Nicole Underwood of Pelham has earned a $2,000 academic scholarship from the Alliance for Affordable Services. Underwood plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall.

The Alliance Scholarship Program was created to help Alliance members meet challenges such as rising tuition, lab fees, and expenses for books and equipment. This year the Alliance awarded $249,000 in scholarships to more than 179 students around the nation. Since 1996, the Alliance has supported approximately 1,000 students with more than $1.6 million in scholarships.