The University of Alabama recently honored Sarasota County developer and attorney Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. and his wife, Eliza Culverhouse, at an induction ceremony into the inaugural class of the 1831 Society. Named for the year the university was founded, the 1831 Society was created to recognize and celebrate the annual philanthropic commitments of alumni, parents, and friends who have taken a significant role in preserving, protecting, and promoting UA. The ceremony recognized 31 leaders who, through their generosity, collectively donated amounts totaling more than $483 million. As strong supporter of UA, Culverhouse’s roots run deep at the oldest and largest public university in the state. Culverhouse and his wife, Eliza, have cumulatively contributed more than $16 million to UA over the past decade. Both of Hugh’s parents attended the university and were involved in athletics there, and the business school bears the name of Hugh Culverhouse Sr., a two-time graduate of UA, prominent tax lawyer, developer and former owner of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His mother was a champion golfer on the school's golf team. Culverhouse has donated to a variety of causes at the university, notably including more than $11 million through the Eliza and Hugh F. Culverhouse Student Assistance Scholarship to defray debt for students enrolled in the Culverhouse College of Business and $2.25 million to fund scholarships for women golfers at UA. According to the Office of the U.S. Department of Education, 43.5 million Americans have federal student loans as of 2022. The number of student loan borrowers varies across state lines. Respectively, in 2022, the percentage of state population with student loan debt in Florida and Alabama was 12.08% and 12.72%. Hugh currently serves as the CEO of Palmer Ranch Holdings Ltd in Sarasota, FL, where Eliza also works as the Director of Community Relations. Through the Eliza & Hugh Culverhouse Family Foundation, substantial support has also been made to Hugh’s alma mater, University of Florida, with contributions of more than $4 million made over the last 6 years. Hugh is a two-time graduate of UF, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1971, an MBA in corporate finance from New York University in 1972, and his law degree from UF Levin College of Law in 1974. Prior to his current role as CEO, Culverhouse served as a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, a trial attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission in its division of enforcement, and then he would later go into private practice for more than two decades. Eliza is a passionate advocate of UA’s dance program and established a dance support fund, which brings guest choreographers to campus and supports graduate students and productions. The university recognized its most generous supporters by establishing the 1831 Society, a cumulative giving society that recognizes those loyal donors whose total giving to UA is $5 million and greater. Gifts from the 31 individuals and couples represent nearly 20% of campaign gifts to date, contributing to higher education at every level with professorship, scholarships, centers, programs, buildings and more. The 1831 Society recognizes only individuals and couples, not corporate or foundation donors. To find out more information about making a contribution to support UA, visit https://giving.ua.edu/ways-to-give/.