Spirit of Alabama Archives

Spirit of Alabama: Teacher performs inside and outside the classroom

Tab Cooley says she's just a girl from Brookwood, but when you get to know her, you quickly see that she's a rising star who is starting to…

Spirit of Alabama: Cheerleaders train for Special Olympics

Stories about preconceived differences on the surface often end in the realization that there's not much difference, after all. This story is about young women who have been cheerleaders for most…

Spirit of Alabama: Woman breaks barriers in boxing

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Grace Brister Behind the scenes of every boxer is a promoter who supports them, and Brandi McCain of One One Six Boxing is the…

Spirit of Alabama: Student graduates with an Emmy

Many brilliant students are graduating this week at the University of Alabama. While there's a feature story in all of them, there's one in particular who's already achieved…

Spirit of Alabama: Family opens arms, welcomes children from Ukraine

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Jacyn Abbott On the outskirts of the city, the Warbingtons never know what they'll hear next between the goats, chickens, pigs,…

Spirit of Alabama: Rise Center hosting Tournament of Champions

Every year, the University of Alabama's Rise Center hosts its Tournament of Champions, the organization's biggest fundraiser and golf tournament. While UA supports the work happening…

Spirit of Alabama: Modern-day doctor makes old-fashioned house calls

TUSCALOOSA - Dr. Regina Harrell comes to work, not in a doctor's office, or hospital, or clinic, but instead to the assisted living facility where Jeanette Gibson,…

Spirit of Alabama: DCH volunteers help hospital thrive

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all been reminded of how important health care workers are. Here in Tuscaloosa, DCH Regional Medical Center employs 4,500 medical…

Spirit of Alabama: Exchange Club celebrates law enforcement

It’s nothing new. In fact, the Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa started a special program to honor area police officers in 1975. Former Tuscaloosa Police Chief Ken Swindle has headed up…

Spirit of Alabama: Tuscaloosa businessman has humble beginnings

Most people living in the U.S. are descendants of immigrants or are immigrants themselves, so Jheovanny Gomez's story isn't unordinary. What makes his life extraordinary is when he moved from Colombia to Tuscaloosa…

Spirit of Alabama: Greater Faith Church builds back. Again.

Many pastors, missionaries and spiritual leaders say they felt a calling to serve others. For some, that calling is tested with tragedy. A good example of that tested faith is found at Greater Faith Church in Moundville. On April 27, 2011, their church, then located in the Alberta community of Tuscaloosa, was wiped out along

Spirit of Alabama: Greater Faith Church builds back. Again.

Many pastors, missionaries and spiritual leaders say they felt a calling to serve others. For some, that calling is tested with tragedy. A good example of that tested faith is found at Greater Faith Church in Moundville. On April 27,…

Spirit of Alabama: 100-year-old woman builds strength through prayer

A hundred years ago in 1922, President Warren G. Harding showed off the first radio in the White House. That same year, 100-year-old Louise Taylor was born. Even at a century Taylor doesn’t wear glasses, doesn’t need hearing aids and is still just as brilliant as she was when she was decades younger. There’s a

Spirit of Alabama: Law students offer strangers the gift of life

At first glance, the trio sitting at a red-blanketed table at the University of Alabama School of Law looked like they were touting their latest research or class project. Instead, they were telling their stories of how they came to offer up a kidney to a complete stranger. Angelica Mamani, Katrina Smith and Ryne Smith,

Spirit of Alabama: Student poets grow, hone craft together

Do you remember some of the poetry teachers had you memorize in school? Maybe it was “Stopping in the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost or Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Paul Revere’s Ride.” While most people agree that poetry stirs emotions and should be required reading in school, not all that many take the

Spirit of Alabama: Northridge kicker breaking barriers

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Tatumn Vaught When most young girls were joining dance classes, Aileen Charles was passing around the pigskin. She started off by playing flag football in elementary school and had the guts to talk to her coach about joining the team once she got to middle school. Once Charles was given

Spirit of Alabama: Honor Flight offers veterans trip of a lifetime

For years, the Honor Flight Network has offered military veterans a big thank-you for their service: a one-day trip to Washington, D.C. that includes visits to major monuments and memorials dedicated to their service. The latest of these flights offered Blount County veterans that trip. It’s extra special, Larry Baker said, because he served in

Spirit of Alabama: Student organization searches for life-saving matches

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Elise Anzaldua The University of Alabama campus is known for having a multitude of organizations to get students involved. But one is after more than meet-and-greets and parties: They’re trying to save lives. Be the Match UA is a student organization looking to add students to the national Be the

Spirit of Alabama: Need diapers? Bottoms Up is here for you

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Sarah Erickson A local school teacher and mother of three is ensuring moms throughout West Alabama have the resources they need to keep their babies’ bottoms dry. Diapers are a necessity for babies, but if you’re not involved with children you wouldn’t know how expensive they are — and how

Spirit of Alabama: Community Soup Bowl offers hot meals, kind service

Tuscaloosa’s Community Soup Bowl ensures no one goes hungry and basic needs get met for a population that often falls through the cracks. Elizabeth Cheshire devotes a day each week to the Community Soup Bowl, doing whatever needs doing when folks come in for a good, home-cooked meal. “It is a real joy to know

Spirit of Alabama: Teen graduates twice in one day

Graduation day is always a big deal, but there aren’t many people who graduate from two schools in one day. At 15, LeAnna Roberts doesn’t let her age dictate her goals. She graduated from Central High School and Shelton State Community College this summer, and is finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama.

Spirit of Alabama: T-Town Punishers focus on doing good

When you hear the name T-Town Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, it might not bring “charitable giving” to mind, but that’s exactly what this group keeps at the forefront of its mission. In fact, their motto is “Service For Others.” “A lot of people are confused when they think motorcycle club,” said T-Town Punishers member

Spirit of Alabama: The Hank Poore Foundation

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It’s most commonly caused by brain injury or lack of oxygen before birth. Many people with cerebral palsy also have intellectual disorders or other physical issues, but CP itself is not the cause. That means that

Spirit of Alabama: Facility offers a comfortable space for veterans’ final years in Alabama

It can be a challenge these days to find something everybody agrees on, but one of those things is probably taking good care of veterans. Well, the Col. Robert L. Howard Veterans Home in Pell City makes that its No. 1 job. The care facility opened in 2012, and is named for Alabama’s most decorated

Spirit of Alabama

Popular Articles

Facebook Feed