Student Death Confirmed After Search

Jun. 30, 2011

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - Search teams have recovered the body of Daniel S. Smith. Smith, 22, of Cullman, was kayaking with friends late yesterday when his kayak overturned. The body was located by search crews, including the Lauderdale County EMA and Alabama Marine Police, at about 10:30 this morning. "On behalf of our university president and the entire UNA family, our hearts go out to Daniel's family and close friends," said David Shields, UNA vice president for student affairs. "Daniel had many friends here, and this is a devastating time for many. Our thoughts and prayers are with each person affected by this tragedy." For any UNA students affected, the university is providing professional counseling services through the UNA Health Services office. Smith was last enrolled for classes at UNA in spring 2010.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.