve health outcomes. Different from many other courses taught on campus, she also enjoyed the honors seminar, Reading the Marvel Cinematic Universe, because it connected themes, such as mass media and contemporary issues, with real-life scenarios.

Neha attributes the Honors College for cultivating her networking skills through various classes, workshops, events, and even student leadership positions. The honors student leadership experiences have allowed her to grow professionally, while creating opportunities to serve and represent other students. In the Honors College, she serves as an Honors Ambassador, Personalized Path representative for the Honors College Leadership Council (HCLC), and as a Student Mentor and Retreat Team (SMART) Leader Coordinator, where she had one of her fondest memories attending silent disco during the annual New Student Retreat.

Neha’s leadership extends beyond the Honors College as an elected member of the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA), and Leadership and Service Council. She also volunteers at My Sister’s Closet with the YWCA Central Alabama.

Through these shared experiences, Neha views her on-campus and community involvement as stepping-stones to achieve her dream goal of becoming a CEO of a hospital. To learn how to improve healthcare organizations and their commitment to serve various populations, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in health administration.

Although she has a demanding schedule, Neha finds time to create memories through dance with Birmingham’s Blazin Bhangra (BBB), and playing pickleball and volleyball.

Kamdi Akwuba is a student on the UAB Honors College’s Personalized Path. She is pursuing a double major in accounting and finance from the Collat School of Business.

As a first-year student, Kamdi selected the Personalized Path to explore her varied interests, while leaving room for new opportunities. One of these interests included student leadership. Kamdi was chosen through a selective process to represent the Honors College as an Honors Ambassador at recruitment events for prospective students and college-wide initiatives for current families.

Kamdi continuously looks for initiatives and courses that will enhance her undergraduate experience for personal and professional growth. Her first Honors College seminar, Leadership and Public Service, inspired her to find areas of self-improvement, embrace challenges, and make community impact. She also gained insight about money management through a Honors Faculty Fellow series, Personal Finance for College Students.

In addition to her Honors College involvement, Kamdi holds several leadership positions on campus including president of Beta Alpha Psi, communications portfolio manager for the Green and Gold Fund, and treasurer for the African Student Association. She is a member of the Financial Management Association and the Accounting, Finance, and Information Systems Honor Society. She also helped establish UAB’s first Micro-Internship program as a member of the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA), creating opportunities for students to gain early career experience.

Aside from her coursework, Kamdi enjoys gymnastics, which has helped her develop discipline and express herself creatively. With plans of earning a master’s degree in accounting, she hopes to carry these skills, along with the lessons she has learned at UAB, into her future career in risk management and risk advisory.

Tripp King is a student on the UAB Honors College’s Personalized Path. He is pursuing a major in mechanical engineering from the School of Engineering.

Tripp came to UAB seeking to incorporate a unique honors experience that would complement his major and give him the flexibility needed to enhance his college experience. The Personalized Path continues to fulfil that goal. The support and encouragement from honors instructors has equipped him with the tools and resources needed to be successful and graduate with honors distinction. He credits the Honors College for providing opportunities to meet and connect with businesses and leaders in the community.

During every UAB Homecoming as a student, Tripp has been integral to the Honors College’s success as the Parade Float driver, helping us showcase our themed designs safely around campus. Some of his favorite memories also include the Chili Cookoff as a judge and the faculty dunk tank during the Welcome Back Bash.

Tripp’s campus involvement includes the SAE Baja Capstone Project, SUB25 Student Ministry, and intramural softball and basketball.

In his free time, Tripp enjoys playing with his tournament softball team. However, he enjoys the thrill of hard work, which will prepare him to fulfill his dream of becoming a project manager after graduation.