HUNTSVILLE – The University of Alabama in Huntsville has long been a blue chip investment for Bryant Bank with commitments to the Colleges of Nursing and Business and gifts to UAH athletics.
Now a new pledge to athletics – $250,000 over five years – emphasizes Bryant Bank’s long-term strategy of supporting the Chargers.
Bryant Bank local leadership announced the donation during a check-presentation celebration on campus with UAH and UA System officials as well as athletics faculty, staff and tudents – plus mascot Charger Blue.
“We are so honored and humbled that Bryant Bank would choose to make such a long-term investment in our athletic department,” said UAH Director of Athletics Dr. Cade Smith. “They do so much for us, our campus and our community already, and this just further cements their impact upon UAH Athletics.
“All of these funds will make a significant impact on the experience for our student-athletes and our staff members. We could not be more thankful for their partnership!”
For Ken Watson, Bryant Bank North Alabama market leader, and Bryant Bank Huntsville President Mike Johnston, these philanthropic investments in UAH reflect the bank’s broader purpose.
Watson describes Bryant Bank’s involvement with UAH as a way of “manifesting continuity” – demonstrating their long-term commitment to their customers, their community and the institutions that help the community thrive.
“Bryant Bank will be here as long as UAH is here,” Watson said. “Both UAH and Bryant Bank are invested in Huntsville. It is our focus to create the next generation of leaders in our community.
“There’s no better way to do that than to invest in the students and programs here at UAH.”
Johnston emphasized the Chargers are student-athletes in every sense of the word.
“These student-athletes are outstanding,” Johnston said. “The line of 4.0 students – that’s just amazing. They’ve been so successful in the classroom and in competition. We’re happy to support them.
“Our support for the university will continue to be unwavering moving forward, and we’re excited about that.”
The gift is designated for the UAH Athletics Excellence Fund. The bank began making contributions annually to UAH’s intercollegiate athletic program in 2019.
In 2014, Bryant Bank pledged $3 million over 30 years to the UAH College of Nursing. The commitment supports a nursing scholarship plan called Early Promotion into UAH Nursing Program (EPNP), a non-endowed fund. The college offers this honors program to highly qualified students who enter UAH as freshmen and declare nursing as their major.
“Over the past 10 years, the Bryant Bank Scholarship has invested in 150 nursing students who have become registered nurses working in our North Alabama community,” said Dr. Karen Frith, dean of the College of Nursing. “I thank Bryant Bank for investing in Alabamians to empower their potential, which is one of the core values of Bryant Bank.”
Bryant Bank further diversified its UAH support in 2021 when the bank made a 15-year, $1.5 million commitment to the College of Business to help fund the Bryant Bank UAH Business Scholarships, a non-endowed fund designed to benefit business students.
“We are tremendously grateful for the impact that Bryant Bank has on UAH, our students and our community,” said Dr. Jason Greene, dean of the College of Business. “Their generous gifts will open doors for countless aspiring business professionals.
“Thanks to their leadership and commitment to their community, UAH students can focus on achieving their full potential as they earn their college degrees and launch their careers.”
