UNIVERSITY OF M O N T E VA L L O
SPRING COMMENCEMENT 8, 2021 May 7, 2016
A NOTE TO THE PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL CLASSES OF 2020 . . .
Today is especially noteworthy, as our gathering has been months in the making.
We proudly present the 2020 graduating classes.
John W. Stewart III University President
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM Flowerhill Lawn 5:00 p.m. Dr. John W. Stewart III, University President, Presiding Dr. Robert Barone, Academic Grand Marshal *PROCESSIONAL Pomp and Circumstance
Edward Elgar
WELCOME
Dr. Stewart
*NATIONAL ANTHEM Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key Led by Ms. DeLee Benton ’20
REMARKS
Mr. Justin Williams ’20 2020 Senior Class President
ADDRESS
Ms. Cynthia K. Todd ’88 Operations Manager, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Dr. Ruth Truss, Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Stephen Craft, Dean, Michael E. Stephens College of Business Dr. Courtney Bentley, Dean, College of Education Dr. Steven Peters, Dean, College of Fine Arts
CONFERRING OF DEGREES Dr. Stewart Assisted by Dr. Susan Caplow, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Ms. Amanda Fox ’04, M.Ed. ’10, Registrar
*The audience will please stand. Page 2
INDUCTION INTO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Ms. Todd President, University of Montevallo Alumni Association *ALMA MATER
Virginia P. Figh ’53-Lucy L. Underwood ’54 Led by Ms. Benton
*RECESSIONAL Fanfare
James Ployhar
The Commencement Program is being interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing by Ms. Avey Jane Lute, NAD, RID and Mr. Kris W. Courson, M.Div., RID/NIC, Ed:K-12. *The audience will please stand. Page 3
The Mission of the University of Montevallo, unique in higher education in Alabama, is to provide to students from throughout the State an affordable, geographically accessible, “small college” public higher educational experience of high quality with a strong emphasis on undergraduate liberal studies and with professional programs supported by a broad base of arts and sciences, designed for their intellectual and personal growth in the pursuit of meaningful employment and responsible, informed citizenship.
The Board of Trustees Hon. Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama, President, ex-officio Dr. Eric Mackey, State Superintendent of Education, ex-officio Hon. Todd Strange, Chair — Montgomery Mr. Matt Arnold — Guntersville Ms. Beth Chapman — Hoover Mr. Gary Ellis — Gulf Shores Mr. Brian Hamilton — Bessemer Mr. Tim Lupinacci — Birmingham Mr. LeRoy Nix — Maplesville Ms. Libby Queen — Alexander City Mrs. Wynelle S. Sewell — Huntsville Hon. Rodger Smitherman — Birmingham Hon. David W. Wheeler — Birmingham Ms. Anakate Andrasko ’22, ex-officio — Odenville
Seniors wearing medallions are members of Phi Kappa Phi, the highest academic honorary at the University. The program contains the names of candidates for degrees, but inclusion in the program does not constitute evidence of completion of a degree or of graduation from this institution. Page 4
SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL 2020 GraduaTes
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Superior Academic Achievement David Cockrell ..............................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................Birmingham Bachelor of Arts Ashlynn Sierra Koontz ...................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................... Northport Bachelor of Arts Michelle Vy Le...............................................Summa Cum Laude ...........................................................Helena Bachelor of Arts William Ryan Lowery....................................Summa Cum Laude .................................................. Columbiana Bachelor of Science Stevie Lyn Moore ...........................................Summa Cum Laude .................................................. Omaha, NE Bachelor of Science Zoe Wren Scott .............................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................... Huntsville Bachelor of Science with University Honors Katharine Marie Warren................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................... Huntsville Bachelor of Arts with University Honors
Bachelor of Arts Degree Nathaniel Billings .................................................................................................................................. Alabaster Trudy-Anne Fisher .....................................................................................................................Wilmington, DE Meredith Funderburk .......................................... Cum Laude .......................................................... Phenix City Faith Sarilyn Hope Kendrick ......................... Magna Cum Laude .............................................................Shelby James Jordan Mahaffey .................................. Magna Cum Laude .............................................................Calera Nicholas Norris....................................................................................................................................... Sumiton Lauren York Kiker .....................................................................................................................................Helena Kelli Sellers .................................................... Magna Cum Laude .....................................................Montevallo Shalamar Smith .............................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................Birmingham Jessica Michelle Thrasher ..................................... Cum Laude ................................................... Cahaba Heights
Bachelor of Arts with University Honors Degree Mallory Currie...............................................Summa Cum Laude ....................................................... Alabaster
Bachelor of Science Degree Haley Bellefleur ....................................................................................................................................Millbrook Tyra Black ..................................................................................................................................................Mobile
Page 5
Bachelor of Science Degree (cont.) Makayla Broussard ................................................................................................................................. McCalla Nicolas Joseph Broussard ................................................................................................................. New Orleans Voceya Campbell ................................................................................................................................Greensboro Qualynn Clark .................................................................................................................................Birmingham Jevne Conner .............................................................................................................................................. Jasper Jeslyn Diane Crawford................................... Magna Cum Laude ......................................................... McCalla Yosheika Cummings ......................................Summa Cum Laude ....................................................... Kingston Reece Donahoo ............................................. Magna Cum Laude ................................................... Harpersville Kirsten Etheridge ................................................. Cum Laude .........................................................Birmingham Kaila Foster.......................................................................................................................................Birmingham Michaela L. Henderson .................................Summa Cum Laude ............................................................ Toney Sarah Hubert ............................................................................................................................................Chelsea Porter James ........................................................................................................................................ Russellville Courtney Johnson ......................................... Magna Cum Laude .......................................................... Clanton Waid Jones ..................................................... Magna Cum Laude ...........................................................Remlap Richard Knight III ...........................................................................................................................Birmingham Marcos Lopez Acosta ..................................... Magna Cum Laude ........................................................ Alabaster Kathleen Maestas.......................................................................................................................................Helena Garrett Manning ....................................................................................................................................Cullman Payton McCaleb ............................................ Magna Cum Laude ............................................................Corner Robert McNeal .................................................... Cum Laude ..................................................................Tyrone Stephanie M. Moore ................................................................................................................................ Clanton T.J. Morton ......................................................................................................................................... Centreville Sarai Olvera ........................................................................................................................................Montevallo Beau Parkinson .................................................... Cum Laude ............................................................. Deatsville Samuel Oliver Poole....................................... Magna Cum Laude ............................................ Mountain Brook Julio Sebastian Domingo ............................... Magna Cum Laude ............................................................. Jasper Olivia Self .........................................................................................................................................Birmingham Kyra Shobe................................................................................................................................................ Pelham Jennifer Shelayne Smith ........................................................................................................................... Jemison Milas Stevenson .......................................................................................................................................... Selma Mallory Stewart ................................................... Cum Laude ...........................................................Maplesville Ashley Thompson ..................................................................................................................................... Hoover Brady Alexander Thornton............................. Magna Cum Laude .......................................................... Clanton Adrian Weiss........................................................ Cum Laude .............................................................Enterprise Carrie Cole Wells............................................................................................................................. Mount Olive Erica Willie .............................................................................................................................. Chattanooga, TN Paige Wyatt ............................................................................................................................................ Pell City
Bachelor of Science with University Honors Degree Kristen Hayden..............................................Summa Cum Laude ....................................................... Prattville Sarah Douglass Orcutt .................................. Magna Cum Laude ............................................................Helena Abbey Elisabeth Thornton ............................. Magna Cum Laude .......................................................... Clanton
Page 6
MICHAEL E. STEPHENS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Master of Business Administration Degree Eva Montegrande Frost .......................................................................................................................Montevallo
Superior Academic Achievement Kelly Jeanette Watts.......................................Summa Cum Laude ....................................................... Alabaster Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Lauren Kenley Bledsoe ........................................ Cum Laude ............................................................ Huntsville Gloria Canul ........................................................ Cum Laude ....................................................... Robinson, PA Sarah Marie Doherty ...........................................................................................................................Tuscaloosa Kayla Michelle Graves ................................... Magna Cum Laude ............................................. Bossier City, LA Jeff Hill ................................................................................................................................................ Huntsville Allison Laatsch .................................................................................................................................Birmingham Danielle Lindsay ............................................ Magna Cum Laude ................................................. Muskego, WI Ben Ndalima .................................................................................................................Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania Jeff Odgers ..................................................... Magna Cum Laude ................................................... Columbiana Emcat O’Steen .........................................................................................................................................Florence Brittany Orion Suhy ............................................ Cum Laude ...............................................................Cullman Carlos Enrique Trejo-Ceron ..................................................................................................................... Pelham Ashtynn Wilhite .................................................................................................................................... Alabaster Justin Williams ...................................................................................................................................Greensboro David Wright ......................................................................................................................................Montevallo
Page 7
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Master of Education Degree Stephen Mann Bulger ........................................................................................................................ Homewood Brianna Sanae Gaiters............................................................................................................................ Alabaster Arthur Herbert ...................................................................................................................................Montevallo John M. Kitele ..................................................................................................................................Dayton, OH Shekinah Joy Lee .................................................................................................................................Miami, FL Karla Lusane ......................................................................................................................................Atlanta, GA Aron May ..........................................................................................................................................Thomasville Leila Marie Poole ............................................................................................................................... Homewood Laken Popwell ......................................................................................................................................... Clanton Crystal Denee’ Roskam ....................................................................................................................Birmingham Janna Morrison Sutherland...............................................................................................................Birmingham Joi Webb ...........................................................................................................................................Birmingham
Superior Academic Achievement James David Black .........................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................Birmingham Bachelor of Science Lily Anne Dickinson .....................................Summa Cum Laude .............................................. Melbourne, FL Bachelor of Science with University Honors Lacee Mae Wallace ........................................Summa Cum Laude ....................................................Maplesville Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts Degree Sarah Caroline Lowe ................................................................................................................. Mountain Brook Cydni Taylor ........................................................ Cum Laude ..................................................................Mobile
Bachelor of Arts with University Honors Degree Katherine Pearce ............................................Summa Cum Laude ....................................................Montevallo
Bachelor of Science Degree Cassundra Clark Boyd ................................................................................................................................Calera Lori Chandler .............................................................................................................................................. Brent Taylor Elizabeth Colacicco ............................ Magna Cum Laude .......................................................Enterprise Rebekah Conrad .................................................. Cum Laude ........................................................ Niceville, FL Lindsey Rae Flynn ................................................................................................................................. Alabaster Amanda Marie Gautreaux .............................Summa Cum Laude ................................................ Suwanee, GA Maggie Glover ......................................................................................................................................... Clanton Karah Goodwin .............................................Summa Cum Laude .................................................. Columbiana CJ Gray.......................................................... Magna Cum Laude ............................................... Cleveland, TN
Page 8
Bachelor of Science Degree (cont.) Sara Elizabeth Harbison ................................................................................................................. Vestavia Hills Mykayla Deondra Harrison .................................................................................................................... Brewton Jymeelah Kirk ............................................................................................................................................Parrish Aubrey Leeane Long ...................................... Magna Cum Laude ................................................ Highland, MI Tyler Aaron Mattes ..................................................................................................................................Sarasota Hannah Mohon ................................................... Cum Laude .........................................................Birmingham Zachary Myers ...........................................................................................................................................Mobile Lizeth Lopez Ramirez .................................... Magna Cum Laude ....................................................... Crossville Aaliyah Rice ............................................................................................................................................ Decatur Alexander Rodriguez Arceo ...........................Summa Cum Laude .......................................................... Pelham Devin S. Roper .................................................... Cum Laude .............................................................. Alabaster Meghan Shea ............................................................................................................................................ Hoover Ashlyn Holmes Sims...................................... Magna Cum Laude ........................................................Sylacauga Anna Smith ................................................... Magna Cum Laude ........................................................... Pelham Jamie Noel Taylor ............................................................................................................................ Montgomery Chelsea Renee Thomas ........................................ Cum Laude .........................................................Birmingham Kali Faith Trice.............................................. Magna Cum Laude ........................................................ Alabaster Kelsea Trice ................................................... Magna Cum Laude ........................................................ Alabaster Jessica Morgan Watkins .............................................................................................................................Helena Victoria Wolfe...................................................... Cum Laude ....................................................................Leeds
Page 9
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Superior Academic Achievement Ashlyn Morgan Capps ................................... Magna Cum Laude ............................................................. Vance Bachelor of Fine Arts Anna Kate Farley ...........................................Summa Cum Laude ........................................................ Pell City Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Arts Degree Michaila Franklin ................................................ Cum Laude ...................................................Los Angeles, CA Kelly Garrett ............................................................................................................................................ Jemison Hannah Elizabeth King.................................Summa Cum Laude ..................................................Birmingham Taylor James Kosman ...........................................................................................................................Enterprise Adam Ledbetter ......................................................................................................................................Holtville Celena S. McAlpine ...................................................................................................................... Pleasant Grove Elaina McBride .............................................. Magna Cum Laude .......................................................... Dothan Kendall Messer ..............................................Summa Cum Laude ........................................................ McCalla Ana Camille Muñoz ............................................................................................................................ Fitzpatrick Nicholas Norris....................................................................................................................................... Sumiton Mikayla Nikole Seals ........................................................................................................................Birmingham Spencer Stoehr ..................................................... Cum Laude ..............................................................Trussville
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Kristan Beardshear ........................................ Magna Cum Laude ........................................................ Prattville Alexander Waid Binion..........................................................................................................................Trussville Brooke Nicole Morgan...........................................................................................................................Sylacauga
Bachelor of Music Degree Amy Summersett ...........................................Summa Cum Laude .......................................................... Pelham
Bachelor of Science Degree Allison Bearden .............................................Summa Cum Laude .......................................................Sylacauga Jamie Browder ...................................................................................................................................... Andalusia Leslee Janaé Cunningham ................................................................................................................Birmingham Julia Davis ........................................................... Cum Laude ............................................................Tuscaloosa Sarah Eileen Engle ............................................... Cum Laude ........................................................ San Jose, CA John Englebert .......................................................................................................................................... Hoover Lola Garcia Cortez............................................................................................................................... Albertville Emily Godwin ....................................................................................................................................... Prattville Jenna Goodson .................................................... Cum Laude ..................................................................Helena Skyelar Haynie....................................................................................................................................... Alabaster
Page 10
Bachelor of Science Degree (cont.) Mallory Jones.........................................................................................................................................Sylacauga Kimberly Lange .............................................Summa Cum Laude ...........................................................Helena Hailey Larkin ..................................................................................................................................... Tampa, FL Marcos Lopez Acosta ..................................... Magna Cum Laude ........................................................ Alabaster Kyle McCune .............................................................................................................................................Helena Cameron McGuffie ................................................................................................................................Trussville Keira Mills ........................................................................................................................................Birmingham Monique Nelson ...............................................................................................................................Birmingham Ryan Sexton ................................................................................................................................................ Ozark Dewayne Thomas Jr. ................................................................................................................................... Selma Cameron Trower....................................................................................................................................... Hoover Mary Claire White ..................................................................................................................................... Selma
Bachelor of Science with University Honors Degree Tessa Elizabeth Burns Mullet .............................. Cum Laude ................................................ Chattanooga, TN
Page 11
Cynthia Todd Commencement Speaker, May 8, 2021 Cynthia Todd ’88 has had a lengthy and distinguished career in corporate America. She currently serves as the operations manager of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, and she has worked with the company for nearly 13 years. She previously worked as a manager at Protective Life in Birmingham for more than 20 years. In February 2020, Todd became the first African American president of the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association. As UMNAA president, Todd has been working to provide more networking opportunities between UM alumni, bolster alumni engagement with the University and increase the association’s presence on social media and in the community. She has served in several roles with the UMNAA since 2006, and served as the president of the UM Minority Alumni Club from 2015-2017. During her time as a student at UM, Todd served as president of the Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity, was an active member of the Inspirational Voices of Christ, the African American Society and Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society. She received several honors, including Senior Elite, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Golson Scholars Seminar, The Wall Street Journal Annual Achievement Award, the John A. House Award and The United States Achievement Academy National Collegiate Award. Todd also serves with several community organizations. She is the vice president of the Upsilon Eta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., serves on the board of directors for the Valley Pearls Service Foundation and The Literacy council of Central Alabama, served as president of the UM Minority Alumni Club and was on the board of directors for New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church from 2016 to 2020. She was named to the Birmingham Business Journal ’s 2020 Top Birmingham Women list, which recognized women who have risen to the pinnacle of their industries or fields and who have a long and tangible track record of results and impact in the community and their industries. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in business management from UM, Todd also holds a master’s degree in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College. Todd credits her time at Montevallo with developing the skills she has used to build a successful career. “Because of the exceptional education I received at Montevallo, I am a proven business management professional with more than 30 years of experience and a track record of consistent promotions and increasing responsibilities,” she said.
Page 12