By Rebecca WilbertBuilding an app for future study abroad students. Cooking traditional Costa Rican foods. Improving Spanish-speaking skills. Serving the San Jose community. Slowing down.These were just a few highlights for Samford University students who studied in Costa Rica earlier this year. In addition to Samford University’s Homewood campus, the school has … [Read more...]
Troop 320 Eagle Scouts
Boy Scout Troop 320, based at Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church, held an Eagle Court of Honor on August 31, 2026, to recognize its three newest Eagle Scouts. Since its beginning, Troop 320 has awarded over 300 young men the rank of Eagle Scout. The new Eagle Scouts and their Eagle Service Projects:JT Graves, the son of Mary Frances and the late Colonel David Lee … [Read more...]
Ashley Jones-Thompson Returns to ASFA
By Naima SalvaryPhoto by Jordan WaldThree years ago in May 2023, Ashley Jones-Thompson hung up her cap and decided to leave her teaching position at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) to lead the UAB Honors college. Now she’s back, as the head of the creative writing department replacing long-time chair and former colleague, TJ Beitelman. Jones-Thompson, … [Read more...]
Mary Raines Alexander Receives Fulbright U.S. Student Award for 2026-2027
Mary Raines Alexander, a recent graduate of Northeastern University and a Mountain Brook High School alum, has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program award to serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Taiwan for the 2026-2027 academic year. As a Fulbright ETA, Alexander will teach young Taiwanese students English in Taichung, Taiwan, for approximately … [Read more...]
Rising Tides: Lars Porter takes on a new role as Mountain Brook High School principal.
By Lee HurleyLars Porter is stepping into the principal’s office at Mountain Brook High School with a mix of humility, energy and familiarity with the kind of community he now leads. Growing up in Vestavia, Porter describes a path to school leadership that was anything but scripted; part youth minister, part coach, part classroom teacher, part technology coordinator and … [Read more...]