Southerners
The Southerners are a 24-member group of USA students who work closely with the National Alumni Association, President’s Office and other University and community groups to fulfill vital roles in every aspect of University relations. Founded in 1978, the Southerners are funded and directed by the Office of Alumni Relations and the USA National Alumni Association. The Southerners serve as the official ambassadors for the University of South Alabama throughout the country.
Membership
Members are chosen on the basis of an essay-type application, interviews, academics and extracurricular achievements.
If you are interested in serving as a Southerner, please submit an application, along with your letter of recommendation, and photo, to the Office of Alumni Relations no later than NOON Thursday, January 26. If selected, you will be contacted by Friday, January 27 to schedule your Open House time slot. Open Houses will be held on Monday, January 30 and Tuesday, January 31 at 5:30PM at the MacQueen Alumni Center. All applicants are required to attend one (1) of the Open Houses to be considered for a group interview. If selected for a group interview, you will be contacted on Wednesday, February 1 to schedule a 30-minute group interview time for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, February 6-8, 2023. To be considered, you must be able to attend all portions of the interview process. Those who are selected for the final interview will be notified by Thursday, February 9, 2023 by email to schedule an interview time for Friday, February 10, 2023.
South Alabama Southerner Ambassadors
Michael Roque - Vice-President
Abby Mock - Secretary of Correspondence
Jamie Carpenter - Secretary of Public Relations
Aaryan Piracha
Andrea Vavrinek
Anne Elizabeth Thaxton
Annie Mascia
Avarie Lambert
Christopher Allen
Erin Schreck
Julian Cruz
Luke Langlinais
Luke Love
Melanie Watson
Michael Pierce
Neil Chaudhary
Nicholas Flynn
Noah Nelson
Spencer Hammond
Shubha Singh
Information and Requests
As the official ambassadors of the University, the Southerners are available to assist with event hosting. Please do not request the group for ushering or food service requirements. This elite group is trained to host VIPs, provide campus tours and to welcome alumni and guests to the University of South Alabama campus and USA Health System.
To request the Southerners’ assistance, please complete this form, and submit it to the Office of Alumni Relations a minimum of two weeks in advance of event date.
Oozeball
Oozeball is one of the longest-running and most popular student organized fundraisers on campus. With more than 600 participants each year, Oozeball is an annual tradition loved and supported by students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters of the University of South Alabama.
Funds raised through Oozeball support the Southerner Spotting Excellence Scholarship,
a creative application scholarship awarded USA students who display excellence in
and out of the classroom. Funds raised through this event are also matched by the
Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative, which supports undergraduate students.
USA Southerners Oozeball Sponsors
For more information, please contact the Southerners advisors:
Matthew Brannan, USA National Alumni Association: mbrannan@southalabama.edu
Kristi Clayton, Southerners Staff Advisor: kristclayton@southalabama.edu
