News Briefs

FLORENCE

Scholarship hits its $100,000 goal

An endowed scholarship at the University of North Alabama for Florence High School graduates has reached its goal of $100,000.

The scholarship is available to graduates from Florence High School, a 2004 merger of Coffee High School and Bradshaw High School.

To keep the Coffee High School name alive, alumni from Coffee classes of ’49, ’50 and ’51 established the scholarship.

The scholarship’s planning committee also comprises the Coffee class of ’65.

At an Oct. 4 rally on the campus of Florence Middle School and Freshman Center, more than $80,000 in donations was collected. By Dec. 12, the goal of $100,000 was reached. The endowed scholarship now totals more than $101,000.

For the 2008-09 school year, $5,000 will be available for scholarships for Florence High School graduates. In the 2007-08 school year, $1,000 in scholarships were awarded and in the 2006-07 school year, $487 was awarded.

Contributions are still being accepted. Checks can be made payable to the UNA Foundation with notation for the Coffee Alumni Scholarship and mailed to the Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 2217, Florence, AL 35630, or direct to the UNA Foundation, P.O. Box 5113, Florence, AL 35632.

UNA

Fine arts festival begins April 29

The University of North Alabama National Alumni Association will be sponsoring the 10th annual UNA Fine Arts Festival from April 29 through May 4 to raise money for the department of music’s choral program.

In the past decade, the event has raised more than $50,000.

The Florence Camerata will kick off during the week with a concert April 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The church is at the corner of Darby Drive and Cloyd Boulevard in Florence. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and can be purchased at the door.

On May 1, UNA alumna Eleanor McClellan will perform at UNA Sings, a VIP-served dinner and silent auction. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Guillot University Center Performance Center, and tickets are $25.

The event concludes May 4 with a spring concert by the Shoals Symphony at UNA and will begin at 2 p.m. in Norton Auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students.

For details, call 765-4201 or log on to una.edu/alumni/faf.

MUSCLE SHOALS

Cancer fundraiser set for today

City employees will be hosting a hamburger and hotdog cookout for the American Cancer Society today, rain or shine.

The event will be from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Pavilion No. 1 in Gattman Park.

The meal includes hamburgers or hotdogs and all the trimmings for $5.

Carryouts are available. Delivery for orders of 10 or more are available upon request by calling 386-9280.

All proceeds go to the upcoming American Cancer Society Relay For Life event.

SHEFFIELD

Youth fishing tourney Saturday

Area youths can try their luck at fishing and possibly win bicycles and other prizes Saturday.

A Crappie Kids USA fishing rodeo is 9-11 a.m. at Riverfront Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The event is for children 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult and have their own fishing tackle, including bait.

There is no entry fee and lunch will be provided.

Participants will be entered in a drawing later this year for a chance to win one of four $5,000 college scholarships.

The rodeo is being held in conjunction with a Crappie USA fishing tournament Saturday on Pickwick and Wilson lakes. The weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park.

For details, call 383-0783.