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The University of Alabama honored six students, including one from Andalusia, as well as three faculty members for their outstanding contributions to the Capstone.

The Premier Awards honor students, faculty and staff who exemplify the highest standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character.

The six top honors are the William P. and Estan J. Bloom Scholarship Award, the Judy Bonner Presidential Medallion Prize, the Morris Lehman Mayer Award, the John Ramsey Award, the Catherine Johnson Randall Award and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award.

Local students include Fatema Dhondia, Sydney Callen Woodard, Corinne Baroni, Anna Stevenson, Tejas Dinesh and Lana Fuqua.

Sydney Callen Woodard of Andalusia received The Morris Lehman Mayer Award recognizes one graduating senior and one teaching faculty who exemplifies integrity, selfless service and leadership at the University and in the community, and who have made significant contributions to student life. Woodard’s mission was to create a positive impact at The University of Alabama. Woodard, a senior majoring in finance and economics on the pre-law track, was raised with the mindset “leave things better than you found them.” Woodard is a member of several organizations on campus, including the Blackburn Institute, homecoming executive committee, Greek life and the Student Government Association. In these roles, she developed several leadership and public speaking skills. She is heavily involved with civic engagement and works with campus partners to create learning initiatives. Her commitment to serving others expands to serving as the logistics assistant and counselor for the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State program. In 2021, Woodard oversaw the two-part Girls State program, the largest-ever session of Alabama Girls State. Mentoring others and providing tools to succeed are just two of her favorite passions.