Published on April 30, 2006 at 7 p.m. by Mary L. Wimberley  

Birmingham accountant James L. Hart has been named 2006 Alumnus of the Year by the Â鶹¹û¶³ School of Business.

A 1972 Â鶹¹û¶³ business graduate, Hart is managing partner and CEO of Dent, Baker & Company, LLP. The firm's litigation services partner for more than 25 years, Hart leads its forensic accounting and litigation services division. He joined the firm in 1973, a year after earning his Â鶹¹û¶³ degree.

A Certified Public Accountant and Certified Business Appraiser, Hart also holds the Accredited in Business Valuation designation.

Hart received the award from Â鶹¹û¶³ business dean Dr. Beck A. Taylor during awards ceremonies for undergraduate business students on April 27.

The event included the presentation of a record $72,000 in scholarships to outstanding students. Two scholarships were awarded for the first time: the Brookwood Baptist Church/W.S. and Ruth Rivers Scholarship, and the John C. Pittman Endowment Fund Scholarship.

Three business faculty members also received awards: Larron Harper, excellence in teaching award; Chad Carson, outstanding scholarship award; and Dr. Jennings Marshall, distinguished service award.

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Â鶹¹û¶³ is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Â鶹¹û¶³ enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 35 Most Beautiful College Campuses, Â鶹¹û¶³ fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.