The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazer Boosters Donor Spotlight: Sabrina Baker
4/15/2020 12:47:00 PM | Blazer Boosters
I was in high school when my career military father retired at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama, and our family moved to Birmingham where he found civilian work as a Physician's Assistant at the Boshell Clinic at UAB.
After high school I moved away with my new husband, and plans for further education waited until we moved back to Birmingham several years later. I was a very non-traditional student, beginning college at Jefferson State in my late 20's. I earned an Associate's Degree in Medical Technology there in 1985, found work as a lab instructor at the UAB School of Health Professions, and began the long road to my bachelor's degree in computer science. Taking classes at night and on weekends, and eventually accepting a co-op position for the final two years, I completed my degree Magna Cum Laude in 1992 at the age of 34.
While I was a student, UAB's club football team organized with volunteer coaches and hand-me-down equipment, and grew to become an official college sport. I have had season tickets to UAB football every year since.
My degree won me a career with a well-respected major employer, where I started as a software developer and eventually managed large teams of bright minds. I was well prepared for a successful career, thanks to the education I received at UAB.
My husband and I are now retired, with two grown children and three grandchildren. We love UAB football, and have made so many friends tailgating at games. We often travel to away games and truly enjoy the camaraderie of the other fans we meet. We feel fortunate we are able to support UAB athletics in meaningful ways.
What is your favorite memory of UAB Athletics?
After a number of tough seasons, 2014 was an amazing year with our new football coach, Bill Clark. The difference in the players – on and off the field – was like sunshine after years of rain. The final regular season game that year was in Hattiesburg against Southern Miss, and many, many fans made the trip to see the game. The Blazers won big, bringing us to 6 wins and bowl eligibility for the first time in over a decade. When the game ended, Coach Clark sent the team to the edge of the field where the fans were hanging over the wall cheering, and each player shook hands with as many fans as he could reach, thanking us for our support. The Blazer spirit was strong in that moment, and the pride I felt for those players is one of my favorite Blazer memories. We didn't know it then, but we would need that strong spirit to see us through the struggle that would begin the following month when the program was closed down.
Why do you support UAB Athletics and its student-athletes?
Students at UAB deserve a vibrant campus life just as much as students at other campuses. In this state, that includes athletic opportunities for both men and women, and we saw from 2014-2016 how enrollment fell without football, rifle and bowling. I feel a sense of gratitude to the university that conferred my degree and prepared me so well for a successful career. My university needs her graduates to give back, and Richard and I are excited to be in a position to help.
After high school I moved away with my new husband, and plans for further education waited until we moved back to Birmingham several years later. I was a very non-traditional student, beginning college at Jefferson State in my late 20's. I earned an Associate's Degree in Medical Technology there in 1985, found work as a lab instructor at the UAB School of Health Professions, and began the long road to my bachelor's degree in computer science. Taking classes at night and on weekends, and eventually accepting a co-op position for the final two years, I completed my degree Magna Cum Laude in 1992 at the age of 34.
While I was a student, UAB's club football team organized with volunteer coaches and hand-me-down equipment, and grew to become an official college sport. I have had season tickets to UAB football every year since.
My degree won me a career with a well-respected major employer, where I started as a software developer and eventually managed large teams of bright minds. I was well prepared for a successful career, thanks to the education I received at UAB.
My husband and I are now retired, with two grown children and three grandchildren. We love UAB football, and have made so many friends tailgating at games. We often travel to away games and truly enjoy the camaraderie of the other fans we meet. We feel fortunate we are able to support UAB athletics in meaningful ways.
What is your favorite memory of UAB Athletics?
After a number of tough seasons, 2014 was an amazing year with our new football coach, Bill Clark. The difference in the players – on and off the field – was like sunshine after years of rain. The final regular season game that year was in Hattiesburg against Southern Miss, and many, many fans made the trip to see the game. The Blazers won big, bringing us to 6 wins and bowl eligibility for the first time in over a decade. When the game ended, Coach Clark sent the team to the edge of the field where the fans were hanging over the wall cheering, and each player shook hands with as many fans as he could reach, thanking us for our support. The Blazer spirit was strong in that moment, and the pride I felt for those players is one of my favorite Blazer memories. We didn't know it then, but we would need that strong spirit to see us through the struggle that would begin the following month when the program was closed down.
Why do you support UAB Athletics and its student-athletes?
Students at UAB deserve a vibrant campus life just as much as students at other campuses. In this state, that includes athletic opportunities for both men and women, and we saw from 2014-2016 how enrollment fell without football, rifle and bowling. I feel a sense of gratitude to the university that conferred my degree and prepared me so well for a successful career. My university needs her graduates to give back, and Richard and I are excited to be in a position to help.
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