Bryan Preer II and Abby Kulkarni crowned Mr. and Ms. UAB 2026Bryan Preer II and Abby Kulkarni are the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s new Mr. and Ms. UAB for 2026.
The Mr. and Ms. UAB Scholarship Competition, one of UAB’s longest-standing and most cherished traditions, is presented by the UAB National Alumni Society. For 45 years, this competition has highlighted UAB students who excel in academics, leadership and community involvement, all while showing true Blazer spirit.
The new Mr. and Ms. UAB Scholarship Competition winners were announced Saturday during halftime of the UAB Football Homecoming game at Protective Stadium. These exceptional students will each receive $2,500 scholarships and serve as ambassadors of UAB for the coming year and as leaders of the UAB Future Blazer Alumni.
Applicants for the competition must demonstrate a record of leadership and active participation in extracurricular activities. The 10 finalists were selected through an interview process, and the winners were chosen through an additional round of interviews and a student vote, held during Homecoming Week.
First alternates are Vamsi Singu and Yashodhara Velayudam, who will each receive $1,000 scholarships.
Preer, 20, is a junior majoring in genetics and genomic sciences and working on his Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in epidemiology. He is in the UAB Early Medical School Acceptance Program, a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, and is in the UAB Honors College on a Personalized Path. Preer is a lead mentor in the Blazer Mentorship Collective, where he was voted Most Involved Off-Campus Mentor, is a UAB Ambassador and is on the UAB Bioethics Bowl team. He is a cofounder and committee director of Blazer Music Outreach and volunteers with the 1917 Clinic and Blazer Kitchen. His parents are Tamera Lowe-Preer and Bryan Preer Sr. of Madison, Alabama.
Abby Kulkarni, 20, is a junior majoring in cancer biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. She is the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship and is in the UAB Honors College’s University Honors Program, where she won the M. Elmore and John D. Elmore Honors Scholarship. Kulkarni won first place at the Center for Outreach and Development Research Symposium closing ceremony. She is a UAB TrailBlazer, Alpha Xi Delta Finance and Operations vice president, and a College of Arts and Sciences senator. She has volunteered with the Kidney Disease Screening Awareness and Prevention Program, Blazer Kitchen, and Blazer Thrift. Her parents are Jeanette Kulkarni and Sanjay Kulkarni of Madison, Alabama.
Singu, 20, is a junior neuroscience and Spanish major in the College of Arts and Sciences and is in the Early Medical School Acceptance Program. He is in the UAB Honors College on a Personalized Path. He is a recipient of the Dr. William E. Doggett Endowed Scholarship and an out-of-state Presidential Scholarship. Singu is a UAB TrailBlazer, an Undergraduate Student Government Association senator, and director for the Leadership and Service Council. He is a volunteer for Equal Access Birmingham and Barrett Elementary School and a Rise Against Hunger representative. He is the son of Vijay Singu and Suji Parimi of Omaha, Nebraska.
Velayudam, 20, is a junior majoring in neuroscience and working on her Master of Business Administration degree from the Collat School of Business. She received a Presidential Scholarship and the Britt and Susan Sexton Endowed Honors Scholarship and is on the President’s list. Velayudam is in the USGA and is an Honors Ambassador in the UAB Honors College where she is on a Personalized Path. She is a First Impact Mentor and volunteers with Equal Access Birmingham and SouthernCare New Beacon. She is the daughter of Velayudam Shanmugam and Kohilavani Velayudam of Suwanee, Georgia.
The Mr. and Ms. UAB Finalists:
Catherine Brewer, 19, is a sophomore majoring in psychology and criminal justice in the College of Arts and Sciences. In the Honors College on a Personalized Path, she received a Presidential Merit Scholarship and is on the Presidential Honors list. Brewer is a UAB TrailBlazer, in the USGA and a member of Kappa Delta. She is a volunteer with Girl Scouts, Serve 205 and the Criminal Justice Student Organization. Her parents are Jean Freeman and Robert Brewer of Brewton, Alabama.
Rishab Samant, 20, is a junior majoring in cancer biology and public health. He is an Emerging Leaders Scholar in the UAB Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, recipient of the UAB Division of Student Affairs’ Rising Star Award, and won first place in the UAB Honors College Art Contest to receive the Dean's Scholarship Award. He is in the UAB Honors College on a Personalized Path. Samant is a Future Blazer Alumni representative, USGA vice president of Communications and a UAB Ambassador. He is a volunteer with the Hospital Elder Life Program, Equal Access Birmingham and the 1917 Clinic. His parents are Dr. Lalita Samant and Dr. Rajeev Samant of Vestavia Hills, Alabama.
Gargi Chitre, 20, is a junior majoring in biomedical sciences and is in the Honors College on a Personalized Path. She is on the President’s list and in the School of Health Professions’ Honors Program. Chitre studies mechanisms of breast cancer brain metastasis in the Kamata Lab, is chair of Community Service in the Biomedical Sciences Student Organization and is in the Honors Leadership Academy. Chitre volunteers at Children’s Harbor, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama and Firehouse Shelter. She is the daughter of Jas and Ketan Chitre of Cumming, Georgia.
Braylon Wright, 20, is a junior majoring in biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and is an Honors Ambassador in the Honors College, where he is in the Science and Technology Honors Program. Wright is on the President’s list and recipient of the Ken R. Marion Endowed Scholarship. A UAB TrailBlazer, he is a Student Mentor and Retreat Team leader. He is a volunteer with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama and participated in the Black Warrior River cleanup. His parents are Shuntee Wright and Alvis Wright of Gardendale, Alabama.
Aasim Musani, 19, is a sophomore majoring in cancer biology. He is in the Honors College on a Personalized Path. Musani is a Roadmap for America’s Cancer Explorers for the 21st Century Scholar and a 2025 RACE21 Research Symposium Champion. He is a UAB TrailBlazer, a Future Blazer Alumni representative and treasurer of the Pakistani Student Association. He has volunteered with BioBridge Summer Camp and UAB Hospital. His parents are Shahina Musani and Munaf Musani of Madison, Alabama.
Kaitlin Ross, 20, is a junior majoring in cancer biology. She is in the Honors College’s University Honors Program and in the Early Medical School Acceptance Program. Ross is a Charles W. Ireland Scholarship recipient, a UAB TrailBlazer, a member of Alpha Xi Delta, and a Future Blazer Alumni representative. She has volunteered with the Kidney Disease Screening Awareness Program, Start the Adventure in Reading of Birmingham and Equal Access Birmingham. She is the daughter of Michelle and Derrick Ross of Satsuma, Alabama.