Campus News

UM Celebrates Commencement for Classes of 2020 and 2021

The University celebrated the achieve- COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from ments of hundreds of graduates spanning doing so in-person last year. more than a year during a pair of Com- In honor of the special ceremony, Blue mencement ceremonies on Flowerhill Lawn Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama OperMay 8. ations Manager Cynthia Todd ’88, who

The ceremonies featured more than 500 also serves as president of the UM National graduates from the spring 2020, fall 2020 Alumni Association, centered her speech to and spring 2021 semesters. the 2020 graduates on the mantra, “the best

During the morning ceremony, President is yet to come.” Stewart conferred from the spring 2021 class “Life has happened to you, especially 291 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 84 COVID-19. But you did not give up, and candidates for graduate degrees. you have proven you are resilient,” Todd said.

State Rep. William “Bill” Poole of Tusca- “Over this last year, you have developed core loosa delivered the keynote address to the competencies of versatility, agility, adaptabilspring graduates and received an honorary ity and flexibility. All of these are needed to doctorate for his many years of support- be successful in life.” ing UM and higher education throughout Following Todd’s speech, Stewart honored Alabama. her with the President’s Award for her legacy

“As you go forward, find purpose in of leadership and service to the University. 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 Top row, left: Julio Sebastian ’20 received his affect the people beyond you. Be a member of diploma during the evening ceremony; top row, right: Class of 2020 graduates take part in the your community in a positive way.” processional during the evening Commencement;

During the evening Commencement, middle row: Christine Compton ’21 with her family; more than 165 members of the class of 2020 bottom row: Akerah Smoot, along with hundreds of other members of the spring 2021 class, rereturned to their alma mater to celebrate ceived her diploma during the morning ceremony. their achievements after the effects of the

UM counselor Kayla Ogletree conducts a telehealth session.

Continuing the Mission

On- and off-campus telehealth programs serve UM, greater community

UM’s Student Health Services and similar model by offering all of its services via Through the nearly $600,000 United Counseling Services adapted to con- telehealth including individual counseling, States Department of Agriculture Rural tinue delivering assistance to students and group counseling, case management, crisis Utilities Services grant, the University will employees despite the disruption caused by management and emergency assistance. partner with schools in Bibb, Dallas and TalCOVID-19, and the University’s counseling “When the pandemic first began, alumni ladega counties to place technology hardware master’s degree program is looking to expand donors provided funds that allowed us to pur- and software in each community. its counseling services to rural areas in cen- chase all the equipment needed and for our UM’s counseling program will use the tral Alabama. licensed providers to participate in the Board technology to expand its free Community

Over the past year, Student Health Certified TeleMental Health Training through Counseling Clinic to serve students and comServices and Counseling Services pivoted the National Board for Certified Counselors,” munity members in the three counties through to a telehealth model so they could contin- said Counseling Services Director Josh Miller telehealth. UM will also expand distance eduue serving campus while practicing social M.Ed. ’07. “Because of their generosity, we cation and professional development opportudistancing during the pandemic. were prepared to go remote before the spring nities for students in the three counties.

As a result, Student Health Services has 2020 shutdown, and our students never The principal investigator for this newly been conducting most student appointments experienced a disruption in services.” acquired grant is College of Education & over the phone. Any students who reported re- Thanks to a significant federal grant Human Development Director of Graduate spiratory symptoms were referred off-campus awarded earlier this year, the University Studies and Associate Professor, Dr. Jennifer for COVID-19 testing, and Student Health will also be able to offer telehealth and Alexiou-Ray, who in 2018 also played a key Services recommended over-the-counter med- professional development opportunities to role in securing the $27 million Departications for symptom relief. students, teachers and community members ment of Education GEAR UP Jefferson

Counseling Services has been following a in rural central Alabama counties. County grant.

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1 Cody Smith tees off at the Full Moon Invitational; 2 James McNeil dribbles the ball during a Gulf South Conference game; 3 Emma Perier prepares for a putt at the Full Moon Invitational; 4 Jordan Jones drives to the basket in a Gulf South Conference game; 5 Justine Glass (cross country) competes in the Blazer Classic; 6 Brayden Gonzalez (cross country) competes in the Blazer Classic.

Athletic Department Overcomes Year Like No Other

BY EMILY REED

During an indoor track and field all of the time, and there was so much crediting the staff and athletes for working to event in March 2020, everything uncertainty,” Richard said. “Everyone always stay healthy. changed for the Athletic Depart- wanted answers, and it was hard to give those As the director, Richard said the pandemic ment at the University of Montevallo. answers sometimes because we simply didn’t taught him to be prepared for the worst and

“We were hosting the event at the Bir- always know.” hope for the best. mingham Crossplex when we got the call Richard said many times UM athletes “I think if you are a planner or love talking that the event was canceled due to everything would prepare for an event to find out at the to people face-to-face, this was a difficult shutting down with the pandemic,” said last minute that someone tested positive for period of time in your life,” Richard said. “It Athletic Director Mark Richard. COVID-19, forcing cancelations. was very important that we adapt and change

One year later, the University finally got to “At one point in January, we had one win and be ready for whatever comes our way.” proceed with the track and field competition. for basketball and nine postponed games,” Richard said most sports were played

“We were just out there practicing last Richard said. “We went on an away trip to outside during the spring semester, making it week, and we were able to hold the same Valdosta, Georgia, where the students had much easier to curb the spread of the virus. competition on Friday and Saturday, mark- to leave early. We found out once we arrived Student-athletes continue to be tested ing the one-year anniversary of when things that someone on the other team had tested multiple times per week, and Richard is changed,” Richard said on March 16. positive, which meant we had to turn around optimistic the number of positive cases will

Richard, who oversees the Athletic De- and come home. It was really tough.” remain low. partment consisting of 450 student-athletes Richard said everyone in the Athletic Richard credited everyone working in the and 21 sports, said unpredictability was the Department is a leader, and it was important Athletic Department with allowing things biggest challenge the pandemic presented for for everyone in the department to remain to run as smoothly as possible during the the department. positive, even when things were difficult. pandemic.

“We simply didn’t always know what was Since October 2020, Richard said the “Great people can make great things hapgoing to happen. The rules kept changing department has not seen many positive cases, pen,” Richard said.