RHS senior accepted to Honors Program at UAB

By Staff
Melissa Cason, FCT Writer
A Russellville High School Senior has been accepted into the Honors Program at UAB.
Jacob Heath, who will be studying to become a plastic surgeon, has been accepted into the 2007-08 Class of the UAB Science and Technology Honors Program.
"Everything in the program is geared toward science," Heath said. "For example, I'll take Biology English instead of regular English."
The honors program is a close-knit peer group of academically focused students. The participants will enroll in specialized seminars and will get hands on laboratory experience beginning their freshman year.
Heath will be taught by leading UAB scientist, and will receive intensive research experience under his teacher mentor.
"They told me that the chief of plastics surgery at UAB will be my teacher mentor throughout the program," heath said.
Heath will also receive two years of graduate school funding at UAB through this program.
In addition to the Honors Program, heath has been given the Green and Gold Award, which will pay $4,500 for tuition and fees as well as $2,000 for room and board per year for four years.
"I knew I wanted to go into something medical to help people," heath said. "Helping someone look better on the outside makes people feel better on the inside."
Heath wants to practice medicine in the New York area after medical school and his residency.
"I want to stay away from California, which is where everyone in plastic surgery tends to go," Heath said.
Heath is the son of Tim and Debbie Heath of Russellville and Rhonda and Evans Matthews, who live in South Alabama.