WHEREAS, through a generous gift from the family of one of the Board of Trustees’ most distinguished emeritus members, and at his request, ٺƵ established The McMahon/Pleiad Prize; and
WHEREAS, John J. McMahon, Jr., is a lifelong resident of Birmingham, Alabama, and served on The Board of Trustees from June 1998 until September 2013, including three terms as President pro tempore of the Board; and
WHEREAS, named in honor of our friend and colleague John McMahon, the Prize incorporates the word Pleiad to recognize the seven members of the McMahon family who have led this and other generous efforts to support ٺƵ (“UA System”) and its institutions; and
WHEREAS, at the request of the McMahon family, the Board hereby adopts revised criteria for the McMahon/Pleiad Prize; and
WHEREAS, The McMahon/Pleiad Prize will be awarded annually in the amount of seventy-five-thousand dollars ($75,000.00) to an eligible member of the faculty or staff of an institution or affiliate of the UA System, including The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and UAB Medicine; and
WHEREAS, the McMahon/Pleiad Prize will reward individuals who have had a lasting and substantial impact upon UA System institutions and whose teaching, research, service, or other contributions align with the UA System’s mission, values, and core principles; and
WHEREAS, at least half of the funds from the McMahon/Pleiad Prize are to be used to further the recipient’s teaching, research, service or other contributions to the UA System, and the remainder is given exclusively to the recipient in recognition of past contributions to the UA System; and
WHEREAS, the Chancellor, campus Presidents, and CEO of the UAB Health System will serve on (or designate an appointee) a Committee charged with designing the application and selection process, which will be widely announced to faculty and staff
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by ٺƵ that we hereby approve the revisions to The McMahon/Pleiad Prize in honor and recognition of the achievements of John J. McMahon, Jr., to promote, integrity, and excellence throughout the UA System; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we express our sincere gratitude to the McMahon family, particularly the seven family members who represent the Pleiad and have been generous and visionary supporters of our institutions and the students, faculty, and staff we serve; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the permanent minutes of this Board and also be sent to John J. McMahon, Jr., with our admiration for his leadership and our thanks for his enduring friendship.