Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama executive gives $100,000 in scholarships to UAB.
By Rachel Burchfield | University of Alabama at BirminghamThe way Michael Patterson, 1986 graduate of the, sees it, the money he has made throughout his lifetime is not his. Patterson, chief administrative officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, sees any earnings he has accumulated as a vehicle to help other people.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Patterson moved to his parents’ native Alabama when he was 11. After starting college elsewhere, Patterson transferred as a junior to UAB. “I didn’t know the difference between Blue Cross and the Red Cross,” Patterson recalled and laughed. “That shows how young I was.” “He was one of the few Black men of his generation that I even knew went through high school,” Patterson said. “A lot stopped at the eighth grade. He loved education and encouraged his kids and grandkids to be educated. When it came to the name [of the scholarship], I thought about him. He didn’t have the opportunity I had, or that kids today have. It was a good fit for somebody who valued education and knew the difference it could make in one’s life.
Both scholarships are part of the Blazing the Way Scholarship Program, a unique partnership that allows UAB students not only to receive a substantial scholarship so they can set aside financial concerns and focus intently on their studies, but also to establish a lasting relationship with the scholarship’s benefactor — including career advice, mentoring and opportunities for networking.
“UAB is a special place to me,” he said. “The support I got wasn’t just from professors, but counselors — everybody. I’m just appreciative of it. The minute I walked on campus, people were there to help. There is a spirit of help, support, you can do it, encouragement — for me, I know I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t transfer to UAB. That was the defining line for me. I’m so glad I went.”
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