BSC kicks off Abroms Scholars Program to increase Jewish student recruiting efforts

For Immediate Release
Feb. 15, 2017

Hal Abroms BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Birmingham-Southern College has launched an initiative to increase Jewish student enrollment and to provide an even more meaningful student experience for Jewish students.

The initiative began with a generous gift from Birmingham philanthropists Hal and Judy Abroms to establish the Abroms Scholars Program at BSC. The first two Abroms Scholars will be awarded during the 2017-18 academic year; the awards will be available to outstanding Jewish students seeking to attend Birmingham-Southern.

“Judy and Hal Abroms have been longtime leaders in Birmingham and in the Jewish community, and their generosity is well known to all in our community,” said BSC Vice President for Advancement Dr. Sara Helms Robicheaux ’97. “This gift will help us to attract talented Jewish students who want to attend the college.”

The gift is in partnership with the Birmingham Jewish Federation (BJF) and the larger Birmingham community. In addition to the Abroms’ gift, a gift from the BJF will help provide seed money to establish a Hillel--a place for Jewish students to gather for fellowship--and to provide experiences that will further enrich the students’ academic and religious experiences at the college.

Gen. Charles C. Krulak, BSC president emeritus and BJF volunteer, expressed his support for this partnership.

“I am so appreciative to the Birmingham Jewish Federation and the Abroms for helping BSC launch this initiative and strengthen our relationships with the Jewish community on campus, in Birmingham, and across the country,” he said.

The college has appointed a faculty advisor, Dr. Lester Siegel, BSC’s Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor of Music, to assist with recruitment as well as help to coordinate on- and off- campus activities for the students. Also, working with the BJF, the college will create a Jewish Student Community Advisory Committee to help with Jewish student recruitment and provide support for Jewish students on campus.

“Diversity is a core value at Birmingham-Southern College, and we welcome students of all religious faiths and ethnicities who want to pursue their academic goals at the college,” said BSC President Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith. “The Abroms Scholars Program, as well as the support of the Federation and the Birmingham Jewish community, will help us create and sustain a vibrant Jewish student population at BSC, for which we are truly grateful.”

About Birmingham-Southern College:
Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, Ala., founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It enrolls about 1,300 students from more than 30 states and 15 foreign countries.