Samantha (left) and Leasa Hall (right), sisters and UA students from Huntsville, hold top jobs in UA Student Media.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama students Samantha and Leasa Hall of Huntsville have made history, becoming the first two members of the same family to hold the top two jobs for a student-run publication.

Samantha, a senior at UA double-majoring in journalism and political science, is the editor of the University yearbook, the Corolla. Leasa, a sophomore majoring in business and English, will be the business manager. The sisters from Huntsville were appointed by the UA Media Planning Board which also names the leaders of the Crimson White, WVUA-FM and other student publications.

As editor, Samantha will manage the production of the yearbook throughout the school year. Leasa will oversee the business aspects of publishing the 300-page annual, including the sale of advertisements.

Samantha and Leasa, 2001 and 2003 graduates respectively of DAR High School, have been active in student media at the University since their arrival.

The elder sister, Samantha, has served as a senior staff writer for the student newspaper, the Crimson White. Leasa was an assistant business manager for the Corolla before being appointed as the full-time business manager.

Andy Duncan, assistant director of the UA Office of Student Media, views the work of the two sisters as being invaluable to the publication of the yearbook. According to Duncan, this is the first time two siblings have served as the top editor and manager of a UA publication simultaneously.

“They are such great workers. They set realistic goals for themselves and work well with everyone else to accomplish those goals,” Duncan said. “They have a great working relationship, and they’re even roommates.”