Montevallo Today, Spring/Summer 16 by University of Montevallo

MONTEVALLO TODAY University of Montevallo Alumni Magazine • Spring/Summer 2016

THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO

It’s About Family

MONTEVALLO TODAY University of Montevallo Alumni Magazine

From Calkins Hall

PUBLISHERS Dr. Rick Barth Kira Thomas ’12 kthomas18@montevallo.edu EDITOR Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, MBA ’13 bunttr@montevallo.edu ALUMNI EDITOR Dr. Tracy Payne Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98 paynet@montevallo.edu DESIGNER Julie Haggard COPY EDITORS Carrie Smith, Kira Thomas ’12 PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Baldis ’10, Justin Barron ’12, Katie Compton ’18, Stephen Devries, Wendy Johnson ’17, Christopher Jones, Greg Lee ’99, Alyssa Luna ’14, M.Ed. ’15, Art Meripol, Isaac Nunn ’15, Corey Nolen, Matthew Orton, Dr. Tracy Payne Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98, Amber Quinn ’18, Eric Starling, Walt Strickland, Ted Tucker ’75, Michael Wade, Rebecca White ’15 WRITERS Joe Crowe ’92, Andrea Fanning, Lindsay Schluntz, Carrie Smith CONTRIBUTORS Wesley Hallman, Beth House ’00, M.Ed. ’03, Scott Stephens ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UMNAA President Laurl P. Self ’94 President-Elect Toni Leo ’80 Past-President/Parliamentarian Dr. Michael E. Malone ’69 Alumni Council Representative Melanie Poole ’86 Admissions Representative Greg Embry ’96, M.Ed. ’99 Faculty/Staff Representative Kevin Thornthwaite M.Ed. ’05 SGA President Jacob Gordon ’16 UMNAA Vice Presidents Warwick Woodall ’82, Megan E. Randolph ’06, Matthew Arnold ’93, Jalete Nelms ’90, Stephanie Shaw ’93, Keith Shoemaker ’98, Christopher Willis ’07 Members at Large Jody Atchison ’69, Eddie C. Baker III ’04, Lewis Brooks ’88, Fred Crawford ’68, Tiffani Humphries ’98, Ann Kelly ’57, Patrick McDonald ’01, M.Ed. ’03, Dr. Terra Miller ’06, Diane Ray ’68, Cynthia Todd ’88, Dr. Susan Vaughn ’71, Cornelia Watts ’77, Virginia Young ’84 Ex-Officio Jeffrey Purvis ’02, Dr. Tracy Payne Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98, Dr. John W. Stewart III

Photo by Walt Strickland

Greetings from campus, This past February many alumni and friends gathered to celebrate the University’s 2016 homecoming festivities and cheer on their beloved purple and gold. UM Hall of Fame athletes were inducted and UM National Alumni Association awards were presented. Although it may have been a Purple Victory on College Night, homecoming will always be about family and connecting with those we hold dear to our hearts. The public phase of The Campaign for the University of Montevallo: It’s About Family was launched during homecoming festivities, as well, after nearly four years of fundraising. The University has a strong alumni family who are willing to invest in future generations. Our current campaign is exceeding expectations and we would like to continue to build on that momentum. Ted Metz retired this year after a magnificent 42 years of teaching. He has earned numerous awards during his time here at UM and has been a model teacher and citizen. His “Becoming” sculpture will live on forever in the center of campus. We cannot thank him enough for his many contributions to the campus and its students. UM’s Stephens College of Business Center for Professional Practice is doing amazing things to help launch students into great career paths. Dr. Bill Hamer works with students to help set them up with the right internships. These internships serve as a foundation which usually turns into full-time employment.   I hope this edition of Montevallo Today connects you back to our beautiful campus in meaningful ways and that you will consider adding your own contribution to the lives of the amazing students we serve at Montevallo. facebook.com/goMontevallo facebook.com/UMalum

Dr. John W. Stewart III President

twitter.com/Montevallo

On the Cover This issue’s cover represents members of the UM family that walked the

bricks and participated in the University’s most storied traditions. It’s About Family seeks to continue those experiences for future generations. PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS PHOTO ARCHIVES AND THE MONTAGE.

Photo by Amy Baldis ’10

contents DEPARTMENTS

Photo by Amy Baldis ’10

Photo by Christopher Jones

Photo by Michael Wade

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

Alumni Remembrance

Faculty Spotlight

Student Spotlight

Athletics

Campus News

Homecoming

Alumni News

Class Notes

Alumni Events

FEATURES 12

ACCOUNTING FOR SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

LASTING LEGACY

UM’s Center for Professional Practice prepares students for a successful transition to employment and is catching the eye of many of Birmingham’s finest business firms.

The University’s comprehensive campaign is designed to preserve memories and traditions, while also building a culture of philanthropy in future generations of the Montevallo family. Learn how you can make an impact. Photo by Matthew Orton

Montevallo Today Vol. CVI, No. 2 Spring/Summer 2016 Montevallo Today (USPS 005432; ISSN 1052-3634) is published three times a years 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.

ALUMNI REMEMBRANCE

Mary Lou Elder Williams ’69

YEARS RICH AND FRUITFUL BY BETH WILLIAMS HOUSE ’00, ’03 M.ED.

“Her love for Montevallo was real. It wasn’t just her college or just a job, it was a part of her soul.” Photo by Matthew Orton

“One evening in 1988, while visiting some friends in Tallahassee, Florida, I was told Mary Lou Williams was coming to visit. I didn’t know who she was or anything about her. I met her and was baffled, but smitten, all in one scant minute as she seemed to know who I was from my three semesters at UM. The evening continued as she wrapped us all in her gift of a great smile and complete sincerity. I gained a true friend that night. We crossed paths at alumni events and she gave me updates about her family, her granddaughter, her retirement and then her new career with the city. When I moved to Montevallo five years ago, I made sure I spent time with this woman with the soul of an artist. The past two fall seasons, we worked together making sure she was able to give her family artwork she made with her own hands. I am honored that she considered me her friend.” — Robin Metz

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uring her junior and senior years of high school, Mary Lou had the opportunity to visit the University of Montevallo because of her involvement in the Future Homemakers of America (FHA). The visits during high school started a life-long love for a university and community that Mary Lou would eventually call her home. Mary Lou’s love for Montevallo ran deep. She wanted everyone to know the Montevallo that she loved. As a college student, she participated in every aspect of college life from the Omega (future Chi Omega) social society, to writing a purple script for College Night, to working in the alumni office that would be her future. When she returned in 1985, as the director of alumni affairs and development, she could be found at every event imaginable. She mentored students, greeted alumni at homecoming, played tennis during Olympics Day and traveled the state as an unofficial UM ambassador. She was the face of UM to so many people. Her goal was to be the beacon that guided new students to UM and helped alumni remember the joy they felt as a student.

One story stands out in my mind as the ultimate representation of my mom’s love for UM. In 2015, she was awarded the College Night dedication. As most UM folks know this is one of the most coveted and prestigious awards that can be bestowed upon someone. As wonderful as the award was, presenting it was going to be difficult. The award is supposed to be a secret. Mom wasn’t doing very well and we knew convincing her to attend College Night just for the fun of it would be nearly impossible. We eventually persuaded her to go for the first show (purple show, of course), then we would leave at intermission. When the night arrived everything went according to plan except that when the purple show was over, Mom was done. She was tired and felt miserable. We all stalled as we waited for the presentation to start. I texted Marion Brown, director of

university events, Dad blocked the row of seats and we talked, begged and pleaded to try to get her to stay. Finally, I turned and said in my best Mary Lou voice, “Sit down, we are staying.” In that moment our eyes met and she knew. She knew that her beloved alma mater was going to recognize her with one of the highest awards it had to offer. I quickly began to tell her that she didn’t have to go on stage or say anything. She dismissed me with “Of course I’ll have to say something.” Mom did many things through the years that left me in awe, but this night might have topped them all. In the span of five minutes, she unhooked her tube, composed herself and when she stepped onto Palmer stage it was like she had known all along. She addressed the audience with her usual grace, poise and wide smile. She could always rise to any occasion and this was one of the best.

A few alumni recognizing all of Mary Lou’s dedication to the University approached the UMNAA with an idea. And in October 2015, the UMNAA renamed the annual alumnus loyalty award to The Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumnus Loyalty Award. It will stand in perpetuity as a symbol of the lovely relationship Mary Lou and Montevallo enjoyed for so long. In word and deed, Mary Lou left a legacy for all who tread the brick streets to strive to achieve. Her love for Montevallo was real. It wasn’t just her college or just a job, it was a part of her soul. If you can find just a portion of the love that Mary Lou had for UM, you can indeed consider your “years rich and fruitful.”

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MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO: Mary Lou Elder Williams Endowed Scholarship in Arts and Sciences UM Foundation • Station 6215 • Montevallo, AL 35115

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“Mary Lou was, and remains, the most esteemed classmate of our ’69 Alabama College class! She was the teacher, above all, of diligence, communication and (for me) humility!” — Dr. Michael E. Malone ’69 “Mary Lou was a vibrant part of the great heart and soul of our beloved Montevallo. She epitomized the highest qualities of a proud daughter of Alabama College and the University of Montevallo. She sang the praises of our alma mater through her extraordinary tenure of service. She was everywhere at once, the smiling face and kind voice of Montevallo greeting alumni of all ages and inspiring them to get involved. On a personal level, Mary Lou never met a stranger and along her journey she forged a host of lifelong dear friends. To each and every one she extended warmth, friendship, compassion, thoughtfulness, good advice, generous doses of good humor and always encouragement. As hundreds gathered with her beloved family, and as everyone celebrated her life, there was a poignant sense of joyful thanksgiving to God for her life, and a sense of rejoicing that in strong faith she is now in the great company of those who have gone before us and who have entered into abundant and everlasting life.” — Tom Walker ’75 “When asked to write about my friend, Mary Lou, I can only use the words that best describe what she was to me as well as I know others that knew her and considered her a friend. My mentor, my Chi Omega sister, my leader, my confidant, my personal writer and proofreader, my disciplinarian (when needed), my advisor, my listener, my teacher, my partner in crime, my wine drinking buddy, my sister in Christ, but most of all my friend! I am sure as time goes by without her in my life, I will think of millions of other words to describe what she meant to me as well as all who knew her.” — Kit Waters ’78 “Mary Lou became director of alumni affairs and development my sophomore year at Montevallo, and I worked for her, editing Class Notes for Montevallo Today, which began our 30-year friendship. She was so perfect in that job because she loved Montevallo and loved bringing people together. She had two long battles with cancer, and this last round was a long and arduous journey, but in the several years of that story, she taught us all how to face death with dignity, how to live meaningfully and how to love without reservation. What remarkable gifts she gave us all.” — Dr. Patrick Evans ’88

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Ted Metz

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Courtesy of tedtucker.com

Model Teacher and Icon Retires Photo by Matthew Orton

AFTER A MERE 42 YEARS of teaching art at UM, Professor Ted Metz

announced his retirement in fall 2015. Ted came to UM in 1973 with his newly minted MFA degree from the University of South Carolina. He was the single faculty member responsible for 3D art, offering classes in sculpture, ceramics and 3D design. All art facilities were housed in Bloch Hall, where four full-time faculty taught fewer than 50 art majors. Today, the Art Department has more than 250 majors, 13 faculty members and facilities in four buildings on campus. The newly opened 3D Art Building features state-of-the-art studios in sculpture, ceramics and design, a two-story shop for metal fabrication and glass casting and a new metal casting foundry, designed and installed by Ted. Our growth and reputation for excellence during Ted’s tenure is due to his leadership as a teacher, artist and citizen. Ted is a nationally recognized artist who has maintained a consistent studio practice throughout his career. He has twice been designated a Visual Arts Fellow of the State of Alabama. He has also received a National Endowment for the Arts grant for his studio work. His most lasting contribution to our arts community is his completion of five major public sculptures, including “Becoming,” a 16-foot-tall cast bronze sculpture commissioned for the centennial celebration of the founding of the University. Located in the center of campus on the

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Centennial Plaza and Bowers Colonnade, the work focuses on the theme of learning through the student/teacher relationship. Ted completed the project in three years on campus with the help of his students in foundry facilities he constructed. This work reflects his teaching philosophy that art always be well crafted and professionally produced in proper studios. A dedicated and compassionate teacher, Ted has guided hundreds of students in their discovery of personally meaningful art that is crafted to professional standards. He has received numerous recognitions for his teaching and was named Alabama Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation in 1997. Throughout his career, Ted has also given generously to the Montevallo community. He has participated in all levels of service on campus and been a leading citizen in town: from building Habitat houses, to working with students in Montevallo public schools, to being a founding board member of the Montevallo Sister City Commission, where his earlier work with artists from Echizen, Japan, led to our sister city relationship. Ted’s life in art, teaching and community is a model career which sets a high standard for all who continue on a similar path. Thank you, Ted, for leading the way. — Scott Stephens, professor and chair of art

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Kiera Hood CLASS OF 2016 (DECEMBER) HOMETOWN: Fairfield, Alabama BEST UM MEMORY: Lead in the Purple Side College Night production Kiera Hood hopes to become a prominent broadcast journalist following graduation, and just like any newcomer to the industry, she has spent her college years learning the ropes and conducting her own investigative story. For her 2015 McNair Scholars research, Kiera took to the UM campus for her first report, discovering the “Montevallo-isms” that make the University of Montevallo — the University of Montevallo. Her findings explored UM slang, including hearing campus rumors “on the bricks” or the familiar “GV” and “PV” called around the beginning of each spring semester. While her research uncovered the history behind the richest traditions at the University, Kiera has also had a front row seat to the most unique opportunities UM offers its students. “Coming to Montevallo opened doors and gave me confidence that I would have never found if I went to any other college,” the mass communication major said. Participating in UM’s College Night tradition, Kiera was a Purple Side cheerleader and later, unexpectedly, made her first adventure into the theatre world, landing the female lead in the winning Purple Side production of “All Hands on Deck.” While performing on stage was a whirlwind experience, Kiera’s training behind the broadcast desk prepared her for the opportunity, as well as her future as an aspiring news anchor. Her work as executive producer and anchor for UM’s Falcon Weekly broadcast contributed to Kiera obtaining a summer internship with NBC 13 in Birmingham. “She’s become one of my most valued students in our multimedia journalism program. Whether it is in front of or behind the camera, I know she’s going to make an impact in the news business,” Dr. Bruce Finklea, assistant professor of mass communication, said. As she wraps her senior year, Kiera has truly created her very own unique UM experience. “The opportunities Montevallo presents its students, there’s nothing like it anywhere,” Kiera said.

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ATHLETICS

Hall of Fame Honors Athletes 2016 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Matt Mitchell ’06 (baseball) Cara Melton ’03 (women’s basketball) Hansell Gunn ’71, M.Ed. ’74 (men’s basketball and baseball) D.J. Towns ’05 (men’s basketball) Cinda Walchi ’87 (volleyball) Kevin Garneys ’05 (men’s soccer)

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Perhaps the greatest honor for a UM student athlete, second to wearing purple and gold to play for the Falcons, is to return home to Montevallo to attend their own Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Seven alumni and two alumni teams were recognized on Sat., Feb. 6 during the 2016 UM Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony. Nearly 300 individuals representing the inductees’ families, friends and teammates gathered in Anna Irvin Dining Hall to celebrate the accomplishments of the former UM athletes. “It is a high honor for the seven individuals and two teams that have been inducted into the Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Director of Athletics Mark Richard. “We are blessed and privileged for the honor they have brought upon the University and the programs they played for during their career.” Members of the class of 2016 represent one NCAA All-American, several UM athletic record holders and all-conference athletes, two Division II regional championship teams and one of the first African American athletes at Alabama College. These inductees, chosen by the Hall of Fame committee, will join an elite group of 96 individuals and three teams. The University also recognized Mike Dutton ’68 with the 2016 Leon G. Davis Award. The award acknowledges a former student athlete who has distinguished themselves through personal achievements and community service. Dutton, a longtime high school basketball coach in the Birmingham area, coached at four local Birmingham high schools. He spent 27 years as head coach at Pinson Valley High School where the gymnasium is named in his honor. The celebration was the perfect ending to a weekend supporting current UM athletes and commemorating former athletes’ achievements and contributions to UM athletics.

Arthur “Ott” Knight ’74 (meritorious service)

2005-06 men’s basketball team 2006 baseball team

1 Former UM volleyball player and Hall of Fame inductee Cinda Walchi (far left, seated) celebrates with family; 2 Inductee Ott Knight (second to left) visits with family; 3 Dr. Stewart and Mark Richard present Hansell Gunn (center) with the Hall of Fame plaque; 4 Delona Mitchell and Emily Morris ’79 pose with Freddie the Falcon; 5 Hall of Fame member Lonnie Edwards ’71 and his wife, Cynthia; 6 UM family and friends enjoy the festivities; 7 Mike Dutton (center) receives the Leon G. Davis Award from Dr. Stewart, Mark Richard and Leon. G. Davis, former UM director of athletics.

2016 Hall of Fame inductees

7 Rebekah Phelps Scores Post-graduate Scholarship Rebekah Phelps led the Falcons volleyball team with 48 service aces in her senior season — but she was also an ace in the classroom. The 2016 graduate carried a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her undergrad studies and will pursue a graduate degree in education at UM in the fall. Most remarkably, Phelps is the first UM student athlete recipient of a NCAA Post-graduate Scholarship. “We are very proud of Becky and her academic achievements while she played volleyball at the University,” said volleyball coach Katie O’Brien. The Huntsville native was named a second team CoSIDA Academic All-American and Academic

All-District selection following her senior season. She was also named the Peach Belt Conference Elite 15 Award winner for having the highest academic profile among volleyball student athletes in the conference in each of the past two seasons. On the court, Phelps was named a NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and a first team All-Peach Belt Conference selection for the second year in a row. “Being a student athlete is a true balancing act for all of our players,” O’Brien said. “Becky is a remarkable example that you can do both extremely well.”

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CAMPUS NEWS

UM Welcomes Beasley as Vacca Chair

Photo by Michael Wade

Photo by Katie Compton ’18

Dr. Myron Beasley served as the Vacca Chair of Liberal Arts at UM during the spring 2016 semester. The Vacca Visiting Scholars program is named for its original benefactor, State Senator Paschal P. Vacca. The Vacca Chair teaches seminars that range beyond the usual disciplinary boundaries, interacts with students and faculty, and contributes fresh perspectives to the learning experience at UM. Beasley, a professor of African American Literature, instructed a cross-discipline honors seminar on cultural theory and assisted the theatre department with their spring production of “Clybourne Park.” In addition to teaching, Beasley organized a visiting lecture series. The lectures included visits by culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris in February and philosopher Dr. Lewis Gordon in April. Harris delivered a lecture entitled “A Sea Change: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America,” recalling the history of the slave trade of the 16th through 19th centuries. She explained African influences that affect our culture today, especially pertaining to the discipline of cooking. Gordon, an Afro-Jewish philosopher, political thinker, educator and musician delivered a lecture entitled “Fanon Today or Oxygen for Humanity.” In addition to theories on social transformation, decolonization and liberation, Gordon’s research in social and political philosophy also addresses problems of normative political concerns beyond justice. Beasley’s time at the University also impacted faculty. He led a colloquium that allowed faculty a time to discuss critical issues, as well as reflect and engage with each other in a relaxed setting. Beasley worked with a multi-disciplined group of faculty to build a framework for an African American Studies minor to be offered in the future.

For more UM news, visit www.montevallo.edu/news

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Nanni Encourages Graduates

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

On Dec. 11, more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students were honored during fall commencement held in the McChesney Student Activities Center. Christopher Nanni, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, delivered the keynote address. The Foundation has been an instrumental member in the development of the Montevallo community. In his address, Nanni encouraged students to keep their eyes open for opportunities to help others and learn to align their decisions with what they feel is most meaningful. With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit and community work, Nanni has a deep-seated passion for philanthropy. His previous work includes developing programs to impact low-income families in the U.S. and abroad, counseling at-risk youth, advancing group violence reduction strategies and working with Latino community education.

Photo by Katie Compton ’17

Furthering Education Through Research The University celebrated the research achievements of both student and faculty research through the Faculty Research Symposium on March 9 and Undergraduate Research Day on March 23. Eleven Montevallo faculty members presented at the Faculty Research Symposium, showcasing their latest research and creative endeavors. Presentation topics ranged from “Cuba/Soul Deep” to “cGMP Signaling in Breast Cancer” to “Rediscovering the 17th Century Florida texts of Fray Gregorio de Movilla.” More than 50 students representing all four UM colleges participated in Undergraduate Research Day, with the advisement of 34 faculty mentors. Students presented oral and poster presentations. Cash prizes were awarded for the first through third place presentations in each division. The program facilitates the undergraduate research experiences between students and faculty mentors, enhancing the liberal arts experience, which prepares students for graduate school. Students also traveled to national conferences from Nebraska to Minnesota to present their research. The Undergraduate Research program is made possible by the generosity of the University of Montevallo Foundation and National Alumni Association. The gifts of Dr. Jo Rayfield ’62, have also allowed the program to succeed.

First Festival of the Arts a Success

he College of Fine Arts hosted the inaugural “FORTE Festival of the Arts” on Thurs., April 14 through Sun., April 18. “The College of Fine Arts’ ‘FORTE, Festival of the Arts,’ was a huge success. The festival was a multi-arts experience, ‘arts for everyone,’ to stimulate tourism to the City and build audience engagement,” said Dr. Steven Peters, dean of the College of Fine Arts. The weekend festival featured three productions, UM Opera’s “Così Fan Tutte,” Theatre’s production of “Spring Awakening” and the Jazz Band’s Art for your Ears: Jazz on the Green, as well as three senior BFA exhibitions. “This year, we were proud to have collaborated with the Montevallo Arts Council during their Arts Fest and we hope to do so every year. FORTE involves creative collaborations between the College’s Departments of Theatre, Music and Art, the other colleges of the University of Montevallo, local businesses and the entire community of Montevallo,” Peters said.

The Biggest “Big Event” in UM History

Photos by Isaac Nunn ’15

The 2016 Big Event was held on Sat. April 9 with more than 700 students participating. This year’s gathering involved approximately 29 percent of the student body and was the largest in the six-year history of the event. Students representing more than 35 organizations including Greeks, athletic teams and other student organizations canvased the city of Montevallo and surrounding areas, spending their Saturday morning painting, cleaning, doing yard work and other helpful tasks that community groups and residents requested. The Big Event is organized and sponsored by the UM Student Government Association, which supplied tools for each team to use at the individual sites, ranging from local churches to residences in Montevallo and Brierfield.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDED Alpha Delta Pi Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Lambda Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Tau Omega American Choral Directors’ Association Baptist Campus Ministry Best Buddies Chi Omega Competitive Cheerleading team Delta Gamma Family and Consumer Sciences Student Group Housing and Residence Life Lambda Chi Alpha Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams Minority Student Union Montevallo Film Production Club NAACP National Association for Music Education Phi Chi Theta Phi Gamma Delta Phi Mu Psychology Club Secular Student Alliance Smith Scholars Social Work Club Student Dietetic Association Student Government Association The Alabamian Track and Field Upward Bound Volleyball team Zeta Phi Beta

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Dr. Hamer asks Stephanie Howe ’16, interning at KPMG, and Carolina Sanchez-Barco ’16, interning at Kassouf, about their experiences.

SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

Accounting for

BY LINDSAY SCHLUNTZ

One of the hallmarks of the Michael E. Stephens College of Business is the intentional focus on seeing students prosper beyond the classrooms and halls of the University. Dr. Stephen Craft, dean of the College of Business, recognizes how important it is for students to be able to not only thrive on campus, but to also have the opportunity to leverage that success in the years beyond graduation. “We see ourselves as stewards of the entire student experience. From first contact, through recruiting, onboarding and certainly what happens in the classroom, but it doesn’t stop there. We really have to be a part of the process of launching them into a career of distinction. There are too many institutions who are not taking that last piece seriously,” explained Craft.

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Giving UM Business Students a Leg Up In September 2011, Dean Craft brought in Dr. Bill Hamer — former senior vice president of human resources at Protective Life and former dean of students at UM — to establish the Center for Professional Practice. Working hand-in-hand with the campus-wide career center, the mission of the Center for Professional Practice is to assist students in the transition from academics to the business community. In addition to leading the Center, Hamer also teaches Management 305, a course in professional development. Although the 25-30 students in this class each semester are not required to access the services and resources provided through the Center, many of them do. “The Center can touch at least 75 to 80 percent of the junior and senior business students

in any given semester, because of that class and word of mouth,” Hamer reported proudly. Especially essential for today’s competitive business environment, the Center provides students with access to resources such as developing resumes, conducting successful job searches, networking, social network auditing, mock interview experiences and learning business etiquette. Raising the Bar Under Hamer’s leadership, an internship program was created in 2011 to help students gain relevant experiential knowledge and essential relationships needed to make successful transitions into employment. The program began with five students in the senior accounting internship program and three firms who were willing to discuss participation.

This year, the program boasts 13 students competing for potential internships at over 50 accounting, management, finance and marketing firms located in the Birmingham Metro area and along the East Coast. Most internships then serve as a springboard into offers of full-time employment. Although these offers are generally made through the end of June, as of spring, 10 of these 13 students have already received offers. “It’s not just about the money. But when students walk in the door [of the Center], we want to set the stage for wherever they are… and from there, we want to raise the bar,” stated Hamer. A Heart for Students’ Success Marketing major Dustin Cowart ’16 gained an internship at Specification Rubber, Inc., through the Center. “I came to the Business Center because I knew that Dr. Hamer cared so much for his students,” Cowart continued, “He is a very credible man with so much experience to share with students. He gives us opportunities and helps craft our abilities to grow those relationships into job offers.” A Cornerstone of the College The accounting program for Seniors is the cornerstone of the Center’s internship program. Stephanie Howe ’16 took advantage of the program this year. She said, “I knew that I wanted to work for a ‘Big Four’ firm and I knew that the Center had the resources to make that a reality.” During Hamer’s tenure, the Center has successfully placed students with each of The Big Four accounting and auditing firms (PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, and KPMG), which is something that many institutions similar in size can’t claim to have accomplished. Howe succeeded in earning an internship with KPMG. “Participating in an internship with [KPMG] has allowed me to have a job right out of college and will help me build a strong foundation in auditing/public accounting.” Hers is just one of the many success stories in the internship program that sets Montevallo’s approach apart. “Especially the internship in accounting is a model that I think the entire institution looks to as an example of what can be done,” said Craft. Making the Most of Opportunities The path towards a Montevallo student’s distinguished career in the field of accounting starts in the spring semester of their junior year, as the

Center helps them get their resumes prepared. Eligible students’ resumes are then distributed to the program’s 30+ prospective accounting firm partners in June. Industry leadership programs often take place throughout the summer. “The first week of school, we have a ‘Meet the Firms’ event and many firms have events in the area to meet the students and do interviews during the Fall,” said Hamer. “After that, we typically have an identified time during which the firms can make offers to the students.” Giving Opportunities to UM Family Initially, the internship program had to reach out to businesses to gain interest in the program. However, firms are now pursuing the opportunity to access the resource themselves. “We get calls now from businesses asking, ‘Hey, can we join?’… That’s pretty terrific,” said Hamer with a smile.

Many of the established internship networks are developed out of connections with current and former Montevallo alumni and family. “We have benefited, and will continue to benefit, from the relationships that we have with alumni who have gone on from Montevallo to have very successful careers in firms like Carr, Riggs & Ingram and Warren Averett,” explained Craft. “Our ability to recruit into a firm is helped dramatically by having Montevallo alums there, and the fact that they have done well for themselves. The firms like the products of Montevallo, so they naturally come back to get more.” Get Connected To connect with the College of Business Center for Professional Practice regarding securing or offering internships or employment opportunities, call 205-665-6524 or email bhamer1@montevallo.edu. M

Above left, from left to right: UM graduates and Deloitte tax accountants Brian Short ’13 and Perry Hilyer ’15, MBA ’16 with intern Steven Wright ’16; above right: Dr. Hamer assisting Dustin Cowart ’16 in the Center for Professional Practice; below: Some of the UM accounting program graduates employed by Warren Averett include (from left) Teri Lyn Walton ’15, Lauren Keet ’04, Stephanie Walton ’07, Allison Deskin ’02, Megan Randolph ’06, Haley Burk ’16 (intern), Summer Hall ’13, In-Mi Matsunaga ’14, MBA ’15, Chris Reyer ’06, Corey Scott ’15.

Photos by Christopher Jones

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CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE National Co-Chairs Sandra Bond Bowers ’66 and Richard Bowers Tim Lupinacci ’88 Mike Strong ’72 and John Paul Strong ’02 Honorary Co-Chair Cassandra King Conroy ’67, M.A. ’88 Lynn England ’81 and Donna England ’78 Mike Grainger ’73 and Donna Grainger

“This institution is small enough that a gift really goes a long way, further than it can at another institution. It is going to be something that can actually make a difference in people’s lives.” — Dr. Harry Hamilton, associate professor, Michael E. Stephens College of Business

Brian Hamilton and Leslie Hamilton ’00 Jeanetta Keller ’75 and Bill Keller Kathy King Mike Meadows ’79 and Sue Meadows Kay Miller Libby Queen ’59 Donna Smith-Senter ’82 Todd Strange ’66 and Linda Strange Barbara Bonfield ’58 Caroline Aderholt Ronnie Jackson ’73 Laurl Self ’94 Photos by Amy Baldis ’10

Comprehensive Campaign Launch Party — Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016

Last ing

Legacy

BY ANDREA FANNING

For more than a century, the University of Montevallo has helped enrich lives, challenge normal and impact the planet on both a local and global scale. That tradition of excellence continues today with the launch of a thoughtful new initiative, it will carry on and increase its reach for years to come.

Remember the first time you set foot onto those brick paths? The way they lead you to your residence hall or your English literature class in a way that was intentional, yet also artful and charming? Backpack full, ambitions high — you were embarking on a new adventure, investing in your future, joining the number of esteemed attendees who had gone before, becoming who you always wanted to be. Here in this place, surrounded by peers and professors, historic buildings and beautiful surroundings, you were home. The University holds a special place in the hearts of those who have been fortunate enough to call her alma mater. From College Night to Commencement, the experiences are rich and the memories invaluable. It was and is a place to belong: a family. With the ever-changing present, the University is striving to maintain her heritage and working to stay both student-centric and culturally relevant. But how will she succeed? The answer: action. “Now is the time,” says Dr. John W. Stewart III, president of the University, “for us to embark together on an exciting journey that will allow us to achieve the full measure of our promise — philanthropy.” Through a

new initiative dubbed “The Campaign for the University of Montevallo: It’s About Family,” the University plans to raise finances as an investment in the future. But Stewart is quick to add, it’s about more than simply raising money. He says, “The Campaign is the vehicle through which we will climb that last hill on our path to greatness, a path that will allow us to transform the world, one Montevallo student at a time, for the next 120 years.” With a cumulative goal of $20 million, the Campaign is an intentional step toward the vision of global impact. It is a seven-year, multi-level comprehensive campaign designed to serve the next generations of the ever-growing Montevallo family by resourcing strategic areas that will help bring the vision to fruition. The key components are: Scholarships and the Student Experience; Faculty, Coach and Staff Development; Facilities for Learning, Competing and Living; Building Annual Giving; and The Traditions Fund. Each of these priorities were selected because of their potential to increase knowledge, expertise and values that UM graduates will take into their lives and their professions. The potential is indeed great. And so is the momentum.

For the past four years, the Campaign has been in a silent phase, and already through the generosity of alumni and retired faculty and staff, more than half of the goal has been met. “Montevallo has always enjoyed strong support from alumni and loyal friends — support that has made all the difference to the students we serve,” Stewart said. With these funds forming the foundation, the University is now moving into the public portion of the Campaign, with both excitement and expectations high. “An investment in the educational opportunities at the University of Montevallo is more than an affirmation of appreciation for all UM has done and will continue to do,” says celebrated author and alumna Cassandra King, who holds an M.A. degree. She and her late husband, Pat Conroy, are longtime supporters of the UM family and see the Campaign as a way to help aspiring writers and artists follow in their footsteps. “It is a commitment to a tradition that has always nourished the arts, providing students with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in their chosen fields,” says King. “To maintain the standard of achievement that has made UM a premier liberal arts institution, our support of It’s About Family is more imperative than ever.”

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THE FIVE PRIORITIES

As a top priority of the Campaign, Scholarships and the Student Experience are near and dear to the hearts of a plethora of Falcon fans. University leaders believe that resourcing these areas will help recruit the best and brightest students, allowing Montevallo to compete with learning institutions around the world. It will also help students cover the rapidly escalating costs of higher education. And while statistics show that Montevallo graduates incur far less debt than other state schools, there remains a commitment at the University to help students avoid crushing debt that could jeopardize their futures. For that reason, endowed and annual scholarships are essentials. Mason Morris ’15, recipient of The Frank Koehne Lightfoot Scholarship, can attest to this. He says, “Words cannot express how grateful I am for the financial assistance I received at the University of Montevallo.” The scholarship helped Morris pay for his last semester of undergraduate classes, and now he has sights set on entering a graduate-level physician’s assistant program. As yet another strategic part of this segment of the Campaign, there’s a call to increase scholarships that support more diversity in the student population. The big idea here is to enrich every student’s experience — one of the plan’s biggest highlights.

Photo by Amy Baldis ’10

OBJECTIVES: Create a culture of philanthropy and

increase donor engagement with the University CAMPAIGN GOAL: $20,000,000 over seven years CAMPAIGN END DATE: Sept. 30, 2019

370

Students impacted by scholarships for the 2015-16 academic year

NEW scholarships endowed in 2015

$687,000+

Amount awarded in scholarships for the 2015-16 academic year:

16 | Montevallo Today

Photo by Corey Nolen

The second priority in the plan is Faculty, Coach and Staff Development. Those at the helm of UM believe it is imperative to recruit excellent faculty who are leaders in teaching and research, as well as people who are passionate about helping students achieve their full potential. By endowing faculty chairs, establishing distinguished professorships and attracting talented coaches to lead athletic programs, this aspect of the Campaign’s design forms a strong base on which to build a lasting legacy. Retaining excellent faculty, coaches and staff is viewed as vital to campus life — and so is providing resources to improve salaries and classroom capabilities. Benefits to this initiative are exponential.

Third in the list of Campaign priorities is Facilities for Learning, Competing and Living. This component addresses the critical need for modern, state-ofthe-art facilities, including academic, residential and athletic spaces. Adding new academic spaces and updating areas in decline are part of this initiative. The list of critical needs includes: faculty and staff offices, theaters, performance venues, classrooms and public spaces that promote collaboration and active learning. It likely comes as no surprise that providing access to the latest technology for all connected to the campus is also a pressing issue. Of course, daily collegiate life also requires much attention, from major to minor repairs and ongoing maintenance. Our NCAA Division II athletic programs and student intramurals certainly enhance the college experience, giving both students and alumni something to cheer about. By expanding facilities, this part of the initiative will support new programs such as softball and track and field and help attract first-rate student athletes from all over the world.

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Our fourth priority is vital to our ongoing success after the campaign concludes. Building Annual Giving supports the Annual Fund and the unexpected needs that arise during an academic year. These needs are met from unrestricted giving and continual commitment by our alumni and donors to the Annual Fund.

Finally, The Traditions Fund priority is all about holding onto collegiate heritage and beloved practices such as College Night, homecoming, The Alabamian and so much more. These are the things that make Montevallo memorable. It is a special place. It’s about learning. It’s about living. “It’s About Family.”

Photo by Alyssa Luna ’14, M.Ed. ’15

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During this public launch, the University is counting on loyal alumni and friends to make the dream of a better tomorrow come true. A visit to the Campaign’s website — www.montevallo.edu/itsaboutfamily — provides more information about each of the priorities along with ways to contribute. Now is the time. M

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to give and to provide for students to receive an education, so that they might one day be able to continue giving back to their University, too.” — Robert C. Chapman ’63, UM Foundation board member Photo by Eric Starling

Robert C. Chapman’63 was a member of club basketball at the University, and he remembers those days fondly. After graduation, he and his wife, June, started giving small gifts as a tribute to the University they love and appreciate. As their capacity grew, so did their contributions to meaningful projects, and recently, they unveiled The Robert C. and June Chapman Sports Medicine Facility.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 17

HOMECOMING

If THeY COULD see Us NOW

Photo by Amy Baldis ’10

s alumni, friends and families attended

old-Hollywood themed Homecoming events, complete with red carpets and bright lights — the purple and gold casts and crew were waiting in the wings, ready to enter the spotlight and begin the final night of the 2016 College Night productions. Months of preparation and weeks of competition culminated as SGA President Jacob Gordon read the phrase “this is something worth fighting for,” to which Palmer Hall erupted and College Night 2016 had officially been deemed the 50th Purple Victory. The winning production, Purple Side’s “All Hands on Deck,” followed a ragtag crew of pirates aboard the Fate’s Revenge. When the ship’s captain looks to unaccepting first-mate Roger to fill his boots, Roger’s love interest, Iris,

18 | Montevallo Today

a barkeep at The Brig, doesn’t understand his hesitance and seeks to become a pirate herself, facing one opposition — a girl can never be a pirate. Regardless, Iris sneaks aboard the Fate’s Revenge disguised as a man and proves her worth, wit, strength and brawn. Upon being uncovered as a girl, the Captain confesses that she, too, is a girl. The story reaffirms the notion that maybe women can do everything men can do, and then some. Gold Side’s show, “Dirty Work,” took place at the Golden Nugget Casino, the home of a coveted hidden safe packed with cash and gold bars. Bugsy, the new custodian and Wendy Wright an aspiring showgirl, find themselves enamored with one another. However, Busgy is also secretly working with a group of gangsters to capture the hidden safe. As he approaches the location of the safe, it is instead replaced

with a letter from Wendy describing how she stole the goods and got away. She then apologizes for their unrequited love and the undercover showgirl explains that she and Bugsy would have both been in dire trouble if she did not pull off the heist. The show ends with a disguised Wendy slyly walking away through the audience. College Night 2016 was dedicated to the chair of the College Night Committee and university staff accompanist, Dr. Laurie Middaugh ’88. Purple Side Leaders James Powers and Hannah Stephens were named Mr. and Ms. Montevallo. While the Purples pulled off the College Night victory, every visitor and alumnus left with cheers and songs shared in a historic theater, more walks along the bricks and new memories created with fellow members of the Montevallo family.

Photo by Katie Compton ’18 Photo by Wendy Johnson ’17

Photo by Amy Baldis ’10

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

1 The Purple Side performs “All Hands on Deck;” 2 Bugsy is threatened by gangsters in the Gold Side’s “Dirty Work;” 3 Alumni enjoy coffee and discussion at the Kinesiology Coffee; 4 Alumni and friends peruse art at the 20th annual Alumni Art Auction; 5 Jeannie Duke ’76 and Mel Robinson ’52 socialize at the Behavioral and Social Sciences Reception; 6 Hannah Stephens and James Powers are named Ms. and Mr. Montevallo; 7 At the Family and Consumer Sciences Coffee, young alumni and students gather for a photo; 8 The Same Sweet Girls reminisce at the Pat Scales Reception at Homecoming. The reception was held to honor the generous book collection donated by Pat Scales ’66 to Carmichael Library; 9 Lee Ann Clark ’88, M.Ed. ’00 receives recognition for her work by Dr. Susan Culpeper at the FCS Coffee; 10 The College Night cheerleaders take the stage on Saturday night; 11 Class of 1956 attendees enjoy fellowship at their 60-year reunion.

Photo by Justin Barron ’12

Photo by Michael Wade Photo by Amy Baldis ’10

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

Photo by Wendy Johnson ’17

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ALUMNI NEWS

An Interview with UM Alumni Association President Laurl Self BY JOE CROWE ’92 UM Alumni Association President Laurl Self ’94 is an ardent believer in the power that comes from a connection between university students. Laurl said she got her first five jobs thanks to alumni, and those jobs didn’t come from her good grades or her Greek connections (she is the first Alumni Association president in years that is not Greek). “We support each other,” she said. That support put Laurl on the path to becoming UM’s Alumni Association president. As president, her goal is to help bring alumni back to the university. She admits that she took on the job because she doesn’t sit still very well. Laurl is an interior designer. And an adjunct professor. And an estate sale expert. She was busy during her undergrad years at Montevallo, too. Her trajectory toward her presidency may have begun at College Night. ‘Funny Schtick’ at College Night Laurl spent a lot of time in the trenches at College Night. She was on Cabinet for four years, and was technical director for three of those. In her senior year, she co-wrote the script for the Gold Side production. And one year, she played in the orchestra — “on an instrument that I learned to play while at Montevallo.”

That instrument was the cello, and playing it led somewhere she didn’t expect. “I’m trying to keep up. I’m playing along. All of a sudden, everybody stopped, and I was still playing. And I thought, ‘I’ve counted this wrong. I’m totally off. I played this entire song off.’ I stopped. I looked at the composer who was conducting at the time, and said, ‘I’m sorry.’” “Why did you stop?” he asked. “Everybody else stopped,” Laurl said. “No, Laurl. That was your solo,” the composer told her. Laurl said, “What? I didn’t know I was doing a solo.” Laurl learned then that she prefers teamwork to solo operations. “Quartets are fine, but I’m not going lower than a trio.” In 1994, Laurl’s senior year, that enthusiasm led to her co-writing the script for “Little Big Top,” the Gold Side performance (with cowriter Michael P. Moore). Somebody had to. “We were almost at the point of ‘Oh my gosh, no one is writing a script this year.’” That led to her and Moore taking on the task. Laurl had been involved in shows about the circus, so that’s where her idea began. That, and she wanted to do “funny schtick.” She still wasn’t done. She added song lyrics to her resume. Without meaning to do it, she took on another role: Dedicated song stylist. “I didn’t realize I would get a look on my face when they told me they were changing something. So they didn’t want to change anything because it appeared to upset me.” The Purple Side’s show defeated “Little Big Top” that year. Laurl believes the Gold

show could have won, “if I had kept my face neutral and the composers had been a little more aggressive.” ‘Diabolical Plan’ Laurl became UM Alumni Association president after years of work on the Alumni Board and with the Jefferson County Alumni Club Art Auction. “I don’t know if I approached this with an agenda,” she said. “Whatever this diabolical plan is will just come to me.” One of Laurl’s goals is to reach alumni who cannot physically visit the campus. She loves the concept of live streaming College Night performances, because that allows alumni to see the show wherever they are. She wants the Alumni Association to do more to reach people overseas, and those alumni such as seniors and people “who want to be involved, but can’t get here.” Laurl’s run as president is just beginning. She has many “diabolical plans,” and a twoyear term to get them done. Laurl’s cleverness and enthusiasm might be boundless. She made one statement about being given only three minutes to speak at UM’s graduation, and it applies to the energy and excitement she brings to Montevallo’s Alumni Association. “They gave me a time limit for fear that I would just go on and on and on...” LAURL’S LINKS www.porchandparlor.etsy.com bergerechair.blogspot.com www.laurldesigns.com Photo by Art Meripol

20 | Montevallo Today

Estate Sale AWESOMENESS Laurl Self is an interior designer on a never-ending mission to find unique items at estate sales. She brings her passion to the public by putting her favorite finds up for sale at Hanna’s Antiques in Birmingham. Here’s a look at the world of estate sales through the eyes of an expert. How to be a great estate-sale shopper: 1. Know what you want and be educated in it. You always want to find the pieces they (the estate owners) have undervalued. 2. Pick up the item with the tag on it. If there’s more than one piece to the set, but you have the one with the tag, you own the item. The tag rules in the estate sale world. Weirdest things you’ve ever bought: 1. “Magic candlesticks.” They’re 1970s brass candlesticks with a tulip base. I call them “magic” because as soon as I buy them and put them online, I sell them within a week. They sell every time. 2. A bronze table lighter that looked like a Foo Dog. The head on it is a parrot. It’s technically a phoenix, which is ironic since it’s a lighter. The back opens up and you store… cigarettes? I’m not sure what goes in the little box in the back. Favorite thing you’ve ever bought: A reproduction British campaign desk; it was designed to be packed onto an elephant and carried into the jungles of India. (I love desks.) How many items do you have at your booth? I’ve made a mental commitment not to buy a storage unit. The booth is the storage unit. Everything I buy has to fit in the Prius. But you can fit a lot in the Prius. Weirdest thing you saw at an estate sale but didn’t buy: A metal grave marker. Obviously European. That kind of creeped me out. What’s out there that you would love to find? Palissy ware. They’re not precious at all. There’s something a little bit dark about them. You’ll never find berries on Palissy ware.

“It takes me about two-and-a-half hours to spend ten minutes shopping.” — Laurl Self ’94

The last thing you found that blew your mind? A collection of vintage late-1960s, early-1970s hats. They were fabulous. They looked like little horse-racer hats, but weirdly round and tall. I still have the Christian Dior one, but it’s a little too small for my head. It’s the kind of thing where I called my sister and said, “You will not belieeeeeeve what I just bought.”

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ALUMNI NEWS

Spice King of Calera Experience Rocks Ginger Spice Dune

Legacy Meat industry stardom Montevallo academics Fraternity Junior Board connections

Photo by Christopher Jones

An Interview with Alumni Junior Board President Jeff Purvis BY JOE CROWE ’92 Jeff Purvis ’02 is the new president of the UM Alumni Association’s Junior Board of Directors, a group that serves and supports alumni from the last 15 years. He works as the director of operations at A.C. Legg, Inc., a prominent producer of spices and seasoning that is headquartered in Calera. As he begins his new role as president of the Junior Board, Jeff reveals what it takes to be the Spice King of Calera. A huge spoonful of legacy Jeff’s grandfather bought A.C. Legg, Inc. in the 1970s. His father and uncle are the CEO/ president and executive vice president of the company, which was founded in 1923.

22 | Montevallo Today

Jeff’s belief in the power of education can be traced back to his grandfather’s motto: “Education is something that, once attained, cannot be taken away.”

A heaping helping of Junior Board connection As the president of the Junior Board, Jeff’s primary mission is to “keep people from ever losing contact with Montevallo.”

A few dashes of meat industry stardom “When you buy products off grocery store shelves, or if you go to certain restaurants, or you go to certain fast food restaurants, you are eating spices that came out of this building. We can’t disclose the names, but you’d be very familiar with them.” A.C. Legg sold seasonings in two of the final four of USA Today’s Best Barbecue in America.

A pinch of experience Upon coming back to campus for his MBA, Jeff said he realized, “I’m not the young buck anymore. Now, I’m the old man.”

A metric ton of Montevallo academics Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at UM in 2002. He returned to UM recently and is now finishing his MBA. A generous scoop of fraternity The most fun thing he did while at UM (“that you can put in print,” Jeff said): Adventures with his Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers.

Zero tons of rocks While many driving past A.C. Legg may be confused about their line of work, Jeff assures they are all about spice, not rocks. “We have a big ol’ rock in front of our building that has our logo on it. Everyone always thinks we have something to do with the quarry business.” A teaspoon of Ginger Spice Jeff’s favorite Spice Girl is Ginger, “because the only one that’s a real spice is Ginger Spice.” Also, “she’s the de facto leader.” A dollop of Dune “Because the Spice must flow.”

Dr. Patrick Evans ’88 accepts award on behalf of Hunt.

Award winners Eric SanInocencio ’03 and Sharon Gilbert ’86, M.Ed. ’89

UMNAA HONORS ALUMNI

The University’s homecoming festivities welcome alumni back to the bricks, while also celebrating their successes following graduation. As the theme “If They Could See Us Now” emphasizes, the journey of many graduates deserves a moment of admiration. The 2016 Homecoming Luncheon was an opportunity for three alumni to be honored for the work they have accomplished. The 2016 Distinguished Alumna Award was awarded to Rev. Alice Hunt ’78. Hunt currently serves as president and associate professor at Chicago Theological Seminary. The 12th president in the 158-year history of CTS, Hunt is among only a few women to serve as president of a major Theological Seminary or Divinity School. Hunt previously served as associate dean for academic affairs at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, where she earned her MTS. She also completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in religion from Vanderbilt University. Although she planned to attend the Homecoming events, unforeseen circumstances prevented Hunt from attending the luncheon. Her good friend and fellow Montevallo alumnus Dr. Patrick Evans ’88 accepted the award on her behalf. With a decade separating their time at UM, Hunt, a mathematics major from the purple side, and Evans, a music and education major and gold side leader, became friends years after their graduations due to similar paths through theological education and mutual ties to the small town with brick streets in Alabama. The Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award was presented to Sharon

Photos by Michael Wade

Gilbert. Serving as director of the UM TRiO Upward Bound program for the past 10 years, and previously in other positions, Gilbert has worked tirelessly to provide students with academic and social support during her 24-year tenure with the University. “When Sharon is not working directly with her Upward Bound program, she is busy advocating for the program at both the state and national level. It seems she truly never tires of doing whatever it takes to make sure ‘her children’ get the educational services and opportunities they need,” a colleague stated in support. A two-time UM graduate, Gilbert earned her undergraduate degree in counseling and guidance in 1986 and completed her Master of Education in counseling in 1989. Gilbert’s love and dedication for the Montevallo community is evident in her work on the Montevallo City Council, participation in raising nearly $150,000 for the UM Annual Fund, as well as various awards and honors. Eric SanInocencio ’03 was awarded the Nathalie Molton Gibbons Young Achievers Award. SanInocencio, digital media director of the Houston Texans, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication in 2003 and was a four-year letter winner on the Falcons baseball team. Most recently, he has been elected to the UM Junior Alumni Board of Directors. Since joining the Texans in 2013, SanInocencio has received the Rookie Award and IMPACT Award with the NFL franchise. He has also invested significantly in the local community, launching digital initiatives that impacted funding

Dr. Tracy Payne Rockco ’94, director of alumni affairs, and Dr. Michael E. Malone ’69, outgoing UMNAA president

and volunteer support for the Houston Foodbank, the Boys and Girls Club of Houston and the Houston Texans YMCA. The Homecoming Luncheon also served as the installation ceremony of new alumni board members and a special recognition for the outgoing officers. President Michael E. Malone ’69, past president James R. Methvin ’73 and Secretary Barbara Bonfield ’58 were all acknowledged for their service and dedication to their alma mater. The annual event concluded with new officers installed, new award winners added to the history books and new memories made with the UM family.

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CLASS NOTES Photo by Rebecca White ’15

Alabama College Society From left: Della Scott ’53, Libby Queen ’59, Jo Rayfield ’62, Mel Robinson ’52, Rod Hildreth ’62, Jeannine McElroy ’53, Joyce Blake ’51, Lois Odom ’51

Class of 1956 From left: (front row) Joyce Greathouse, Sue Faulkner, Lela Poythress, Nell Ruth Freeman Marshall, Vera Stephens Cox, Ouida McDonald McIntyre; (back row) Emily Vest Pendleton, Anna Martin, Carol Slaughter White, Mary Louise Rice Dabbs, Marie Zannis, Dean Drake Green, Miriam Oglesby Finch, Anita Ray Giordano

Photo by Rebecca White ’15

CLASS NOTES

1975

Mark Brandon was named as a “fellow” with the Alabama Law Foundation. He is the Dean of The University of Alabama School of Law. Donna Stricklin Compton and college roommate Kimiko Masaki Hotta ’74 reunited after 42 years in Tokyo, Japan, where Kimiko teaches English.

1979

Karl Moor has joined Balch & Bingham, LLP as counsel in the environmental and natural

24 | Montevallo Today

resources section in Birmingham. He is a member of the board of directors for the Atlantic Council and also served as chair of the Edison Electric Institute Task Force on Carbon Capture and Sequestration.

1981

K.A. Turner, a director with Alabama Media Group, was elected as president of the APA Journalism Foundation. She worked at The Outlook in Alexander City and The Selma Times-Journal before joining Advance Publications, now Alabama Media

Group. Before relocating to Birmingham in 2012, she worked in Huntsville and Mobile. Thom Gossom Jr. was recognized for his book, A Slice of Life, which tells fictional stories based on events from his own life. A Slice of Life is a three-part collection of “life stories” woven around themes of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

1985

Joey Bunch won a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the 2013 Aurora, Colorado, movie theater shoot-

ings. He was the keynote speaker for APA Journalism Foundation’s luncheon in conjunction with the Pulitzer recognition in February.

1986

Jacquie Brasher has been hired as the part-time executive director of Emanuel Arts Council in Swainsboro, Georgia. Brasher formerly reported from The Forest-Blade in Swainsboro from 1997 to 2008, and was a news anchor and correspondent for Radio Jones (WXRS and WJAT) in Swainsboro from 2008 to 2013.

Class of 1966 From left: (front row) Lillian Scoggins Corley, Gayle Lee McAlister, Carol Wishum Harris, Loretta Cobb, Mary Lazenby Slaton, Elaine Faulkenberry Galt, Patti Golloway Hughes; (middle row) Pat Scales, Jacqueline Little Ammons, Sandra Bond Bowers, Linda Norell Hinson, Patsy Holliman Auiler, Georgia Spivey Meckes, Damrell Threadgill Bain; (back row) Jack Grenade, Rocco Leo, Jim Daniell, Buell Cobb, Perry Sumner, Donald Campbell

Photo by Rebecca White ’15

Photo by Wendy Johnson ’17

Class of 1976 From left: Diane Terrell Rathbun, Barbara Bailey Klinghard, Madaline P. Ifill, Julie McEntee

1988

Tim Lupinacci was named one of the top 205 business people in Birmingham by BHMBIZ magazine. He is a shareholder in the Birmingham office of Baker Donelson.

1989

Kelly Bagby M.S. ’91 accepted the position of director of clinical education in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Samford University. She worked in the Vestavia Hills City School system for 15 years prior to working at Samford.

1990

Leigh Boggs Brown M.Ed. ’95 was named the Gifted Resource Teacher of the Year at the Georgia Association of Gifted Children Conference in March. She resides in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Kathryn Glass was honored as the Calera Elementary School Teacher of the Year.

1991

Tammy Thetford Lowery was recently named library director at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in

Monterey, California. DLIFLC is the premier training institution within the Department of Defense for culturally based foreign language education.

1993

Laura Anderson presented on the Freedom Riders of the 1960s at the Athens-Limestone Public Library during its Booked for Lunch series. Jonathan Nelson, Birmingham Barons General Manager, was acknowledged in the Birmingham Business Journal for his success with the Birmingham Barons and

was named one of the top 205 business people in Birmingham by BHMBIZ magazine. Teresa Pope was named 2016 Alabama Public Health Social Worker of the Year. She was recognized March 18 at the Public Health Social Work Celebration held in Montgomery during National Social Work Month. She has been employed with the Alabama Department of Public Health in the Perry County Health Department for more than 20 years.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 25

CLASS NOTES

Class of 1986 From left: (front row) Kathy McCartey Healy, Adele Dabbs Bryant, Judy Misenhimer Scott; (back row) Jerry Bullock, Melinda Thompson Gargiulo, Melanie Poole, William Self, John Eubank, David Hunter, James M. Wagner

Photo by Rebecca White ’15

Class of 1996 From left: Karen Burgess Hoerl, Sandy McGowan Lovell, Leah Ray, John Stough, Leanne Townsend, Gabrielle Metz, Evelyn Fugate

1994

Elizabeth Davis Ed.S. has been named superintendent for Eufaula City Schools. She has been in education for 18 years. Bill Dobbins has been named one of the top 205 business people in Birmingham by BHMBIZ magazine. He is the founder and principle of the Dobbins Group.

1995

Amanda Bittinger was honored as the Shelby County School District High School Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching 19 years, the past 13 years spent at Oak Mountain High School.

1996

Lane Collins has been named as a member of the inaugural class of the Governor’s Academy for School Leadership Fellows in Tennessee. He is an assistant principal at Medina Middle School in the Gibson County Special School District.

26 | Montevallo Today

2001

Jeremy Gray, of Alabaster, has been named managing producer for Alabama Media Group. He oversees a team of journalists reporting breaking news for AL.com, The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times, Mobile’s Press-Register and The Mississippi Press.

2002

Celeste Onchuck was named Thorsby’s Employee of the Month for December. She has been at Thorsby High School for 10 years. John Paul Strong was named as one of Birmingham’s top 205 business people in BHMBIZ magazine. He is the owner of Strong Automotive Merchandising.

2005

Rosanna McGinnis was named director of Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library in Opelika.

2008

Dennis Hall is now serving on

Photo by Rebecca White ’15

the faculty at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville, South Carolina. He previously taught at Louisiana State University. Jefferson Walker has won the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Research Award at Louisiana Tech University for his book, King Returns to Washington: Explorations of Memory, Rhetoric, and Politics in the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. Walker earned his Ph.D. from The University of Alabama in 2013 and is currently department coordinator and assistant professor of communication and media studies at Louisiana Tech University.

2011

Vinny Chiaramonte M.Ed. has been named Hoover City Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year. He has been teaching for six years, the last two as a seventh and eighth grade computer science teacher at Bumpus Middle

School. He facilitates several staff development and leadership activities at the school. Brittany Davis Simpson and Micah Simpson ’10 opened Seed-Harvest, a music school for young children in Cullman. Their curriculum is based on folk music and nursery rhymes.

2013

Chelsea Smith was honored as Teacher of the Week by the Enterprise Ledger. She teaches seventh grade math and pre-algebra at Coppinville Junior High School.

2015

Rebecca Leach has accepted a graduate teaching assistantship and Stipends to Attract Remarkable Students (STARS) fellowship to attend Texas Christian University where she will pursue her M.S. in communication studies this fall.

Ryan Kirkland has been accepted to Beeson Divinity School of

Photo by Amber Quinn ’18

Minority Alumni Club

Photo by Wendy Johnson ’17

From left: (front row) Cortez Bennett ’12, Cynthia Todd ’88, Keyanna Kinloch, Eddie Baker III ’04, Jasmine Boykin ’15, Portia Ann Mason ’07, Katayoun Parki ’05, Kimberly Parki ’06, Dr. Terra Moody Miller ’06, Joy Maxwell Scott ’06, Ivory Richardson ’95; (back row) James Mitchell ’86, Donna Mitchell ’87, Alicia Boykin, Gwendalyn Garrett ’85, Cathy Gaddis ’82, Freda Thrift ’85, Fred Miller ’04

Samford University where he will pursue his M.Div. this fall.

WEDDINGS

2001

Tracy Minkoff and Jen Woollen were married at Roswell Historic Cottage on June 4, 2015. The couple resides in Roswell, Georgia, where Tracy is a senior account specialist for benefits enrollment at Hodges-Mace, LLC.

grade teacher at Glen Iris Elementary in Birmingham and Matthew is an operations manager with the Birmingham Airport Authority.

BIRTHS

1994

Dr. Raleshia Nix Burke ’94 and and Ronny Burke Sr., along with big brother, Ronny Jr., welcomed Reagan Alexandra Burke, born on May 11, 2015.

2011

2001

2013

2002

Sarah Lawrence and Mark Aldridge ’08 were married on July 11, 2015, at Oak Island on Lay Lake. After a honeymoon in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, the couple now resides in Maylene. Ariel Williamson and Matthew Nelson ’11 were married Nov. 8, 2015, at the American Village in Montevallo. The couple resides in Homewood. Ariel is a second

Kristia Callaway Rumbley M.Ed. ’04 and James “Bo” Rumbley welcomed twin boys on April 1. Steven Walter and Benjamin Callaway were welcomed to the family home in Leeds by big brother, James Austin. Alison Perrin Haynes M.Ed. ’04 and Brad Haynes ’03, along with big sister, Lucy, and big brother, Will, welcomed Matthew Thomas

Class of 2006 From left: (front row) Kimberly Parki, Dr. Terra Moody Miller, Ann Takacs, Justin Finch, Portia Ann Mason; (back row) Robby Brueggeman, Joy Maxwell Scott, Meghan Methvin Suda, Matthew Mitchell, Jason McCleney

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CLASS NOTES

GOLD SIDE

Haynes, 8 lb. 9 oz. 20 inches long, on Feb. 4.

DEATHS

1942

Elna Ruth-Grisham Sanderson, 94, of Huntsville, died Dec. 18. Her life was dedicated to serving her church on all levels. She was a lifelong member of Holmes Street United Methodist Church and taught secretarial science at Decatur High School during World War II.

Young Alumni

NEUTRAL

PURPLE SIDE

1947

Pearl Louise Thrash, of Inverness, died Dec. 25 with her family by her side. She was a caseworker with the Department of Pensions and Security in Mobile. She volunteered for several years with the Children’s Service League.

1948

Elaine Quarles Mastin, 89, of Mobile, died Nov. 19. She was a former secretary for GM&O railroad and also worked at Auburn National Bank. She was a longtime member and former secretary at Central Presbyterian Church in Mobile.

1954

Jeannette Hill Brewster, 84, of Huntsville, died Feb. 21. She taught elementary school in College Park, Georgia, and later served in the nursery at First United Methodist Church for more than 30 years. Gale Little Doak, 84, of Lakeland, Florida, died on March 22. She was an art professor at Florida Southern College for many years.

28 | Montevallo Today

1959

Harvey A. Fleming, 83, died on Feb. 23. While at Alabama College, he managed the radio station and sang in the choir. He later worked in five Presbyterian churches as the director of christian education. He is survived by his wife of more than 58 years, Mary Gene Averyt Fleming ’59 and his daughter Lynn Graham ’83.

1960

Joyce Brewer Taylor, 77, of Childersburg, died Dec. 29. She taught for more than 40 years at both Childersburg High School and Central Alabama Community College and was a prominent leader in the Alabama Education Association. Jerry Suite Fulford, 77, of Clanton, died Jan. 20. He was captain of the first baseball team at Alabama College in 1958. He served on the Chilton County Board of Education for 31 years, where he was also a math teacher, principal and school bus driver.

1961

Candy Hester MacManus, 75, of Destin, Florida, died Dec. 3 after a courageous battle with cancer. She volunteered in her community and church for many years. She worked as a model and also served as president of Auto South Auto Parts, a company she established with her oldest son.

1955

1964

1956

Hess Stanley Fridley, 75, of Scottsboro, died on Sept. 29. He served in the United States Marine Corp and was a devoted husband, loving father and loving friend. He is survived by his siblings, John R. Fridley ’66 and Nita Fridley Furlong ’86 and brother-in-law Dan Furlong ’86.

Jenny Lovin, 82, of Decatur, died on Feb. 7. She taught first and second grades at West Decatur School. She was very active in her community and worked with her church, Girl Scouts and the Decatur Junior Service League.

Photos by Wendy Johnson ’17

Martha Horn Otts, 81, of Greensboro, died Dec. 18. She was a classical pianist, enjoyed history and loved gardening.

Imogene (Jeanie) Brooks, of Opp, died Jan.16 at the age of 81. She retired from the Environmental Protection Agency after working as a chemist for many years.

Phoebe Charlotte Sloan-Smith, 73, of Vestavia Hills, died Nov. 24. Smith worked at UAB until her retirement.

Photo by Wendy Johnson ’17

Vintage Purples Alumni Club

CONDOLENCES

1965

Carolyn Elizabeth Locke Lancaster, 73, of Mobile, died Jan. 1. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa sorority and owned a business breeding Shetland Sheepdogs.

North Carolina, died Nov. 5. She was a home economics and English teacher at Sylacauga High School for more than 20 years. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

1969

1973

Mary Lou Williams, of Montevallo, died March 2. Mary Lou worked for The Girl Scouts of America and the YMCA before returning home to Montevallo as the director of development and alumni relations until her retirement in 2008. Following her retirement she served the community as the executive director of the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce. She is survived by husband Joe and daughters Scottie English and Beth House ’00 M.Ed. ’03. Other surviving alumni include sister-in-law Peggy Ann Williams ’73 and nephew Patrick Holder Nevins ’06. See page 4 for memorial tribute.

1970

Susan Crane, 67, of Kimberly, died Nov. 13. She taught math for 25 years at Warrior High School and Erwin High School. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa and served on the Kimberly Zoning Board.

1971

Mary Virginia Taylor Price Campbell, 95, of New Bern,

with the City of Birmingham. Survivors include his wife Barbara Aldred ’76.

1979

Catherine (Cathy) Crawford Walls, 64, of Montevallo, died Jan. 15. Cathy was a Birmingham native and spent most of her life in Montevallo after she graduated from UM.

Scot Copeland, 62, died on Feb. 24. Copeland was the producing artistic director of Nashville Children’s Theatre for 30 years and was a respected leader in the world of theater for young audiences. He is survived by his wife, Rene Dunshee Copeland ’78.

1975

1993

Carolyn Godfrey Machen, 75, of Gardendale, died Nov. 29. She was a teacher at Minor High School, a member of Crumly Chapel United Methodist Church and Gardendale Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church.

1976

James (Jimmy) Edward Drake, 74, of Athens, died Sept. 5. He coached basketball for 21 years at East Limestone High School, where he was also the principal for seven years.

1977

John Robert Paradise, 60, died on Feb. 1. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He retired from the State of Alabama Revenue Department after a 35-year career. Don Aldred passed away in 2014 after a battle with cancer. He was a retired firefighter and paramedic

Jerry Keith Bullard, 53, of Rockford, died March 13. Prior to his retirement in 2014, Keith was an educator for 29 years and spent the last 13 years as principal of Central High School in Coosa County.

1999

David Wyman, 59, of Birmingham, died on Jan. 31. He was an author, actor and historian.

2008

Nicholas Hartwell Holt, 29, of Hoover, died on Nov. 19. He was a food and beverage management expert and an avid chef. He wrote for Famous DC and served as kitchen manager at Highline RXR.

To the family of Pat Conroy, a native of Atlanta, who passed away March 4 at his home on Battery Creek. Conroy, 70, was a graduate of the Citadel, South Carolina’s state military school and was most well known for his novels The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides. He is survived by his wife, Cassandra King ’67 M.A. ’88, a former professor at UM. To the family of Virginia “Jenny” Avery M.Ed., director emerita of the Malone Curriculum Center, who died March 10. Jenny touched the lives of many students, faculty and staff during her 21 years at UM from 1987-2008. Jenny is the mother of Jennifer (JiJi) Davis ’99 M.Ed. ’03, assistant professor of Education. To the family of Carlye Best, executive assistant to the president emerita, who died on April 9. Throughout her 29-year UM career, Carlye’s expertise and wisdom relating to University events, UM policies and procedures as well as office management impacted the lives of countless faculty, staff and students. Carlye’s career included 18 years in the President’s Office, where she also served as secretary to the Board of Trustees until 2008.

We want to hear from you! Send your updates to: today@montevallo.edu

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CLASS NOTES

Photo by Katie Compton ’18

UMNAA Board

From left: (front row) Ann Kelly ’57, Eddie Baker III ’04, Stephanie Shaw ’93, Jeannine McElroy ’53, Susan Vaughn ’71, Melanie Poole ’86, Dr. Michel E. Malone ’69, Matt Arnold ’93, Diane Ray ’69, Jody Atchison ’69; (back row) Jim Methvin ’73, Chris Willis ’07, Barbara Bonfield ’58, Jeff Purvis ’02, Lewis Brooks ’88, Toni Leo ’80, Warwick Woodall ’82, Laurl Self ’94, Tiffani Humphries ’98, Cornelia Watts ’77

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

Junior Alumni Board From left: (front row) Kelly Curry ’08, Joann Cook ’07, MBA ’13, Clark Maxwell ’13, Lindsay Moore ’13, Candyce Houston ’10, Megan Traweek ’11, Zachary Banks ’08, Crystal Roskam ’16, Kristen Dechert ’03, Jahzmin Young ’09; (back row) Chris Willis ’07, Kacie Kilpatrick ’09, Joel Harris ’04, Michael Hill ’05, Jeffrey Purvis ’02, Lindsey Sherill ’07, Jennifer Travis Scott ’09, Quincy Hall ’15

30 | Montevallo Today

ALUMNI EVENTS

Photo by Greg Lee ’99

Photo by Wendy Johnson ’17

Photo by Amber Quinn ’18

Photo by Christopher Jones

1 The Junior Board of Directors gathers in the home of President Julie Elkins ’00 for the board meeting followed by a holiday social; 2 The Gulf Coast Area Alumni Club’s Mardi Gras parade viewing and party is one of the most anticipated alumni events each year; 3 Bill Nathews ’75 prepares fish for the annual Shelby County Alumni Club Fish Fry, which benefits the scholarship baring his mother’s name, Emma Dean Nathews ’62; 4 Prospective students join the River Region Alumni Club for “Driving Miss Daisy,” featuring Greta Lambert ’78, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery; 5 College of Education alumni award recipients join for the COE alumni dinner on Feb. 9 in conjunction with Homecoming. Pat Scales ’66 received the COE top honor; 6 Not only did Jamie Olliff ’92 assist with gathering prizes for the annual Shelby County Alumni Club Benefit Bash, he also won a few great prizes; 7 Attendees enjoy the ever-popular Shelby County Alumni Club Benefit Bash, which includes BBQ prepared by the Nathews Family, as well as bingo for prizes from area merchants; 8 Kate Parris and Cynthia Thompson Parris ’94 are frequent visitors to the Jefferson County Alumni Club Art Auction; 9 Chris Jackson ’73 and Rachel Sizemore ’71 are pictured with Linda Wright ’71 (center) who provided gorgeous tulips to fill the room at the Jefferson County Alumni Club Art Auction.

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

Shelby County Alumni Club Fish Fry • Chilton County Alumni Meet and Greet • Gulf Coast Area Alumni Event — Mardi Gras • Parade Viewing • Jefferson County Alumni Art Auction • Shelby County Alumni Club Annual Benefit Bash • River Region Area Alumni Club Presents “Driving Miss Daisy”

Photo by Isaac Nunn ’15

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 31

NON-PROFIT ORG U.S.POSTAGE PAID PPCO

University of Montevallo Alumni Affairs Reynolds Hall, Station 6215 Montevallo, AL 35115

Mark Your Calendar EVENTS

July 21

Night at the Ballpark Sponsored by the Junior Board and Jefferson County Alumni Club, 6 p.m., Regions Field, $20

July 23

October 14

DEADLINES

Registration at 10:30 a.m. Shotgun start at noon Montevallo Golf Club

Retired Faculty-Staff Award Nominations

49th Annual Olympics’ Day Golf Tournament Hosted by the Department of Athletics

$100 registration per player 4-man scramble format Prizes for everyone who participates

70s Decade Reunion 12 - 3 p.m., Anna Irvin Dining Hall, $20 includes BBQ and sundae bar

Contact Athletic Department at 205-665-6600 for more information

August 6

October 15

Three on a String 45th Reunion Show 7:30 p.m., Lyric Theatre, $49 Register at lyricbham.com and enter promo code FALCONS

49th Annual Olympics’ Day Hope Bryant Smith 5K run, disc golf, Greek alumni reunion and much more! Details available at www.montevallo.edu/olympics

July 1

www.montevallo.edu/advancement-awards for details and submissions Legacy Scholarship application View details and submit an application at www.montevallo.edu/alumni/scholarships Founders’ Day award nominations for: Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumnus Loyalty Award Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award Outstanding Staff Service Award For details and submissions visit www.montevallo.edu/alumni-association-awards

www.montevallotickets.universitytickets Before purchasing event tickets for the first time through University Tickets, you will need to create a username and password and complete the registration form. Each subsequent time you register for events, you will only need to enter your username and password. If you have questions about setting up your account, please contact the Alumni Office at 205-665-6215.