UAB Student Affairs celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Hill Student Center on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, marking a decade since the facility opened as a central hub for student life on campus.
The anniversary celebration brought together students, faculty and staff for an afternoon of music, activities and reflection inside the Hill Student Center (HSC), often described as the living room of the university. The event featured performances by the UAB Jazz Ensemble, a coffee and hot chocolate bar, an interactive gallery highlighting the building’s history and evolution, a scavenger hunt, and a cake cutting to commemorate the milestone.
A Hill Student Center Resource Fair was also held, giving Blazers the opportunity to connect with campus services and learn more about resources available to them, including the UAB Career Center, Veterans Services and Disability Support Services. Attendees received commemorative swag, including UAB baseball caps, as part of the celebration.
Blaze, UAB’s mascot, made an appearance during the event, energizing the crowd and adding to the festive atmosphere.
Darien Garrison, director of the Hill Student Center, spoke about the importance of the facility to the university, emphasizing its role as a gathering place that supports student engagement, connection and success across campus.
“The HSC has imparted a decade of community, connection, and student life on UAB's campus.,” said Garrison. “Today’s celebration is about more than a building; it's about the people and the countless moments that have made this space the heart of our campus.”
Jennifer Griffin, executive director of Student Engagement, echoed Garrison’s sentiments.
“The Hill Student Center reflects what engagement looks like in practice and not just in principle. In Student Affairs, we define student engagement as a student's active connection with the campus community,” said Griffin.
“That connection looks different for every student- for some it begins with attending an event or joining a student organization. For others, it's through leadership or opportunities for community service. Maybe it's student employment or simply spending time in a space like this where they feel welcome. What matters most is that engagement is often where students start to see themselves as a part of something larger than their individual experience.”
The Hill Student Center opened in 2016 and has since served as a focal point for student involvement, programming and community at UAB. Over the past 10 years, the Hill Student Center has had 8,219,423 visitors.
“The Hill Student Center is a cornerstone of the UAB experience, from campus tours and orientation to daily student life and even after graduation,” Garrison added. “It continues to be what students, alumni, and the campus community need it to be.”
Testimonials
I am thrilled to be back at the Hill Student Center for its 10th Anniversary Celebration. I’m truly honored to have played even a small role in the history of this remarkable facility.
The Hill Student Center is, and always will be, a place that welcomes all—a place where community happens in the everyday moments. It’s in the quick conversations between classes, the late-night study sessions, the meetings that turn into movements, and the friendships that begin when people least expect them. The energy, activity, engagement, and connections happening here every day are what makes Hill Student Center truly the beating heart of the campus community.
For me, "Welcome to the Hill" has always been far more than just a greeting. It's a simple, brief moment that lets someone know they are welcome. No matter who they are. HSC reminds us that belonging isn’t accidental-it’s intentional, and it’s powerful.
I’m grateful for what Hill Student Center has meant to me, and even more excited for what it will continue to mean for generations of Blazers to come.
Jeremiah Johnson, former HSC director
More about the UAB Hill Student Center
The Hill Student Center is the home of student services and activities on the UAB campus. The facility was completed in December 2015 on the site of the former Hill University Center, on the block between 7th Avenue South and University Boulevard and between 14th and 15th Street South.
The building was officially dedicated on January 20, 2016. Like its predecessor, the building was named for former UAB President S. Richardson Hill. It includes a multi-media campus visitors' center, a 600-seat multi-purpose room which can be divided as required, a 276-seat theater, a food court, offices informal gathering spaces and outdoor balconies.
Retailers located inside of the HSC
UAB Bookstore
TechConnect
Starbucks Coffee
Panera Bread
Chick Fil-A
Mein Bowl