Montevallo Today — Winter 2018

MONTEVALLO TODAY University of Montevallo Alumni Magazine • Winter 2018

College of Distinction

2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017

Best Value 2018 U.S. News & World Report

13th Best Public University, Regional South U.S. News & World Report

Top 10% of U.S. universities for providing financial assistance to freshmen The Student Loan Report

Top 5% for lowest student loan debt for parents The Student Loan Report

“Most Beautiful Public College Campuses in America” Thrillist.com

MONTEVALLO TODAY University of Montevallo Alumni Magazine PUBLISHERS Scott Dillard MBA ’17 Kira Thomas ’12 kthomas18@montevallo.edu

From Calkins Hall Greetings from campus, It’s my pleasure to report to you that, because of your support, Montevallo received numerous national accolades this year including those listed on the cover of this issue. We are grateful for your help as we share our good news with the world:

EDITOR Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, MBA ’13 bunttr@montevallo.edu

• 13th Best Public University, Regional South U.S. News & World Report • Best Value 2018 U.S. News & World Report

WRITER AND COPY EDITOR Reed Strength ’16 cstreng1@montevallo.edu

• College of Distinction 2012 ■ 2013 ■ 2014 ■ 2015 ■ 2016 ■ 2017

ALUMNI EDITOR Dr. Tracy Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98 paynet@montevallo.edu

• Top 10% of U.S. universities for providing financial assistance to freshmen The Student Loan Report

DESIGN EDITOR Julie Haggard

• Top 5% for lowest student loan debt for parents The Student Loan Report

PHOTO EDITOR Alyssa Green ’14

• 20 Most Beautiful Public College Campuses in America Thrillist.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS Katie Compton ’18, Art Meripol, Corey Nolen, Matt Orton CONTRIBUTORS Rachel Crisson ’11, Joe Crowe ’92, Madison Griggs ’17, Jamie Haas ’19, Wesley Hallman, Brenda Knight, Marsha Littleton, Lindsay Schluntz ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UMNAA President Laurl P. Self ’94 President-Elect Toni Leo ’80 Past-President Dr. Michael E. Malone ’69

Photo by Art Meripol

• UM student internships at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School and The Washington Center, as well as Fortune 500 companies and Broadway theaters.

This kind of recognition is important to our efforts to forge a national reputation and, I believe, emblematic of our faculty and staff’s devotion to the service of students and especially, the enterprise of teaching and learning.

Thank you for all you do to keep our institution as vibrant and efficacious as ever. As higher education changes, we will adapt to the needs of our students. But we will always hold fast our liberal arts values, traditions and devotion to preparing students for life and career.

I hope to see you all at Homecoming!

Alumni Council Representative Kit Waters ’78 Admissions Representative Audrey Crawford Faculty/Staff Representative Matt Walker ’02

Dr. John W. Stewart III President

SGA President Lizbeth Juarez ’18 UMNAA Vice Presidents Dr. Lewis Brooks ’88, M.Ed. ’99, Ed. S. ’03, Megan Randolph ’06, Diane Ray ’68, M.Ed. ’74, Stephanie Shaw ’93, Keith Shoemaker ’98, Christopher Willis ’07, Warwick Woodall ’82 Members at Large Tracey Morant Adams ’88, Joanne Atchison ’69, Eddie Baker III ’03, Rolland Casey ’77, Sandi Falkenhagen ’68, Tiffani Humphries ’98, Jean Kline ’77, Patrick McDonald ’01, M.Ed. ’03, Jeannine McElroy ’53, Dr. Terra Miller ’06, Cynthia Todd ’88, Dr. Susan Vaughn ’71, Cornelia Watts ’77, Virginia Young ’84 Ex-Officio Kristen Deschert ’03, Dr. Tracy Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98, Dr. John W. Stewart III

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On the Cover The University of Montevallo continues to earn national accolades for the value and quality of its liberal arts education. Read about some of the most recent awards on pages 6 and 7. PHOTO BY COREY NOLEN

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contents

14

DEPARTMENTS

26

10

4

Student Spotlight

5

Faculty Spotlight

6

Campus News

12

Athletics

14

Donor Spotlight

15

Campaign Update

18

Alumni Profile

20

Class Notes

26

Alumni Events

30

Alumni News

FEATURE 16

DIGITAL EVOLUTION

Through multiple partnerships and grants, Carmichael Library’s Digital Media Lab offers students across campus technologically advanced resources and hands-on opportunities.

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Montevallo Today Vol. CVIII, No. 1 Winter 2018 Montevallo Today (USPS 005432; ISSN 1052-3634) is published three times a year by the University of Montevallo, Alumni Affairs/University Relations, Reynolds Hall, Highland St., Montevallo, AL 35115.

Periodicals postage paid at Montevallo, AL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, send address changes to Montevallo Today, Station 6215, P.O. Box 6000, Montevallo, AL 35115. To contact the Alumni Affairs Office, please call 205-665-6215. Text, photographs and graphic images included in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the editor. The University of Montevallo is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or disabled veteran/Vietnam era veteran status in the University’s educational programs; admissions policies; faculty, staff and student employment policies; financial aid; or other school-administered programs and services.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Rebekah Koen Like most students on the cusp of graduation, Rebekah Koen is determined to make a difference. As a social work major at UM, Koen’s motivation to affect change in the world comes from a very real place. Her family was in and out of homeless shelters throughout Koen’s high school years. While most her age were only in the beginning stages of life planning, Koen’s firsthand experience with shelter systems and policies opened her eyes to her own calling early on.

“Some of the shelters that we stayed in, I saw how they were run and I said, ‘I want to get into that,’” said Koen. This realization led to her involvement in the Boys and Girls Club of Brookside, where in 2013, she started GirlTalk.

Through this program, she encouraged female empowerment and helped bright young women, ages 10 and up, gain a platform. Her impact on

the club and the relationships she built there led to her nomination for Youth of the Year during her senior year of high school. Her five application essays and interview won her the award.

This habit of involvement only continued to grow when she arrived at Montevallo. Koen is a peer mentor for the Honors Program, a McNair Scholar, an orientation leader, an SGA senator for the College of Arts and Sciences and a volunteer for Shelby Emergency Assistance — just to name a few.

“I joined all of the programs on campus because I kept thinking that at some point it would be too much,” said Koen. “But they all kind of overlap, and I ended up getting to know a lot of great people which made me want to join other programs. So, I feel like I’m getting the absolute most out of my college experience.” In addition to her extensive involvement on campus, Koen is also a specialist in the Alabama National Guard.

Inspired

by Life

BY MADISON GRIGGS ’17

4 | Montevallo Today

“I joined the military the summer before I started at UM,” said Koen. “I’m a planner, and I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to acquire too much debt. They have tuition repayment programs and help out with your student loans; and you get a stipend provided that you meet certain requirements.” Despite all her activities, she still has a little time left over to hang out with her friends, play vintage video games and delve into her favorite niche book genre — Biblical fiction.

“All of my friends were coming here. So we came, and we toured, and I started looking at the Social Work Program, and I saw the internship program and how the majority of the time students are hired where they have their internship. I learned about UM’s excellent credentials — I’ve only ever heard good things about Montevallo. Everyone is always so happy about going to UM, and I wanted to know why. Now I’m one of those people.”

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

p o h s i B y c Dr. Sta ing the

n on Strengthe trition u N & e s i c r e Reformed Ex gram Science Pro

If Dr. Stacy Bishop does his job correctly, the students who graduate from his program could make anyone Batman.

That is to say, graduates of the newly minted Exercise and Nutrition Science Program will have the means to design custom fitness routines capable of whipping any client into crimefighting shape.

Bishop, the coordinator of the program formerly known as kinesiology, has worked for the past two years with his fellow faculty to completely overhaul the degree program.

According to Bishop, “kinesiology” is an outdated term when describing the rapid evolution of his field. “We’re not all just PE teachers,” said Bishop. “We’re not just teaching. We’re much more science based than a lot of people realize.”

Bishop explained that as the cultural importance of physical health has risen, so has the need for properly trained experts.

“Part of it is, we realize how important physical activity is to health and to reducing relative

risk of premature development of cardiovascular disease,” said Bishop.

According to the assistant professor, this is evidenced in the way businesses like Google and Nike have implemented corporate fitness and wellness programs to ensure their employees are performing at the top of their game.

Bishop saw this growth firsthand through his many years studying fitness. In college, Bishop played baseball and football but cited a graduate class in exercise physiology as the true ignition to his passion.

“It took everything that I kind of already thought about exercise, and it expanded on it. I knew that I enjoyed it, but I didn’t really tie that together with some of these other biology courses that I had taken, like anatomy and physiology.”

After a few years teaching and coaching at the community college level, Bishop left his home state of Texas to pursue a Ph.D. at The University of Alabama. When he arrived at UM in 2014 after a few years teaching at Texas

A&M, the University’s Kinesiology Department was experiencing major faculty turnover.

This is only Bishop’s third year at UM, meaning he leapt quickly from serving as an assistant professor to adding the coordination of an entirely new program. “I felt like we were just treading water and weren’t moving in the right direction as I saw it for the future of the discipline. So when I got the opportunity to take the reins, I was very excited,” said Bishop.

With exercise and nutrition science now in its first full semester, Bishop and his faculty have their sights set on maintaining their new trajectory and implementing a new master’s program possibly by next year.

According to Bishop, these adjustments are made with close feedback from the kinesiology program’s alumni in the field.

“Where our students are going helps us dictate how we need to prepare them. If they’re not going into the field, we need to adjust what we’re doing,” said Bishop.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Outdoor Scholars Program Named Conservation Educator of the Year The UM President’s Outdoor Scholars Program was awarded the Conservation Educator of the Year Award at the 2017 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) held the banquet, co-sponsored by Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy, on Friday, Aug. 4 at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville. Governor Kay Ivey provided opening remarks and assisted with the presentation of the awards.

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 40 years, AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources. Continue reading: montevallo.edu/os_award Photo courtesy of Alabama Wildlife Federation.

From left: Horace Horn, PowerSouth Energy; Angus Cooper III, AWF President; Hannah Garner, UM student; Ryan Baker, UM student; William Crawford, Outdoor Scholars Program director; Gov. Kay Ivey; Dr. John Stewart III, UM president; Grant Deavers, UM student; Susan Comensky, Alabama Power Company.

University NAfME Chapter Recognized as Chapter of Excellence UM’s collegiate National Association for Music Education (NAfME) chapter received the national award for outstanding music program for the 2016-2017 academic year. The award was presented during NAfME’s Annual Hill Day in Washington, D.C., this summer.

NAfME, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. The national association recognized the collegiate NAfME chapters of five colleges and universities as Chapters of Excellence for successful chapter music programs, professional development projects, recruitment techniques and service projects.

Senior William Daniel Yates, of Alabaster, was selected to receive the Professional Achievement Award for his commitment and dedication to NAfME. “This is a great honor,” said Yates. “It is a national award that is given after a referral process of applicants across the nation.”

University Honored for Extraordinary Professional Programming Already recognized by Colleges of Distinction for its innovative approach to education, the University has been honored further for its expert blending of the liberal arts with professional programming in business and education. The 21st-century job market now demands employees who are both stellar communicators and critical thinkers, and due to UM’s well-rounded approach to career development, its students are especially prepared to take on the postgraduate world.

The University of Montevallo’s new Field of Study badges are true marks of honor in the world of higher education. Colleges of Distinction granted these awards after a comprehensive vetting process, selecting schools based on such qualities as accreditation, breadth of program and a track record for success.

Continue reading: montevallo.edu/CODprogram

6 | Montevallo Today

UM Named School of Value in U.S. News & World Report According to the recently released Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report, Montevallo now ranks 13th on the regional south listing for Best Value Schools, which measures the value of education received.

For the majority of prospective college students and their families, cost is a major factor in determining which schools are viable options.

Knowing which schools are best buys — which colleges provide students receiving financial aid with the highest quality education for the lowest price — is imperative.

The University also continues to rank as the 13th regional Top Public School in the South. Continue reading: montevallo.edu/us-news-ranking18

Montevallo Partners with Area Community Colleges for continuUM Program The University has recently partnered with area community colleges to offer students easy transition from the community college to the four-year public university. The formalized program, continuUM, offers students at partnering institutions a guaranteed admission to UM and eligibility for scholarships after earning 45 transferrable credit hours or an associates degree.

This transfer pathway program allows students the opportunity to better plan for their future careers through pre-transfer advising at UM based on intended major along with career assessment, internship resources, resumé writing and interview skills.

Students accepted into the continuUM program are issued a Montevallo student ID, giving them access to online services including digital library resources through Carmichael Library. The student ID also allows these students to utilize the McChesney Student Activity Center workout areas and to attend UM athletic and student life events.

JSCC President Keith Brown and UM President, Dr. John W. Stewart III

University Recognized for Low Student Loan Debt According to a recent report, the University is ranked 12th among the top 250 schools for the lowest student loan debt for parents. This analysis was determined by The Student Loan Report, a website covering the latest in higher education financial aid.

Using financial aid data licensed from Peterson’s (national college guide) to compile the latest listing, The Student Loan Report recognized the top colleges and universities in the U.S. that leave parents with the least amount of debt after taking out Parent PLUS loans. The Student Loan Report recognized 36 public universities and 214 private institutions. Continue reading: montevallo.edu/student-loan-debt Photo by Art Meripol

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CAMPUS NEWS

Success as a Chain Reaction

Cummings Offers Enriching Internship at Harvard

BY LINDSAY SCHLUNTZ Dr. Richard Cummings ’74

W

ith his educational roots established in the rich soil of the University of Montevallo, Dr. Richard D. Cummings has grown and flourished throughout his illustrious career. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from UM in 1974, he went on to hone his skills through training at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he earned his doctorate, and the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he completed his post-doctoral fellowship in hematology/oncology.

Having personally received an exceptional education — and seeing the value in having access to first-rate learning opportunities himself — he decided to play a part in cultivating the dreams of today’s UM students.

Nick Rivers ’17

Brian Kirkwood ’18

8 | Montevallo Today

Conducting Experiments During his former tenure as the chair of the biochemistry department at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Cummings established an ongoing internship program that opened the door for UM students to spend a semester getting hands-on training in Emory’s biology department.

After he left Emory and became a professor of surgery at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School in Boston, he established yet another internship opportunity.

“It is my privilege to support the terrific students coming out of UM and give them an opportunity like I had at the same age to develop their careers,” Cummings explained.

Forming Strong Bonds Nick Rivers ’17, a current medical school student at UAB, was the recipient of this Harvard Summer Research Internship during the summer of 2016.

“I was very fortunate that Dr. Cummings and Montevallo offered me the opportunity to research in a lab run by world-renowned scientists,” he said, gratefully. “I know the chance to intern at a place of that caliber, as a junior in college, is quite a rare event.”

Brian Kirkwood, a senior set to graduate in spring 2018, was the internship recipient this past summer. He recognized that this opportunity allowed him to discover an inside look at the life of a researcher in a prestigious bio-

chemistry lab. In this true-to-life environment, where resources were plentiful, he was able to learn more — and more quickly — than he ever thought possible.

“Although the University of Montevallo, specifically the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, may lack the depth of resources of high-profile institutions, the professors at UM focus on developing the analytical reasoning skills necessary to function in a variety of environments,” he said.

Data = Positive Results Internships like these are about more than just academics. They give students like Rivers and Kirkwood the chance to experience being away from family, friends and the comfort of home, sometimes for the very first time.

“I think I grew up a lot this summer,” Kirkwood said, “not just as a scientist, but in general.”

Rivers recognized that a UM alumnus choosing to give back to current students in such an extraordinary way is one of the things that makes Montevallo unique.

“The fact that Dr. Cummings continues to offer such a fantastic opportunity is a testament to the emphasis on lasting relationships and ‘family’ that makes UM special,” he said.

A Refined Hypothesis Internships provide influential and powerful encounters for UM students and graduates.

They open doors for new opportunities and connections and offer experiences that students may not get otherwise.

“I found that a lot of the required knowledge simply could not be found online or in textbooks; instead I found it in the minds of my coworkers,” Kirkwood explained. “I was also exposed to a variety of cultures, as Dr. Cummings’ internationally renowned lab attracts post-doctorates from around the world.”

Rivers agreed that he found great value in the experience. “I would encourage all UM alumni who are seeking ways to give back to consider establishing internship opportunities for UM students in their field.”

For more information on how you can establish and grow a learning internship for UM students in your field or industry, please contact today@montevallo.edu. M

Carmichael Library Dedicates Pat Scales Special Collections Room A RIBBON-CUTTING AND DEDICATION ceremony took place for the University’s new Pat Scales Special Collections Room during the annual Founders’ Day activities Oct. 12.

The room, located on the second floor in UM’s Carmichael Library, is named in honor of 1966 alumna Pat Scales, children’s literature expert, author, librarian and nationally recognized advocate of children’s and young adult literature and intellectual freedom.

“I saw plans along the way, but seeing it today makes it more spectacular. I just hope people will use it. I want it to make Montevallo a center for the study of children’s literature,” said Scales, of seeing the room come to fruition.

Scales has served on the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott and Wilder Award Committees and as president of the Association of Library Service for Children, a division of the American Library Association.

She has been recognized with numerous national awards, including the 1983 AASL/SIRS Intellectual Freedom Award, the 2002 ALA Movers & Shakers award and the 2016 ALSC Distinguished Service Award.

This extensive Scales collection contains more than 3,000 items including first edition Caldecott and Newbery Medal-winning books,

children’s and young adult literature of historical significance, pop-up books, intellectual freedom papers, correspondence and memorabilia. Over the years, Scales has donated more than 8,000 items to Carmichael Library.

“We are very appreciative of the contributions Pat Scales has made, not only to Carmichael Library, but also to the library profession. For many years, she has defended the rights of children to read, seek information and express themselves. The Special Collections Room — which includes award-winning books, banned and challenged books and books from many different time periods — reflects Pat’s interests in a wide range of literature for children and young adults. We are honored to have this collection in our library,” said Dr. Charlotte Ford, director of Carmichael Library.

During the dedication ceremony, guest speaker Ellen H. Ruffin, with the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries, discussed Scales’ dedication to children’s literature and the vastness of the unique collection.

The ceremony also included Scales’ nieces and nephew reading passages from their favorite children’s books. Before reading a passage, each commented on the impact Scales had on his/her love of books. Other special guests

included Jamie Naidoo, president-elect of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC); Steven Yates, president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and Aimee Strittmatter, executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children.

Beyond the books, Scales’ contribution of publishing-oriented correspondence, which will be digitized by Carmichael Library, makes the collection even more unique.

“The Pat Scales Special Collections Room is the result of countless hours of work, financial generosity and material donations. It is a resource that will only continue to grow and enrich the lives of students in numerous academic fields and inform intellectual freedom and First Amendment causes. However, none of it would be possible without Pat Scales and her remarkable career. I am proud to say that I do not consider her a donor, but rather a friend who chose to continue sharing her knowledge to the world through the University of Montevallo,” said Carey Heatherly, UM archivist and special collections librarian.

Left: Pat Scales, accompanied by Dr. Stewart, Dr. Charlotte Ford, Carey Heatherly and special guests, prepares to cut the ribbon to open the special collections room; top right: Dr. Stewart presents Pat Scales with a commemorative framed photo of the new space; bottom right: The Same Sweet Girls, of which Scales is a member, join her in celebration of the new room.

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FOUNDERS' DAY

UM Honors Faculty, Staff and Alumni During 121st Founders’ Day On Oct. 12, the Montevallo community gathered to celebrate 121 years as an institution of higher learning.

The Founders’ Day theme this year was “Find an Inspiration, then Become One,” which called for the UM community to reflect on the campus figures and organizations that helped them find success and to continue that support in leading by example.

The festivities began at 11 a.m., when the University faculty and senior class marched into Palmer Auditorium for the annual convocation, which included the robing of the seniors and the honoring of outstanding faculty, staff and alumni.

University Scholar The first person recognized was 2017 University Scholar Dr. John Bawden, associate professor of history. Each spring, the University honors one faculty member who has shown exemplary strides in creativity, research and scholarship.

Bawden’s research focuses primarily on the South American militaries, U.S.-Latin American relations and the Spanish conquest. In 2016, he published his first book, an academic monograph titled “The Pinochet Generation: The Chilean Military in the Twentieth Century.”

10 | Montevallo Today

“His scholarship is a visible, positive presence and an inspiration to students and colleagues alike,” said Dr. Jim Murphy, professor of English and the current chair of the University Scholar selection committee.

Faculty Service Award Next, the Faculty Service Award was presented to Dr. Houston Byrd, professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Each year, the Faculty Senate votes to recognize a faculty member who goes above and beyond their duties to serve the UM community.

In addition to his role as department chair, Byrd has also served as chair of numerous committees on campus including the Committee on the Review and Revision of General Education, the Quality Enhancement Plan Steering and Development Committee, the Undergraduate Research Day committee and the Local Arrangements Committee of The Alabama Academy of Sciences.

“The way in which he has fully committed himself to the growth and development of our University is fully apparent in his long tenure of service. Montevallo is truly a better place

thanks to Houston,” said Dr. Cathlena Martin, assistant professor of game studies and design.

Adjunct & Advising Awards The office of Academic Affairs then presented two annual awards. First, the Academic Advising Award went to Associate Professor of Sociology Deborah Lowry.

Because of the close proximity of their offices, nominator and colleague Dr. Ruth Truss, chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said she has witnessed firsthand the relaxed and nurturing demeanor Lowry uses when advising.

“Students are never rushed out the door with broad, general advice to follow the check sheet,” Truss said. “Rather, she talks with advisees, asks about their progress during the semester and listens to their questions and concerns.”

Academic Affairs’ second award, the Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award, went to Dr. Mary Ann Gray, adjunct instructor of elementary & secondary education.

Gray has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program in the College of Education since 2009.

Keynote

Opposite page: (from left) UMNAA award recipients — Dr. Sherry Ford receives Outstanding Commitment to Teaching, Michael Grainger is honored with the Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumnus Loyalty Award and Tonja Battle receives Outstanding Staff Service Award; above: (from left) Ashley Hawk, Reggie Holifield, Courtney Mills and Lexie Wright prepare for the investiture of the senior class; right: Dr. Karen Snowden delivers the keynote address.

“It is always humbling knowing the responsibility that has been entrusted to me,” said Gray.

“Preparing pre-service teachers is a demanding and challenging job, but one filled with the hope that each graduate who leaves becomes a great teacher.”

UMNAA Awards The final three honors were awarded by the UM National Alumni Association.

The first honoree was Tonja Battle ’05, longtime administrative assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Battle was given the Outstanding Staff Service Award for her many years of service to UM as a staff member.

It was far from her first award though, as her hard work has earned her recognitions such as the Office Support Personnel Award of Excellence, the Elite Night Dedication Award and the American Association of University Women Pathfinder Award.

Next, the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award was presented to Dr. Sherry Ford M.A. ’94, professor of communication studies. According to her nominators, Ford does all she can for her students, both in and out of the classroom.

“Perhaps the proof that Dr. Ford is an exemplary teacher is that her classroom lessons have stuck with me for all these years, but the proof that Dr. Ford is an exemplary person is that she has stuck with me and with so many of her students since graduation,” wrote Jeff Walker ’08, one of Ford’s former students.

The final award of the convocation was the Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumnus Loyalty Award given to Michael Grainger ’73.

Since graduating, Grainger has consistently used the resources and wisdom earned from his illustrious career as a business leader to give back to the Stephens College of Business.

Michael and his wife, Donna ’74, helped to jointly establish three large assets in the College of Business: the Michael J. and Donna H. Grainger Endowed Chair in Business and Accounting, the Grainger Center for Professional Practice and the Grainger Endowed Fund for Business.

“His financial support and tremendous gifts of time and personal involvement have made a transformative difference in the lives of our students,” wrote Dr. Stephen Craft, dean of the Stephens College of Business, in a nomination letter.

Dr. Karen Snowden, professor and associate department head for teaching programs at Texas A&M’s School of Veterinary Medicine, delivered the keynote address.

An alumna from the class of 1974, Snowden continued her education at Auburn University, earning her DVM in 1979. A few years later, she attained her doctorate in veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University.

After finishing school, Snowden took her talents across the pond to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

There she served as a post-doctoral senior research associate and a lecturer in veterinary parasitology.

She later returned to the U.S. to begin an assistant professorship at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She is now a full professor and the associate department head for teaching programs in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology.

Snowden’s speech centered around five phrases of wisdom lifted from a sentimental card she gave one of her latest graduate students.

Those five key points were: 1. Spend time with those you admire; you will become like them.

121st

er Found s’ Day

2. Don’t wait for the perfect situation.

3. Start where you are, and move forward.

4. Choose to be happy, regardless of life’s circumstances.

5. Aim high; you will enjoy the journey.

Find an inspiration, then become one

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ATHLETICS

Men’s Lacrosse Attacks UM

BY JOE CROWE ’92

Men’s lacrosse is on its way to the University of Montevallo, and the Falcon team will hit the field in the spring of 2018.

LACROSSE 101

Lacrosse will be the eighth men’s intercollegiate sport at UM and the seventh intercollegiate sport that has joined UM’s sports roster in the last four years.

“The lacrosse community continues to expand on the national landscape and in the state of Alabama and we’re excited to be part of the sport’s growth,” said UM Athletic Director Mark Richard in the Falcons’ announcement about the sport’s debut.

UM is only the second NCAA Division II school in Alabama to host men’s lacrosse. The first is the University of Alabama-Huntsville, which will participate with UM as associate members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference against teams around the Midwest and South, including Georgia’s Shorter University and Young Harris College.

“I’m very excited about Montevallo joining the GLVC. It has the potential to be one of the best conferences in the country at the NCAA Division II level. This will help recruiting tremendously,” said Jason Lange, lacrosse head coach.

“Giving the opportunity for our kids to play for a championship from day one was paramount,” Lange added.

Prior to coming to UM, Lange was the men’s lacrosse coach at Pfeiffer University in North

Carolina. Jason Doyle, men’s lacrosse assistant coach, was the defensive coordinator for men’s lacrosse at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

The team includes players from 13 states and Canadian provinces.

“All bring something different to the table athletically. The one common factor among them is that they are all ambitious young men with high character,” said Lange.

While the men’s team is just getting started, UM’s women’s lacrosse team has been up and running since February 2016.

Home games will be played on the natural grass field at the lacrosse/track and field facility that opened in 2016.

Men’s lacrosse is growing around the region — the Falcons will be the 61st team in NCAA Division II and the 12th team in the division’s Southeast conference.

1 The game is played between two teams with lacrosse sticks and a lacrosse ball. Players use the stick’s head to carry, pass and catch the ball.

2 Men’s lacrosse has 10 players: three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders and one goalie.

3 Women’s lacrosse has 12 players: usually four attackers, three midfielders, four defenders and one goalie.

4 If a player other than the goalie touches the ball with a glove, the opposing team gets the ball.

5 The game might have originated as early as 1100 A.D. and was played in Canada in the 17th century.

6 The original aborigine version in Canada had from 100 to 1,000 players on a field two miles long — the game was played from sunup to sundown for two or three days.

7 French settlers named the game “lacrosse” because the sticks used by the indigenous players resembled the crosier — an item that bishops carried during religious ceremonies.

8 The first college lacrosse tournament was held in 1881 and was won by Harvard over Princeton, 3-0.

9 Many historians consider lacrosse the original national pastime.

10 Four types of lacrosse are played today: – Mini-lacrosse: mainly taught in PE class.

– Box or indoor lacrosse: 6-on-6, in cement or hockey rinks covered in turf.

– Men’s field lacrosse: 10-on-10 on football-sized fields of grass or turf.

– Women’s field lacrosse: 12-on-12, without the body-checking found in the men’s game.

Join us for the first home game Feb. 9

ATTEND A FALCONS ATHLETIC EVENT IN YOUR AREA! View the full calendar at montevallofalcons.com

12 | Montevallo Today

Return of the Racket: Men’s Tennis Returns to UM

BY JOE CROWE ’92

Men’s tennis returned to the University of Montevallo this fall and picked up its first win over King University on Oct. 19 in its first official match. The Falcons secured a 6-3 win with freshman Georg Trompler’s tiebreaker over King University.

“This was a tremendous victory for our team,” said Adam Albertsen, Montevallo men’s tennis coach.

Men’s tennis has been absent from UM for almost 40 years. Montevallo had a men’s tennis team from 1959 to 1980, but the team was disbanded after the 1980 season.

The original men’s tennis team went 21-0 in 1966, and was inducted in the Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. The team also went undefeated in 1969 and won the Alabama Collegiate Conference championship.

The team began its return season in September by traveling to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II South Regional Championship, which was held in Valdosta, Georgia. Two Falcons advanced to the round with 32 finalists — Trompler and freshman Petter Dahlin.

The men’s tennis team took on a field of four other teams in the Belmont Abbey Invitational in Belmont, North Carolina, in October. The Falcons went to a 14-6 singles record and a 10-4 doubles record at the invitational, which saw freshman Jan Fraederich go undefeated at the entire event.

“This was a great weekend to look at our team and see where we stack up against other established programs,” said Albertsen about the Belmont Abbey event.

The win over King University was the last game of the fall for the men’s team. The team will return to action on Friday, Feb. 2, taking on Tuskegee University at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

“I’m excited to build this program up and compete at a very high level,” said Albertsen.

“We are looking forward to picking up where we left off in the spring.”

Albertsen is also the women’s tennis program head coach, leading the team to a school record of 13 wins in the last season. Since Albertsen became coach in 2014, the Falcon Tennis Complex has been revamped with resurfacing, new nets and new windscreens.

Nyssa Peele has joined the Falcons as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s tennis teams. Peele was an assistant coach at Trinity University and was a varsity tennis player herself for Texas State University and the University of Rhode Island. During her time as Trinity assistant coach, her team qualified for the NCAA Division III National Team Tournament.

In the spring season, the Falcons will take on Spring Hill College, The University of West Florida, Birmingham-Southern, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of North Alabama and Auburn University at Montgomery.

montevallo.edu/alumni | 13

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

A Strong Return After graduating three decades apart, it took another 10 years for father and son Mike and John Paul Strong to find their way back home to the Montevallo campus. It’s not that the pair wasn’t passionate or loyal to the University; simply put, they were too busy successfully using their degrees.

Mike graduated with a business degree in 1972 and soon started Strong Automotive Merchandising in Birmingham. After more than 20 years of success, Mike sold the business in 1997.

John Paul graduated in 2002 with a degree in communication, and used his sharp personal skills to work as an account executive with Martin Advertising. In 2006, John Paul jumpstarted the family business, ushering in a decade of monumental success and growth for the newly revved Strong Automotive Merchandising.

“You go from being a student as a way of life to the work world trying to outrun everybody and be the best. I really lost a lot of connection

with Montevallo,” John Paul explained.

When the Strongs accepted President Stewart’s invitation to return, the two took a full tour and reminisced about their old college days.

They eventually reached the Mass Communication Building, which housed many of John Paul’s classes. Upon peeking into the tiny computer lab, they were taken aback by how outdated the equipment was.

“That was the trigger. That set into motion this whole project. We felt like we’ve been fortunate enough in our business that it was our responsibility to help,” said John Paul.

After several conversations about what improvements should be made, the Strong father and son decided to donate their resources toward a much-needed expansion to the current building.

After years of development and renderings, the groundbreaking for the new building took place in April 2016. In August 2017, Strong Hall opened its doors.

Because of the Strongs’ generous act, the building is named in their honor. It was a detail that the father and son didn’t count on, but were humbled by nonetheless.

“When we went down for the groundbreaking, that’s when it hit me. I was riding through campus and I started looking at the names of the buildings that I attended classes in, and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness,’” said Mike.

Since development of the project began, John Paul is now more involved with his alma mater than ever, and even serves on the University’s Foundation Board. These experiences have given him an entirely new perspective of what it means to be an alumnus.

“The University never sends you a bill based on how successful you become. As an alum, it becomes your responsibility to think about what you need to do based on what they get you through. Unless you take it upon yourself to reinvest or give back, they don’t ask for anything,” said John Paul.

“The University never sends you a bill based on how successful you become. As an alum, it becomes your responsibility to think about what you need to do based on what they get you through.” — John Paul Strong ’02

14 | Montevallo Today

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Opposite page: Donors and special guests look on as John Paul Strong cuts the ribbon to Strong Hall; Above left: Trustee David Wheeler ’72 appreciates the plaque honoring his and wife Diane’s gift to Strong Hall; above right: Strong Hall offers students state-of-the-art technology; left: One of the many new features of Strong Hall is a new studio space; below: Communication faculty join to celebrate. (From left) Dr. Sherry Ford M.A. ’94, Dr. Ray Ozley, Dr. Tiffany Wang, Dr. Randall Scott, Dr. Jay Cofield M.A. ’97, Gheni Platenburg and Dr. Bruce Finklea ’07.

The fifth year of the Campaign concluded on Sept. 30, 2017 with $18,885,736 raised, which is 94.4% of the goal.

This fiscal year:

246 major gifts of $1,000 and above

21 new scholarships,

bringing the campaign total to

Make your gift TODAY! montevallo.edu/giving 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 Barbara Bonfield ’58 • Lynn England ’81 and Donna England ’78 Mike Grainger ’73 and Donna Grainger ’74 • Brian Hamilton and Leslie Hamilton ’00 Ronnie Jackson ’73 • Jeanetta Keller ’75 and Bill Keller • Kathy King Mike Meadows ’79 and Sue Meadows • Kay Miller ’64 • Libby Queen ’59 Laurl Self ’94 • Donna Smith-Senter ’82 • Todd Strange ’66 and Linda Strange ’67

72 new scholarships $4,215,231 raised for scholarships

13 new members

joined the 1896 Society

5 named spaces

supported by donors in the Center for the Arts

montevallo.edu/alumni | 15

DIGITAL EVOLUTION Carmichael Library Offers Students Hands-on Experience

F

Far from its humble beginnings in an old commuter-lounge-turned-storage closet, the Digital Media Lab (DML) in Carmichael Library now also fills a former office and one-fifth of the main floor with digital workstations, whiteboards, a sound lab, 15 new Apple computers, a Surface Pro touchscreen tablet, three 3-D printers and virtual reality equipment.

“I want to challenge the notion that the library is just a place to find books,” said Digital Media Lab Coordinator and 3-D Print Lab Manager Michael Price. “You can come into the DML and utilize Photoshop or other programs to make your projects and presentations that much cooler.”

Library Director Dr. Charlotte Ford has been supportive from the word go. Like Price, she sees the future of libraries as a digital repository for resources and has encouraged the DML’s collaborative partnerships. Applications and programs available on the 17 total workstations in the lab include the full Adobe Creative Cloud, MS Office Suite, iMovie, Image Capture, Camtasia software and webcams, VCarve software, Rhino 3-D CAD, six Epson V600 scanners, six Bamboo drawing tablets and Surface Studio.

“I originally envisioned a small space with two to three computers that offered a space to edit audio and video,” Price recalled. “I hoped that it would eventually grow into a larger space offering more hardware, software and tools for students and faculty, but I had no idea it would grow to the size it is today.”

Built Brick by Brick on Evolving Partnerships Former Library Director Kathy Lowe gave Price permission to utilize the former storage space in summer 2011 and assisted in writing the first grant for $4,200, which was funded by the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association (UMNAA).

“At the time, we were using 1967 tables as desks, asking the IT department to donate old equipment to us and just needed all the help we could get,” Price said. “That first alumni grant

16 | Montevallo Today

BY RACHEL CRISSON ’11

is really what got the DML off the ground, and grants like it have helped us so much along the way.”

Relationships with professors and students are the other component that have pushed the DML to where it is today. Hannah Hurley ’14, who served as Dr. Alex Beringer’s graduate assistant in spring 2017, said Beringer’s class (on graphic narrative as art and storytelling) is only able to put together its annual comic exhibition in the library because of resources available in the DML. “The students being able to use Photoshop in the lab to work on their projects for the class and exhibit is huge,” said Hurley. “Michael also helps out a ton with the exhibit every year.”

The number of students working in the lab grew exponentially with that class starting in 2013, so Price took statistics showing the space was too small and approached the Montevallo Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and UMNAA for help with funding the lab expansion.

The partnership between the lab and the class has been building each year, and it was the first collaboration to showcase what the lab can do for students, faculty and the overall culture of the University.

The QEP funded the first 3-D printer for the lab, a Makerbot Z18, which got the ball rolling for another set of partnerships. Scott Stephens, chair of the Art Department, pledged to help purchase plastic for the lab before the printer was even plugged in. After the success of the Makerbot, alumna Dorothy Allen Wilson ’42 donated $3,000 toward the purchase of two Ultimaker 3-D printers.

Then, Lee Somers’ digital fabrication class purchased a teaching license and 30 seats of Rhino 3-D design software but needed somewhere for students to be able to use it, so he worked with Price to install it on DML computers. Eventually, students will be able to create items in virtual reality, export the blueprints, fix them and 3-D print the items.

Applications for Students and Faculty As the DML coordinator, Price himself

often serves as the bridge between librarian and professor, a role he relishes when giving demonstrations and one-on-one instruction to students and professors in the different programs the lab has available. He hand-picks students to work in the lab who he knows can assist their peers with all the technologies the lab offers.

“The main goal [of the DML] is to offer a collaborative or single user space with the atmosphere that someone is readily available to help students if they feel like they’re stuck,” said Price.

“I have so much access to those professors that we can mirror what they’re getting in the classroom, and not only with technology. Students can get help from people who are inside the lab instead of waiting until their next class to ask a question.”

“It’s good that not only art students have access to technology, people and resources like this,” added DML student worker Brianna Jelks, a senior studying graphic design. “Mass communication students, sociology students, even STEM majors come in and use this lab.”

Eventually, Price would like to work out a system where alumni or students who want extracurricular items printed can do so by paying for plastic and print time. Any items printed for classes are free while the first reserve of plastic is still available.

For additional plastic, Price worked with Kyle Moore, technical director in the Theatre Department, last year to write a grant to fund plastic recycling devices for making 3-D printing filament. The lab was awarded the grant through Montevallo’s Green Fund in 2016, allowing Price and Moore to make four recycling machines and an extruder during fall 2017.

“You take scraps leftover from 3-D printing as well as plastics labeled #2 and #3, shred them, heat the plastic up and push it through an extruder set to specific filament sizes,” Price explained. “I’m trying to make 3-D printing as green as possible.”

Plans for Expansion The newest addition to the DML is the sound lab, which students can book to work on iMovie

Ultimaker 3-D printer

projects, conduct interviews or record sound for video projects. The special sound-dampening tiles on the walls and outer windows that make the room ideal for recording were funded through the QEP. Students often check out tripods, video cameras, Flip video cameras and digital voice recorders at the circulation desk for use in the lab.

In spring 2018, two 360-degree cameras will go into circulation at the library. For now, the DML is piloting a digital history class with Dr. John Bawden, in which students take the 360-degree cameras to unique Montevallo locations including Orr Park, King House and Ebenezer Swamp to gather footage that can be viewed by virtual reality equipment.

“The goal is to use that footage as a way to reach out to potential students as well as alumni who cannot make it back to town to see new facilities or the new carvings in Tinglewood

(Orr Park). We’re documenting the city’s past, but also what it is now and maybe what it can be,” said Price. “Think about broadcasting. As a women’s college we had a radio station, and we’re now teaching podcasting. That’s a bridge from the past to the current technology. While we’re very considerate of the past, we always want to keep pushing forward.”

How the Montevallo Community Can Help The potential for the lab is constantly moving, and Price hopes that alumni will step up to support the DML offering students access to technology used by the current job market.

“Reach out to me, come by the lab. Let me show you a few things that we have, and let me show you where we’re thinking of going,” said Price. “Help us reach our goals to support student creativity as well as technology and information literacy.” M

“That first alumni grant is really what got the DML off the ground, and grants like it have helped us so much along the way.”

— Michael Price, Digital Media Lab Coordinator and 3-D Print Lab Manager

montevallo.edu/alumni | 17

ALUMNI PROFILE

Q&A

with Eddie Baker III ’04 Where do you call home? Huntsville, Alabama Where are you from? Birmingham, Alabama Tell us about your family. Married and just welcomed our first child, which was a girl (Parker) at the end of September.

What is your profession? Department of the Army Civilian. I serve as an assistant product manager for the development of a new Department of Defense aircraft.

What made you choose this profession? The opportunity to serve our Army and nation and provide them the appropriate support to protect our freedom and make it back home to their families. Plus, I was able to enter as a fellow and learn about the various facets of the army before choosing my specific career path.

How did Montevallo affect your career path? The challenging, small classes prepared me to work independently and with a team and the opportunity to participate in on-campus activities prepared me to balance work and life.

Tell us about your educational foundation.

Elementary and middle schools in the Pell City School System, high school in the Jefferson County School System (Shades Valley), undergrad at University of Montevallo, graduate school (MBA) at Texas A&M-Texarkana, Texas.

What awards/honors have you received? Is there a most significant honor? Certified Defense Financial Manager with an Acquisition Specialty; two-time Commander’s Award for Civilian Service; Army Aviation Association of America — Tennessee Valley Chapter Programmatics Mission Area Quarterly Award; ordained as a deacon at First Missionary Baptist Church, Moody, Alabama. My most significant honor is being nominated by my church family to be ordained as a deacon. Deacons have an important role in The Great Commission and I am humbled to serve my church and community.

What is your secret for success? Trust and follow God; never stop learning; treat others how you want to be treated.

18 | Montevallo Today

What is the best advice you have received? Know your role, do what you are asked, protect your team and make your team look good.

Favorite motto? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What would you tell someone who was considering going to UM? UM is booming ... get on the train before you look back and see that UM was your best choice and value. If possible, meet with the dean in your prospective college and request to talk with graduates — recent (less than three years), mildly recent (less than five years) and not recent (more than 10 years) about what they enjoyed and would change about their experiences at UM. Take this information, coupled with your campus visit, and look at the opportunities to learn and grow at UM. Favorite UM memory? Too many to name ... I had a great time and continue to have a great time at and with Montevallo. Intramural basketball/football games; initiation into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. (Montevallo’s Xi Upsilon chapter) and our events (AIDS Symposium, Budget and Finance Symposium, Health Fair, Annual Banquet, Pageant); Ludacris concert; parties at the old Double Play with Delta Chi, with the ATOs; winning Greek Week and having the highest organizational GPA for the fraternities; helping to host the Montevallo/Tennessee Valley chapter alumni club events (2012-present); meeting lifetime friends and some that I consider family; most importantly ... graduating!

What would you like to add? My appreciation and affinity for Montevallo has grown since I graduated. The Montevallo Alumni Junior Board and the Montevallo National Alumni Association have given me the opportunity to serve in a role to link alumni with the University and to support the University in my adult life. Shout out to Terra Moody-Miller ’06 for thinking of me and recommending me to serve on the Junior Board. Montevallo will continue to grow and thrive by its alumni staying engaged, giving back and positively representing our University.

Eddie Baker III helps develop DoD aircraft.

montevallo.edu/alumni | 19

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES

1967

Larry A. Peevy received an honorary doctorate from Piedmont College for his service and time as president and head of school for Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls, Georgia. According to a letter from Piedmont College President James. F. Mellichamp, the college’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to bestow the honor to Larry.

1974

Dorothy “Dot” Howell recently retired after spending 26 years as a teacher, six years as the director of church childcare at Montgomery’s Heritage Baptist Church and 11 years in part-time administrative work. When she’s not spending time with her grandchildren, Dot plans to volunteer her time at Family Promise Montgomery, the Forest Park Gallery of Grace food pantry and Samaritan Inn Ministry.

1975

Eddie Barnes was inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame in Dothan, Alabama, which made his second entry into a sports hall of fame. Eddie retired from coaching in 2014 after a storied career in high school sports. He currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

1976

Dr. Bruce Mims, professor of mass media at Southeast Missouri State University, recently had the 10th edition of his textbook, The Radio Station published by Focal Press.

Dr. Hubert P. Van Tuyll recently co-edited two articles, “Small Countries in a Big Power World: The Belgian-Dutch Conflict at Versailles, 1919” and “In Their Own Words: Augusta and Aiken Area Veterans Remember World War II.” Hubert continues his tenure as a professor of history at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia.

1977

Roberta Julie Morgado retired from her position in the City of Birmingham’s IT department.

She now has time for her favorite job — being Grammie to Jonah, Caroline, Eli and Isaac along with repairing dolls and toys for holliesdollhospital.com.

1978

Craig Hyde has been named the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s national coordinator of softball umpires. Craig has spent decades as a softball umpire, first stepping behind the plate in 1979.

He currently lives in Birmingham with his wife, Mary-Ann.

1979

John Breed recently joined the communications team of ExxonMobil as a consultant, where he will help manage the multinational oil company’s intranet news.

John currently resides in Spring, Texas, with his wife, Melanie.

We Want to Hear

FROM YOU!

DO YOU HAVE NEWS to share with the Montevallo family? Send your class notes to today@montevallo.edu.

20 | Montevallo Today

Dan McArthur has joined the lending department of USAmeribank in Birmingham. In his new role, Dan will work closely with Ameribank’s senior vice president to focus on Birmingham’s evolving real estate needs.

1983

Lt. Col. Tim Townes was recently selected as the deputy director for the 2018 Department of Defense’s Warrior Games, a paralympic competition for wounded and ill service members of the U.S. Special Operations Command, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Tim lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with his wife, Karen.

1986

Essie Ebrahimi won the top prize, Best in Show, at the Bluff Park Art Show on Oct. 8 for his woodworking.

1987

Joan McElroy was awarded Best Director of a Play at the Metropolitan Atlanta Theatre Awards for her direction of A Raisin in the Sun. In total, the play received eight awards.

1988

Janeice Calhoun, assistant athletic director of Chelsea High School, was one of the seven winners of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Making a Difference Award. Janeice has spent 20 years coaching basketball, softball and volleyball at Chelsea High School.

Cynthia Renae Carpenter retired as state director of the Alabama Department of Public Health after 25 years. She now works part-time at a residential facility for victims of sex trafficking.

Jarrell Hall was promoted to vice president, chief underwriting officer for Canal Insurance after serving as vice president, marketing and business development.

Jarrell lives in Vestavia, Alabama, with his wife, Gwendolyn.

1989

David Jones was promoted to provost of Coastal Alabama Community Colleges’ Brewton and Atmore campuses. Before this new position, David served as the dean of student affairs at both campuses.

1990

Greg Glasscock is the Blount County Commission’s new human resources manager. Greg previously worked as human resources manager with Albertville transportation company B&G Supply.

1991

Kevin Clay Bentley was named the new Hoover fire chief by Mayor Frank Brocato. Kevin has served

the Hoover Fire Department for more than 20 years, starting as a volunteer when he was 18.

Michael Blair accepted the position of headmaster at Meadowview Christian School in Selma, Alabama. Michael has spent 38 years in education and 27 in administration.

1993

Dave Milton was named 2017 Alabama Land Realtor of the Year at the annual Realtors Land Institute meeting in Montgomery. Dave lives in Camp Hill, Alabama, and is the owner and qualifying broker for Southeastern Land Group.

1994

Dr. Tracy Lyons M.Ed. received the Walter O. Mason Award, the highest national honor given by the Council for Opportunity in Education. Tracy is currently the executive director of undergraduate student success and retention at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

1995

Anjanette Arnold is entering her second year teaching abroad in the United Arab Emirates.

1997

Dr. Resia Thornton Brooks was approved by the Shelby County Board of Education in October as the new human resources coordinator for Shelby County Schools.

1998

Dawn Howard was inducted into the Alabama Teacher Hall of Fame for secondary division at Jacksonville State University.

Prior to this, Dawn won both the 2016-2017 Vincent High School Teacher of the Year Award and the Shelby County Schools Teacher of the Year Award.

Meet the new Jr. Board President:

Kristen Dechert

LEADING YOUNG ALUMNI TO RECONNECT with the University, Kristen Dechert ’03 serves as the new Junior Alumni Board president.

Dechert earned her bachelor’s degree in English from UM and went on to earn a master’s in English from Mississippi State University. She currently serves as the communication director at the Research and Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State, but has missed her home away from home.

“I loved the close-knit community at Montevallo,” said Dechert.

“The atmosphere was more familial than at large universities where it’s hard to meet people outside your immediate sphere of influence.

After living in Mississippi for a few years, I found myself less connected to the University and wanted to change that.”

Although the family feel of Montevallo was her favorite thing as a student, now she feels most proud of UM’s dedication to fostering the student voice.

“Montevallo encourages students to collaborate with professors and to practice using their voices with purpose,” said Dechert.

“This commitment translates to graduates who can use their voices for good in their workplaces, communities and beyond.”

At first, getting involved with the UM Junior Board was a way for Dechert to reconnect with old friends, but it quickly evolved into something much more meaningful.

“I realized it was a way for me to thank Montevallo for all she had given me, and to help ensure the University is successful for years to come,” said Dechert.

During her time as president, she plans to uphold the goals of the current president, Jeff Purvis ’02, as well as to work hard to achieve goals of her own. Dechert hopes to endow a second scholarship in addition to the leadership scholarship the board offers now, reach alumni chapters outside Birmingham and offer support to young alumni in the early years of their careers. Some of her ideas to reach these goals include networking events, softskills training and an emphasis on mentorship.

“Come to one of our events to have a good time, and while you’re there, talk to us about your ideas for how we can better serve you and the Montevallo community,” said Dechert. “If you can’t make it to an event, you are always free to email me with your ideas and feedback at kristen.dechert@gmail.com.”

montevallo.edu/alumni | 21

CLASS NOTES

1999

Sammy Skinner Jr. is the new athletic director of Maranatha High School in Pasadena, California.

Dr. Afi Wiggins is the new director of program evaluation and research at the University of Texas Charles A. Dana Center. The center provides teachers and school leaders in the K-12 and higher education system with math and science materials to better teach underrepresented international student populations.

2000

Jennifer Blencowe is the new library media specialist at Chilton County High School in Clanton, Alabama. Jennifer wants to use her new position to increase student literacy.

2002

Amy Schlag is the new director of the LGBTQ Center at the University of Cincinnati. Previously, Amy worked for seven years at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

2003

David Clemons is the new editor and publisher of The Covington News. He was previously the managing editor of The Walton Tribune, which won first place in General Excellence in the 2017 Georgia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest. Clemons and his wife, Carla Handley Clemons ’01, live in Monroe, Georgia.

2004

Jenny Breazeale is the new assistant principal of Fairhope Intermediate School and J. Larry Newton School in Fairhope, Alabama.

Brent Harrison M.Ed. is the new principal of Enterprise High School. He was previously Enterprise’s assistant principal and served a brief stint as principal of Charles Henderson High School.

2005

Jake Wells is the newest addition to the baseball coaching staff of the Campbell University Camels in

22 | Montevallo Today

Buies Creek, North Carolina. In his new position, Jake will focus on the team’s catchers and recruiting.

2006

Cedric Jordan M.Ed., Ed.S. was selected as the September Teacher of the Month by the Kiwanis Club.

Cedric is currently a math teacher at Duran Junior High School North in Pell City, Alabama.

2007

Scott Douglas recently earned tenure and was promoted to associate professor at the University of Northern Colorado’s Department of Sport and Exercise Science. He is the program coordinator for the Sport Coaching B.S. and M.A. and Sport Coach Development Ph.D.

2008

Deborah Blanco was promoted to human relations manager at UAB’s Callahan Eye Hospital and Clinic.

Deborah is currently working toward her master’s in human resources and is projected to complete her degree in spring 2018.

expeditions global field course in Costa Rica. Jacqueline was studying the lowland rain forests and montane cloud forests while investigating the biotic, physical and cultural forces that affect tropical biodiversity in the region.

2011

William Conyers IV was named principal of Franklin-Simpson Middle School in Franklin, Kentucky. Previously, William was the assistant principal of Rudd Middle School near Birmingham.

Cierra Floyd was recently promoted to education office manager at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Previously, Cierra was an education assistant with the museum for three years.

Daphne N. Kennedy Hobby was featured in the Aug./Sept. issue of Seventy-Eight Magazine. Daphne currently works as a computer/ Spanish teacher and girls’ volleyball and basketball coach at Jasper High School.

Woody Jones was featured in Selma The Magazine’s 2017 Top 20 Under 40. Woody currently practices law at the firm Gamble, Gamble, Calame & Jones, LLC. He and his wife, Kristin ’07, live in Selma with their three sons, Jude, Oliver and Foster. The couple also recently became foster parents.

Edward Andy Revell is now an assistant coach for the Dartmouth College’s Big Green baseball team in Hanover, New Hampshire. Edward will help coach the infielders and hitters. He left IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he served as a post-graduate assistant coach for the last two years.

2009

2014

Savannah Willingham Kitchens is the new library director for the Chilton-Clanton Public Library. Savannah plans to strengthen the Clanton Library’s relationship with other libraries and create an interlibrary loan system. She was previously the children’s services manager at the North Shelby Library.

2010

Isaac McDow is now a realtor. He is currently selling residential real estate with RE/MAX Southern Homes in Vestavia, Alabama.

Jacqueline McGonigal participated in Miami University’s earth

Bethany Chappell M.Ed. is working as a counselor for Avail Services in Birmingham and as a forensic interviewer and therapist for Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center in Clanton, Alabama.

Carly Laing joined Local 33 “News Today” in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a morning co-anchor. Carly left her former position as a reporter and fill-in anchor at KLFY News 10 in Lafayette, Louisiana.

2015

Abbey McNeely worked as a production assistant on the 2017 season of the hit reality show

“Project Runway.” Abbey lives in New York City.

2016

Rebekah Chappell is an accounts payable clerk for Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc. in Birmingham.

Emme Long has been hired as the city of Decatur’s public information liaison for the city and police department. She will distribute city marketing campaign content, and act as the primary media contact for the police department in Decatur, Alabama.

2017

Giselle Casadaban is currently working as the first administrative assistant to The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences in the Communication Graduate Studies Department. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in communication studies at UA. Hannah Godwin co-starred in the music video for the song “For the First Time” by country singer and former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker.

Eliah McCutchen is the new media coordinator at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in Huntsville. Before accepting the new position, he worked as a production assistant on the current season of “Project Runaway” in New York City.

McKayla Vaughn is now serving Caldwell Elementary School, Scottsboro Junior High and Scottsboro High School as a teacher for the hearing impaired.

WEDDINGS

2008

Timon D. Skees and Jennifer Rosa Huddelston were married on Aug. 12 at a ceremony at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Oneonta, Alabama. Timon recently earned his bachelor of science degree in accounting from The University of Alabama.

2012

Elizabeth Gross M.Ed. ’15 and Loran Murphy ’12 were married Sept. 14 at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover. Elizabeth currently works as a therapist at Oasis Counseling for Women and Children while Loran teaches third grade students at Montevallo Elementary School.

The couple lives in Hoover.

2014

Kellie Fromholzer and Sgt. Corey Rilling were married on May 22 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Kellie is employed as an addiction counselor for the 26th Judicial Drug Court in Shreveport, Louisiana, where the couple resides.

2015

Rachel Chappell married Jacob Greenlaw on April 4 at West End Baptist Church in Clanton, Alabama. Rachel’s maids of honor included her sisters, Bethany Chappell ’14 and Rebekah Chappell ’16. Rachel is continuing her studies, pursuing a master’s in counseling at UM.

Jacob is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in English.

The couple resides in Alabaster.

Hannah Martin and Connor Bucy ’15 were married on Sept.

23 in Monte Sano Lodge at Monte Sano Mountain State Park in Huntsville, Alabama. Hannah works at State Farm in the payment plan call center, and Connor works as a graphic designer for the Shelby County Reporter. The couple resides in Alabaster.

2016

Hannah Murphee and Devan Cooley ’15 were married on April 29 during an intimate ceremony in Vestavia Hills’ McCallum Park.

Hannah works as a nanny while Devan is a web content integrator at Hibbett Sports. The couple resides in Hoover.

BIRTHS

2008

Matt Bunt M.Ed. and wife Belinda are happy to announce

IN MEMORIAM

Michael E. Stephens

the birth of their daughter, Haley Grace, on July 17. Matt, LPC-S is an education coordinator for The Amelia Center while Belinda is a violin instructor for North Shelby School of Performing Arts. The family resides in Irondale.

2009

Jordan Pritchett Brantley M.Ed. ’10, Ed.S. ’16 and husband Chad welcomed son Beckett Jack on Oct. 7. Jordan teaches history at Montevallo High School, and Chad is a business owner. The family lives in Montevallo.

2010

Crystal Estes ’12 and Chris Estes ’11, MBA ’14, of Pelham, celebrated the birth of their daughter, Ava Riley, on June 29. Crystal is a staff accountant for GISinc, and Chris is an HR consultant for U.S. Autologistics.

2011

Susan Howard Finch M.Ed. ’12 and Justin Finch ’06, of Birmingham, are pleased to

announce the birth of their daughter, Ella Miranda, July 9.

Susan teaches 8th grade English at Rudd Middle School in Pinson.

Justin is the music teacher at Brighton Elementary School and the assistant band director at Hueytown Middle School. He also serves as organist and music director at Church of the Holy Cross in Trussville.

2012

Kira Minnick Thomas and husband Noah welcomed the birth of their first child, Hadley, in June. Kira works as director of university relations at UM, while Noah works in sales at Three M Karts & Mowers in Pelham.

DEATHS

1939

Mary Elizabeth Ford MacNair, 99, of Nashville, died Oct. 13.

She taught elementary school for many years in Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. She enjoyed literature and word puzzles.

Former UM trustee and namesake of the Stephens College of Business, Michael E. Stephens, died on July 1.

Michael earned his bachelors degree in business from the University of Montevallo in 1973 after intense rehabilitation from a severe diving accident. The rehabilitation process changed the focus of his life, having a profound effect on his personal, professional, civic and philanthropic activities.

He went on to become executive director of Lakeshore Hospital, founder and CEO of ReLife and visionary for the Lakeshore Foundation. He transformed Lakeshore Hospital into what Forbes magazine called “a model laboratory for his ideas about rehabilitation.” It was his creation of a disabled sports program at Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital that ultimately developed into the founding of Lakeshore Foundation.

His passion, the Lakeshore Foundation, is internationally known as a model organization for providing sports, recreation, fitness and research programs for those with physical disabilities.

His work transformed the lives of numerous individuals with disabilities. Because of this success, it was designated as an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site.

UM awarded Michael with an honorary doctorate in May 1995 and named the College of Business in his honor in 1997.

His impact on the community is abundant. Montevallo will continue to honor his memory through the education of future visionaries and community-minded leaders.

montevallo.edu/alumni | 23

CLASS NOTES an active member of Genesis Bible Church of Dunwoody, Georgia, since its opening in 1996.

WE WANT YOU!

The University of Montevallo National Alumni Association would like to identify our military alumni.

We are planning a military appreciation event and want to make sure we don’t miss you!

Please email the following information, with a subject line of “Military Alumni,” to umalumnioffice@montevallo.edu: • Your full name, • Graduation year from the University of Montevallo, • Branch and years of service, and • Any additional information you would like to

share with us.

You may also update your information at montevallo.edu/update-us with these details in the “class notes” section or contact the Alumni Office at 205-665-6215.

Please submit your information by Feb. 10, 2018.

1941

Sarah Vaughn Smith, 102, of Decatur, Georgia, died Oct. 2.

She graduated from UM with a bachelor’s in education, and her teaching career included schools in Alabama and Georgia.

1943

Gene Allen Hall, 96, of Birmingham, died Oct. 5. Gene was a member of the American Association for University Women and Trinity United Methodist Church.

Imogene Harris Hammond, 95, of Nashville, died Jan. 20.

She spent 25 years as a first grade teacher at McDowell Elementary School in Columbia, Tennessee,

24 | Montevallo Today

and, after retiring, spent her time teaching adults to read.

1945

Elizabeth Ann Perryman Sellers, 94, of Pensacola, Florida, died July 30. She was a volunteer at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital and founder of the Gulf Coast Stitchery Guild.

1949

Alice McCall Swindle, 90, of Birmingham, died Oct. 8. She was a Jane Austen enthusiast and enjoyed traveling through Europe, especially England.

1950

Dorothy Rast, 88, of Decatur, Georgia, died Sept. 18. She was

Willene Yates, 91, of Montevallo, died June 30. Willene was a school teacher with nearly 50 years of experience teaching first grade at McElwain Elementary School in Birmingham and Shelby Academy in Calera.

1951

Betty M. Houston Nicholas, 87, of Monroeville, Alabama, died Sept. 16. After moving to Monroeville with her husband Francis, Betty gathered support for the construction of the Monroe County Hospital. Betty was also a highly skilled artist who created several hundred handmade needlepoint rugs, pillows and furniture coverings.

Mary Evelyn Patton, 89, of Birmingham, died Sept. 19. She was a Birmingham Music Club Scholarship recipient and former Miss Alabama runner-up.

1952

Jane Lightsey Pratt, 87, of Hoover, died Aug. 23. Jane was a member of Green Valley Baptist Church and a mother and grandmother.

1954

Cecelia S. McAlister, 85, of Charleston, South Carolina, died May 11. She was a longtime member of John Wesley United Methodist Church.

1956

Vera Stevens Cox, 83, of Pensacola, Florida, died Aug. 10. Vera was a teacher and guidance counselor and loved to travel. She served on the UM Alumni Board of Directors.

1958

Elizabeth Bowdin, 79, of Hartford, Alabama, died June 20. Elizabeth taught home economics, science and reading in Geneva County for approximately 40 years. She had a passion for gardening and flowers and was

an active member of the Samson Garden Club and Delta Kappa Gamma.

1959

Patricia Shewbart, 81, of Vina, Alabama, died Feb. 16. Patricia taught for many years in the Lawrence County School System.

1962

Jeanette McDonald Roberts, 78, of Mobile, Alabama, died Sept.

5. Her life revolved around her family and her church. She was a lifelong member of Dauphin Way Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, children’s coordinator and associate director of the adult Sunday school.

1967

Ronald Moon, 73, of Indian Springs, Alabama, died Sept. 13. Ronald was a member of the Alabama National Guard and worked for several decades at Bessemer State Technical College. He started as an instructor of retailing and merchandising and ended as interim president of the college.

1970

Peggy Broadway Phelps, 69, of Mathews, Alabama, died Aug. 14.

She is survived by her husband, Richard, and her many pets.

Ethel M. Perkins, 87, of Childersburg, Alabama, died June 24. Ethel taught in the Talladega County School System. In 1988, she was a founding member of the Childersburg Education Foundation. Prior to that, she was active in the Civil Rights Movement.

1971

J. Craig Gravlee, 68, of Homewood, Alabama, died Aug. 20. He was a classroom teacher and school counselor in the Birmingham School System for many years and had a passion for music.

Major Phillip May, 68, of Atlanta, died Oct 8. In 1981, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as manager of the southeastern region of the Federal

1976

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Throughout his career, Phillip earned both the Distinguished Meritorious Service Award and the Distinguished Civil Service Medal.

Jimmie Mills, 63, of Wetumpka died Aug. 30. Jimmie worked for 40 years with Delphi Automotive.

1974

Glenn Cannon, 68, of Destin, Florida, died July 31.

1977

Anne Rodgers Forister, 64, of Birmingham, died July 24. She was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church and a board member of Ann’s New Life Pregnancy Care Center in Pell City.

Hugh Wayne Richardson, 75, of Birmingham, died June 27. Hugh spent nearly four decades as the supervisor of attendance and discipline for the Jefferson County School System.

David Elliot Wigginton, 64, of Montgomery, died Aug. 16.

David was employed with Motion Industries for 39 years and was an active member of First United Methodist Church.

Henry James Mallory, 69, of Smoke Rise, Alabama, died June 27. Henry was a Vietnam veteran, earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army. He worked for many years at the Social Security Administration in Cullman, Alabama.

1979

CLASS REPS WANTED

Linda Bond Faust, 60, of Maylene, Alabama, died Aug. 6.

After teaching at the elementary level for 16 years, Linda fulfilled her dream of running her own business, Alabaster Florist, for 15 years.

1982

Shelly Noah Cleckler, 56, of Clanton, Alabama, died July 14.

Shelly worked for 30 years as a special education teacher and school psychometrist in Chilton and Tuscaloosa counties.

1992

Christopher Ballentine, 58, of Montevallo, died Aug. 13. Chris enjoyed a variety of interests including working with his hands, “Star Trek,” golfing and World War II films.

2002

Cheryl Renee Howard, 39, of Birmingham, died June 11.

Cheryl made a career working

with autistic children. She also had a passion for tending and riding horses.

2014

Zachary Winkle, 28, of Childersburg, Alabama, died July 1.

Zachary was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and volunteered in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Zachary preferred to spend his time outdoors backpacking and kayaking.

CONDOLENCES To the family of Everett Holle, 89, of Homewood, Alabama, who died July 22. Everett had served as a UM Foundation Board member.

He had an impressive career in broadcasting, eventually earning the title of assistant general manager with Channel 13, WVTM. Everett was also extremely active in the Boy Scouts of America.

Ignite your connection to UM with your time, giving and participation • Serve as a spokesperson to fellow classmates • Inspire fellow alumni to reconnect with UM • Raise awareness of philanthropic activities IF YOU ARE WILLING TO SERVE your alma mater in this way, please contact Carolyn Jones at jonescl@montevallo.edu or 205-665-6223

Prefer digital to print?

Go green — sign up to receive your copy of Montevallo Today digitally!

montevallo.edu/montevallo-today

montevallo.edu/alumni | 25

ALUMNI EVENTS Minority Alumni Club Summer Social, July 24 1 The Minority Alumni Club held its third annual Summer Social at Southern Kitchen & Bar in the Uptown District of Birmingham; 2 Debbie Burks ’85 shows off the grand prize package she and her husband Lewis ’89 won as part of a drawing for donations to the Minority Alumni Club Book Scholarship; 3 Sen. Rodger Smitherman ’76 and Minority Alumni Club president Jeff Adams ’85; 4 Amber James ’17 presents a gift basket to Gerald Douglass ’75, which he won as part of the fundraiser for the Minority Alumni Club Book Scholarship.

Chilton County Teacher In-service Day at Clanton Performing Arts Center, Aug. 7 5 Lauren Liveoak ’17 displays her door prize; 6 Sherry Parrish ’96, M.Ed. ’99 with her door prize.

Tuscaloosa Alumni Gathering, Aug. 17 7 Tuscaloosa area alumni gathered at Heat Pizza Bar for an interest meeting to discuss upcoming plans for alumni in the Tuscaloosa and west Alabama areas.

Student Alumni Ambassador Orientation, Aug. 29 8 The new and returning Student Alumni Ambassadors attend orientation to prepare for the upcoming year of UM alumni events and activities.

Alumni Faculty and Staff Appreciation, Sept. 15 The Alumni Association sponsored a Faculty and Staff Alumni Appreciation reception at the beginning of the academic year. Each attendee received an ALUM journal. 9 Mary Horton ’84, M.Ed. ’87 and Meg Pepper MBA ’15; 10 Donna Bell ’86; 11 Julie McEntee ’76 and Erin Watkins ’09; 12 Sherry Ford M.A. ’94 and Jay Cofield M.A. ’97; 13 Alyssa Green ’14.

8

26 | Montevallo Today

1 Alumni spotted at events held from July through mid October

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7

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5

10

Bicentennial Bash at Orr Park in Montevallo, Sept. 9 The Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs along with the National Alumni Association sponsored a booth at the City of Montevallo’s Bicentennial Birthday Bash. 14 Breana Thomas, student alumni ambassador.

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STAT Check Presentation, Sept. 14 15 Rachel Haase (left) and Josh Miller ’07, of UM’s Counseling Services, (right) accept a $1,000 check for the Campus Food Pantry from Jason Perry (middle), president of Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow. The funds were raised as part of a drawing for a large prize basket full of UM items and gift cards.

Happy Hour Social at Rojo sponsored by the Junior Board, Sept. 26 16 Christina Powell ’10; 17 Kacie Kilpatrick ’09, Clark Hultquist, Jah’zmin Young ’09, Crystal Roskam ’16; 18 Isaac McDow ’10 wins the last door prize of the evening; 19 Brittany Johnson ’12 shows off the ALUM journal she won as Cortez Bennett ’12 looks on.

Greek Alumni Campus Food Pantry Collection, Oct. 14 20 Representatives from various Greek alumni organizations display the items collected for the UM Campus Food Pantry at the Greek Alumni Reunion.

From left: Matt Arnold ’93, Shana Reach Arnold ’95, Stephanie Shaw ’93, Zachary Banks ’08, Christine Logan ’93 and Betsy Hoffman ’94.

Greek Alumni Donation to Campus Food Pantry, Oct. 14 21 Tracy Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98, alumni director, delivers seven tubs of food collected at the Greek Alumni Reunion to the Counseling Center’s Campus Food Pantry. Accepting the donation is Marcia Hamby, UM counselor.

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montevallo.edu/alumni | 27

ALUMNI EVENTS

Greek Alumni Reunion Recognizes Spirit, Loyalty, Philanthropy and Service

T

he University Lake provided the setting for the fourth annual Greek Alumni Reunion on Oct. 14, planned

by Stephanie Shaw ’93, UMNAA vice president of alumni clubs, and Matt Arnold ’93, Shaw’s co-chair for the Greek Alumni Club.

At the reunion, Greek alumni organizations are invited to tailgate by decorating tents to show off their school pride. This year, Alpha Gamma Delta received the Loyalty Award for having the most alumni members in attendance as well as the Spirit Award for the best decorated tailgate area.

For the second year, Greek alumni were asked to bring food donations for the campus food pantry. The inaugural Philanthropy Award was presented to Alpha Kappa Lambda for bringing the most food items.

During the cookout, the 2017 James Wilkinson Greek Loyalty Hall of Fame inductees were

Photos by Katie Compton ’18

Above, left: The Alpha Gamma Delta tent, winner of the Spirit Award; top right: At the end of the Greek Alumi Reunion, remaining alumni members pose for a group photo at University Lake; bottom right: Four new members were inducted into the James R. Wilkinson Greek Alumni Loyalty Hall of Fame. (From left) Joe Williams accepting for Mary Lou Williams ’69, Chi Omega (posthumously); Stephanie Shaw ’93, Alpha Gamma Delta and Greek Alumni Club; Jane McClanahan ’61, Alpha Gamma Delta; James “Happy” Smith ’92, Alpha Tau Omega.

28 | Montevallo Today

announced. Shaw was one of this year’s recipients based on her diligent efforts in organizing the Greek Alumni Club as well as the reunion each year.

“Since coming onto the Alumni Board of Directors, Stephanie Shaw has worked tirelessly in establishing both the Greek Alumni Club and Reunion. Neither of these would exist without her efforts. She is quite deserving of the Greek Loyalty Hall of Fame,” said Arnold.

Surprised to be included, Shaw said, “I wanted to start the Wilkinson Hall of Fame to recognize Greek alumni who have unselfishly given back to the organizations through the years. Never would I have expected to be includ-

ed among so many amazingly generous people.

The names on that plaque are my heroes.”

In addition to Shaw, this year’s inductees were James “Happy” Smith ’92 for Alpha Tau Omega, Jane McClanahan ’61 for Alpha Gamma Delta, and Mary Lou Williams ’69 posthumously for Chi Omega. Inductees’ names were added to a perpetual plaque that hangs in Reynolds Hall.

“We hope the fifth annual Greek Alumni Reunion will be even greater. Not only is this a great day of fellowship, but with the addition of the service project benefiting the Campus Food Pantry, it is also yet another way for alumni to give back to the University of Montevallo,” said Tracy Rockco, director of alumni affairs.

ALUMNI NEWS

Proof is in the Putting Athletics Leads 50th Annual Olympics Day Golf Tournament

More than 200 alumni, staff and donors gathered Friday, Oct. 13, at the Montevallo Golf Club to celebrate the 50th annual Olympics Day Golf Tournament, a tradition started in association with Founders’ Day. Eighty golfers arrived to hot dogs on the grill and cold drinks in the cooler before taking on 18 holes on the course. The outing ended with grilled chicken and barbeque at the Montevallo Golf clubhouse and a cake honoring the 50th Olympics Day Golf Tournament.

“We are delighted the Department of Athletics has breathed life into a long-standing tradition for our alumni and friends through their involvement in the Olympics Day Golf Tournament,” said Dr. Tracy Rockco. “It is fitting that as we celebrated 50 years of Olympics Day, the torch was passed from Alumni to Athletics to carry on this beloved event. This year’s tournament brought together new faces as well as those who have participated nearly every year, on a beautiful fall day to enjoy fellowship, food and friendly competition.”

The four-man team of Mike Patterson, David Hogue, Chris Hummel and Tracy Causey

won the tournament with a 19-under par 52 in a scramble format, but the event offered a beautiful day of golfing and prizes for all. Each team went home with a prize pack, from the winning team to the team that came in 21st in the field.

“The Olympics Day Golf Tournament was a huge success,” said Montevallo Athletic Director Mark Richard, who spearheaded the search for event sponsors and partnered with more than two dozen sponsors for the event. “It was a collaborative effort between Alumni Affairs and Athletics and we were fortunate to have a beautiful afternoon of golf.”

Beyond the golf, prizes and food courtesy of chef Johnny Holsombeck, the University’s manager of central supply, the highlight of the day was the comaraderie among those who hold Montevallo dear to them.

“It was a great day,” said Montevallo Hall of Fame baseball coach Bob Riesener, who has been a part of the annual event for more than four decades. “No one could complain with everything they got from playing in the tournament. It’ll be hard to top next year.”

“It is fitting that as we celebrated 50 years of Olympics Day, the torch was passed from Alumni to Athletics to carry on this beloved event.” — Tracy Rockco

montevallo.edu/alumni | 29

ALUMNI NEWS

UPCOMING ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES Junior Alumni Board Leadership Scholarship DEADLINE: March 1 The purpose of the Junior Alumni Board Leadership Scholarship is to reward students who are excelling academically and who have outstanding records of leadership in school or community service.

■■

Applicants must be a sophomore, junior or senior student at the University of Montevallo or a junior or community college transfer student in pursuit of a degree in their field of study.

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Applicants must have no less than a cumulative 3.0 GPA from their current university, college or post-secondary school at the time of application.

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Applicants must be actively involved in their school or community.

Alumni Legacy Book Scholarship DEADLINE: July 1 The purpose of the Alumni Legacy Book Scholarship is to recruit the children and/or grandchildren of active alumni to attend the University of Montevallo and to provide a scholarship in honor of the commitment of graduates who contribute to the development of the University.

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Students who are children or grandchildren of active alumni are eligible to apply.

■■

The parent or grandparent must hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from UM and be considered an active donor to the University of Montevallo Foundation for three of the past five years. Alumni giving for the purposes of determining active status must be completed before the July 1 scholarship deadline in the current year.

For more information, please contact: Alumni Office University of Montevallo, Station 6215 205-665-6215 umalumnioffice@montevallo.edu montevallo.edu/alumni montevallo.awardspring.com

30 | Montevallo Today

STAT

Encouraging Student Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement

BY JAMIE HAAS ’19

New student organization Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT) is making waves on the UM campus. First proposed to the Office of Student Life in December 2016, STAT has since hit the ground running in its effort to provide for University students through various acts of philanthropy.

STAT’s primary mission is to raise funds and provide donations for the Student Emergency Fund and the Campus Food Pantry. Both the emergency fund and food pantry are campus resources meant to assist students in states of financial crisis, such as the inability to afford food, books or tuition, among other things.

STAT also makes an active effort to spread awareness of the existence of those resources to both students and the Montevallo community.

Current STAT President and UM senior Jason Perry said the emergency fund is meaningful to him because he has experienced the various struggles associated with being a college student. Although Perry didn’t receive help from the fund himself, he fosters an intense empathy for the hardships students go through and the strength they must display to balance their personal and academic lives.

“Oftentimes, this aspect of school is pushed to the side. No one wants to talk about it or admit it, and I think within this year I’ve been able to push it forward and tell people it’s okay to be comfortable with the situations we all are going through,” said Perry. “It’s okay to

need book money. It’s okay to need toiletries.

It’s okay to need food. It’s okay to feel like you cannot hold it all together.”

Since August, STAT has taken initiative in fulfilling its philanthropic goal. They have partnered with the University bookstore to host a drawing for UM supplies and apparel, participated in Carnival for a Cure and hosted a Student Day of Giving where four plastic tubs of food and toiletry gifts were donated to the Campus Food Pantry.

STAT also works to promote engagement from young alumni. According to Perry, there is approximately a 10-year gap between students graduating and as alumni, making their first gift to the University. Working with the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, STAT aims to close that gap by inviting new graduates to events on campus tailored to be comfortable for them to attend, allowing them to more easily stay involved with campus outreach.

As for the future of STAT, Perry envisions the organization working even more closely with Counseling Services, providing not only donations, but also services such as preventive methods seminars and other positive initiatives.

Above: Sierra Bobo, Savannah Cleckler and Jason Perry engage with students and parents during STAT’s Back to School drawing at UM Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Aug. 19.

2018 HOMECOMING SCHEDULE — SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

Friday, February 9 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Preview and Early Bidding of Art Auction..................................... The Gallery at Bloch Hall

1-4 p.m. UMNAA Board of Directors Meeting.......................Wallace Speech & Hearing Center 100

1:45 p.m. UM Board of Trustees Meeting................................................Merrill Room, Reynolds Hall

2-4 p.m. Class of 1968 Registration...................................................................Reynolds Hall 114

5-6 p.m. *Class of 1968 Reception......................................................... Reynolds Hall Rear Lobby

6 p.m. *Class of 1968 Dinner............................................................. Reynolds Hall Front Lobby

6 p.m. UMNAA Distinguished Alumnus Dinner (by invitation)......................Anna Irvin Dining Hall

7 p.m. *College Night productions................................................................... Palmer Auditorium

Saturday, February 10

8-11 a.m. Alumni Coffee & Registration............................................................. Reynolds Hall Lobby

8:30 a.m. Class Representative Meeting.................................................Merrill Room, Reynolds Hall

9 a.m. Junior Alumni Board of Directors Meeting............Farmer Hall Conference Room, 2nd Floor

9 a.m.-6 p.m. UM Bookstore open (25% discount for alumni on a single logo item)............. Main Street

10-11 a.m. *Minority Alumni Club Brunch and Award Presentation ....................................................

...................................................................................... University of Montevallo on Main Golden Falcon Society Meeting (graduates prior to 1967)............................ Merrill Room

10-11:30 a.m. Vintage Purples Alumni Brunch.......................................................................... Wills 201 Old Golds Alumni Reunion....................................................................Reynolds Hall 114

10 a.m.–4 p.m. Library Open House to view yearbooks and College Night material....... Carmichael Library

10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 22nd Annual Alumni Art Exhibition, Silent Auction, Coffee Reception.................................

.................................................................................................. The Gallery at Bloch Hall

12-2 p.m. *Homecoming Awards & Recognition Luncheon..............................Anna Irvin Dining Hall

2-4 p.m.

Class of 1958 Reunion and Photo................................................................ Ramsay 121 Class of 1968 Reunion and Photo........................................................... Main Hall Lobby Alabama College Society Meeting...........................................Merrill Room, Reynolds Hall Purple & Gold Basketball Game.............................................................. Myrick Hall Gym

4-5 p.m. *Class of 2008 Reunion and Photo................................ University of Montevallo on Main

4-5:30 p.m. Art Auction & Bloch Party........................................................... The Gallery at Bloch Hall President’s Campaign Reception (by invitation)..................................................Flowerhill

4:30-5:30 p.m. *Class of 1978 Reunion and Photo.......................................... Reynolds Hall Front Lobby *Class of 1988 Reunion and Photo........................................... Reynolds Hall Rear Lobby *Class of 1998 Reunion and Photo......................................................Reynolds Hall 114

5-6:30 p.m. *Young Alumni Reunion.................................................. University of Montevallo on Main

7 p.m. *College Night Productions................................................................... Palmer Auditorium

Please check montevallo.edu/homecoming for department receptions and athletic events as they are scheduled.

Tickets may be purchased at montevallotickets.universitytickets.com or by calling 205-665-6215. * Event requires ticket purchase. Schedule subject to change.

TICKET PRICING Class of 1958: No charge Alabama College Society Meeting: No charge Class of 1968 50-Year Grand Reunion and Dinner: $25* Class of 1968 50-Year Medallion: $10 Class of 1978, 1988, 1998: $15 Class of 2008 10-year reunion only: $10 Class of 2008 and Young Alumni Reunion combo ticket: $15 Young Alumni Reunion: $10 Minority Alumni Brunch: $10 ($5 benefits Minority Book Scholarship) Vintage Purples Brunch: No charge Old Golds Brunch: No charge Homecoming Luncheon: $20 Class Photo: $10 University of Montevallo Charm Bracelet: $25 UM Charm Bracelet Individual Charms: $5 *Class of 1968 ticket includes dinner on Friday and 50-Year Grand Reunion on Saturday; there is no charge to attend ONLY the reunion on Saturday.

QUESTIONS? Please contact the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs at 205-665-6215 or email umalumnioffice@montevallo.edu.

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

Alumni event tickets may be reserved at

4:30-6 p.m.; Falcons women’s and men’s basketball vs. The University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH); 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

January 20

March 28

montevallotickets.universitytickets.com

Prospective Legacy Student Reception McChesney Student Activity Center; informational program and lunch at 12:30 p.m.; Falcons women’s and men’s basketball vs. Union University at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; prospective legacy students and their alumni parents or grandparents are invited. Register

by Jan. 17 at montevallo.edu/legacy.

January 27

Gulf Coast Area Alumni Club Mardi Gras Parade and Reception Battle House Hotel, Oakleigh Garden Balcony; 5:30-8 p.m.; $30 per adult, children 12 and under are free and will be provided special activities.

February 22

TVA Area Alumni Club Reception Huntsville location TBD; Pre-game meet and greet

Tailgating at Falcons baseball vs.

Mississippi College Jackson, Mississippi; Doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; details TBD.

April TBD

Shelby County Alumni Club Benefit Bash Stewart Student Retreat; $20 per person; benefiting the Emma Dean Nathews Shelby County Alumni Scholarship

June 28

Jefferson County Alumni Club and Junior Board Night at the Ballpark with the Birmingham Barons Party Patio, Regions Field; gates open at 6 p.m.; adults $20, children 12 and under $15

DEADLINES

Details about the scholarships listed below can be found on page 30.

March 1

Junior Alumni Board Leadership Scholarship

May 11

July 1

June 23

For more information about scholarships, please call 205-665-6215 or email umalumnioffice@montevallo.edu.

Junior Alumni Board Spring Soirée Silent auction fundraiser; location TBD. 1990s Decade Reunion — Purple and Gold Reign Stewart Student Retreat; 5 to 8 p.m.; $10

Alumni Legacy Book Scholarship

montevallo.edu/alumni montevallo.awardspring.com