Montevallo Anglers Win National Championship

Sophomore anglers Peyton Harris and Dalton Head became the frst duo to win a national championship for the UM fshing team at the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance Feb. 23 at Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida.

Harris and Head entered the fnal day of competition in third place before a total weigh-in of 15 bass at 66 pounds, 15 ounces over the three-day event gave them the win by a small margin over anglers from Webber International University.

“It was a magical day for those guys and the program,” said fshing team coach William Crawford.

Following the collegiate national championship, the pair qualifed for the 2023 Toyota Series Championship, where they will compete with professional anglers. Harris, of Chelsea, and Head, of Moody, grew up fshing nearby on the Coosa River. After teaming up with Head to win the Falcons’ frst national championship, Harris expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue his fshing career and earn a college degree not far from his hometown.

“We can’t thank the University of Montevallo enough,” Harris said. “Both of us sought out Montevallo as a university because of its impressive fshing program. We knew in order to become better anglers, we needed to go somewhere where we could fsh with the best college anglers in the country. Fishing with the best pushes us to be our best. And that’s why we are here today.”

Te team was also named Major League Fishing National School of the Year for the second consecutive year. Te team beat out 176 schools to win the coveted honor and is the only school in MLF history to achieve back-to-back school-of-the-year honors.

UM Renovates Old Gym Into Strength and Conditioning Center

As the number of student-athletes has grown at UM, the need for training and workout space has become more prevalent. UM Athletics debuted a renovated Old Gym, formerly known as Bibb Graves Gym, during an open house Feb. 10.

Old Gym also assists graduate students in the Exercise and Nutrition Science program, including many who serve as strength and conditioning graduate assistants in Athletics. Te facility features 12 power racks with space for up to 30 student-athletes to train simultaneously.

Old Gym is a large historic facility that the University has used since the 1930s, but in recent years it has been underutilized. By transforming the building into a student-athlete strength and conditioning center, Old Gym will be used year-round to keep the Falcons competitive with other institutions.

STARS Sustainability Rating Upgraded to Silver

Te University has been upgraded to a ciate professor of environmental studies STARS Silver Rating from the Associ- and coordinator of campus sustainability. ation for the Advancement of Sustain- “Tis was truly a campus-wide efort, ability in Higher Education (AASHE) as we received points for projects and iniin recognition of its sustainability tiatives led by students, staf and faculty achievements. STARS, the Sustainability to improve sustainability education and Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, practice at UM,” Caplow said. measures and encourages sustainability UM houses the frst and only environin all aspects of higher education. mental studies major in public higher

Te University, which earned Bronze education in Alabama. status in 2019, has expanded its sustain-

Te University will retain the Silver ability initiatives in recent years under status in the STARS rating through 2026. the leadership of Dr. Susan Caplow, asso-

UM Athletics Adding Acrobatics and Tumbling

President Stewart and Vice President for Athletic and Special Programs Mark Richard have announced the addition of women’s acrobatics and tumbling as the school’s 23rd intercollegiate athletics sport that will begin in the 2024-2025 season.

Te inaugural season for the program will begin in the spring of 2025 as it increases UM’s sport total to 23. Te announcement marks the addition of the 12th new intercollegiate sport added at Montevallo within the past 10 years. Student-athletes will report to campus in the fall of 2024 and begin competing in the spring of 2025.

“We’re excited about the continued growth within our athletic department,” said Richard. “We’re proud to ofer the opportunity for talented student-athletes to pursue acrobatics and tumbling at the collegiate level. We look forward to adding to our high-achieving student-athlete population on campus.”

Chris Stewart Speaks at Fall Commencement

Chris Stewart ’92, the men’s basketball play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide Sports Network for the past two decades, told 114 undergraduate and 55 graduate students Dec. 9, 2022, that UM teaches its students how to think.

“I learned how to fgure things out when the textbook doesn’t always have the answer,” said Stewart, the 2022 Fall Commencement keynote speaker. “And I learned what so many others before me and since my graduation had learned, that just because you went to a small liberal arts university in a beautiful little piece of Shelby County, Alabama, you aren’t limited in what you can become.”

Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication at UM. He has been named a fve-time “Alabama Sportscaster of the Year” by the National Sports Media Association. Te Fairfeld native was also the recipient of the UMNAA Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award in 2009 and was a 2021 inductee into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame.

UM Freezes Tuition Rates for 6th Consecutive Year

To help maintain its status as one of the best quality-for-cost higher education institutions in the state, the UM Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 10 to once again freeze tuition at the same rate it has been since the 2018-2019 school year.

“Te University family is proud that we have capped tuition rates at Montevallo for the sixth year in a row,” said President Stewart. “Trustees, faculty, staf and benefactors have made a quality college degree accessible and afordable for high school graduates, community college transfers and adult learners. Freezing tuition for another year helps tremendously as we prepare our students for thoughtful citizenry and meaningful careers.”

To further help incoming students, the University is waiving the ACT/SAT test score requirement for admission and is ofering scholarships to students based on their high school GPA through fall 2024.

UM Online Graduate Education Programs Ranked Among Best in the Nation

Te University’s online graduate education programs in the College of Education and Human Development ranked in the top 100 in the nation and in the top four in Alabama according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Online Graduate Programs rankings.

UM’s national ranking of 97 is up from last year by 11 positions.

U.S. News assessed 345 schools in the best online master’s in education programs rankings based on a variety of objective factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials, services and technologies.

Dr. Jennifer Alexiou-Ray, director of UM’s graduate studies, said Montevallo has been counted as one of the nation’s best online graduate education programs for several years now, and it’s an accomplishment they’re proud of.

“UM has allowed this department to create a quality online education program that has excelled in educator preparation,” Alexiou-Ray said.

UM Earns Highest Ranking to Date as a Military Friendly School

Te University has been designated as a Military Friendly School for the third consecutive year and earned its highest ranking to date in the small public schools category with a No. 7 ranking following an announcement by the Military Friendly program March 7.

UM earned Top Ten honors for its support of military members and their dependents this year and has received special recognition in the past as a Military Spouse Friendly School.

“Te Ofce of Veteran and Military Afairs is honored to receive the designation as a Military Friendly School again this year,” said Traci Crenshaw, director and school certifying ofcial in the UM Ofce of Military and Veteran Afairs. “To be ranked seventh among the nation’s small schools is a huge recognition for all of the work the University of Montevallo has done to welcome veterans and their dependents to the UM family and acknowledge their value to our campus community.”

Grainger Community Counseling and Wellness Clinic Opens

Te new and free-to-the-public Grainger Community Counseling and Wellness Clinic is now open following a grand opening and ribbon-cutting Feb. 17 at Sims House on campus.

At no cost to its clients, the clinic provides general therapy, group therapy, play therapy for children and telemental health virtual counseling.

Te clinic is open to anyone who makes an appointment during its hours of Monday through Tursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Community members can fnd additional information and schedule an appointment online at montevallo.edu/communitycounseling-clinic. Appointments can also be scheduled by phone at 205-665-6377. Te clinic is located at 1045 Middle St. in Montevallo.

Te clinic was made possible by Michael and Donna Grainger, who donated to fund the clinic, the Hill Crest Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, the Shelby County Community Health Foundation, the Montevallo Development Cooperative District (MDCD), which is a partnership comprised of the University, the city of Montevallo and Shelby County, and several individual donors Te clinic provides free mental health care to Montevallo residents and other local communities.

Michael Grainger, a 1973 graduate of the University, said he’s hopeful the clinic can make a diference in the lives of those in the community during life’s struggles such as the loss of a parent, spouse or child, unemployment, a veteran re-acclimating to daily life or even coping day-to-day.

“Te need for mental health professionals by 2025 is projected to be a million,” Michael Grainger said. “Based on the current population and demographics, we’re going to be 250,000 (counselors) short. But there’s really only one number that is important in mental health and dealing with mental health, and that’s the number one, because it’s a personal journey you’re on. It’s a personal, intense journey for the person with the illness and the person doing the counseling.”

A dedication ceremony was held for the clinic in May 2022 where President Stewart; Dr. Latofa Parker, clinic director; the Graingers and others broke ground. Now, the clinic is ready for service to help meet the needs of those who do not receive mental health care because of cost.

“If people are mentally well, it improves their quality of life, particularly work life,” said Parker, who is also an associate professor of counseling at UM. “From a societal point of view, we want people to have healthy families and go to work. We know that mental health is a big challenge in our society, so providing free services will help meet a need that will enhance our community, county and state.”

Stewart said he is proud the institution can assist in meeting the needs of Montevallo and surrounding communities.

Childcare during counseling sessions is also available for those who need it if scheduled ahead of time.

“My hope for the clinic is that it’s a place of healing for people who are dealing with mental health challenges,” Parker said. “Tat people come, feel supported and receive quality services that will improve the quality of their lives.”

Parker said the professional development opportunities aforded to graduate students at the University with the opening of the clinic continue to add to the prestige of a degree from UM.

“A master’s degree in counseling at the University of Montevallo holds prominence,” Parker said.

Learn more about these top stories and stay informed on UM updates at montevallo.edu/news