Coastal Alabama's Brianna Burrell Honored During Woman’s History Month

Brianna Burrell, Miss Alabama for 2023 and Project Specialist for Coastal Alabama Community College’s TRIO Student Services, was recently honored during a Woman’s History Month awards ceremony in Mobile. The celebration, organized by the City of Mobile Events division, was billed as “Women Educating & Inspiring Generations” singled out pioneers in a number of fields, including health, business, military service and the arts. Burrell was honored for Outstanding Achievement in Education.

Burrell, who is heavily involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama and created the non-profit Investigation Nation, said the connections she makes at events like the awards ceremony are crucial to the success of women today, and in the future.

“It's absolutely vital to the industry of community to be surrounded by amazing women from different walks of life,” she said. “Seeing and hearing their stories and their accomplishments — and encouraging them to continue on and celebrating them in what they've already achieved — it allows for those connections to grow and to birth into new things, new ideas and new frontiers.

“That pushes us all towards a unified and stronger society.”

When presented with the award, organizers lauded Burrell for her work in youth development, working with children of all ages to help them grow and live their best lives. She worked as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) educator and girls program director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama. She also wrote the children’s book, “Investigation Nation: Who Made It?” which inspired the creation of her non-profit of the same name.

Investigation Nation takes Burrell and others into kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, to “explore things such as the connection between STEM and fashion, STEM and video games and movies, and STEM careers within their own hometowns.”

“We then do interactive projects and experiments to further engage them and spark that innovation within them,” she said. “That's truly where my heart is, in seeing people thrive and strive in every dream and every goal.”