Community Planning graduate Nicole Davis was one of 51 students nationwide to receive the Outstanding Student Award presented by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for 2007.

Davis, a native of Gulf Shores, Ala., graduated in the Spring with a Master’s degree in Community Planning and an undergraduate degree in geography, also from Auburn.

“Nicole’s consistently strong performance in the areas of academics, research, and service exemplifies the best of graduate student achievement in our program,” John Pittari, Community Planning Program Chair, said. “She was a dedicated learner who graduated with one of the highest academic averages in her class and impressed the professional colleagues with whom she worked in her planning internship so much that they have now hired her on a permanent basis.”

This marks the second consecutive year that an Auburn Community Planning graduate has received the Outstanding Student Award. The Community Planning program is a part of the School of Architecture in the College of Architecture, Design & Construction (CADC).

“This is excellent national recognition for Auburn as the award is open only to accredited planning programs throughout the United States,” Dan Bennett, Dean of the CADC, said.

The purpose of the Outstanding Student Award is to recognize outstanding attainment in the study of planning by a student who is being graduated from an accredited program during the academic year of the award.

The AICP is the professional institute of the American Planning Association. It provides recognized leadership nationwide in the certification of professional planners, ethics, professional development, planning education and the standards of planning practice.

Operation New Birmingham (ONB) has started a new section in their monthly newsletter “Synergy” that features the ongoing work of the School of Architecture’s Urban Studio in Birmingham. To view the most recent issue of “Synergy” click here.

ONB is a unique public-private partnership with a dual mission: To make the Birminham City Center the #1 choice for business, healthcare, living, the arts & entertainment, and to Promote communication, understanding and harmony among the diverse racial and ethnic groups in the Birmingham community.

In its 40 year history ONB has played a significant role in:

• Revitalization of Five Points South.
• Preservation of more than 70 historical structures through tax incentives.
• Renovation of Linn Park.
• Inauguration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast - one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the country.
• Development and implementation of the City Center Master Plan from Five Points South to the Convention Complex.
• Real estate development and redevelopment through innovative public-private partnerships.
• Creation of the Business Improvement District (BID) which sets aside property assessment dollars to assist with City Center safety and cleanliness.
• Creation of the City Action Partnership and City Action Patrol
• Promotion of the Birmingham Pledge, an initiative focused on motivating individuals to treat others with dignity and respect regardless of race or color.

Founded in 1957, ONB is a Section 501 ( C )(3) non-profit organization supported equally by a contract with the City of Birmingham and contributions from business, individuals and Jefferson County.