From the appoint of Aaron L. Lamar Jr. to associate vice president and dean of Student Affairs in 1978 to being named America’s No. 4 Best Employer for Diversity by Forbes, UAB has demonstrated a long commitment to its shared value of diversity and inclusiveness.

In June 1970, UAB awarded its first degrees to 478 students. During this year’s commencement ceremonies — the first ones in person since fall 2019 — more than 8,550 will be awarded.

Nearly four decades after a broadcast delivered by Jack Lazarus, the Alabama Broadcasters Association named 90.3 WBHM Radio Station of the Year at its annual ABBY Awards ceremony March 29.

Andy Kennedy earned his place in men’s basketball record-books while playing under Coach Gene Bartow. Now, as head coach of Men’s Basketball, he helped steer the team through the COVID-19 crisis into a play for the 2021 C-USA championship.

On-campus events that will enable Blazers to gather together are again permitted within established guidelines, thanks to safety behavior exhibited by students, faculty and staff that has resulted in relatively low COVID-19 transmission.

In 1984, UAB President S. Richardson Hill Jr. signed the first-ever pledge card for the new Benevolent Fund. Now, one hour of pay or 1% of your income per month can help Blazers and others in the community get through tough times.

Registration is open now for spring intramurals, many of which are played at UAB’s Intramural Sports Complex — unlike in UAB’s early years, when teams played outdoor sports at local parks before fields were built on campus.

The state’s largest HIV health care unit has transitioned to a new address — but still pays homage to its first.

In November 1989, Gertrude Elion, whose work led to the creation of the AIDS drug AZT, spoke to a packed Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium. Today, the gathering space is playing host to the products of groundbreaking science.

In 1965, UAB decorated Jefferson Tower for the holidays. This year, a special holiday gift was delivered to health care workers at UAB — the SARS-COV-2 vaccine, which is being administered regularly to front-line health care workers at UAB and in Jefferson County.