Westry honored for journalistic work
1997
2006
2012
Dwight Swindle M.Ed., Ed.S. ’07 has retired from the Army Reserves after serving for 25 years. He continues his almost 20-year career in education, serving as vice principal at Verbena High School.
William Jones is enrolled in graduate school at Boston University studying higher education administration.
Kira Thomas of Calera has accepted the position of assistant to the vice presidents for business affairs and enrollment management at the University.
1998 Douglas McRay Daniels of Medford, Mass., is chair of the arts department at Gann Academy in Waltham, Mass., music director for the Bentley University Chamber Orchestra, associate conductor of the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra and founder and artistic director of 3rd Sundays at 3 Chamber Music Series. He recently conducted the opening concert of the season for the Fall River Symphony Orchestra.
2000 Susan Shoemaker was the featured artist at the recent Moss Rock Arts Festival in Hoover. Her favorite subject matter is animals, and, while she continues to work on a series of drawings, she also accepts commissions for drawings of animals and humans.
2002
Amanda McGinnis Mercer M.Ed. ’07, M.Ed. ’11 has been appointed assistant principal at Rudd Middle School in Jefferson County. She had previously taught art and family consumer science at Leeds Middle School. She also is pursuing the educational specialist degree at UM.
2008 Matthew Robinson has accepted the position of senior program director at the downtown branch of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham. He also leads the Youth Development advisory board for the Birmingham association. He has served the Y for 10 years, most recently as director of aquatics and childcare at the Vestavia Hills location.
2013 Sarah Dunn was the featured artist at the Talladega art gallery, LMo&Co., recently. Her work included a series of large-format color digital photographs as well as a group of prints that are photo etchings from copper plates. Marvin Fitzgerald has signed a one-year contract with Hebei Springs, a professional basketball organization in the Hebei Province of China. Marvin started all 30 games for UM’s men’s basketball team last season, helping the Falcons reach the NCAA Division II tournament during the 2012-2013 season.
Weddings 2011
Sara-Margaret Coker Cates and husband Chip reside in Tuscaloosa where Sara-Margaret recently received the M.A. in health studies from the University of Alabama and became a certified health education specialist. She works as an adjunct faculty member in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at UA and also holds a position with the Office of University Advancement. Matt Walker has accepted the position of coordinator of planning and development/grant writer with Community Service Programs of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa. CSP is a community action agency administering programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income and vulnerable populations. Matt and his wife, Elizabeth DeWeese Walker ’02, reside in Helena.
Susan Howard M.Ed. ’12 and Justin Finch ’06 were married June 22 in the chapel at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo. The service was co-officiated by The Rev. Brandt Montgomery ’07. Maria Wilson Hanvy ’05, M.Ed. ’10 served as pianist and organized a choir including several UM alumni. The wedding party included maid of honor Mandy McMahon ’09, matron of honor Alicia McDonald Smith ’06, bridesmaid Alia Richards ’12 and ushers Justin Averette ’06 and Justin Banks ’05. After a honeymoon cruise to Mexico, the Finches returned to their home in Calera. Susan teaches English at Chelsea Middle School, and Justin teaches music at Brookville and West Jefferson elementary schools.
17
Tiffany Westry ’09, a reporter for CBS 42 TV in Birmingham, began her career there as an intern while completing her degree in mass communication at UM. After graduation, she joined the team as an assignment editor and in 2011, became a multimedia journalist, covering some of the biggest news and events throughout central Alabama. Westry recently received the Alabama Associated Press Media Editors Award for Best Reporter of 2012, based on a compilation of her work from that year.
She said that the project she has enjoyed most was working as an associate producer for the station’s documentary “Deadly Deception,” investigating cancer-causing toxins found in soil and air around North Birmingham homes and schools. She also contributes to the station’s consumer franchise “It’s Your Money.”
www.montevallo.edu/alumni