CAMPUS NEWS
UM Celebrates Commencement for Classes of 2020 and 2021 The University celebrated the achievements of hundreds of graduates spanning more than a year during a pair of Commencement ceremonies on Flowerhill Lawn May 8. The ceremonies featured more than 500 graduates from the spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. During the morning ceremony, President Stewart conferred from the spring 2021 class 291 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 84 candidates for graduate degrees. State Rep. William “Bill” Poole of Tuscaloosa delivered the keynote address to the spring graduates and received an honorary doctorate for his many years of supporting UM and higher education throughout Alabama. “As you go forward, find purpose in your life and in your career and pursue that purpose in service to others,” Poole said. “You will affect the people around you and you will affect the people beyond you. Be a member of your community in a positive way.” During the evening Commencement, more than 165 members of the class of 2020 returned to their alma mater to celebrate their achievements after the effects of the
8 | Montevallo Today
COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from doing so in-person last year. In honor of the special ceremony, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama Operations Manager Cynthia Todd ’88, who also serves as president of the UM National Alumni Association, centered her speech to the 2020 graduates on the mantra, “the best is yet to come.” “Life has happened to you, especially COVID-19. But you did not give up, and you have proven you are resilient,” Todd said. “Over this last year, you have developed core competencies of versatility, agility, adaptability and flexibility. All of these are needed to be successful in life.” Following Todd’s speech, Stewart honored her with the President’s Award for her legacy of leadership and service to the University.
Top row, left: Julio Sebastian ’20 received his diploma during the evening ceremony; top row, right: Class of 2020 graduates take part in the processional during the evening Commencement; middle row: Christine Compton ’21 with her family; bottom row: Akerah Smoot, along with hundreds of other members of the spring 2021 class, received her diploma during the morning ceremony.
