President’s Message Dear Montevallo Family, As I shared with many of you at this year’s Alumni Awards Luncheon, Montevallo is, with your help, fast becoming a national model for excellence in higher education. In February our national champion opera ensemble (which competed against the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado in the finals) sang the National Anthem at a CBS nationally televised game hosted by our national championship finalist basketball team. Indeed, in the past year and a half, three of our athletic teams have played in national championship tournaments and were recognized by the Peach Belt Conference for outstanding community service. Our accomplished faculty and staff publish their scholarship in nationally recognized academic presses and present their research at important national and international conferences. They also mentor many of our undergraduates who are already presenting their own research and scholarship across the nation. Our graduates continue to gain admission to some of the most selective medical, graduate and professional schools in the world. I regularly meet alumni who left our gates with an undergraduate education that prepared them for advanced study at renowned institutions such as Duke, Oxford, Berkeley, Emory and Johns Hopkins. The most, recent rankings in U.S. News & World Report list Montevallo as the No. 1 public master’s-level university in Alabama and the 14th best public university in our division in the South. In an important primary ranking, U.S. News & World Report named Montevallo the 4th best university in our category in the South for graduating students with the least amount of student loan debt. Our graduates finish college with half the loan debt of the national average. This year, we hosted nationally recognized speakers such as David Gergen, Sarah Parcak and Carolyn McKinstry. This winter, we held a press conference attended by Gov. Robert Bentley and State Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier to announce our collaboration in the Virtual Alabama program. Gov. Bentley and Director Collier praised Montevallo as the first university in the nation to use virtual mapping of its campus to boost both safety functions and operational efficiencies. A college guidebook published in Los Angeles titled America’s Best Kept College Secrets recommended only two public universities in the Gulf South – the University of Mississippi and – you guessed it – your own University of Montevallo. The author makes special mention of the many community service projects orchestrated from our campus as well as our long tradition of providing some of the region’s most-talented teachers. We were also named this year as a College of Distinction, an accolade most often reserved for elite, private colleges. Just recently, Montevallo was named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a prestigious national award that honors a commitment to service that has always distinguished our institution. Honoring a long tradition of social justice on our campus, our students really do have servants’ hearts. We are indeed extending our reputation to a national level – and we are grateful to each of you for your role in our noble mission.
MONTEVALLO TODAY Vol. CII, No. 2 Spring 2013 Montevallo Today (ISSN 1052-3634) is published three times a year by the University of Montevallo, Alumni Affairs/University Relations, Reynolds Hall, Highland St., Montevallo, AL 35115. Periodicals postage paid at Montevallo, AL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, send address changes to Montevallo Today, Station 6215, P.O. Box 6000, Montevallo, AL 35115. To contact the Alumni Affairs office, please call 205-665-6215. Text, photographs and graphic images included in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the editor. The University of Montevallo does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or in the provision of services.
Montevallo Today
University of Montevallo alumni magazine EDITOR
Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00 bunttr@montevallo.edu
Associate Editor & CLASS NOTES EDITOR Marsha Littleton littletonm@montevallo.edu
COPY Editor
Diane Kennedy-Jackson kennedyd@montevallo.edu
Alumni Editor
Tracy Payne-Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98 paynet@montevallo.edu
Photographers
Matt Orton, Brittany Headley ’14, Kiera Hood ’15, Ashlynn Postell ’13, Tracy PayneRockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98
DESIGNERs
Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, John Nicholson ’11, Hannah Stein ’14
Editorial Assistant Brenda Aldridge
Contributors
Courtney Bennett ’11, James Bessette MBA ’12, Abigail Bradley ’14, Heather Buckner ’14, Hollie C. Cost, Wesley Hallman, Tonya Fleming ’13, Amy McDonald ’91, Matt Walker ’02, Jah’zmin Young ’09
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UMNAA President—Jim Methvin ’73 President-Elect—Michael Malone ’69 Past President/Parliamentarian Kit Waters ’78 Alumni Council Representative Mary Lou Williams ’69 Admissions Representative Greg Embry ’96 Faculty Representative Carolyn Miller-Kirby SGA President Ashley Lowe ’13 UMNAA Vice Presidents Barbara Bonfield ’58, Sandi Falkenhagen ’68, Wadia B. Josof ’79, Jalete Nelms ’90, Laurl Self ’94, Keith Shoemaker ’98 Members at Large Jeffery J. Adams ’85, Matthew Arnold ’93, Glenda L. Bland ’89, Barbara J. Bradford ’56, Lewis Brooks ’88, Vera S. Cox ’56, Claudia Sue Harrell ’73, Toni Leo ’80, Andy Meginniss ’68, Megan E. Randolph ’06, J. Corey Stewart ’03, David W. Thomas ’97, Chris Willis ’07, Warwick M. Woodall ’82 Ex-Officio John W. Stewart III Tracy Payne-Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98 Patrick McDonald ’01
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In this Issue 4 Homecoming
Alumni gathered for a weekend of reunions, awards, fellowship and College Night as Homecoming 2013 celebrated Montevallo’s “Proud Past. Bright Future.” UMNAA award winners were: Karen Snowden, Distinguished Alumna; Martin Nalls, Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award; and Terra D. Moody, Nathalie Molton Gibbons Young Alumni Achiever’s Award.
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Elisabeth French ’93, circuit judge in Jefferson Co., Ala., shares her thoughts on her success, her Montevallo education and the transition from the volleyball court to the courtroom.
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The University of Montevallo family celebrated the first national telecast of a UM basketball game from Trustmark Arena. Alumni joined with departments on campus to make the day a success with activities including an alumni breakfast and halftime recognition lunch for past men’s and women’s basketball players.
Departments 4 Campus News
16 Montevallo Profile
13 Guest Essay
18 Class Notes
14 Sports
24 Alumni Activities
On the cover Boundary Street, from downtown Montevallo onto the university campus, has been widened and beautified to become The Promenade. Wider sidewalks, new pavement, landscaping and lighting make for an appealing connection between UM and Main Street. PHOTOS: MATT ORTON
Winners of awards presented by the UM National Alumni Association at Homecoming 2013 were from left: Terra D. Moody ’06, Martin Nalls ’97 and Karen Snowden ’73.
|2013 Homecoming Awards| Returning alumni who attended Homecoming 2013, themed “Proud Past-Bright Future,” enjoyed the traditional activities – athletic events, reunions, College Night, luncheons – and also got a preview of the “facelift” going on in the area between the UM campus and downtown Montevallo. During the Homecoming luncheon, the business of the National Alumni Association was conducted, honored classes were recognized and three outstanding alumni were honored. The Distinguished Alumna Award for 2013 went to Karen Snowden, a professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A & M University in College Station, Texas. Snowden received her B.S. degree in biology from the University of Montevallo in 1973, then went on to earn the DVM at Auburn University in 1979 and the Ph.D. in veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University in 1988. In 1989, Snowden crossed the Atlantic to serve as a post-doctoral senior
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research associate, then as a lecturer in veterinary parasitology at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in Liverpool, England. Upon returning to the United States, she accepted an assistant professorship at Texas A & M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and has since advanced to a full professorship. As an active member of the curriculum committee in the TAMU CVM, Snowden is deeply involved in all aspects of developing, refining and making changes in the professional curriculum, and she coordinates the veterinary parasitology course for second-year students. In an effort to give her students a direct, hands-on clinical experience, Snowden has cultivated a relationship with a local animal shelter, having senior students serve a two-week rotation handling the medical problems of approximately 175 animals, primarily dogs and cats. This experience gives the students a first-hand look at the operation of a community animal shelter
and also gives them a preview of a wide variety of dilemmas they may face in their future practices. More recently, the shelter rotation has been integrated with a new, required rotation focused on emergency and disaster response. Snowden’s scholarly publications and presentations number in excess of 200, and she is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. Her most impressive accomplishment, according to a colleague at TAMU, is her Charter Diplomate certification in parasitology, awarded by the American College of Veterinary Microbiology in April 2011, signifying her outstanding knowledge and proficiency in veterinary parasitology and her eminent standing in the field. Snowden’s leadership qualities became evident during her Montevallo years. Said one nominator, “Whether it was being a Purple cheerleader, a Purple Cowtail, helping a friend get through chemistry, creating routines and performing in Catalina Club, or just hang-
Karen Snowden, recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Alumna Award, receives recognition at alumni dinner. Karen is a 1973 alumna and professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A & M University.
ing around the dorm on weekends, she was always in the forefront of plans and making sure things were done ‘right.’” In reference to her career choice, this same nominator said, “Under Karen’s professional, scientific exterior lies a soft heart willing to assist any of God’s creatures, no matter how many legs they may have.” The recipient of the 2013 Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award was Martin Nalls, principal of Homewood Middle School near Birmingham. Nalls earned the master of education degree in secondary education from the University of Montevallo in 1997, then went on to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he received the education specialist and the doctor of education degrees, both in educational leadership. Nalls began his career in education in 1997 as a social sciences teacher at Pleasant Grove High School. In 2000, he became assistant principal at Fairfield High School, but a year later went to the Hoover school system as assistant principal at Hoover High School. When the new Hoover High School
munication studies at the University of Alabama in 2008. She is currently a candidate for the Ph.D. in mass communication specializing in children and the media, also at UA. Moody is a member of several honor societies and has received a number of awards and recognitions. She recently was awarded a prestigious dissertation fellowship from the Southern Regional Education Board as well as the Clinical Center Director’s Award from the National Institutes of Health. While still in graduate school, Moody founded a mentoring program in Birmingham, Crowning Achievements Inc., of which she is the executive director. This organization helps underrepresented and adult returning students prepare for college and provides scholarships for high school seniors in the Birmingham city school system. She was honored by the City of Birmingham Division of Youth Services with the Hidden Hero Award for providing numerous scholarships to area students. Moody currently holds the position of program analyst with the Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. She develops and implements training in research and chairs the outreach initiatives committee, which promotes clinical research training and medical education to targeted audiences. Always working to encourage others, Moody has contributed many hours to mentoring through Crowning Achievements Inc. as well as the McNair Program, the Birmingham Area Consortium on Higher Education Women’s Conference, an internship with the National Cancer Institute and many other local organizations. She also holds a place on the UMNAA Junior Board. In the words of one nominator, “I have no doubt she will be successful in whatever she pursues, and, personally, would love to see her back here at UM encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. I know she will always represent the University of Montevallo very well … and eloquently.”
Freshman Campus opened in 2006, Nalls was instrumental in coordinating, implementing and facilitating that program, and in 2007, was named Alabama Assistant Principal of the Year. In 2008, Nalls had the opportunity to become principal at Homewood Middle School where he continues to lead and motivate students to excel. Nalls holds membership in a number of professional organizations and serves on the board of directors of the Alabama Association of Secondary School Principals, the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, the Alabama Association of Middle School Principals, as well as the Spina Bifida Association of Alabama. One nominator wrote that Nalls should be considered for this award “for his unrelenting commitment and dedication to expanding learning outside of the classroom and for his focus on individual student success.” He went on to say that Nalls helped design an intense ACT preparation course for a group of Birmingham inner-city high school students who were mentored through the I Am My Brother’s Keeper Leadership Institute. “One could easily see and declare the success of the collective group of students. However, Martin elected to create a ‘laser-focused’ one-on-one training plan for the least-performing student to ensure his individual level of success. I am pleased to announce, as a result of my partnership with Martin Nalls (College Prep Alabama), a number of inner-city youth now have the opportunity to take advantage of full ride scholarships from several leading colleges and universities in Alabama.” Nalls is married to Andrea Michelle Williams Nalls, UM class of 1997, whom he met while attending the University of Montevallo. Terra D. Moody was the recipient of the 2013 Nathalie Molton Gibbons Young Alumni Achiever’s Award. Moody received the bachelor of science degree with University Honors in mass communication from the University of Montevallo in 2006. While a student at UM, she participated in the McNair Scholars Program and went on to earn a master’s degree in com-
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|College Night results in GV3| Centered around the theme, “Proud Past-Bright Future,” homecoming provided the perfect setting in which to reminisce with classmates and friends. The spotlight was focused on the stage in Palmer Auditorium for the College Night productions, which culminated Saturday night in a Gold Victory for the third consecutive year. Along with wins for men’s soccer and men’s basketball, “A Sweet Sensation,” a tale of small-town business sabotage set in the 1950s, won the day for the Gold side. In this tale, Theo McElroy, the young heir to McElroy’s Candy Factory, and love-interest Dee-Dee Cartwright must protect Theo’s family business from evil competitors who want to steal the family recipe and destroy the town of Briarsfield. In the end, Theo and DeeDee triumph, proving Theo is ready to take his place as head of the company. Clark Maxwell and Mechay Rush, Gold leaders, were also named Mr. and Ms. Montevallo.
The Purple side, led by Riley McEuen and Mia Shirley, produced “Taking Up Space,” a story of conflict, resolution and reconciliation set in outer space. The Purple production revolved around the USS Triumph and its crew, the Space C.O.W.S. (Cadets of West Seattle). In this Star Trek spoof, the crew, including redshirts (subordinate crew who consistently meet danger), encounters a hostile alien group. Despite their idiosyncrasies, the crew is able to outsmart and defeat the aliens, ending with newfound friendship with the group of aliens. College Night 2013 was dedicated to Kelly Wacker, associate professor of art and chairperson of the College Night committee. Wacker joined the committee five years ago. She believes College Night is a true reflection of the liberal arts at their finest. Wacker also coordinates the art history minor at UM and serves as director of The Gallery at Bloch Hall.
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2013 2 1. Jim Connell speaks with alumnus Isaac McDow ’10 and his wife, Erin McDow, at the College of Business reception. 2. Members of the Purple Side perform “Taking Up Space.” 3. The Gold Side performs “A Sweet Sensation.” 4. Past recipients of the Distinguished Alumnus Award enjoy the alumni dinner, (front row) Karen Snowden ’73, (second row) Bobbye Lightfoot ’67, Nancy Worley ’73, (back row) Kirk Lightfoot ’67, Joyce Greathouse ’74, JDanny Cooper ’70 and Tom Walker ’75. 5. Golds win for a third consecutive year! 6. Kelly Wacker accepts the College Night dedication. 7. John Hoerner and Jasmine Sledge’10, at the communication alumni reception. 8. The College Night Club browses the archived spirit books. 9. Lea Ann Webb and Mary Lou Williams ’69 discuss bidding on art at the Alumni Art Auction. 10. Mechay Rush ’13 (on left) and Clark Maxwell ’13 (on right) are crowned as Ms. and Mr. Montevallo 2013 by 2012 Mr. Montevallo Joshua Womack ’13 and SGA President Ashley Lowe ’13.
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|Campus News|
|Gergen and Parcak speak on campus| David Gergen, a professor of public service and director of the Center of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School in Massachusetts and a senior political analyst for CNN, has made funds available to the University of Montevallo for travel grants for full-time faculty who plan to attend conferences, workshops, artist retreats, etc. during the summer. Gergen, who also is a contributor to Parade magazine, and, during the 1980s, served as chief editor of U.S. News & World Report, spoke at UM’s fall commencement in December and waived the speaking engagement fee in favor of funding for faculty development. An honors graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School as well as the recipient of 22 honorary degrees, Gergen has served as a White House adviser to four U.S. presidents: Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. His 2001 New York Times bestseller, Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership, Nixon to Clinton, chronicles his experiences in the White House. He is currently at work on a new book about renewing America’s political culture. Throughout the years, Gergen has been active on many non-profit boards including both Yale and Duke universities, Schwab Foundation and the Aspen Institute. He also chairs the Advisory Board for the Elon University School of Law. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy as well as a member of the D.C. Bar, the Council on Foreign Relations and the U.S. executive committee for the Trilateral Commission.
Sarah Parcak, 2013 Hallie Farmer Lecturer, speaks about satellite remote sensing imagery in detecting archaeological sites. Parcak’s work has been featured in several television productions on the Discovery Channel.
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David Gergen delivers the commencement address for UM’s fall graduation exercises. Gergen, a distinguished journalist, professor and political adviser, waived his speaking engagement fee in favor of funding for UM faculty development.
Sarah Parcak, space archaeologist and a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was the University of Montevallo’s 2013 Hallie Farmer Lecturer. Parcak spoke about new developments in technology associated with archaeology as well as the state of archaeology in Egypt in the wake of the recent political unrest there. A recognized expert in the use of remote sensing via satellite imagery analysis to detect archaeological sites, Parcak has appeared in a number of television productions on the Discovery Channel, where she was featured in “Why Ancient Egypt Fell” and “What Lies Beneath,” as well as in a number of published news outlets and internet-based news channels. Her use of satellite remote sensing imagery in researching archaeological sites has brought previously unrecognized ancient landscapes to light. She has published widely in archaeological journals and has written Satellite Remote Sensing for Archaeology (Routledge, 2009), the first methods book to ever appear on the subject of satellite archaeology. A graduate of Yale University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (Egyptology) and Archaeological Studies, Parcak received her Ph.D. from Cambridge University in the U.K., focusing on satellite imagery and ground survey in mapping landscapes in Egypt. Along with her husband, Egyptologist Greg Mumford, Parcak co-directs RESCUE (Remote Sensing and Coring of Uncharted Egyptian Sites), a major survey project in Egypt. She also is director of the Middle Egypt Survey Project.
|University to fully implement Virtual Alabama| The University of Montevallo has stepped to the front of the line in campus security and facilities maintenance with the implementation of Virtual Alabama, a system for managing emergencies as well as physical assets. UM is the first institution of higher education in the nation to implement the full resources of this all-inclusive virtual imagery system for safety and security efforts and facilities management operations. All of UM’s buildings, both interior and exterior, as well as all of the grounds, have been mapped over the past year, including interior components and underground infrastructure. The system will utilize up to 37 layers of infrastructure components, from evacuation routes and disaster staging areas to electrical outlets and water lines. The valuable information available in this system will support emergency management as well as day-to-day maintenance operations on the campus. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley addressed a press conference held in
Wills Hall in December praising UM for taking the lead in implementing this program and encouraging all colleges and universities throughout the state to do the same. The University’s police force and other approved agencies will have virtual access to all parts of the Montevallo campus, providing the situational awareness needed to safeguard the lives of students, employees and visitors in an emergency. Because information will be accessible to emergency responders in a crisis situation, efforts can be coordinated in real time, providing a unified command center for efficient operations, from pre-incident preparation through post-incident assessment. University Police Chief Chadd Adams noted that the leadership at UM places a premium on the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and visitors. He went on to note the fact that the University of Montevallo is a leader in the innovative and cutting-edge use of this system and pointed to its use as yet
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley addresses those in attendance of a press conference introducing Virtual Alabama at the University of Montevallo.
another example of the institution taking a proactive stance on safety. When used as a tool in facilities management, Virtual Alabama will provide the university with many cost-saving benefits. By visualizing the location and characteristics of infrastructure components, both above and below ground, time will be saved when campus maintenance is undertaken. Knowledge of details, from the size of light bulbs required in room fixtures to the location of gas lines, will conserve valuable time and travel as UM’s maintenance crews prepare to perform a repair without prior reconnaissance. This translates into real savings for the university. Montevallo President John W. Stewart III stated, “The implementation of this system is a testament to our strong commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our students, employees and visitors, first and foremost, and to use all of the available tools in the box to keep our tuition extremely affordable.”
Montevallo is the first university in the nation to fully implement a virtual imagery system that manages both security efforts and facilities management operations. Featured speakers at a December press conference to announce the launch of Virtual Alabama are, from left: Mayor of Montgomery and University of Montevallo Board of Trustees Chair Todd Strange, Director of Alabama Homeland Security Spencer Collier, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, University of Montevallo Senior Vice President for Administrative Affairs Michelle Johnston and University of Montevallo President John W. Stewart III.
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|Campus News|
|Students voice concerns for higher-education funding|
Rachael Swokowski flies a UM flag amidst the crowd at Higher Ed Day.
More than 90 students made the trek to Montgomery Feb. 28 to represent the University of Montevallo at Higher Education Day. Students from most colleges and universities in Alabama rallied on the steps of the state capital where bands played, speakers encouraged state legislators to support institutions of higher learning and Gov. Robert Bentley spoke words of encouragement to the assembly. Rachael Swokowski, Montevallo’s student Higher Ed Day/STARS coordinator, commented, “Overall, I thought Higher Ed Day was a great success—not only were our voices heard, but Montevallo showed a lot of school pride!” The event is sponsored by Alabama’s Higher Education Partnership, an advocacy group that represents state colleges and universities to the state legislature and its constituents. On the evening prior to the rally, alumni from Alabama’s colleges and universities attended the Alumni Leaders’ Advocacy Banquet at the Capital City
Club where they were given a comprehensive review of the legislative environment facing state universities. Members of the UM National Alumni Association board of directors and several university administrators attended the dinner. Speakers informed the representatives how they and others can help provide meaningful support to higher education.
Holly Bowden and other UM students listen as Gordon Stone, executive director of Alabama’s Higher Education Partnership, addresses the crowd in Montgomery.
|16th annual Undergraduate Research Day held March 13| Participants in alphabetical order:
Kara Anderson, Kathleen Bailey, Nicole Black, Carrie Busby, Blake Chapman, Devin Collar, Corey Duke, Amanda Evans, Elijah Fox, Jennifer Gabel, Bethany Griffis, James Hall, Morgan Hamrick, William Hamrick, Courtney Haynie, Samantha Hyde, Breona Jackson, Hannah Rae Joseph, Caroline Karanja, Rachel Klan, Kathleen Kryger, Megan Lejeune, Jody McKinley, Wil McKinney, Michael Messina, Whitney Mitchell, Raven Pfaff, Maria Ramos, Steven Sartor, Yulia Shvetsova, Charles Smith, Anna Toews, Gerda Tshibangu, Mallie Tucker, Andrew Wages, Josh Womack and Krista Wood.
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|Service Learning: educating for life| 2013, approximately 400 UM students representing 28 campus organizations turned out to perform tasks at 27 job sites. They picked up trash, weeded flower beds, washed windows and helped paint two houses. The Falcon Scholars in Action program is another example of ongoing organized student service in which up to 25 UM students are selected annually to directly serve clients in agencies and programs throughout Shelby County. These students perform Celebrating the naming of the University of Montevallo to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Commu- a minimum of ten hours nity Service Honor Roll are, from left: Courtney Bennett, Aaron Traywick, Laura Davis, Sydney Shell, Hollie of service per week for a Cost and Carol Bruser. All are active in UM’s office of Service Learning and Community Engagement. yearly financial stipend. The Shelby County Commission The spotlight was focused on the Engagement (OSLACE) beginning in contributes funding to this program. University of Montevallo recently when 2009. This department serves as a conThe Shoal Creek Prentice Village UM was named to the 2013 President’s necting rod among UM faculty, staff, Task Force, comprised of university Higher Education Community Serstudents, student-athletes and student representatives, neighborhood residents, vice Honor Roll by the Corporation Greek organizations and approximately city leaders and Habitat for Humanity for National and Community Service. 70 community partner agencies in the staff, was formed to organize improveThis honor roll is the highest federal Shelby County area. ment and restoration to homes in the recognition a college or university can The University’s mission statement, area around Montevallo Middle School. receive for a commitment to voluntary vision statement and strategic plan More than 500 students from UM and community outreach. It recognizes explicitly identify service and informed local city and county schools have given institutions of higher education that citizenship as university emphases. In more than 1,600 hours serving this reflect the values of exemplary comsupport of this culture, a number of community. munity service and achieve meaningful academic courses now include a Service While these major projects are exoutcomes in their communities. Learning designation, and students who pertly planned, organized and staffed, UM President John W. Stewart excel in service are recognized with a many other smaller, more extempoIII was quick to recognize the efforts service cord at graduation and with a raneous examples of people helping of the students, faculty and staff of the certificate of honor. A newly formed people are seen every day. From art University that led to this award. “The faculty learning community will students crafting bike racks around the UM family is dedicated to sharing our explore how to promote service in the UM campus and placing sculptures at efforts with the community that suruniversity curriculum and the MonteMontevallo Elementary School to acrounds and supports us. The Univervallo community. One of the goals of counting students helping local citizens sity, the City of Montevallo and Shelby this group is to increase the number of complete income tax forms; from UM County all benefit from the service of service-learning courses. faculty and staff members coaching these volunteers, and together, we will The Big Event, initiated at UM baseball teams and helping with Boy continue to improve the quality of life in 2011, is a one-day service project Scout/Girl Scout troops to organizing in our own backyard.” sponsored by the Student Government “Backpack Buddies” for economically While UM students have, tradiAssociation to thank the community disadvantaged children in local schools, tionally, displayed a commitment to for supporting the university. This service is a way of life at Montevallo. In community service, that initiative culeffort was facilitated by other orgathe words of a past UM slogan, we are, minated in the formation of the Office nizations and individuals in the city indeed, “educating for life.” of Service Learning and Community and campus community, as well. In
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|Staschke and Meyer reminisce| Ceramic artist Dirk Staschke ’95 recently returned to his alma mater to renew the bonds forged with his professors while he was in school and to revisit the campus where he spent his college years refining his talents. In an interview with UM Professor of Art Scott Meyer, Staschke talked about his days at Montevallo under the tutelage of Meyer and Art Professor Ted Metz, his experience in graduate school, and how his career has evolved since then. Staschke earned the MFA from Alfred University in New York, considered one of the most prestigious graduate ceramics institutions in the U.S. and one of the best in the world. He characterized the transition as humbling – going from “a big fish in a small pond” to a “situation where everybody there is amazing.” When asked about his favorite memories of his days at Montevallo, Staschke answered quickly that the rapport with Metz and Meyer was at the top of the list. He said, “I think that you guys were always there for all the students, so whoever was willing to be there the most, you guys would step
Ceramics artist Dirk Staschke ’95 chats with Scott Meyer, professor of art and one of Staschke’s mentors during his academic career at UM.
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up your game and match that level of intensity. That wasn’t there in graduate school.” He went on, “I learned to weld from Ted – how to engineer things that you need and build things that you don’t have.” Commenting on the ability of his students to solve practical problems, Meyer said, “We almost have a ‘pipeline’ to Rochester Institute of Technology in New York now. I got a call from Rick Hirsch, a professor of ceramics up there, who said, ‘You can spot a Montevallo ceramics student a mile away. They’re the ones who can see that we need a pulley welded to the ceiling here, and we can move this thing over there.’ There’s a legacy not to put us in this class, but DaVinci was a pretty good engineer, too.” Meyer continued, “I think the thing for Ted and me was finding the sort of people who were so thirsty that they were there when we left in the evening, and they were there when we arrived at 7 in the morning in front of their work, and you (Staschke) always were.” While he is primarily a studio artist, Staschke has taught at a number
of distinguished venues, most recently for four years at Emily Carr University in Vancouver, B.C. When he won the BAM Biennial 2010 Clay Throwdown, a well-known competitive show at the Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Wash., he also won a 2,000 sq. ft. obligation for the next year’s show. He worked for 17-18 hours each day for 18 months to produce his first museum solo exhibition, “Falling Feels a Lot Like Flying,” commenting that it was the hardest he had ever pushed himself, but the show was very successful. Staschke was in the Montevallo area to present pieces of his ceramic work at the 28th Alabama Clay Conference held recently in Birmingham. He has exhibited at numerous galleries and museums throughout the United States and around the world. His work is included in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the International Museum of Ceramic Art in Alfred, N.Y., and the Icheon Museum at the World Ceramic Center in Gwango-dong, South Korea, as well as the Southern Progress Corporate Collection in Birmingham.
|Guest Essay|
|Honor Flight: paying tribute to our WWII heroes| By Amy McDonald
I graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in social work. In 1995, I completed the M.Ed degree at UM with a concentration in secondary social science education. I currently teach advanced placement U.S. history and Holocaust studies at Shades Valley High School, where I have entered my 18th year in the classroom. After all of these years (more than I would like to admit), it has been not only an aim, but a privilege, to stay connected with UM in various ways. Even after leaving the proverbial nest, I have continued to find support and encouragement from former professors, colleagues and old friends. This has been especially true with my endeavors with Honor Flight Birmingham. To make a LONG story very short, almost six years ago I saw a segment on the national news about a program called Honor Flight. The national organization is in Ohio, and there are many smaller hubs scattered throughout the country. The news segment told the story of how the program raised funds to take WWII veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the WWII Memorial. The WWII Memorial wasn’t completed until 2004, so the majority of WWII veterans, well into their 80s or older, had not had the opportunity to see it. I was very moved and immediately wanted to involve my U.S. history classes in a fundraising project for this organization. I called the national headquarters the next day and was persuaded that I, too, could “take the bull by the horns” and start an Honor Flight hub in Birmingham. I said, “Listen, I just called about a fundraiser.” I was unsure of whom to talk with locally or how to get things started, so I called local mayors, newspapers and veterans organizations. The Birmingham News did a story, and the response was immediate. I set up my home
answering machine to take calls, and the first donations were made to an account set up at my school. Pam Nichols, marketing director for Noland Health Services, saw the article and called. We teamed up as co-directors, organized a meeting, and from there raised a group of volunteers—now a board of directors. In November 2007, we took seven veterans to the WWII Memorial. In April 2008, we took 33. After nearly five years, 16 flights, raising funds and chartering planes, we were able to take more than 900 veterans to see their WWII Memorial. It has been an incredible amount of work and sometimes a scary venture when looking at Senator Jeff Sessions with Amy McDonald the risks involved. But it has also at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. been one of the most rewarding endeavors with which I have ever been associated. This labor of love Morgan and Jim Day, to name a few. I also could not have been accomplished have learned that this is incredibly rare. without a total team effort from Secondly, my experiences at UM taught dedicated volunteers who had the same me the true meaning of friendship and passion … to recognize and honor teamwork. I was very fortunate to be what the “greatest generation” did for able to experience playing women’s our country and all of us. basketball as well as being a member of So many of my experiences as Chi Omega Sorority. Lastly, there are an educator and with Honor Flight very few things in this life that are truly Birmingham find their roots in my cherished. More than 20 years later, I days at UM. It is difficult to narrow look back on my years at UM with a my focus when it comes to the special great deal of emotion. People always traits of UM, but three in particular say that the college years were the best have impacted me most. The first is a years of their lives. I say they are some sense of admiration. It is hard for me of the most cherished. to convey the admiration I had, and On a final note, during my sophostill have, for the faculty. It is not hard more year at Montevallo, I was fortunate to respect those who are intelligent, to have Eugene Sledge as my zoology have high expectations and are highly professor. As I have talked to WWII accomplished. That respect transforms veterans over the past few years, I have into admiration, however, when the thought of Dr. Sledge many times. I realization hits that your college profesregret not knowing then what I know sors care about you as an individual. now … that I was in the presence of Not only were some of these faculty an American hero. I don’t know what I members instrumental during my colwould have done back then, but I hope lege years, they remain a part of my life I would have talked with him about his to this day … Susan Vaughn, David service and told him, “Thank you.”
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www.montevallo.edu/alumni
|Sports Update|
|Falcon basketball teams excel in season| The University of Montevallo men’s and women’s basketball teams wrapped up spectacular seasons in the month of March. The UM men’s basketball team earned its eighth NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament bid in the past 10 years after earning an at-large bid as the No. 6 seed in the Southeast Region. The bid marked the Falcons’ fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament. Montevallo, which has won backto-back Peach Belt Conference West Division regular-season championships, captured the NCAA Division II Southeast Region tournament championship during the 2011-2012 season on its way to its first-ever appearance in the national championship game. The Falcons own an 18-8 all-time record in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament.
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Montevallo Today
Montevallo owns three region tournament championships in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament. The Falcons captured back-toback South Region championships during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons and took home the Southeast Region title last season. All eight of the Falcons’ appearances in the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament have come in the past decade under head coach Danny Young. Senior Drico Hightower and sophomore Troran Brown were each selected first team All-Peach Belt Conference following the release of the men’s basketball All-Conference teams March 5 by the conference office. The pair became the fourth and fifth Montevallo men’s basketball players, respectively, to receive postseason recognition since Montevallo joined the conference prior to the 2009-2010 season. Brown and Hightower join former
Montevallo standout D. J. Rivera as first team All-Peach Belt Conference selections. Freddy Little was named third team All-Peach Belt Conference following the Falcons’ first season in the conference back in 2009-2010. Antoine Davis was named third team All-Peach Belt Conference following the 20102011 season, while Rivera was selected first team All-Conference last season. Brown and Hightower finished the regular season among the Peach Belt Conference leaders in several categories. Brown finished fourth in the conference in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game. The 6-foot-2 guard from Phoenix, Ariz., was fifth in the conference in assists with an average of six assists per game, which also ranked him among the top 10 players in assists nationally in NCAA Division II. Brown was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week once during the regular season.
The Falcons ended their season with an 81-73 loss to Barton College in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Tournament quarterfinals March 16 at the USC Aiken Convocation Center in Aiken, S.C. The 2012-2013 season included the first ever home athletic contest televised nationally from the University of Montevallo campus when the men’s basketball team hosted Clayton State University on CBS Sports Network on Feb. 16. The Falcons defeated Clayton State 63-50 in front of one of the largest crowds in Trustmark Arena history. The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team set a new school record in its NCAA Division II era with its 17th victory following a game-winning 3-pointer by freshman Jacquelyn Thompson with 0.9 seconds remaining in overtime in a 60-58 win Senior Drico Hightower goes up for a shot in the Trustmark Arena. over visiting Young Harris College in the final regular season game at Trustmark Arena March 2. Hightower finished third in the Montevallo (17-11 overall, 12-7 in conference in field goal percentage with the Peach Belt Conference) surpassed his 62 percent shooting from the floor the previous NCAA Division II program this season, which also ranked No. 14 record of 16 wins set by the 2004-2005 nationally in NCAA Division II. The squad with the victory on Senior Day. 6-foot-7 forward from Augusta, Ga., “I’m so proud of our team tonight,” finished eighth in the conference in said Montevallo women’s basketball scoring with an average of 17 points per coach Cindy Hilbrich. “The team really game. Hightower was ninth in the conwanted to win for the seniors and to get ference in rebounding with an average the second seed in the West and to set of 7.4 rebounds per game. the record for wins in a season for our Hightower was also named the NCAA Division II era. I’m so happy for Peach Belt Conference Player of the our seniors. They will never forget this Week once during the regular season. moment.” Montevallo celebrated the careers of seniors Trena MooreSmith, Zena Nasiloski, Alex Strickland and Carolyn Taite before the game. Sophomore Taylor Beverly became the first player in the women’s basketball program to be named first team All-Peach Belt Conference following the release of the women’s basketball Men’s basketball head coach Danny Young contemplates strategy during the nationally televised game All-Conference teams March 5 by the conference office. vs. Clayton State University.
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Beverly, who was also the first Montevallo women’s basketball player to be named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week during the regular season, is the second Falcon to receive postseason recognition since Montevallo joined the conference prior to the 2009-2010 season. Alicia Lewis was named third team All-Peach Belt Conference following the Falcons’ first season in the conference back in 2009-2010. The 5-foot-10 forward from Brandon, Miss., finished the season among the Peach Belt Conference leaders in several categories. Beverly, who finished with 13 double-doubles this season, finished fourth in the conference in scoring with an average of 17.5 points per game. Beverly was also fourth in the conference in rebounding with an average of 8.6 boards per game. Beverly finished seventh in the conference in field goal percentage with her 50.2 percent shooting from the floor this season. The Falcons ended their historic season March 7 with a 72-67 loss in the Peach Belt Conference tournament quarterfinals Thursday, March 7, at the Frank G. Lumpkin Center on the Columbus State University campus.
Sophomore Taylor Beverly was the first player in UM’s women’s basketball program to be named to the first team All-Peach Belt Conference. www.montevallo.edu/alumni
|Montevallo Profile| Your home: Birmingham Your hometown: New Orleans, La. Tell us about your family: Married, 3 children What is your profession? Circuit Judge What is the last book you read and who is the author? I’m currently reading Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. It’s about women, work and the will to lead. What awards/honors have you received? Is there a most significant honor? If so, please tell us about it. The highest honor of my career has been the privilege of serving the people of Jefferson County as an elected judge. What is your secret for success? My mother taught me the value of hard work as a child. I also have an incredibly supportive husband. What is the best advice you have received? The best advice I’ve ever received was from a senior partner in a law firm that hired me early in my career. He would always say, “Remember who you are.” He would say that as part of my preparation for trials and depositions in dealing with the adversarial nature of the complex litigation that we did. We also talked about it as it relates to life in general. It’s now something that I tell my children. Do you have a favorite motto? If so, what is it? My favorite motto is actually a scripture verse. It’s from Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” What’s new? I’m a part of the 2013 Leadership Birmingham class. It’s been a really great experience dealing with my classmates who are in the business realm. All of my career has been dedicated to the legal side of issues, and it’s been a real treat to get to know leaders from other aspects of the community and to learn their perspectives on the issues that we face in Birmingham. Please tell us about your educational foundation: I went to an all-girls Catholic elementary school, Ursuline Academy, and a similar high school in New Orleans called Mercy Academy. I obtained a BA with a double major in Spanish and political science from Montevallo. I then received a juris doctorate from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. How did Montevallo affect your career path? I initially came to Montevallo on a full athletic scholarship (volleyball). While I was a student, I worked in the president’s office on a work study program. Dr. McChesney wrote my law school recommendation, and he was a substantial influence in my going to law school. What is your favorite Montevallo memory? My favorite memories at Montevallo involve the times that I spent with my fellow team members for the years that I played volleyball.
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Montevallo Today
Elisabeth French Class of 1993, from the volleyball court to the courtroom
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www.montevallo.edu/alumni
|Class Notes| 1932 Edna Steele Bell Aman of Boligee and Eutaw celebrated her 100th birthday recently with family and friends. Edna is a retired teacher who enjoys reading, puzzles and visiting with friends and family members.
1943 Class Reunion see page 24 for photo
1953 Class Reunion see page 24 for photo
1961 Robert Turner and wife Jody recently moved into a new home in Ponte Vedra, Fla. After a visit from their son, Bryant Turner ’93, and his fianceé, they plan to travel to France to visit their son, Neal, and their grandchildren.
1963 Class Reunion see page 24 for photo
1969 William H. Freeman Jr. of Tuscaloosa writes that he worked as a DJ for more than 29 years and now is working as a transporter in the radiology department at DCH Regional Medical Center. Wesley Stanard and his wife, Janet, reside in Jacksonville, Fla., where Wesley worked in the field of education for 38 years. He retired in 2011.
Nancy Williams Warden of Pinson is president of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Greater Birmingham.
1973 Class Reunion see page 25 for photo
1975 Tom Walker, founder and executive director of the American Village near Montevallo, placed a wreath at the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon in celebration of Washington’s 281st birthday. He addressed those attending the ceremony saying, “With thanksgiving for his life and legacy, and with deep humility, we lay this wreath to honor George Washington, the ‘Father of Our Country’ – may he forever remain ‘first in the hearts of his countrymen.’”
1976 Pamela Bridgeman of Decatur, Ga., is the owner of A Healing Journey Counseling & Consultation, a service that provides trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy and Christian counseling. She also consults with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on their initiative to prevent sex trafficking.
1980 Lynne Davis Richardson, dean of the College of Business
at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., has been named to the board of trustees of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center.
1982 Mary Coley Harden is the instructional coach for teachers at Greenwood Elementary School near Birmingham. She has taught with the Jefferson County Board of Education for 30 years. Annie Valentine McClain M.Ed. ’86, M.Ed. ’90, has retired as principal of Montevallo Elementary School. She says that she and her husband, Johnny McClain M.Ed. ’73, Ed.S. ’84, plan to travel extensively.
1983 Larry Gibson M.Ed. ’89, an art instructor at Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills for 29 years, was recognized as Alabama’s Art Educator of the Year for 2012. He is the president and conference chair of the Alabama Art Education Association.
1983 Class Reunion see page 25 for photo
1986 Paula Threadgill has been named an associate director of the Mississippi State University
Extension Service. An employee of MSU since 1994, she most recently has served as state program leader for family and consumer sciences and interim state program leader for the 4-H Youth Development program.
1989 Fran Walker Anderson of Pelham recently celebrated 20 years in property management. She had taught in Shelby County schools prior to working in property management. Phil Hammonds Ed.S. has accepted the position of interim superintendent of the newly formed Alabaster Board of Education. With 40 years of experience in the field of education, most recently as superintendent of the Jefferson County (Ala.) Board of Education, Phil has guided the new system through preparations for its separation from the Shelby County BOE.
1991
Ann Beaird of Oneonta has retired from a 20-year career in commercial construction and is now producing sculpture and pottery. She is also completing the passive solar house she has built herself. Ann participated in building the Alabama Veteran’s Memorial, where she also has a sculpture installation, as well as several prominent restoration projects.
1993 Class Reunion see page 25 for photo
1995 Alpha Gamma Delta reunion held during homecoming
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Montevallo Today
Kristie Warren Grimaud of Coronado, Calif., has published her first book, Here, about her recent bout with cancer and her faith journey.
1996 DeWayne Peevy has been promoted to deputy director of athletics at the University of Kentucky. He had previously served as the executive associate athletics director for external operations at UK. Latonya Wrenn served as a guest musician at the private service for President Obama, Vice President Biden and their families at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day. She is a professor of music at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md., where she also directs the Bowie State Gospel Choir and teaches piano.
1997 Ryan Young of Bradenton, Fla., is a certified financial planner with SunTrust Investment Services. He was recently selected as one of three advisers to be featured on the SunTrust web page.
to the “Sweet 16” finalists for the Alabama Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year award.
communication and strategic initiatives at the Mississippi State University research and curriculum unit.
Allison Armstrong Campbell M.Ed. ’03, Ed.S. ’05 has accepted the position of principal of Montevallo Elementary School. She replaces Annie Valentine McClain ’82, who retired recently. Campbell has served Shelby County schools for 13 years, most recently as assistant principal at Calera Intermediate School.
2003 Class Reunion
Connie Jackson-Gaiter M.Ed. ’01 of Birmingham has been named Children’s Policy Council coordinator for Shelby County.
2003
1998 Matt Fridy has been named a member of the law firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt LLC. His practice includes civil trial and appellate litigation, constitutional law, and governmental law.
1999 Ginger Aaron M.Ed. ’02 was named Shelby County Elementary School Teacher of the Year for 2012. She has taught physical education at Valley Elementary School for 12 of her 13 years as an educator and earned National Board certificaton in 2007. Ginger recently was named
see page 26 for photo
2006 Justin Averette, publisher of The Demopolis Times, has been elected vice president of the Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation. The foundation supports journalism education in Alabama through grants to high school and college newspapers as well as scholarships and internships to students. Griffin Hood of Helena has cowritten the screenplay for the film, Baytown Outlaws, that was shot in Slidell, La., and stars Billy Bob Thornton, Eva Longoria and Paul Wesley. Griffin characterizes the film, which is rated R, as belonging to the “Southern shoot ’em up genre.”
2007
After a decade in sports journalism and several national awards, Joshua Buckley of Houston has been named public relations coordinator at Moody Gardens, a tourist destination on the Texas Gulf Coast. He says, “I went from spending my time on football fields and basketball courts to hanging out with aquarium and rainforest animals like penguins, snakes and seals.” Josh also does some freelance sports writing and broadcasting and calls high school football games on a major radio station in Houston. Kristin Dechert of Starkville, Miss., recently was promoted to project manager for research,
Megan Gulland served as the visiting and demonstrating potter at the 2013 Orange Beach Festival of Art in Orange Beach, Ala. Megan is an adjunct professor at the University of South Alabama. Kimberly Harville-Rhodes of Hollywood, Calif., a 20-year veteran in the fields of social service and nonprofit, has been named network director of Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley. Family Promise is a national nonprofit organizaton committed to helping low-income families to achieve lasting independence. Brandt Montgomery has been ordained as only the third black priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. Ordained a deacon in 2012, Brandt now
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Top 40 Under 40 A trio of University of Montevallo alumni was recognized in the 2013 Top 40 Under 40 listing by the Birmingham Business Journal. These three joined a distinguished group of young executives and leaders who are likely to shape Birmingham and how it does business. Jim Cavale, ’05 is the chief operating officer of Iron Tribe Fitness, a health and fitness program based in Birmingham. He opened the company’s franchise prototype in 2011. Greg Embry, ’96, (above right) UM’s director of undergraduate admissions, led the initiative to increase Montevallo’s freshman enrollment by 10 percent between fall 2011 and fall 2012. He served as president of the Alabama Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers in 2008. John Paul Strong, ’02 (above left) has grown his automotive advertising business by more than 300 percent in six years. His company handles advertising for more than 80 automotive dealerships from the Northeast to the Southwest.
www.montevallo.edu/alumni
|Class Notes| serves Canterbury Episcopal Chapel on the University of Alabama campus.
2008 Ashley Kelly recently received a master’s degree in music from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and is pursuing a doctorate in musical arts at Louisiana State University. Carolyn Nealy Vardaman M.Ed. ’09 has been selected Teacher of the Year at Vermilion Catholic High School in Abbeville, La. Nealy and her husband, Henry Atkins, recently completed a whole-home renovation project including the addition of a ceramics studio. The couple resides in Kaplan, La.
2009 Carrie Jones Busby M.Ed. has been named assistant principal at Hoover High School. She has served at HHS since 1995, most recently as 10th grade administrator.
2010 Jordan Barrios has recently accepted a position in the Global Shared Services division of the accounting department at Siemens Corporation’s offices near Winter Park, Fla. Candyce Osburn Hughston has received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama and works as a senior social worker at Tuscaloosa County Department of Human Resources.
Larry Gibson ‘83, Alabama’s 2012 Art Educator of the Year, poses with Debi West of Georgia (left) and Debra Pylypiw of North Carolina (right), vice presidents of the National Art Education Association.
Weddings 1994
Kalyn Wolfe of Orange Beach, Ala., a graduate assistant at the University of West Fla., recently launched a foundation to help support the Mapp Child and Family Life program at the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile. The Mapp program enables pediatric patients to continue their education while in the hospital. Kalyn was a beneficiary of this program as a child, and writes that she wanted to give back to the people who helped her by founding Symbols of Encouragement.
Jennifer Hunteman Holmes and Lane Shackelford were married Dec. 15 at University Baptist Church in Montevallo. Both are employed with Publix Super Markets. They reside in Wilsonville.
2000 Sarah Mims and Matt Moran were married Nov. 2 at the Century Memorial Chapel in Naperville, Ill. After a honeymoon trip to the Isle of Man in the UK and Dublin, Ireland, the couple resides in Darien, Ill., where Sarah teaches at a daycare center and Matt works at Guitar Center of Joliet.
|Mentoring Program: preparing students for the workforce| In an effort to better prepare students for the workplace, the University of Montevallo Career Development Center has launched a mentoring program to provide career and professional guidance to undergraduate and graduate students. The program seeks to foster meaningful and productive one-on-one relationships between mentors and students in order to offer students valuable insight into the world of employment. The program is being built around a loyal network of alumni and business professionals who support the University by volunteering to take time with
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Montevallo Today
students eager to prepare themselves for success. Participants are matched based on commonalities in their professional interests, career field, specific job and/or particular academic program. The goal is an enriching experience for both the mentee and the mentor. The mentoring commitment is flexible and can be tailored to the schedule and communication preference of the business professional. While most students will have only one contact with the person who will be advising them, they may have more meetings if the mentor is available and willing to devote
more time to the project. Jah’zmin Young, job development and experiential learning specialist in the Career Development Center, says, “We will not place expectations on the gift of time and knowledge; we simply appreciate the willingness of the mentors to invest in our students’ success.” Business professionals from any field of study or career area who are at least three years beyond graduation are encouraged to volunteer their services. For additional information, visit www. montevallo.edu/career or call Young at 205-665-6262.
2003
Chad teaches 7th and 8th grade math at Clanton Middle School.
Several alumni members of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity have begun gathering for lunch on a quarterly basis. Attendees at the last meeting in alphabetical order are Jim Culpepper ’75, David Downs ’77, Jerrell Fortune ’75, Greg McCool ’75, Paul Roberts ’76 and Joe Shannon ’75. Members who would like to participate in the next luncheon should contact Joe Shannon at joe.shannon@att.net.
Jessica Griffin and Michael Bumpus were married Oct. 27 at Vulcan Park in Birmingham. The couple resides in Helena.
2006
2004 2003
Megan Elliott Randolph and her husband, Jake Randolph, announce the birth of their first child, Cannon Jacob, Sept. 17. The Randolph family resides in Mt. Olive. Megan is a tax manager with Warren Averett LLC in Birmingham.
’08 welcomed the birth of their first child, Phoebe Grace, Oct. 9. The Abbotts reside in Helena where Harrison is a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual.
2007 Kay Butts and Ashley Pruett were married Nov. 10 at South Church in Portsmouth, N.H. UM alumni in the wedding party were Elizabeth Gassel-Perkins ’04, officiate; Alice Thompson Moore ’04, usher; Lauren Brown ’06, Ashley Kelly ’08 and Desmond Porbeni ’03, musicians. A large contingent of Montevallo alumni also traveled to New Hampshire for the wedding. After a honeymoon trip to Waitsfield, Vt., the couple resides in Decatur, Ga. Kay is a senior account manager at Lift351 Marketing Agency, and Ashley is assistant director for membership and communications at Safe States Alliance.
Marian Donald Reese and husband Chris Reese ’01 of Tuscaloosa announced the birth of their daughter, Lydia Dianne, Dec. 2. Marian is a first grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School, and Chris is the owner of the Tutor Doctor franchise in Tuscaloosa County.
2004
Perry Barnett and his wife, Jillian, celebrated the birth of their first child, Violet Elizabeth Barnett, Dec. 21. The family resides in Madison.
Deaths Leah Miller Simpson and her husband, Casey Simpson ’05, of McMinnville, Tenn., celebrated the birth of their first child, Casey John Simpson II, Nov. 30.
Isabel Sowell Moore, 93, of Olympia, Wash., died Sept. 30, 2011.
2000 Julie Neussl Harrison M.Ed. ’02, Ed.S. ’08, M.Ed. ’12 and her husband, Chad Harrison, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Ellie Jane, Aug. 18. The Harrisons reside in Clanton where Julie teaches art at Clanton Elementary School and
Catherine Sims Giles, 99, of Birmingham died March 28. She had served as a teacher at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind for a number of years.
1938
2008
Births
1934
1939 Nicole Suda Arvin M.Ed.’11 and husband Chris welcomed the birth of their first child, Mason Carl Arvin, April 15, 2012. The Arvins reside in Pelham.
Phoebe Janet Hardwick Lee, 95, of Falls Church, Va., died Jan. 2. She was a retired teacher. Hannah Jo McDow Abbott and husband Harrison Abbott
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Pauline “Polly” Jeter O’Fallon, 94, of Niceville, Fla., died June 26, 2012.
www.montevallo.edu/alumni
|Class Notes| Advancement projects • Alumni participation is at 8.6% with a yearly goal of 16.5%. Gifts and pledges received to start seven endowed scholarships: • $265,844 from the estate of Russell and Willodean Buckner Good ’54. This endowment will generate approximately $10,000 per year in scholarships. • $100,000 commitment from the Daniel Foundation for general scholarships to be used over the next two years. • $25,000 pledge to establish the Meroney Family Scholarship in mathematics by Mary Jane Taylor ’63, Emily Pentecost ’63 and their families. • $25,000 endowed scholarship established by Elizabeth Green Connell ’50 to fund a scholarship for early childhood and elementary education. • The estate of Roberta Dobbs ’56 will establish a $100,000 scholarship. • Stephen Pickett ’76 and Annette Pickett ’76 established a $25,000 endowed scholarship for music. • Rear Admiral and Mrs. Lee Fisher, Sr. established a $25,000 endowed scholarship in memory of their son, Lee Fisher, Jr. ’73, for music education. Other significant gifts include: • Conrad Blackerby ’66 and Barbara Blackerby ’65 have committed $100,000 for the 3D Art Studio project.
1940
Sara Burwell Moore, 93, of Atlanta died Jan. 9.
She was a commissioned missionary to the Far East, an ordained pastor in the American Baptist Church and a retired intercultural consultant and human resources executive at Applied Materials in Santa Clara, Calif.
1941
1948
Lucile Weaver Baldwin, 93, of Lake City, Fla., died Nov. 19. She was a retired teacher.
Betty Sue Evans, 86, of Panama City, Fla., died Jan. 12. She was a retired teacher.
1942
1949
Ruth Pirkle Groover, 92, of Trussville died Jan. 4. She was a retired teacher of home economics.
Anita Jo Holliday Stripling, 84, of Tallahassee, Fla., died Dec. 19. She was an artist and an actress. Survivors include UM alumna Polly Holliday ’59 of New York, N.Y.
Bernice Bynum Ingram, 94, of Homewood died March 26. She was a retired teacher.
Elizabeth Burke Thompson, 91, of Sylacauga died March 15. She was a retired teacher.
1944 Doris McCarn, 89, of Birmingham died Jan. 21. Virginia Ruth Jernigan Sanders, 89, of Roeton died Jan. 8. She was a retired teacher. Mary Helen Warren Vogel, 89, of Cullman died Dec. 19. She was a retired music teacher and choir director. Charlene Friday Williams, 89, of Sylacauga died Dec. 22. She was a retired teacher.
1946
• President Stewart has committed a total of $80,000 to various projects on campus. • $50,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham as the second installment of their generous grant for the Eco Park at University Lake. • $20,000 from Tim Lupinacci ’88 and Ellen Lupinacci ’88 for the Tim and Ellen Lupinacci Scholarship and the Lupinacci Recruitment Scholarship.
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Ann Pruet Brannen, 87, of Fremont, Calif., died Dec. 26.
Montevallo Today
1950 Mary Elizabeth Thompson Vreeland, 83, of Birmingham, formerly of Huntsville, died March 4. She was a social worker who devoted her career to working with emotionally disturbed children, retiring as director of social work at Brewer-Porch Children’s Center.
1951 Joanne Clark Rea of Sylacauga, recently of Gulfport, Miss., died in December.
1953
1962 E. Douglas Waits, 73, of Birmingham died Jan. 23. He was a retired biology professor at Birmingham-Southern College.
1966 James E. McKeever III, 69, of Birmingham died March 14. He was retired from the Air National Guard with 36 years of service.
1971 Carolyn Cornelius Davidson M.Ed. ’74, 75, of Indian Springs died Feb. 20. She was a retired teacher with 30 years of service at Powderly Elementary School. Roy L. Holsomback, 74, of Mt. Olive died Oct. 29. He was retired from the Jefferson County Board of Education. W. Leslie Sully Jr., 63, of Henderson, Nev., died April 3. He was an attorney with the firm of Leavitt, Sully & Rivers.
1973 Mary Kathryn Manning Strong of Huntsville died Dec. 30. Survivors include her husband of 38 years, Larry Neil Strong ’73.
Inez M. Collins, 80, of Silverhill died March 6. She was a retired teacher.
William Douglas “Tink” Trotter M.Ed. ’74, 62, of Alabaster died April 1. He was a teacher.
1955
1974
Doris Pool McCauley, 86, of Winter Haven, Fla., formerly of Pelham, died March 26. She was a teacher for many years, retiring from the Dade Co., Fla., school system.
Bernice Blocker Kidd M.B.E. of Sylacauga died Feb. 15. After retiring from teaching, she was employed with the Social Security Administration in Birmingham.
1958
1975
Ardis Ruth Powers Crane of Selma, recently of Chattanooga, Tenn., died Jan. 22.
Thomas Ray Coleman Jr., 61, of Birmingham died March 22. He was a retired software specialist.
1977
1996
Condolences
Michael A. Banks M.Ed., 70, of Oakman died Jan. 10. He was a coach, teacher and school administrator, retiring in 1996 as principal of T. W. Martin High School.
Johnna Lacy Ray, 38, of Hueytown died April 3. She was a kindergarten teacher.
1949
1978 Jessie Marie Lagrone, 84, of Northport died Jan. 8.
1982 Brenda Hardy Moore, 52, of Johns Creek, Ga., died Dec. 27. She was a CPA and worked as an accounting manager, controller and CFO for several law firms.
1988 Christopher E. Byrd, 48, of Birmingham died Feb. 24. He was a Google Chrome representative.
2003 Dolf Warren Seeds, 64, of Montevallo died Dec. 17. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he and his wife ministered to the addicted in Ireland and Kazakhstan as well as several cities in the U.S. He retired in June 2012 after serving for 14 years as a school bus driver for Shelby County.
2005 Alan Davis Thompson, Ed.S., 49, of Calera died Jan. 5. He had served as principal at Southside Middle School in Tallassee since the beginning of the 2012-13 school year. He had previously served as principal at Jemison High School for four years.
was a charter employee of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
To Christine Cooper Killion of Birmingham on the death of her husband, Wayne W. Killion, who died March 31. He was an owner of Shook & Fletcher Insulation Co. for 35 years, retiring in 2002 as chairman of the board. Christine and Wayne established the Christine and Wayne Killion Student Progress Scholarship at UM and enjoyed meeting the students personally who benefitted from those scholarships.
1956 To Billie Luttrell Jones of Huntsville on the death of her husband, Ira Payne Jones, Feb. 9. He was an aeronautical research scientist who worked in the missile program and
1992 To Leada DeVaney Gore of Madison on the death of her father, Huey L. DeVaney Sr., March 23. He was retired from American Cast Iron Pipe Co. with 40 years of service. To the family of Betty Ruth Collins of Montgomery, formerly of Jemison, who died Jan. 23. She was retired from UM’s housekeeping department. To the family of Ethel Elise Rasmusson, 90, of Montevallo, who died Jan. 13. She taught history at UM from 1950 to 1958, retiring as an assistant professor. To the family of Mary Elizabeth Scott, 26, of Jasper, an accounting major at UM, who died Nov. 29.
|1896 Society: estate planning| Estate planning can be a daunting process, often rife with legal terminology and many avenues to choose among when sharing one’s assets; however, it can be a source of great satisfaction when the process is completed. A number of generous University of Montevallo alumni and friends have included UM in their planned giving. The 1896 Society acknowledges those individuals who have made the university a part of their estate plans. When a gift to the university is being considered, the following strategies should be discussed with an estateplanning attorney at the time a will or living trust is drawn: Specific bequest: an outright bequest that is a gift of a certain item to a particular beneficiary. If the item has been disposed of before death, the bequest is not effective, and no claim can be made to any other property.
General bequest: an outright bequest, usually a gift of a stated sum of money. It remains effective even if there is not sufficient cash to make the bequest; other estate assets must be sold to meet the bequest. Residuary bequest: an outright bequest of the “rest, residue and remainder” of the estate after all other bequests, debts and taxes have been paid. The estate should be divided according to percentages of the residue to ensure that beneficiaries receive the specified proportions. Contingent bequest: a bequest made on the condition that a certain event must occur before distribution to the beneficiary. This bequest is specific in nature and is not effective until the condition is met. Advantages of a Bequest • It’s easy to do. Making a bequest is as simple as inserting a few sentences
into a will or living trust. • It’s flexible. The estate plan can be changed at any time. • It may reduce taxes on the estate. The estate is entitled to an unlimited estate tax deduction for bequests to qualified charitable organizations. By joining the 1896 Society, alumni and friends can contribute to the future of the University of Montevallo and rest assured that they have helped pave the way for students in years to come. To learn how to join the 1896 Society, contact the University of Montevallo’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs at 205-665-6215.
|Alumni Activities| CLASS OF 1943 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From left: (front row) Jean McCarley, Naomi Hodgman; (back row) Gay Ray Walls.
ALABAMA COLLEGE SOCIETY
> > > > > > >
From left: (front row) Bobbye Lightfoot, Joyce Blake, Ann Davis, Miriam Finch, Myrt Salter, Libby Queen, Anne Martin; (back row) Barbara Jones, Ray Jones, Barbara Bonfield, Orpha McDonald, Margaret Utley, Sue Faulkner.
CLASS OF 1953 >>>>>>>
From left: (front row) Anne Sparks, Jo Ann Gross, Ginia Cook, Nancy Fabisinski, Della Scott; (back row) Martha Mullins, Pat Howe, Angelyn Edwards, Billie Kohen.
CLASS OF 1963
From left: (front row) Ernestine Abney, Mary Jane Taylor, Emily Pentecost, Nancy Creel, Gwen Westbrook, Jane Segrest, Elizabeth Stephens, Betty Caruthers, Delene Shedd; (second row) Dona Duncan, Gloria Dupree, Linda King, Trudy Carmichael, Becky Prescott, Velma George, Gerutha Love; (third row) Carolyn Boyd, Dennie Kelley, Barbara Arnold, Kitty Melvin, Edna Christmas, Nancy Wilson, Martha Stanton; (back row) Edith Whitaker, Kay Shaw, Sidney Benton, Robert Chapman, Martha Brennan, Barbara Gates, Virginia Inzer.
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|Homecoming 2013 reunion photographs| CLASS OF 1973
From left: (front row) Bonita Crowe, Deborah Holmes, Diane Doyle, Nancy Wallace, Margaret Sanders, Claudia Harrell, Carol Ann Methvin, Jim Methvin; (second row) Nancy Worley, Ida Gleaton, Karen Snowden, Dianne Williamson, Peggy Eaton, Henrietta Presley; (back row) Brian Doyle, Susan Robertson, Nancy Prickett, Pearl Capel, Debbie Kennedy, James Lawshe, Dianne Cox.
CLASS OF 1983
From left: (front row) Sonya Harris, Bari Walton, Tammy Hilyer, Sherri Stroud, Julia Rudd, Sherry Brewer, Mary Parker, Coralyth Windham Adams; (second row) Janet Norden, Glenda Williams, Robin Peake, Jill Wells, Karen Akers, Robin Windham, Genie Gibson; (back row) Bill Murphy, Lynn Gurganus, Marci Wheeler, John Hilyer, Earl Goodwin, Neil Barker, Larry Gibson.
CLASS OF 1993
From left: (front row) Andrea Pointer, Christine Logan, Stephanie Shaw, Melina Diamond; (back row) Matt Arnold, Jeff Estes, Tom Kenley, Alan Shaw.
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|Alumni Activities| CLASS OF 2003
From left: (front row) Katie Craig, Jessica Bankester, Sarah Hodo, Lynlee Carpenter, Joshua Buckley, Stephanie Newton, Jessica Garcia; (back row) Lindsay Miller, Corey Stewart, Rachel Burks, Stephanie Antonelli, Eric Sanlnocencio, David Clemons.
YOUNG ALUMNI
Young alumni (those who graduated 15 or fewer years ago) show their school spirit at the College Night mixer.
MINORITY REUNION
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Montevallo Today
Alumni Board of Directors
From left: (front row) David Thomas ’97, Tracy Payne-Rockco ’94, Claudia Harrell ’73, Laurl Self ’94, Cynthia Cephus ’88, Kit Waters ’78, Wadia Josof ’79, Anne Hamilton ’64, Jalete Nelms ’90, Sandi Falkenhagen ’68 ; (back row) Chris Willis ’07, Jim Methvin ’73, Mike Malone ’69, Matt Arnold ’93, Barbara Bonfield ’58, Toni Leo ’80, Jeff Adams ’85, Megan Randolph ’06, Warwick Woodall ’82, Carolyn Miller-Kirby, Mary Lou Williams ’69, Corey Stewart ’03, Keith Shoemaker ’98.
Junior Board of Directors
From left: (front row) Zach Banks ‘08, Wes Anania ’06, Lindsey Sherrill ‘07, Terra Moody ‘06, Andrea Echols ‘12; (second row) Aimee Sumrall ‘08, Kelly Curry ‘08, Julie Harbin ‘00, Angela Thomas ‘05, Lauren Smith ‘06, Dan McBrayer ‘08; (back row) Kacie Slaughter ‘09, Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ‘00, David Clemons ‘03, Patrick McDonald ‘01, Jeff Purvis ‘02, Cedric Norman ‘09, Chris Willis ‘07.
Montevallo Spirit Pets Felix
Echo, Amy &
Beric
Onyx
Floppy
S am
Coope
Echo, Amy & Beric are the pets of alumna, Erin Limrick ’12; Sam’s pet parents are alumni, Justin Finch ’06 and Susan Howard ’11, M.Ed. ’12; Floppy is the pet of Paul Tierney, M.Ed. ’12; Felix belongs to Amanda Melcher ’03 and Michael Price ’14; Onyx claims Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00 as her pet mom; Cooper is the furry friend of Jamie Bessette, MBA ’12 and family.
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Jeff Purvis ’02 and unnamed student dress as purple man and gold man to cheer the players to victory. Falcons’ basketball alumni were invited to a luncheon in their honor. From left: (front row) President John Stewart, Lonnie Edwards ’71, Hansell Gunn ’71, Kevin Schuler ’98, Jeff Adams ’85, Herman Watts ’70, and former coach Leon Davis; (back row): Paul Kellogg ’66, Lewis Brooks ’88, Jimmy Golden ’71, James Hobbs ’71, Charles Dickinson ’78, Ike Earl ’00, Jordan Hutchison ’10.
Young alumni, Kacie Slaughter ’09, Mary Howard ’91, M.A. ’99, Jeff Walker ’08 and Dan McBrayer ’08 enjoy the Family Day breakfast.
Who would have believed that after one of UM’s grandest shows of Homecoming and College Night, alumni would return the following weekend to pack the McChesney Student Activity Center for the nationally televised men’s basketball game that morphed into Family Day? In true UM fashion, collaboration was the name of the game with offices across campus coming together to pull off one extraordinary weekend! The low temperatures didn’t keep folks away Saturday morning as they received warm greetings from UMNAA and Junior Board members serving up biscuits and coffee. Members also distributed rally towels and face tattoos to guests before they headed inside to be greeted by SGA students and Student Affairs staff as they handed out every bit of spirit swag available. The offerings were rounded out by a catered lunch provided for UM alumni, parents, faculty and staff. While the main event may have been the basketball game, the highlight for some special alumni was the half-
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|A second dose of coming home: Family Day| time recognition lunch for returning After the cake was cut and words of men’s and women’s basketball players. appreciation spoken, the men and womAccording to Lewis Brooks ’88, “It en and their families had plenty of time was a great weekend of fellowship with to reminisce about bygone days and former players and a chance to celebrate traditions while watching the second the success of the current program.” half from the Hall of Fame suite. Several members of one of the first The day provided an ideal oppor“winning” teams at Montevallo were in tunity to highlight the success of the attendance at the recognition luncheon. current men’s basketball program, as Lonnie Edwards ’71 was one of those well as to honor those who have come former players who had the following to before us — those who have shaped and share about his experience. molded the campus into what it is to“This was a wonderful weekend day, and who have continued to spread of activities and I could not have been the Montevallo charm far and wide. It’s more proud,” stated Edwards. ”The rea tradition we look forward to keeping! union with Dr. Leon Davis, Dean James R. Wilkinson and five of my 1969-1971 teammates — James Hobbs, Hansell Gunn, Herman Watts, Mike Newell, Jimmy Golden and their families — was indeed priceless. We look forward to the continuous growth of this magnificent Mobile area alumni gather for a viewing party of the home gathering event.” game hosted by Stephanie Baugh Shaw ’93.
|Junior Board of Directors|
Officers
Meet the social/special events chair
President Patrick McDonald ’01 Vice President Julie Harbin ’00 Treasurer Jeffrey Purvis ’02 Secretary Lindsey Sherrill ’07 Social/Special Events Chair Dan McBrayer ’08
Dan McBrayer
What was your favorite aspect of Montevallo as a student and your favorite aspect now? Without a doubt, my favorite aspect of Montevallo is and was the people. Montevallo attracts all sorts of people who, as a whole, form a truly unique institution. I enjoy continuing to meet alumni and students in many different aspects of my life. I feel lucky to call myself a part of the UM community. Why did you get involved with the Junior Board? I got involved because I felt like there was a distinct void after graduation from Montevallo. In speaking with other young alums, there was a desire to re-engage with the University through events geared toward us. I’ve always enjoyed event planning, and so I stepped up to try to re-energize the junior board’s efforts.
Directors
What role do you see the Junior Board playing in the University community? I feel the Junior Board exists to foster and cultivate relationships between and among the University and alumni, especially young alumni. There’s no reason that the end of college means the end of establishing new “Montevallo friends” or building the ones you’ve got. I’ve met some wonderful people through the board and hope to continue that in the future. What are your goals as events chair? I’d like to build on what we’ve already established. Late last year, we started hosting some after-work cocktail hours for local Birmingham alumni—nothing serious, just an easy event to drop by and see friends on the way home. We got a fantastic reaction. I’m planning to expand that concept this summer. There are a few other ideas I’ve got, but you’ll have to wait for the announcement on those. What would you like the alumni to know about the Junior Board? While the Junior Board does host events around town, it’s not without a purpose. The Junior Board has been raising funds to support and endow a scholarship to award to deserving Montevallo students. So each time you come and support our events, you’re helping support current and future Montevallo students.
Wes Anania ’06 Eddie Baker ’04 Zach Banks ’08 Jason Booi ’04 David Clemons ’03 Kelly Curry ’08 Andrea Echols ’12 Jordan Hutchison ’10 Sky Johnson ’10, M.Ed. ’12 Brandt Montgomery ’08 Terra Moody ’06 Cedric Norman ’09 Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00 Kaci Slaughter ’09 Lauren Smith ’06 Aimee Sumrall ’08 Angela Thomas ’05 Christopher Willis ’07
www.facebook.com/UMyoungalumni
Jefferson County
Alumni Art Auction Friday, June 28 • 6 – 8 p.m. Homewood Library
R.S.V.P. to Dianne Kyzer at kyzerdc@montevallo.edu
We Dig UM
contact the Alumni Office at 205-665-6215
To register online, visit montevallo.edu/alumni Proceeds to benefit the Jefferson County Scholarship fund
|Alumni Activities|
Words of wisdom you would offer students: Plant the seeds. Put the good stuff in. It doesn’t matter if you change a person’s life on a dime and you see evidence of it immediately. The important thing is to plant the seed of change and of growth and of hope. Empower them and give them all the words of wisdom that all the people that changed your life gave to you. Also, don’t forget to reflect b ecause reflection is how we become better than our best.
CLAUDIA MCLAWHORN ’08
Social worker for runaway homeless youth and victims of human trafficking at Tennessee Valley Family Services
What was your favorite aspect of Montevallo? Montevallo provided the small, community environment that I needed to be successful as a student at the university. The instructors knew my name; that was important. The department was not so big that I couldn’t talk with my instructors and have a one-on-one relationship with them.
Whom would you like to thank for your success? Without a doubt I would not be successful without my parents and grandparents. They all attended college and instilled in me the importance of an education. In addition, O. J. Carson and Dr. Susan Vaughn were professors at Montevallo that guided me and encouraged me to be successful and complete my degree in social work.
SHERRY WEBB ’96
Director of Social Services at First Light, Inc.
BILL KENNEDY ’93
ACORN Program Manager at the Alabama Department of Public Health
Recent accolades: 2003: Alabama Social Work Hall of Fame 2004: National Association of Social Workers, Alabama Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award 2006: UM Distinguished Alumna Award
What was your favorite aspect of Montevallo? Relationships formed at Montevallo were important to me as a student and have continued throughout the years. We had fun and also had opportunities for participation in many aspects of campus life. Also important were relationships with faculty and staff.
M. JOYCE GREATHOUSE ’56
Former Executive Director at Children’s Aid Society, retired
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|Professional Spotlight: Social Work| Alumni in the social work field share a few words
Whom would you like to thank for your success? I would like to thank Dr. Susan Vaughn, Dr. Laurel Hitchcock, Dr. Jason Newell and Ms. Jeannie Duke for providing me with what I believe to be a top-notch education. After graduating from the University of Montevallo, I felt confident that I could pursue a successful career in any area of social work because of the solid education I received.
Words of wisdom you would offer students: Take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself–you never know where it could lead. How did Montevallo affect your career choice? Montevallo gave me the freedom to explore different areas of study and the confidence that I have chosen the right path for me.
KELLY DUKE ’08
Care Coordinator at Behavioral Health Systems
What was your favorite aspect of Montevallo? My favorite aspect of Montevallo was the diversity and general open-minded culture on campus. I enjoyed classroom discussion on other cultures in addition to having intelligent conversations with fellow students.
BRIGETTE STARR ’10 What was your favorite aspect of Montevallo? I love the small campus and class atmosphere. I like that I knew a lot of people in different departments across campus, and they knew and appreciated me. I think Montevallo makes students feel special, and I am just trying to continue that in my career! Words of wisdom to offer students: Social work can be a hard but rewarding job. Do not take the emotion from a bad day or case home with you, and if you cannot shake it, then find an activity that you like doing that can make you feel better.
CANDYCE OSBURN HUGHSTON ’10
Co-founder of No Stereotypes: An Anti-Violence Campaign; care coordinator at Griswold Home Care
How did Montevallo affect your career choice? Montevallo’s liberal arts education gave me a plethora of exposure to a variety of career choices, and although I came to Montevallo “ just knowing” what I wanted to do with my life, I met Dr. Susan Vaughn, and she became a guiding light in my career choice. She educated me on the possibilities and options in the field of social work, and she truly nurtured my growth and interest in serving others.
JENNIFER TRAVIS-SCOTT ’09 Social worker at Jefferson County Department of Human Resources
Senior social worker in foster care at the Tuscaloosa County Department of Human Resources
If you would like to nominate someone for the Alumni Profile (located on page 16) or for the new Professional Spotlight, please email us at today@montevallo.edu The next profession to be featured will be special education.
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The Promenade at night