Robert E. Witt University Fellows Experience
The University Fellows Experience is a community of elite scholars from diverse disciplines who share a similar passion to become change agents through commitment to leadership and service.
Following the classical purpose of education, the production of good citizens, the University Fellows Experience strives to prepare the most able and dedicated students at The University of Alabama for remarkable lives of leadership in and service to their community, state, nation, and world.
Ruby is part of the 16th Cohort of Fellows and spent Summer 2023 working in the Blackbelt Region of Alabama at Francis Marion High School on College and Career Readiness.
To see more about her Blackbelt Experience click below.
Miss University of Alabama 2025
The Miss University of Alabama competition is an official preliminary to the Miss Alabama and Miss America competitions and is sponsored by The University of Alabama Alumni Association.
Ruby was crowned Miss University of Alabama 2025 on Sept. 14 at the Bama Theatre.
"As Miss University of Alabama 2025, I hope to continue my work with Many Mini Musicians, expand College Ready Marion to a digital format to increase accessibility to college readiness resources for students in the Black Belt of Alabama and reinvigorate 57 Miles, an Honors College initiative that aims to give UA students an opportunity to serve in the Black Belt of Alabama and benefit from its rich culture, history and community. During my time at UA, I have had life-changing opportunities to engage in community outreach and grow in knowledge of the community I now call home. I want nothing more than for every student to have the same opportunity and experience the joy of service.
I decided to compete for Miss UA because to me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give back to two organizations that have given me so much, both the Miss America Organization and The University of Alabama." - Ruby Tilghman, UA News
Honors
The Elliot Society
The Elliott Society is a Community Service Based University Wide Honorary dedicated to social justice. Membership into this society is one of the highest honors at The University of Alabama.
Gamma Sigma Epsilon
Gamma Sigma Epsilon, ΓΣΕ, is a national honor society for students studying chemistry.
Alpha Epsilon Delta
Alpha Epsilon Delta is the National Health Preprofessional Honor Society dedicated to the encouragement and recognition of excellence in preprofessional health scholarship.
Presidential Volunteer Service Award - Lifetime Achievment
The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals who have completed more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service in their lifetime.
The Princess Diana Award
An award for outstanding young people selflessly creating positive humanitarian and social change in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.