UAB’s commencement marks the close of one chapter for Deason as she steps away from her role as a Friend of Blaze and leaves behind a legacy of Blazer spirit and service.Anna Grace Deason made the most of every opportunity during her college career, embracing each experience with enthusiasm and purpose.
A native of Millbrook, Alabama, Deason knew early on that the University of Alabama at Birmingham was where she wanted to be. UAB offered the ideal balance she was looking for — a vibrant city environment that was still close to home.
In high school, Deason was involved in athletics as a varsity letter cheerleader and co-captain. When she arrived at UAB, she made the decision to step away from organized athletics and focus solely on her academics. But after her first semester, she felt that something was missing.
That missing piece revealed itself unexpectedly during her second semester on campus — in the elevator of Gold Hall, one of UAB’s freshman residence halls. A flyer advertising tryouts for Friends of Blaze caught her attention. With no prior mascot experience and a healthy dose of nerves, Deason decided to step outside her comfort zone and audition.
“I never thought I would make it,” she said, laughing. “It is crazy to think that a flyer in an elevator changed my life, but it did. It was a leap of faith.”
That spontaneous decision would become a defining part of her Blazer experience.
Serving as Blaze for three years, Deason was given a backstage pass to some of UAB’s most memorable moments and events, including the October 2025 football game at Protective Stadium when the UAB football team upset No. 22 Memphis. The game, which ended with a last-second victory for the Blazers, became one of Deason’s favorite memories as a Blazer.
“It was my senior homecoming, and we won in the last few seconds of the game,” she said. “I got to run out onto the field with the team to celebrate and got to hold the Battle for the Bones trophy. It was just a perfect way to wrap up my last fall semester.”
Beyond the sidelines
When she was not hanging out with Blaze, Deason found other opportunities to get involved in the community, and she found one that became near and dear to her. The UAB Honors College student has always had a passion for others and their health, so she volunteered with the March of Dimes and served in the UAB Medicine Women and Infants Center.
Deason will celebrate her accomplishments May 2 at Bartow Arena. Whether assembling goodie bags for families or jumping around in an Easter bunny costume during an egg hunt, Deason always found joy in making others smile, something she describes as being the most rewarding part of being a Friend of Blaze.
“Being on the sidelines and seeing people light up is the best part. Blaze attends a lot of community events, and when his biggest fans get to see him, some of whom are kids, they get so excited, and it makes me realize how much of a difference one can make in a person’s life.”
Student first, then an athlete
Being a Friend of Blaze comes with a full schedule; but when it came down to it, Deason always put her academics before athletics.
“It can be a very time-consuming job; but I learned to lean on my teammates, and having a support system in college is vital. I am a firm believer that each person needs to find ‘their people,’ and that’s what Blaze did for me.”
This summer, Deason will travel to Spain and Portugal to study abroad with the UAB School of Public Health, where she will learn about international health systems and how different countries address public health challenges.
“Over the past four years, I have gotten to learn about health care in Birmingham and our state in my classes; but it will be exciting to see how other countries approach the same public health obstacles.”
She hopes to take the knowledge she learns this summer into a public health graduate program and eventually medical school.
Deason will graduate from UAB this summer with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health and a minor in political science, largely debt-free thanks to a UAB merit scholarship and additional scholarships she received from competing in the Miss Alabama competition for three years. Deason also competed in the Miss UAB competition in 2026 and placed first runner-up.
She will celebrate all her accomplishments during the spring commencement ceremony Saturday, May 2, at Bartow Arena.