FROM STAFF REPORTS

Ben Simmons has been awarded a graduate fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Montevallo. He graduated in August with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. His wife, Jessica, graduated from the University of Alabama in May with a master’s in higher education administration and is pursuing her Ph.D. at UA in the same field. Ben is the son of Robert and Judy Simmons, and Jessica’s parents are Richard Griffin and Ronald and Jennifer Livengood