Leadership Tuscaloosa Class Dedicates Basketball Court, Pavilion at New Heights
August 28, 2025
The Leadership Tuscaloosa 2024-25 class marked the completion of its class project Wednesday with a dedication ceremony for a new basketball court and pavilion at the New Heights Community Resource Center.
The project, called New Hoops 4 New Heights, was designed to create a lasting space for youth and families to gather.
“This project is about more than building a basketball court and pavilion — it’s about creating a lasting place for youth and families to gather, connect and grow,” said Karen Burklew, project spokesperson and member of the 2024-25 class. “We’re thrilled to see it come to life and to celebrate with the people who made it possible.”
The project was made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors.
All Star Sponsors: Alabama Power Foundation; Central Alabama Asphalt; Harrison Construction Company; Schoel Engineering; The Westervelt Company
Slam Dunk Sponsors: BMSS Advisors & CPAs; Buffalo Rock - Pepsi; City of Tuscaloosa; JFJ Excavating; Tuscaloosa City Schools; Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office; The University of Alabama
3-Point Sponsors: Alabama ONE; Alabama Power Service Organization; A Special Friend; Bama Concrete; BF Goodrich; Bryant Bank; Richard and Karen Burklew; Greg and Regina Byrne; Deason, Inc.; Helus Construction; Michelin; New Heights Foundation; Fred Robertson Wrecker Service; RTR Pro Entertainment; Shelton State Community College; Straitline Fence; Super Sports Sporting Goods; The University of Alabama Chapter of Pi Beta Phi; Dewayne and Jennifer Wynn Tooson; Ringer Wilks Co.
Jump Shot Sponsors: Alyson Baxter; Dave Berney; Ronnie Clayton; CyberGrants LLC; Druid City Brewing Company; Ashley and Heath Echols; Great Bear Wax Company; TJ and Baylor Harris; Hendricks Construction; Amanda Ingram; Carl Jamison; JamisonMoneyFarmer PC; Brad Johnson; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.; Alex Miles; Dr. Yolanda Page; Marchelle Pahoisky; Brian Roberts; Russell S. Lee Flooring America; Tony Sheffield; Visit Tuscaloosa; Monica Watts; West Alabama Multiple Listing Service; White Cap; Deloris Wilks; Chelsea Winters
Beyond the generous support of sponsors, this project reflects the leadership and collaboration of the 2024-25 class members.
Class members include: Daniel Barnett of RTR Pro Entertainment; Mary Bell of Kentuck Art Center; Dave Berney of JMF Capstone Wealth Management; Christina Billings of Bryant Bank; Ashley Blalock of Northport Police Department; Kristen Bobo of Shelton State Community College; Karen Burklew of Alabama Power Company; Matt Carney of BF Goodrich; Jonathan Coleman of Discover Financial; Lauren Collier of West Alabama Works; Tesney Davis of Tuscaloosa City Schools; Naytalia Douglas of Visit Tuscaloosa; Nicole Dugat of Schoolyard Roots; Jack Gerus of ApartmentsForLegends; Romel Gibson of Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa; Nathan Glassco of Harrison Construction Company, Inc.; Neicy Hardy of Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs; TJ Harris of Edward Jones Investments; Jennifer Hayes of The University of Alabama; Briana Houston of DCH Health System; Brad Johnson of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.; Claude Lake of Shelton State Community College; Jennifer Lee of Alabama ONE; Briana Lipkin of The Westervelt Company; Brandy Martinez of Turning Point Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services; Alex Miles of Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office; Whitni Molden of American Heart Association; Joseph Northington of Bama Exterminating; Ashley Olive of The University of Alabama; Carrie Peck of Hampton Inn Tuscaloosa – University; David Rezai of Amazon; Brandon Ringer of Ringer Wilks Co.; Litsa Rivers of Tuscaloosa Academy; Ally Roberts of Five Horizons Health Services; Huey Rudder of City of Tuscaloosa; Tony Sheffield of The Westervelt Company; Mark Simpson of Schoel Engineering; Maggie Spencer Acker of Buffalo Rock – Pepsi; Terria Steele of BMSS, LLC; Jennifer Taylor of DCH Health System; Aretha Thomas of Whatley Health Services; Diana Torres of Tuscaloosa Latino Coalition; Monica Watts of The University of Alabama; and Chelsea Winters of Capitol Park Title.
To learn more about Leadership Tuscaloosa, visit leadershiptuscaloosa.com.