Mr. and Ms. UAB prepare to pass on their titles

Author: Katherine Kirk

The announcement of Mr. and Ms. UAB at homecoming is a long-standing tradition at UAB. The pair serve as ambassadors to the university, starting the spring semester after their appointment through the next fall semester.

Xavier Turner and Angela Lee are Mr. and Ms. UAB 2020-2021. Turner and Lee are both seniors who are heavily involved on campus while also double majoring — Turner in political science and criminal justice and Lee in chemistry and mathematics.

Lee serves as USGA president and Turner is a residential advisor, USGA vice president of communications, a member of BMEN and an honors ambassador.

Ms. UAB is one of the many roles Lee takes on at UAB. She said that even as a senior she is still learning new ways to stay organized and relieve stress.

“There is no cookie-cutter answer for staying organized. I’ve learned how to step away from social media and take time for myself,” Lee said.

She also said that, in student organizations, it can be easy to fall into micromanagement, so she had to learn how to “give trust to others” in those organizations.

In her free time, the USGA president takes part in UAB intramural volleyball and has recently taken up roller-skating and jump rope. She said she couldn’t get out as much during the pandemic, so this year she is prioritizing her health and trying to be as active as possible.

Turner said stepping away from things when they start to feel like a job is how he manages his stress.

“Communicate when overwhelmed, plan things ahead of time and when you overwork yourself, take a moment and know it’s OK to step back and say, ‘No I can’t do anything today,’” Turner said.

Turner fills his free time with listening to music and playing video games. With his busy schedule, he takes Friday and Saturday as personal days to focus on his mental health.

Turner and Lee won the titles of Mr. and Ms. UAB during the COVID-19 pandemic, so they were unable to walk on the field and be crowned in front of their peers.

Lee said that looking back on the night she was crowned Ms. UAB was a bittersweet moment, but she enjoyed being in the stands.

“Instead of having all eyes on me, I had my loved ones around me. It was just a special moment for all of us,” Lee said.

Turner said winning Mr. UAB last year was completely unexpected. He even showed up in sweatpants because he was so sure he wasn’t going to win. His excitement resulted in him falling out of the stands before calling his friends and family to tell them the news.

“My initial reaction was shock, but I was really excited,” Turner said.

Due to the pandemic last year, many homecoming events were canceled or modified. This year, both Turner and Lee said they were excited for the parade.

“Who doesn’t love getting free goodies from a parade?” Lee said.

This is also Turner’s first year being able to see the parade in person because in previous years he’s had work or class.

“This is my first year seeing the parade and I actually get to walk in it,” Turner said.

Lee also said that she is looking forward to the first homecoming game in Protective Stadium.

“It will be a spectacular place to be in and to host homecoming,” Lee said.

As Lee prepares to pass on her title, she encourages the next Mr. and Ms. UAB to be present.

“I don’t know how the other Mr. and Ms. have operated in the past, but I feel like Xavier and I have made it our goal this year to be approachable on campus,” Lee said. “Everyone is busy, we all have our own lives going on, but we want to make sure we aren’t just a title. We are also people who are students that students themselves can come up and talk to.”

Turner advises the next Mr. and Ms. UAB to have fun.

“If you look at the job description, it’s very flexible and it’s basically when called upon so it gives you a lot of creative control to decide how you want to use the role,” Turner said. “Have fun, don’t stress, and continue to be a good role model.”

The next Mr. and Ms. UAB will be announced at the homecoming game on Oct. 23 at halftime.