Montevallo Today, Fall 2017

MONTEVALLO TODAY University of Montevallo Alumni Magazine • Fall 2017

UM Celebrates

Annual

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY

MONTEVALLO TODAY University of Montevallo Alumni Magazine

PUBLISHERS Scott Dillard MBA ’17 Kira Thomas ’12 kthomas18@montevallo.edu EDITOR Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, MBA ’13 bunttr@montevallo.edu WRITER AND COPY EDITOR Reed Strength ’16 cstreng1@montevallo.edu ALUMNI EDITOR Dr. Tracy Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98 paynet@montevallo.edu DESIGN EDITOR Julie Haggard PHOTO EDITOR Alyssa Green ’14 PHOTOGRAPHERS Katie Compton ’18, Wendy Johnson ’17, Art Meripol, University Archives, Michael Wade CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Stephen Craft, Wesley Hallman, Carey Heatherly, Brenda Knight, Marsha Littleton ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UMNAA President Laurl P. Self ’94 President-Elect Toni Leo ’80 Past-President Dr. Michael E. Malone ’69 Alumni Council Representative Kit Waters ’78 Admissions Representative Audrey Crawford Faculty/Staff Representative Matt Walker ’02

From Calkins Hall Greetings from campus, As we end one academic year to begin a new one, we are reminded what a transformative education Montevallo offers. In this issue we explore the variety of innovative opportunities UM offers for students to gain hands-on learning experience. Montevallo is truly a special place, which is evident by the lives of our remarkable alumni.

A prime example of UM’s transformative education is Undergraduate Research Day. This April, we celebrated the 20th annual Undergraduate Research Day on campus. In the pages of this issue, you will read how undergraduate research changed students’ perspectives, gave them confidence and ultimately contributed to their careers. For many students, UM programs like Undergraduate Research Day act as a metamorphosis, giving them focus for their future endeavors.

Montevallo’s transformative programs don’t end at the undergraduate level but continue on through our innovative graduate programs. The small class sizes and dedicated faculty that make our undergraduate programs unique proceed in our first-rate graduate education. If you are looking for the next step in your career, I urge you to come back home to UM to earn an advanced degree. We take to heart the concept behind Ted Metz’s “Becoming” sculpture on campus. We strive to provide an environment where students and alumni continue to become more and grow throughout their lives. So, what are you becoming next?

As part of our efforts to provide this Montevallo experience, we are eager to continuously improve our environment, which includes facilities, programs and the delivery of education. As announced in the last issue, plans are in the works to build a new Center for the Arts, which will serve as a collaborative laboratory for the College of Fine Arts. Also in the College of Fine Arts, we are excited to reveal Strong Hall communication building in September.

To assist in recruitment efforts and the delivery of education, the Foundation Board announced a new scholarship fund valued at $1.2 million. We appreciate the UM Foundation for helping in our efforts to recruit and retain high achieving and otherwise meritorious students. In the spirit of the Foundation’s great work, please consider sending your annual gifts in support of the students we serve as soon as possible.

We are also delighted to welcome Dr. James McDonald as our new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. His arrival comes at a good time of change and opportunity in higher education, and we look forward to his contributions as chief academic officer of Montevallo.

We hope that you enjoy this issue of Montevallo Today and it connects you back to campus and to your Montevallo family. To see all this progress firsthand, I encourage you to come back for Founders’ Day on October 12.

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 Jeffrey Purvis ’02, MBA ’16, Dr. Tracy Rockco ’94, M.Ed. ’98, Dr. John W. Stewart III

Dr. John W. Stewart III President

facebook.com/UMontevallo facebook.com/UMalum twitter.com/Montevallo

On the Cover UM celebrates the 20th Undergraduate Research Day which includes oral and poster presentations of the students’ research findings. Read more about the program throughout the years on page 15.

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contents

28

DEPARTMENTS

6

20

4

Student Spotlight

5

Campus News

10

Donor Spotlight

11

Campaign Update

12

Athletics

14

Faculty Spotlight

20

Alumni Profile

22

Class Notes

28

Alumni Events

31

Alumni News

FEATURES 6

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

15

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Evidence indicates a graduate degree is an investment with great returns. Learn more about UM’s innovative graduate programs and the benefits of returning to further your education.

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The Undergraduate Research Program offers students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research with faculty mentors, transforming the lives of many student participants. Alumni share their memories of this hands-on learning experience.

Correction: The article “Donor Scholarship Helps Student Pursue Research and Career Opportunities” in the Spring 2017 issue of Montevallo Today incorrectly listed the donors’ names. “Jim and Judy Rodgers” should read “Jim and Judy Rogers.” We apologize for this error.

Montevallo Today Vol. CVII, No. 2 Fall 2017 Montevallo Today (USPS 005432; ISSN 1052-3634) is published three times a years by the University of Montevallo, Alumni Affairs/University Relations, Reynolds Hall, Highland St., Montevallo, AL 35115.

Periodicals postage paid at Montevallo, AL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, send address changes to Montevallo Today, Station 6215, P.O. Box 6000, Montevallo, AL 35115. To contact the Alumni Affairs Office, please call 205-665-6215. Text, photographs and graphic images included in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the editor. The University of Montevallo 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

Lizbeth Juarez A Determined Leader

Like most high school students, Lizbeth Juarez just wanted to get through school, make good grades and go to college. Along the way, she was uprooted from her life in Mexico City, dropped into an unfamiliar educational environment in Hoover High School and expected to keep up. “I was just an outsider trying to understand what was going on,” she recalled.

Now Juarez, set to begin her last year at the University, will soon begin her role as the 2017-2018 Student Government Association president. As if the title alone wasn’t intimidating, Juarez also happens to be the University’s first Hispanic SGA president.

Juarez’s status as an international student held no favors as she applied for college. In Mexico, most four-year public schools waive tuition fees. Because of this, Juarez’s parents weren’t prepared for the steep cost of tuition at American universities.

When Juarez sought help from FAFSA, she received reply letters stating her international student status rendered her ineligible for financial aid. To make matters worse, many of the larger universities in the state wouldn’t offer her in-state tuition for the same reason.

After hearing Juarez’s plight, Hoover High counselor and UM alumna Cindy Bond ’97 made a call to the UM Admissions Office. A week later, Juraez received the acceptance letter she had been waiting for.

With a steely sense of determination, Juarez has worked hard to make the most of her time at UM. As a double finance and management major, she faced more than one arduous 18credit-hour semester. She also became heavily involved on campus, working in the alumni office and holding leadership positions in Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, Pi Chi Theta business fraternity and SGA. SGA has been an exceptional influence in Juarez’s collegiate career, showing her early on just how much power students possess to enact positive change. Her collective experience as a member of freshman forum, sophomore senator and SGA treasurer made her feel confident about running for SGA president.

“I didn’t want to just sit down and relax my senior year because I was like, once I’m out of college, it’s over! I have to go to work 40 hours a week,” she said.

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CAMPUS NEWS

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Photo by Katie Compton ’18

2

Photo by Wendy Johnson’17

All the World’s a Stage

Forte Festival Encourages Experiential Learning

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Photo by Katie Compton ’18

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Photo by Katie Compton ’18

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FORTE FESTIVAL, A THREE-DAY ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY hosted by the College of Fine Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences, was held April 20-22.

Experiential learning was at the core of the festival with students leading the majority of the activities and events. Students in the UM Jazz Ensemble played brassy classics on Main Quad. In Carmichael Library, paneled posters praising the hidden Alabama comics scene were researched, designed and hung by students.

During the community held event Montevallo Arts Fest, players from Montgomery’s Alabama Shakespeare Festival hosted a stage combat and fight choreography demonstration and invited UM students to take part in the action.

Throughout each day of the festival, troupes of student actors would appear at random to perform selections of various Shakespeare scenes for a Pop-Up Shakespeare experience.

The two events that concluded each night were student performances of “Godspell,” a UM theatre production, and the Department of Music’s opera, “La Sonnambula.”

According to Dean Steven Peters of the College of Fine Arts, this focus on student performances was completely by design. Peters wanted students to gain experience with an audience and the public reaction to their work.

“It’s to give students an experience that they can learn through the arts rather than sit and hear a lecture about a topic,” said Peters.

Peters refers to students in his college as “artists” to instill an early sense of professionalism in their work.

“One of the core values of the festival is creating dialogue between artists, the work they do and the audience. Forte gives us the opportunity to say the arts at a university are intended to generate conversation.”

1 The Comics of Alabama exhibit was on display throughout the weekend; 2 Theatre students perform “Godspell;” 3 Artist in residence Wu Meng Che demonstrates detailed ceramic methods for salt fire, raku and pit-firing; 4 The jazz ensemble presents Jazz on the Green; 5 Dr. Brendan Beal, assistant professor of social work, experiences the world of comics through virtual reality software.

Photo by Katie Compton ’18

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Invest in Your Own Capital Graduate Programs Offer Significant ROI

BY DR. STEPHEN CRAFT, DEAN OF THE STEPHENS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

T

here is no investment you may make that will offer a higher return than investing in your own human capital.

Furthering your education may help move you toward more meaningful employment, higher income, greater impact from your engagement in civic life and help you to be a more informed citizen.

Our concept of a career has transformed, and the rapidly changing nature of employment will only continue. Where the market once valued longevity and stability in work history, we now value breadth and look suspiciously at someone with too long a tenure with one organization.

Where employers once frowned upon “moonlighting” at a second job, we now fully embrace the “side hustle” and see the emergence of the “gig” economy where someone may be pursuing multiple careers at once. Where once it was easy to identify the boss by looking for the person wearing the best suit, we now see that the professional in the suit may well report to the guy in jeans and a T-shirt. Where once we asked job candidates where they wanted to

be in our organization in ten years, now we ask what they want to accomplish while they are with us.

What does this mean for someone building and sustaining a career in the 21st century? It means that your credentials and skills are constantly under review. We all must be prepared to resell ourselves to current and future employers at any moment. A graduate degree can go a long way to help.

Graduate education sets you apart. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18 percent of the U.S. populations age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, but only 2 percent have a master’s degree. A master’s degree puts you into a rarefied group of professionals.

It is invaluable in demonstrating your ability to learn an advanced skill set and commit to excellence. Graduate education allows you to specialize in your career field beyond your undergraduate major. Earning a graduate degree cements your identity as a lifelong learner.

The impact of a graduate degree is meaningful in lower unemployment and higher

wages. Based upon findings from the 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey, among adults in the U.S. age 25 and older, unemployment among people holding a master’s degree is only 2.4 percent — a strikingly low figure.

A person with a master’s degree earns an average of $1,380 per week compared to an all worker average of $885 per week based upon the 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey among adults in the U.S. age 25 and older. The return on a graduate degree is significant.

Fortunately, it is easier than ever to earn a real graduate degree from a real university. The University of Montevallo offers an excellent array of graduate degrees and flexible options to complete our programs.

As alumni, you understand the value of education offered at UM. So consider how a graduate degree could benefit your future employment and return home to UM to invest in yourself and your future. M

Earning a graduate degree will set you apart, demonstrate your abilities and likely lead to lower unemployment and higher earning.

STEPHENS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS: MBA The MBA Program at Montevallo is built for mid-career and early career professionals who are ready to achieve the next level of success and take a seat at the big table. The Stephens College of Business is fully accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) — the senior and most prestigious accreditation available in business.

Business

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Flexible program: full-time and part-time options

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Convenient: attend evening classes in Pelham, take classes synchronized live online or a blend of both

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Total program tuition costs are just over $12,000. The estimates are that an MBA adds up to $1 million in additional earnings over a career.

Learn more at www.montevallo.edu/mba

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION M.Ed. and Ed.S. Degrees On-campus degree opportunities: ■■ Alternative Master’s ● Art & Music Education, P-12 ● Deaf & Hard of Hearing ● Elementary Education ● Secondary Education Traditional Master’s ● Counseling ● Secondary and P-12 Education (some evening and summer courses offered) ■■

Hybrid options: ■■ Alternative Master’s ● Collaborative Education, K-6 and 6-12 ● Collaborative Education, 6-12

Speech Pathology

English

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES M.A. in English and M.S. in Speech Pathology English Montevallo’s innovative English M.A. program helps students shape their degree to personal and professional goals. Students choose from three distinct tracks for the final thesis: ■■

The Critical Thesis guides students to publish an article for a peer-reviewed scholarly journal in preparation for Ph.D. programs and other advanced scholarly work;

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The Creative Thesis prepares students to compose fiction or poetry and assists in securing venues for publication; and

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The Internship Thesis allows students to develop a portfolio of professional writing while providing opportunities to apply humanities training to private, non-profit and government sectors.

Graduate Admission Information

Learn more at www.montevallo.edu/english-ma

Speech Pathology This M.S. graduate program of study is available primarily for applicants with undergraduate degrees in Communication Science and Disorders or related fields. A very limited number of applicants who have exceptional qualifications (but do not have an undergraduate CSD background) may be considered for admission to the program.

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Traditional Master’s ● Elementary Education ● Instructional Leadership

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Instructional Leadership Certification Program

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Educational Specialist ● Instructional Leadership ● Instructional Technology ● Teacher Leadership Learn more at www.montevallo.edu graduate-degree-programs

There are two tracks available for Speech Language Pathology graduate students: the thesis track and the non-thesis track. The thesis track is available for those students who are primarily interested in communication disorders research and/or are interested in pursuing a doctorate degree.

Applications for this program are no longer sent directly to UM. The national application portal CSDCAS is now being utilized to process applications.

Learn more at www.montevallo.edu/ m-s-speech-language-pathology

Counseling

Application fee is waived for UM alumni.

Waiver of Standardized Examination Score (GMAT, GRE, MAT) Applicants for all graduate programs except Speech Language Pathology are eligible for a waiver of the standardized examination score requirement if they hold an earned graduate degree such as a master’s, J.D., M.D. or Ph.D. Applicants in English, Education and Counseling also qualify for a waiver of the examination score if they completed an undergraduate degree from UM with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Applicants to the MBA Program qualify for a waiver of the examination score if they completed an undergraduate degree from UM with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. MBA applicants can also receive a waiver if they completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 or higher and have five years of professional work experience at a managerial level with significant budgetary and leadership responsibilities.

Education

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CAMPUS NEWS

Students Develop Event to Benefit The Arc of Shelby County

Marketing student Colby Quinn crawls through one of the many obstacle courses during the Warrior Challenge.

Photo courtesy of The Arc of Shelby County

Marketing students from Dr. Amiee Mellon’s social entrepreneurship & sustainability class applied their academic knowledge to benefit local charity The Arc of Shelby County. Presented with the task of increasing awareness and funds for the organization, students worked to plan and develop an obstacle course event.

The Warrior Challenge, a 1-mile obstacle fun run, was held Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Montevallo Disc Golf Course, located near the McChesney Student Activity Center. Throughout the day there were fun, family-friendly activities available for spectators including free kids’ activities as well as food and entertainment.

Saduski Speaks at Graduation More than 350 students received their diplomas at Spring Commencement in the McChesney Student Activity Center May 6.

The speaker for commencement was Kirk Saduski, Emmy-nominated documentarian and head of nonfiction film and television at Playtone production company. Saduski has worked as a producer on such historical dramas as “John Adams,” “The Game Change” and “The Pacific.”

Following Saduski’s address, Dr. John W. Stewart III, UM president, conferred degrees upon 273 candidates for bachelor’s degrees, 81 candidates for master’s degrees and 11 candidates for the education specialist degree. After students received their diplomas, Laurl Self, president of the UM National Alumni Association, inducted graduates into the alumni association.

UM Named College of Distinction For the sixth consecutive year, the University has been named a College of Distinction. UM is also one of only two schools in Alabama designated with a Public College of Distinction achievement.

Each distinguished college is subject to a rigorous research process including in-person campus visits, interviews with a cross-section of the campus community, school records research and discussions with admissions directors and staff.

This research produces verifiable results across four distinctions — engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. The member schools in the Public Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their focus on the undergraduate experience.

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Outdoor Scholars Serve the Community UM students normally found in competitive fishing boats or field blinds took time out of their week to introduce special needs children to outdoor activities during two events in May. The first event, Gone Fishin’, Not Just Wishin’, was held at Oak Mountain State Park.

Members of UM’s bass fishing team and the President’s Outdoor Scholars Program participated and helped students from Jefferson and Shelby County school systems bait their hooks, throw their lines and reel in their catches.

The Outdoor Scholars also volunteered during an event hosted by Kidz Outdoors at Soggy Bottom Lodge in Linden, Alabama. Kidz Outdoors gives children with disabilities the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities.

Foundation Board Announces New Scholarship Fund The UM Foundation announced plans to add $1.2 million toward increasing scholarships.

The Foundation Board approved the proposal for scholarships Friday, May 12.

With rising tuition costs nationwide, the UM Foundation recognizes the need to assist the University in recruiting and retaining high achieving and otherwise meritorious students.

“The Foundation Board is pleased to have the ability to make this multi-year investment in the University’s future by creating this scholarship fund. The Foundation Board has taken a tremendous step toward supporting the University’s mission of providing a quality education to its students. The students that will benefit from these scholarships are a cornerstone of the University of Montevallo’s future,” said Chair of the UM Foundation Board Ronnie Jackson.

Photo by Corey Nolen

University Names McDonald Provost Dr. James H. McDonald has been named provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. He comes to UM from Southern Utah University where he served as dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of anthropology for the past nine years. He began the role of provost July 1.

McDonald holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Arizona State University, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.

McDonald replaces Dr. Suzanne Ozment, previous provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Montevallo. Ozment retired from the position at the end of June.

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Poole Found Home in Montevallo Fueled by a deep passion for every form of artistic expression, alumna Melanie Poole tirelessly champions the creative efforts of past, present and future students by offering her time, funds and heart to UM. Poole was born in Decatur, Georgia. She first heard of UM through a family friend and was encouraged to attend by two of her high school teachers who were alumni. She chose Montevallo for its affordability, perfect distance from home and excellent art department.

Poole expressed how the UM faculty and staff always made her feel as if she and her peers were part of a large family. “They made me feel that my time and talents were deeply appreciated and highly valued,” she said.

Poole graduated from UM in 1986 with a BFA with a concentration in communication design. She used her education to form her own graphic design agency, The Design Poole, in Jasper, Alabama. After spending 15 years as an entrepreneur, she accepted her current job as the communications officer for The American Village. There, she is responsible for the organization’s printed publications, social media, public relations and media ads.

10 | Montevallo Today

Since graduating, Poole has remained a loyal alumna to the University. She served on the National Alumni Association Board of Directors for 10 years, founded the UM Friends of the College of Fine Arts advisory board and has attended every College Night as a loyal Gold.

Her involvement goes beyond the University to include her adopted community of Montevallo, as well. She is active on the Montevallo Arts Council, the Montevallo Artwalk Posse, the Montevallo Study Club and the Montevallo Evening Garden Club.

As a donor, Poole often gives to the art department because of its impact on her life and the lives of current students. In March, Poole offered her most generous contribution yet by pledging toward a naming opportunity in the University’s forthcoming Center for the Arts. Poole will have the honor of naming the Center’s art gallery.

“The Center for the Arts will provide a place for students to hone their skills, practice their talents, and showcase their work,” said Poole.

“More than that, the Center will become a nexus for interdisciplinary collaboration, for campus and community partnerships and

a stage for Montevallo, Shelby County and Alabama to highlight the arts.”

In May, Poole received the University’s Good Neighbor Award for her 30 years of dedicated commitment to furthering UM’s progress.

“Montevallo was always the home of my heart, even when I didn’t reside here. I’m so pleased to be able to give back to this wonderful community,” she said.

To Poole, her academic home’s best qualities go beyond its much touted beauty and intimate atmosphere. “It lives and breathes because of people — the professors, the staff, the administration, the alumni, the students and the townspeople. They each play a part in the story of Montevallo.” When considering the many important characters in that story, Melanie Poole will go down as one of the greats.

“They made me feel that my time and talents were deeply appreciated and highly valued.”

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

You Name It WHEN YOU THINK OF NAMING OPPORTUNITIES, one typically thinks of scholarships and buildings. However, there are numerous options at multiple giving levels that offer gift personalization.

Naming opportunities are a unique way to leave a meaningful legacy that will impact UM facilities and programs for years to come. These opportunities also allow donors to honor a loved one, a beloved faculty member or fellow alumnus.

Named gifts may be accomplished with a one-time payment or pledged over a 5-year period.

Below is a sampling of current naming opportunities at UM. Center for the Arts: Performance hall seat................................. $500 Arts administration office .................... $10,000 Music recording studio......................... $20,000

Dressing room..................................... $25,000 Center for the Arts, lobby .................. $150,000

Current facilities: University Lake picnic table................... $1,000 Davis Hall practice room........................ $5,000 3D Art Complex kiln............................. $5,000 Harman Hall lounge............................ $10,000 Main Hall counseling offices............... $15,000 University of Montevallo on Main student lounge.................................. $15,000 Wilkinson Student Center student life office suite....................................... $15,000 Athletics team locker room .................. $20,000 Carmichael Library Digital Media Lab ........................................................ $20,000 Classroom (standard across all academic buildings).......................... $20,000

Hill House patio.................................. $20,000 Morgan Hall breezeway........................ $20,000 Residence hall lobby ............................ $20,000 Athletics scorer’s table .......................... $25,000 Harman Hall laboratory ...................... $30,000 College Lake pavilion.......................... $30,000 Strong Hall Communication Building TV studio......................................... $30,000 Athletics clubhouse at Johnson Field ........................................................ $40,000 Carmichael Library Learning Commons ....................................................... $50,000 Child Study Center ........................... $300,000

Programs: African American Lecture Series .......... $15,000

FOR OTHER NAMING OPPORTUNITIES,

please contact University Advancement at 205-665-6220

Please note: Gifts may be cash, stock transfer or certain planned gifts from an estate. Alumni who work for companies with a matching gift program increase their gift toward naming opportunities. For example, the company might match 1:1 up to a certain dollar amount, which turns a $1,000 gift into a $2,000 gift.

As of June 30, the Campaign raised $17,057,858.

That is 85.3% of the goal.

19 new scholarships established during fiscal year 2017

3,000 new donors to UM

184 major gifts of

$1,000 and above during fiscal year 2017

8.6 million raised for scholarships

CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE National Co-Chairs Sandra Bond Bowers ’66 and Richard Bowers • Tim Lupinacci ’88 Mike Strong ’72 and John Paul Strong ’02

43 new members

joined the 1896 Society

Honorary Co-Chair Cassandra King Conroy ’67, M.A. ’88 Lynn England ’81 and Donna England ’78 • Mike Grainger ’73 and Donna Grainger ’74 Brian Hamilton and Leslie Hamilton ’00 • Jeanetta Keller ’75 and Bill Keller Kathy King • Mike Meadows ’79 and Sue Meadows • Kay Miller ’64 Libby Queen ’59 • Donna Smith-Senter ’82 • Todd Strange ’66 and Linda Strange ’67 Barbara Bonfield ’58 • Caroline Aderholt • Ronnie Jackson ’73 • Laurl Self ’94

Make your gift TODAY! www.montevallo.edu/giving

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ATHLETICS

Above, from left: University of Montevallo President Stewart, Gulf South Conference Commissioner Matt Wilson and Montevallo Athletics Director Mark Richard smile during a June 2016 press conference announcing Montevallo’s return to the Gulf South Conference.

Photos by Michael Wade

Returning Home to GSC T

he UM Falcons officially became a member of the Gulf South Conference in July, returning to their original home in NCAA Division II. UM earned unanimous approval for membership from the GSC Board of Directors in June 2016, giving the conference 14 full-time members in 2017-2018.

The Falcons first joined the Gulf South Conference in 1995-1996 and claimed six conference tournament titles and five regular season crowns in 14 seasons before spending the past eight years as a member of the Peach Belt Conference.

“The Montevallo family is excited to return home to the Gulf South Conference,” said President Stewart. “This move will result in significantly less travel time for our student-athletes and will engender natural competition, healthy rivalries and sportsmanship for all fans of Falcon athletics.”

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UM Director of Athletics Mark Richard also expressed his excitement about returning to the GSC. “We’re excited about the opportunity to go back to the GSC we were a part of for 14 years.

Our geographic location puts us right in the middle of the GSC footprint,” Richard said.

GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson mentioned that the Falcons’ success as a member of NCAA Division II made UM an attractive institution.

“The Gulf South Conference proudly adds Montevallo to our membership,” said Wilson.

“Montevallo is a natural addition with a strong commitment to Division II athletics and the GSC’s vision to compete for regional and national championships, graduate student-athletes at a higher percentage than the overall student body and impact our communities today and tomorrow.”

Previously, the Falcons claimed three conference tournament championships and four regular season titles in men’s basketball as a member of the GSC.

The GSC is a charter member of NCAA Division II dating back to its creation in the summer of 1970. The league is now composed of 14 active members and four affiliate members located in six states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee).

GSC teams have claimed 50 NCAA Division II national championships in 13 sports.

Explaining the benefits, Richard said, “Montevallo Athletics has a great opportunity to re-establish rivalries that have been dormant for the past eight years. The Montevallo fans will reconnect with in-state schools such as North Alabama, West Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville and Auburn-Montgomery. With this move to the GSC, team travel and expenses will be reduced along with student-athlete’s missed time from class. We are looking forward to meeting the athletic challenges and competing in the GSC. It’s a great move for our student-athletes and our fans.”

Falcons Set New Academic Record The Athletics Department set a new record with 225 student-athletes named to the 2016-2017 Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.

The Honor Roll recognizes all student-athletes from the 14 Peach Belt Conference member institutions who had a GPA of 3.0 or above for the academic year. Each student-athlete will receive a certificate from the Peach Belt Conference office.

Lange Leads Lacrosse Jason Lange accepted the position of head coach of the University’s inaugural men’s lacrosse program with the expectation to recruit and coach student-athletes wearing “Falcons” across their chests.

Little did he know that his presence on the Montevallo campus would have a big impact on the sport of lacrosse among youth in the Birmingham area and in the state of Alabama.

After securing commitments from six instate men’s lacrosse student-athletes in his first signing class at UM, Lange caught the attention of lacrosse enthusiasts and is at the forefront of the growth of the sport in Alabama while offering the opportunity for youth to fulfill their childhood dreams.

“Lacrosse is definitely growing in Alabama,” Lange said. “I just think it’s a matter of time until more schools add lacrosse and the state finally sanctions it as a high school sport, which I think would be a very positive thing for all kids in Alabama.”

Lange has overseen many positive developments surrounding the Montevallo men’s lacrosse program in his first year at the helm.

Most notably, he helped the Falcons find a conference home with the Great Lakes Valley Conference, one of the most respected conferences nationally in NCAA Division II.

Montevallo will compete as an associate member of the GLVC in men’s lacrosse against several teams in the Midwest and South including fellow associate members The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Shorter University and Young Harris College.

“This will help recruiting tremendously,” Lange said, explaining that having the opportunity for UM athletes to compete for a championship from day one is paramount. “I’m very excited about Montevallo joining the GLVC,” Lange went on. “It has the potential to be one of the best conferences in the country at the NCAA Division II level.”

Now that the conference affiliation question has been answered, Lange is anxious to take the field with the first squadron of Falcons in the spring of 2018. In addition to Lange’s recruiting success in the state of Alabama, Montevallo’s first men’s lacrosse team will feature student-athletes from across North America.

“I’m very excited to welcome the inaugural class to UM,” Lange said. “We will be a very diverse group with young men from 13 different 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.”

ATTEND A FALCONS ATHLETIC EVENT IN YOUR AREA! View the full

calendar at www.montevallofalcons.com

The number of Montevallo student-athletes named to the Honor Roll increased every year during the Falcons’ membership in the Peach Belt Conference.

The Falcons had an additional 19 student-athletes named to the Honor Roll this year after featuring 206 student-athletes on the list a year ago. Montevallo featured 65 student-athletes on the Honor Roll following the 2009-2010 academic year, its first academic year as a member.

View the list of student-athlete honorees at www.montevallo.edu/pbchonors.

50th Annual OLYMPICS DAY GOLF TOURNAMENT Hosted by UM Athletics

Friday, October 13 Montevallo Golf Club Opportunities for sponsorship available For more information, contact the Athletics Department at 205-665-6600 or the Alumni office at 205-665-6215.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 13

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

FAMILIAR FORMULAS Tidwell ’94 inspires students with lessons learned at UM

DR. CINDY TIDWELL’S CONNECTION WITH the University began as an undergraduate.

As a native of Calera, she was well aquainted with the opportunities offered at UM. She was awarded the Valedictorian Scholarship at Calera High School and began attending UM in 1989.

As an alumna of UM, she is inspired to work diligently for the students. “I feel very obligated to do an awesome job as a faculty member because I had awesome professors,” she said.

In her description of UM, she said, “It’s a place where a student can come and get very involved very quickly. Faculty members here have a tendency to take the students under their wing and really help them get to where they want to be. I found that as a student, and I try to do that as a faculty member. The faculty here really pushed me when I was a student.

They really challenged us.”

14 | Montevallo Today

During her 15 years as a faculty member at UM, Tidwell has focused on student success.

Her students comment that she will drop what she is doing to help them with whatever they need, whether it be an explanation of a concept, a reference letter or just a word of encouragement. Because she truly believes in the life-changing power of undergraduate research participation, Tidwell also took on the role of coordinator of the Undergraduate Research Program at UM. “Dr. Tidwell champions undergraduate research on our campus by reaching out to faculty and students in all areas of study and encouraging them to participate and present their work. For the past six years, she has taken students from all disciplines to the annual undergraduate research conference hosted by COPLAC,” said Dr. Houston Byrd, chair of the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Math at UM.

Tidwell was recently awarded The Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges’ (COPLAC) 2017 Charles Dunn Award which recognizes a faculty member whose commitment to student success goes “above and beyond” the classroom and office, the traditional roles of teacher, academic advisor and mentor. The faculty member will have demonstrated, over the course of many years, extraordinary attention to students as individuals who sometimes face unique challenges, both on and off campus, which may compromise their academic performance.

“Dr. Tidwell is considered one of our best teachers and mentors, and she does an outstanding job with our transformational Undergraduate Research Program. She is a dedicated and positive presence on our campus, and students greatly appreciate her passion for UM and for their success,” said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Mary Beth Armstrong.

“Undergraduate research can be transforming. It's an experience that, across campus, can make a substantial difference in people’s lives. It opens a lot of doors that may not necessarily be opened otherwise.” — Dr. Cindy Tidwell 1998 First Undergraduate Research Day held in Harman Hall

1996 Faculty attend research workshop

2004 McNair Scholars began participating in UR Day

2002 5th UR Day

2007 10th UR Day

2012 15th UR Day monetary awards began

2017 20th UR Day

2016 $500 scholarships began

T

he goal of Undergraduate Research Day is to involve students in their own learning, to develop teamwork and pride, to enhance interdisciplinary learning and to share in the exhilaration of discovery. Students from all four colleges at UM are invited to engage in research, scholarship and creative activity with faculty mentors, demonstrating their research via posters and oral presentations.

Through the Undergraduate Research Program at UM, students are given the opportunity to travel to national conferences across the U.S. to present their work. Students can take undergraduate research for credit hours and work one-on-one with a faculty member. Working directly with a faculty member offers a variety of benefits and is a great deal more instructional for the student. Research at Montevallo not only prepares students for the future but also instills confidence in all who participate.

The initiative for Undergraduate Research Day at UM began when former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Michael Rowland, professor emeritus, attended a National Undergraduate Research Day sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research. There he became convinced that Montevallo had the faculty and students who would benefit from an organized undergraduate research program because they were naturally inclined to work together on such

2017 — UR Day winners

16 | Montevallo Today

projects. Faculty and students were already working closely together on many projects. According to Rowland, in many respects, the foundation for Undergraduate Research Day at UM already existed, especially in psychology.

In December 1996, a team of five faculty members, which included Rowland, Dr. John Burling (psychology), Dr. Houston Byrd (chemistry), Dr. Bill Jones (math chair) and Dr. Jimmy Ochoa (math), traveled to a two-day workshop with the purpose of creating an undergraduate research program. Once this groundwork was established, plans were formulated for UM’s inaugural Undergraduate Research Day in spring 1998. Rowland credits the success of this endeavor to former President Robert McChesney and former Provost Wayne Seelbach.

“They were supportive in every way imaginable. They also attended every Undergraduate Research Day. Several years into the program, President McChesney arranged for the UM Foundation to make a substantial annual financial contribution to support the different aspects of undergraduate research. Later, alumni started to support the program as well, in particular Dr. Jo Rayfield ’62,” recalls Rowland.

The support allowed students to attend the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) Conference.

In subsequent years, the program continued to grow and flourish under the coordination

of Dr. Byrd, followed by Dr. Mike Hardig, Dr. Casey Bassett and Dr. Tracy Rockco, then jointly Dr. Ruth Truss and Dr. Cindy Tidwell.

Tidwell has led the efforts solo since 2012.

When the opportunity to serve as the coordinator of Undergraduate Research Day became available, Tidwell was excited to step up.

“Undergraduate research can be transforming.

It’s an experience that, across campus, can make a big difference in people’s lives. It opens a lot of doors that may not necessarily be opened otherwise,” she said.

In recent years, students have received travel awards to present their research to discipline-specific conferences. The University also takes ten students to the annual COPLAC southeast regional meeting of undergraduate research. When Dr. Suzanne Ozment became provost at UM in 2012, she added monetary awards for the top students presenting research.

Beginning in fall 2016, the Undergraduate Research Program has awarded $500 scholarships. “Because of the funds Dr. Jo Rayfield has provided, this year we were able to start giving an Undergraduate Research scholarship in the fall and in the spring,” explained Tidwell. This gift, along with funds provided by the UM National Alumni Association, made the 20th annual Undergraduate Research Day one to celebrate.

Alumni Share Their Thoughts and Experiences of Undergraduate Research Day I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in Undergraduate Research Day at Montevallo. My project, which grew from experiences in one of my English courses, led me to interview two of Alabama’s greatest writers, Mary Ward Brown and Montevallo’s own William Cobb, regarding their portrayals of white males in the New South. The process of preparing for those interviews taught me so much, and the conversations I had with these two writers are among the most memorable experiences of my undergraduate career.

When I think of that research project, it represents a point where I really took a step back and began to look and think critically about the world around me and my place in that world. The development of those skills directly contributed to my journey from Alabama to the Foreign Service. No matter where I have served, from South America to the Caribbean to the Middle East, my Alabama background has proved a remarkably relevant lens to see the beauty and complexity of other cultures. I am grateful to my Montevallo professors and my classmates for their encouragement and the support they gave me during my research project. –Bryan Marcus, 1998 participant, political and economic chief, U.S. Embassy Paramaribo, Suriname I was interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in political science, and I saw undergraduate research as a great way to learn about research and prepare for graduate school. I spent a month at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas doing an internship with ProBar, which provided free legal services to political asylum seekers being held in immigration facilities in that area. While there, I did research on the non-governmental organizations that had arisen in the area to provide legal and social services for migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees. For someone who grew up in Alabama, it was a life-changing experience.

Through the Undergraduate Research Program at UM, I learned how to conduct research and present my findings rather than just turn in a paper. As thrilled as I was with my project, I was also very impressed with all of the research my fellow students had produced. With this

project, I, along with several UM students, presented at the NCUR Conference in Rochester, New York. It was the first professional conference presentation that I had ever given.

This project really was the deciding factor for me in choosing to pursue a doctorate in political science. When I began my Ph.D. at the University of Southern California, directly after graduating from UM, I was intimidated by the knowledge and past experiences of my fellow graduate students. I told myself that I had completed one large project, so I could do another.

Now, I am a professor in the Department of Political Science at Midwestern State University, a COPLAC institution like Montevallo. We have our own undergraduate research program in which I have mentored undergraduate researchers. I try to bring the same level of support to their work as UM and my mentor, Dr. Scott Turner, gave to me. –Dr. Linda Veazey ’99, 1999 participant, assistant professor of political science, Midwestern State University I had some very influential professors — Dr. Mike Hardig and Dr. Clark Hultquist — who provided opportunities to work on some really interesting projects. It was really their research areas and their passion for pursuing their own work that spilled over and influenced me to engage in research myself.

Now I do research full time. The experience motivated me to pursue my own interests in environmental and natural resources law and policy. And the many professors under which I studied at UM gave me a passion for teaching.

I am so grateful to the University of Montevallo for placing an emphasis on undergraduate research. It really was a life-changing experience, and I hope the University continues to support it in the future! –Dr. Blake Hudson ’02, 2000, 2001, 2002 participant, professor of law, University of Houston Law Center I’ve always had a keen interest in the research process. As a psychology major at UM, I didn’t know much about Undergraduate Research Day when I was invited by the Psychology Program to participate. I’m really glad I

1998 — Inaugural UR Day

2001 — 4th Annual UR Day

2002 — Dr. Michael Rowland

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 17

2003 — 6th Annual UR Day got involved. Undergraduate research helped to determine my career trajectory and taught me a number of skills that still benefit me today. I became a better public speaker, I participated in the steps of the scientific method and I added to the scholarship in my discipline. I enjoyed the research process so much; it helped me begin to think about the possibilities of a career in academic librarianship. I followed that path after graduating and now I’m a librarian at UM. Remarkably, I’m now fortunate enough to work with students as they plan and complete their undergraduate research projects! –Amanda Melcher ’03, 2003 participant, associate professor, UM Carmichael Library

2004 — 7th Annual UR Day

2008 — 11th Annual UR Day

2011 — 14th Annual UR Day

18 | Montevallo Today

The Undergraduate Research Program at UM was the foundation of my entire career.

This program enabled me to successfully apply and pursue my doctorate in historical research at the University of Oxford. Since then, I have been employed on various research projects at the University of Nottingham and the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies at the University of Wales. I have published my research in various articles and in a book, I am a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and a member of various other research bodies in the U.K. I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate research experience at UM. This was a life-changing experience for me, and I am forever grateful to the University of Montevallo for offering undergraduate research as part of the curriculum. I would not be where I am today without undergraduate research. –Dr. Kelly Kilpatrick, 2004 participant, research fellow, University of Wales The skills I gained from learning to perform and present research were incredibly helpful to my career in management, my MBA program and now as a researcher and Ph.D. student at The University of Alabama.

The skills acquired through actually doing research projects (even if they don’t translate to your eventual career path) are some of the most

important a student can get from their college experience. Learning to ask questions, interpret data, think beyond surface answers and share knowledge with others has been vital to my success. I’d highly recommend students take the opportunity to participate! –Lindsey Sherrill ’07, MBA ’15, 2006 participant, research assistant and Ph.D. candidate in communication and information sciences, University of Alabama I thought it would be a great opportunity to research a topic of personal interest. I researched African American contributions to the Confederacy during the Civil War. Then Undergraduate Research Day really solidified my career goals. I enjoyed the research process, but I loved presentation day. I enjoyed speaking to various professors, guests and students about my research.

The long-lasting skills that I gained, such as looking at multiple perspectives, examining bias in primary sources, creating historical argumentation and presenting findings are skills I teach my students each year. –Dana Wright Marshall ’06, M.Ed. ’07, ’15, 2006 participant social science teacher, Ramsay High School I learned more about the nature of research, as well as the importance and impact research contributed to the field of education. I was grateful for the opportunity to bring my research home to my school after traveling around the country to present it to others. Conducting research broadened my abilities in my career and has enhanced my ability to search for best practices for working with at-risk populations. It also enabled me to have more ability to present information to my peers, clients, colleagues and superiors. –Jennifer Travis-Scott ’09, 2009 participant, substance abuse program coordinator, AIDS Alabama Undergraduate research at UM provided me the opportunity to dive deeper into my research interests, work closely with professors I respect and engage with diverse audiences who shared my passion for history. I learned that research is a

lot like detective work: looking for clues and connecting the dots until a nuanced picture emerges. I also learned that the Carmichael librarians can work miracles through interlibrary loan!

The process equipped me with invaluable skills I use daily in my career in nonprofit management. Participation in Undergraduate Research Day at UM gave me opportunities to engage and communicate with diverse audiences, a practice I regularly employ in my role as an executive director for a nonprofit. –Cristin Foster Brawner ’11, 2011 participant, executive director, David Matthews Center for Civic Life Undergraduate Research Day allowed me to hone my presentation skills before attending regional and national conferences and set me up with the ability to talk about my research confidently in graduate school interviews.

My research experiences and the presentation opportunities UR Day provided opened countless doors for me. I am now in a joint MD/Ph.D. training program funded by the National Institute for Health, and there is no way I would have been able to enter into such a program without the research experiences and training I was able to get while at Montevallo.

–Corey Duke ’13, 2013 participant, MD/Ph.D. candidate in neurobiology, UAB From Undergraduate Research Day at UM, I learned there are so many varied and interesting things people can research and learn. I was doing molecular biology, but I had friends presenting who had projects analyzing stand-up comedy or the portrayal of gender in manga/anime or an in-depth look at the life of Julia Tutwiler.

Currently I’m in medical school at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, and I honestly don’t think I’d be here without my research experience. The research Dr. Tinsley and I worked on led to two publications, and I’m sure that helped, too. It will also be helpful that I have research experience when I apply for residencies and fellowships later in my career, especially if I try to get a position at a research institution. –Perrin Windham ’15, 2014, 2015 participant, MD candidate, University of South Alabama I became interested in undergraduate research because I wasn’t satisfied just learning facts in the classroom. I wanted to experience

these concepts firsthand. While my major (chemistry) had plenty of labs, these felt somewhat confining. I wanted to use what I’d learned to create new things and explore new possibilities without a set of rules/instructions telling me what to do and how to do it.

From my experience in undergraduate research, I learned to organize and execute an independent project and to deal with the frustration of attempting something that had not been done before. I also gained a deeper understanding of my discipline, which would be difficult to imagine learning in the classroom.

My undergraduate research at UM was a crucial stepping stone to where I am now. –Steven Sartor ’15, 2015 participant, research assistant and Ph.D. candidate in chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder I heard about some of the projects that various science faculty were working on, and I couldn’t believe that they were so open to having students help out.

It sparked my interest, and I knew I wanted to do undergrad research at some point.

UR emphasizes the importance of critical and creative thinking. It’s a unique experience because it requires you to be skeptical, original, meticulous and open to new ideas all at the same time. Research is the pinnacle of undergraduate learning because the theoretical knowledge that you have learned in the classroom is solidified as you apply it in the “real world.” It’s one thing to learn about how scientific discovery is made, but it’s another to be a part of the discovery process.

Employers and graduate schools love to see undergraduate research experience because it shows that you can think for yourself and have a desire to innovate and learn. The faculty at Montevallo do so much to help students be involved in and succeed at research. –Nick Rivers ’17, 2015, 2017 participant, entering medical school at UAB Undergraduate Research Day is an incredible experience to not only share your research, but to also hear about other colleagues’ projects.

I always enjoy learning about nuances in the world of research.

My skills as a public speaker were enhanced by this experience. It is always good to practice public speaking and Undergraduate Research Day is a great way to do that. This experience challenged me to effectively communicate my research to an audience. –Xavier Scruggs ’18, 2017 participant M

For more, visit www.montevallo.edu/montevallo-today Share your Undergraduate Research Day memories: today@montevallo.edu

2013 — 16th Annual UR Day

2014 — 17th Annual UR Day

2016 — 19th Annual UR Day

2017 — 20th Annual UR Day

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 19

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Brandon Farmer synthesizes polymers for use in space.

Q&A

with Dr. Brandon Farmer ’99 20 | Montevallo Today

Where do you call home?

Huntsville, Alabama Where are you from?

Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Tell us about your family.

We have a very full house. I am married with two children, two dogs and a cat: all girls, so I am completely outnumbered. We have two beautiful girls, Adelaide and Beatrice “Birdie.” My wife is a chemistry graduate from UAB, and we met while teaching high school chemistry laboratories through Alabama Science in Motion. She practices as an OB-GYN in Huntsville.

What is your profession?

I am the director of advanced materials of the Aerospace Technologies Directorate at NeXolve. We focus on the synthesis of polymers designed to survive the harsh environment of space. I completed my Ph.D. in polymer chemistry at the University of Tennessee after receiving a B.S. in chemistry from UM. Tell us about your educational foundation.

I felt I had a great foundation and understanding of core chemistry concepts and had no difficulty transitioning to graduate school at a large university. In fact, I felt I had an advantage. Montevallo’s small class size was a significant benefit. It allowed the opportunity to work on instruments that most undergraduates are not afforded at larger universities.

I also benefited from the student-to-teacher ratio.

When the class has six or seven people, there is no place to hide if you don’t understand the material or haven’t kept up with the assigned work. The faculty was invested in our success and took the time to make sure we understood the material.

What skills did you gain from participating in Undergraduate Research Day at UM? Undergraduate Research Day showed me that communication is vital to the success of your research.

The research conducted may have been successful, but if the outcome of the research is not communicated well, then the impact of the research will be lost. This has been an important lesson that has followed me through my career in aerospace plastics and has been useful working on teams with different types of scientists towards a common goal.

How did undergraduate research affect your career?

Undergraduate research was a great kick-start to my graduate and professional career. I was able to get published in a total of four publications from

the two summers of research. When applying for graduate schools, I was accepted into every program, I believe in part, because of the research experience I already had as an undergraduate; I also think because of the close interactions in the labs and classes with Dr. Byrd and Dr. O’Donnell — their letters of recommendation to the universities was an additional benefit.

What awards/honors have you received? Is there a most significant honor? If so, please tell us about it.

I have received eight patents for various polymer inventions and an R&D 100 award for inventing a polymer that can survive the low earth orbit space environment. However, the one award that was the most significant, I received while in graduate school: the C.W. Keenan Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. It was an honor to have been chosen by the faculty at UT to receive the award. I enjoy my current profession, but I miss teaching. I would eventually like to get back into teaching chemistry at some point in my career.

What is your secret for success?

Learning how to fail. If there is one thing chemistry research teaches you, it is learning how things don’t work. In fact, it’s learning how lots and lots of experiments don’t work. Being able to look back on all the failed experiments is how you move forward with a successful research program. You set the goal before you start; you lay out the best approach to get to your goal. However, once the rubber hits the road and the experiments don’t turn out the way you thought they should, you have to regroup, review the results and then alter the approach for the goal.

What is your favorite Montevallo memory?

The first summer I lived away from home was also the first summer I lived in Montevallo. I think I played Rook or Spades every night (and maybe into the early morning). My days were spent doing research in the lab, and every evening I would get together with my friends at the fraternity house and play cards and then repeat. It was my version of Groundhog Day, and it was awesome.

For more, visit

www.montevallo.edu/montevallo-today

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 21

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES

1963

Alayne Jones Smith recently published her first novel, Ellen and the Three Predictions. The novel was a semi-finalist at the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition in 2016. Alayne lives in Atlanta with her husband, L.C.

1967

Cassandra King Conroy is the 2017 recipient of the Halls-Waters Prize for distinction in southern literature. On April 21, Cassandra gave a free public lecture at Troy University about her writing career.

1973

Sarah Kathy Farnell released her memoir, Duck and Cover: A Nuclear Family, which details her childhood in Cloverdale, Alabama, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In April, she signed copies of the book at libraries in Foley and Fairhope.

1974

Barbara Caldwell Guthrie recently retired after working as a promotion coach for Johns Hopkins University and as an instructional programs assistant for Cullman County Schools. Barbara taught for 30 years at the elementary and middle school levels.

1977

Thomas Johnson is the new head coach for the Berry College women’s basketball team in Mt. Berry, Georgia. Prior to the promotion, Thomas spent four years as the assistant coach for the Berry College men’s team.

Jo Kittinger was named to Positive Maturity’s Top 50 Over 50 in the class of 2017. The Birmingham author’s latest children’s book, The Beauty of Dreams, was published in 2014.

1980

Lou Vick celebrated 30 years

with the ARC of Walker County, Alabama, in May. Lou is currently the president and CEO.

1981

Craig Barlow is the new principal of Gwin Oaks Elementary in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Before this appointment, Craig spent four years as the assistant superintendent for elementary schools at the district office.

1982

Tommy Walker was hired as the head baseball coach by Bayside Academy in Daphne, Alabama.

1984

James E. Purcell M.Ed. is the new executive director of The Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Previously, James worked as the commissioner of postsecondary education for the state of Rhode Island.

We Want to Hear

FROM YOU!

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

22 | Montevallo Today

1986

Scott Brunner has joined the National Community Pharmacists Association in Alexandria, Virginia, as senior vice president for communications and state government affairs. Scott is the former CEO of the Georgia Pharmacy Association.

1987

Tricia Melton was named the new senior vice president of marketing for Freeform (formerly ABC Family) in May. Tricia has worked for more than a decade in television, most recently as the senior vice president of entertainment marketing and branding for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies. She has held similar positions for Lifetime, Oxygen and the Food Network.

1988

Janeice S. Calhoun was one of seven winners of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s

(AHSAA) Making A Difference Award. Janeice has spent more than 20 years at Chelsea High School coaching basketball, softball and volleyball. She now serves as the assistant athletics director.

1989

David A. Jones was named the provost of the Coastal Alabama Community Colleges’ Brewton and Atmore campuses. Prior to the appointment, David had been dean of student affairs and the athletics director at the Brewton Campus since 2005.

Alesia Burrell was recognized in the Clarke County Democrat for being an area leader. Alesia is the personnel manager of Clarke County, Alabama, where she ensures the county follows proper laws and guidelines.

Montevallo’s Vice President for Student Enrollment and Student Affairs. She will continue to serve in the role of Dean of Students.

1994

Amoi Geter was named the director of public relations for Alabama Power Co. Amoi formerly worked as the director of corporate communication for Mississippi Power Co. He now resides in Birmingham.

Chris Laatsch is the new athletics director at Helena High School.

Chris was the head basketball coach at the school for three years.

1995

1991

Elizabeth Brooks Brown of Albany, New York, was the recipient of the 2016 Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association. The achievement recognizes exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing and engagement.

Brooks currently works with Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

William “Craigger” Browne sculpted a life-size statue of Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan out of Sylacauga white marble that will be displayed near Keller’s childhood home in Tuscumbia.

Millard House was selected as the Clarksville-Montgomery director of schools in Clarksville, Tennessee. Millard will enter the position with 22 years of education experience, serving varied roles as a physical education teacher, assistant principal, principal, associate superintendent and deputy superintendent.

Morcease J. Beasley was named the superintendent of Clayton County Schools in Georgia. Previously, Morcease was the chief school improvement officer. He has served in other educational leadership positions in Alabama, Texas and Georgia.

Malinda Morgan M.Ed. recently accepted the position of principal of Christiansburg Elementary School in Christiansburg, Virginia. She brings 14 years of teaching experience and nine years of administrative experience to her new position.

1992

Dr. Tammi M. Dahle M.Ed. ’95 has been named the University of

Amanda Oswalt independently published a memoir of her life with scoliosis titled Bent. Amanda resides in Nashville where she works in marketing.

1997

Vickie Stine recently accepted the position of principal at Larne Elementary School in Clover,

South Carolina. Vickie will leave Clover Middle School after five years as assistant principal.

2001

Kristin Law has been selected as a governor’s appointee to serve on the Alabama State Board of Education’s Arts and Foreign Languages Committee. Kristin will assist the committee in drafting and creating a curriculum for the Visual Arts course of study.

Currently, Kristin serves as the art programs and marketing director at Black Belt Treasures Cultural Center in Camden.

Elizabeth Gassel Perkins has been hired as the new provost and chief campus academic officer of St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ashley N. Waid is the new CEO of the Tuscaloosa YMCA, the first woman to hold that position.

Before joining the organization in 2014, Ashley taught first grade in Bibb County, Alabama, for eight years.

2005

Matt Walker was promoted to the UM director of grant proposals after serving as grant proposal coordinator for approximately two years.

James Cavale founded Influencer, a new company that utilizes an original software called INFCLR SaaS to track student-athletes’ social media accounts to better promote college athletic departments. James lives in Birmingham with his wife, Yazmin.

2003

2007

2002

Chasidy Atchison and Billy Atchison ’04, along with business partner Sebastian Kegel opened their first brick-and-mortar coffee shop of Banjo Cold Brew in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Previously, Banjo Cold Brew coffee was sold at Atlanta-area farmers markets, selected restaurants and specialty grocery stores.

2004

Kay Butts-Pruett was recently promoted to associate director of individual giving at the Young Survival Coalition. In 2016, Kay received the organization’s Staff Excellence Award. She resides in New York City.

Deborah Hill Blanco was promoted to the role of human relations manager at UAB’s Callahan Eye Hospital and Clinic. Deborah is currently working toward her MSHRM and is projected to complete her degree in spring 2018.

Dr. Bruce Finklea, assistant professor of mass communication at UM, recently won two first place awards from the National Electronic Media Association’s Professional and Alumni Production Competition for his commercial and special open video for UM’s Falcon Weekly.

Rev. Brandt Montgomery is the new associate rector of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette, Louisiana. Brandt is the former chaplain of the church’s parochial day school.

He is also pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

2008

Dr. Jeff Walker recently accepted a position as the lead academic writing and communication instructor for the Graduate School’s Professional Development Program at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 23

CLASS NOTES

2011

William Conyers has been hired as the principal of Franklin-Simpson middle school in Franklin, Kentucky. William served as the assistant principal of Rudd Middle School in Birmingham for five years prior to taking the new position.

2012

Erik Cederholm earned an M.A. in higher education administration at Louisiana State University and accepted a position as new student programming coordinator at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

2013

Kate Wilson’s art exhibit “The Plurality of Expression” was featured in Chelsea’s Agora Gallery in New York City earlier this year.

Kate currently works and resides in Los Angeles.

2014

Kaitlee Daw Glaze accepted a position as grants coordinator at Camp Fire Alabama in Birmingham.

Jessica Clark Hairston of Fort Payne, Alabama, was named one of Dekalb County’s Top 40 Leaders of 2017 by the Fort Payne Times-Journal.

Jerone Wiggins Ed.S. ’16 accepted the role of assistant principal at Pelham High School.

He currently lives in Roebuck, Alabama, with his wife and their two children.

2015

Charlotte Quinn, of Huntsville, is now the marketing coordinator at Red Sage Communications, Inc. in Decatur, Alabama.

Rebecca White recently received a 2017 American In-house Design Award from Graphic Design U.S.A. in the direct mail category for her dress album ad. Rebecca works as a graphic artist for MSpark in Helena, Alabama.

2016 24 | Montevallo Today

Katy Beddingfield is a wig

and makeup intern for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Claire Derosa is the marketing and administrative coordinator at Vaco Birmingham.

Alyson Onie Harkins recently accepted a position as a support team member at Birmingham-based company TicketBiscuit.

Roosevelt Mendez has been hired as a financial aid assistant at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham.

Jasmine Thomas was recently hired as compliance and game day operations assistant for the UM Athletics Department. When she was a student, Jasmine played on the women’s basketball team.

WEDDINGS

2006

Charlotte Ingram and Andrea Bliss ’11 were wed on Dec. 19. Andrea works as a certified medical administration assistant at Seale Harris Clinic, and Charlotte is an inventory manager. The couple resides in Hoover, Alabama.

2011

Christopher H. Wiley and Cindy Smitherman were married June 17 at Flagstone Farm in Vance, Alabama. Chris currently works with Alabama Power Co., and Cindy is a physical education teacher at West Blocton Elementary School.

2013

Betsy Stevenson and Daniel Farris ’13 were married on May 26 at the Lodge and Cocktail Slough in Alexander City. Betsy received her Doctorate in Optometry from the UAB School of Optometry in May. Daniel works at the Thompson Sixth-Grade Center in Alabaster and is pursuing his Master of Education at UM. The couple resides in Clanton, Alabama.

2015

Kristen Herman and Evan Hughes were married on April 29 at

Wilkes Cove in Ozark, Alabama.

Kristen is a dietitian at Westside Terrace Health and Rehab, while Evan is a registered nurse in Flowers Hospital’s Emergency Department. The couple resides in Dothan, Alabama.

in Andalusia with their older son, Brady.

2002

Jessica Ward gave birth to twins Paul and Hannah Ward on March 9, 2016. She currently lives in Hoover with her husband, Danny.

Brandi Pate M.Ed. ’17 and Caleb McIntyre ’17 were wed May 6 in Helena, Alabama.

Caleb works as a test proctor at ProctorU, and Brandi works for Old Navy.

2006

2016

2015

Katie Fancher and Taylor Caffee were wed April 8 at Gulf Shores State Park. Katie is currently employed by the Chilton County Department of Human Resources, while Taylor works at Bibb Medical Center. The couple resides in Brent, Alabama.

Mattelyn Cleckler and Hunter McCay were wed Jan. 20 in Clanton, Alabama, at Zion Ridge Church of God. Mattie works for Todd’s Produce and Gifts in Clanton, while Hunter works at West Fraser Timber in Maplesville.

Cody Hughes and Connor Simmons were married April 22 in Cullman, Alabama. The couple resides in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where Cody works as the assistant strength and condition coach for the McNeese State University Cowboys baseball team.

BIRTHS

1994

James. E. Jones and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their baby daughter, Ellie Grace Jones, on Feb. 27.

James currently works at the U.S. Department of Transportation and is an adjunct professor for University of Maryland University College. The family resides in Largo, Florida.

2001

Leslie Norris and Kirk Norris ’02, M.Ed. ’04 welcomed their second son, Tyler Drew Norris, on Sept. 30, 2016. The two reside

Alicia and Kevin Smith welcomed their daughter, Zelda Louise Smith, on April 23. The two live in Calera with their older daughter, Clara.

Whitney Denson Ballard gave birth to her second son, Gideon Thorn, May 2. Whitney teaches at William R. Martin Middle School and lives in Valley Grande, Alabama, with her husband, Chase, and oldest son, Briar.

DEATHS

1938

Martha Massey Griffin, 101, of Troy, Alabama, died April 20.

Martha taught home economics and science for 32 years.

1939

Josephine Landson Grissette, 98, of Montgomery, died April 8.

Josephine taught home economics for more than 30 years and was the food service supervisor for Montgomery County Schools for 10 years. In 2001, she was inducted into the Lee High School Hall of Fame for her many accomplishments.

1942

Minnie Allison Stuart, 98, of Anniston, Alabama, died March 25. She is survived by four generations of nieces and nephews.

1944

Virginia West Benton, 95, of Opp, Alabama, died April 19.

Virginia was a mother of two and owned her own photography business in Opp called Virginia’s Studio.

Kathleen Strickland Cawthon, 93, of Montgomery, died April 6.

She and husband William had adjacent medical practices at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery for more than 30 years. Kathleen was an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Montgomery.

1945

Catherine Carroll Gorder, 92, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, died March 23. Shortly after graduating, Cathy was recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, secretly housed in Oak Ridge during WWII. While there, she met her husband, Winfred, and later retired to raise her family.

1947

Kathleen “Kitty” Cheape, 91, of Meadows of Dan, Virginia, died March 9. Kitty was a published author and an assistant law librarian for UNC-Chapel Hill for more than 20 years.

died May 3. Barbara loved attending Alabama football games with her husband, Ralph Smith Jr., and always made a point to watch them on TV.

1951

Martha Betty Boyett, 88, of Mobile, died April 19. Martha owned and operated Haynie’s Drug Store in Opelika with her husband for a number of years. She loved her husband, her children, her cats, her dogs and her books.

1953

Ramona House Wilson, 84, of Gordo, Alabama, died April 20.

After living for many years in Lenoir, North Carolina, Ramona and husband Oran moved back to the family farm in Gordo to retire. They spent the last few years adding to their farmhouse and watching their family grow.

1948

1954

1949

1956

Virginia Henderson Williams, 91, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, died May 5. Virginia, or “GoGo” to friends and family, was a longtime educator in the Leake County School System and a tireless missionary and steward for her church, Carthage United Methodist.

Ruth Hardwick Perry, 92, of Foley, Alabama, died March 14.

Ruth spent her retirement years fishing and gardening in the Gulf Coast climate of Foley. Ruth was known for her generosity toward friends, family and charities.

1950

Elizabeth D. Hofmann, 88, of Sacramento, California, died April 17. Elizabeth taught for many years at the San Juan School District, eventually becoming principal of Mora Loma High School for approximately 20 years. She enjoyed gardening, sailing, hiking, skiing and spending time with her family.

Barbara “Bobbie Lou” Smith, 88, of Guntersville, Alabama,

Alice Rainer, 85, of Opp, Alabama, died Feb. 26. She was known best as one half of piano duettists, the Rainer Sisters. She performed around the country with her twin, Clarice ’54. After living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for a number of years, the two semi-retired and returned to Opp.

Wiladele Nixon LeBlanc, 82, of Bearsville, New York, died April 27. After a few years as a library clerk and high school teacher, Wiladele was an employment recruiter for Korn Ferry International and later a grant writer at Ulster County Community College. Wiladele was an avid reader and fan of crossword puzzles.

IN MEMORIAM

H. Conrad Blackerby H. CONRAD BLACKERBY ’66, 76, died March 1. Conrad grew up in Bessemer. In 1959, he joined the Air Force and was based at the Greek isle of Crete and Edinburgh, Scotland. When he returned to the U.S., he chose to attend the University of Montevallo.

While at UM, he met Barbara ’65, his wife of more than 50 years and the mother of his three daughters, Sharon, Sheila and Shea.

After graduating in 1966, he began a business career in the Birmingham area. He started as assistant controller at U.S. Pipe and Foundry in Birmingham, then became controller of U.S. Home Corporation in Clearwater, Florida. He later returned to Birmingham to become Vice President of Harrison Industries.

In 1977, a career-making opportunity as the president and CEO of West American Rubber Company caused Conrad to move his family to Orange County, California.

After 20 years leading and eventually owning West American, Conrad retired in 1998. He spent the next 20 years traveling the world, improving his golf game, collecting art and spending quality time with his family.

His retirement also spurred him into new philanthropic interests which included his alma mater. Between 2002 and 2016, Conrad made significant gifts to the University of Montevallo. In 2015, Conrad and Barbara helped fund the construction of the new 3-D Art Complex, with the H. Conrad and Barbara Blackerby Ceramics Studio named in their honor.

“The new 3-D Art Building brings forth an outstanding venue where students and teachers alike will share in the creative process, producing great works of art to inspire others,” said Barbara Blackerby during the building’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

Sarah Booth Mooneyham, 82, of Wetumpka, Alabama, died April 10. She shared her love of science with many students throughout the state during her years as a secondary science teacher and shared her love of God through song.

1958

Dorothy Clark “Ginger” Flowers, 80, of Atlanta, died Feb. 4.

Photo by Amy Baldis ’10 The H. Conrad and Barbara Blackerby Ceramics Studio in UM’s 3-D Art Complex.

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CLASS NOTES

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. John B. Lott Ginger was a flight attendant for more than 30 years, retiring from Eastern Airlines in 1991.

1959

Barbara Walker Jones, 79, of Montgomery, died April 17.

Barbara spent more than 30 years as a teacher, educating students in six different school systems. In 1994, UM honored her with the Alumnus Loyalty Award for her dedication to the University.

Patricia Shewbart, 81, of Vina, Alabama, died Feb. 16. She was a teacher for more than 30 years in Lawrence County.

1961

Sylvia Emily Pound Trimble, 78, of Yorktown, Virginia, died March 1. Sylvia was an accomplished teacher, at one point receiving the Presidential Citation for the development of gifted and talented students. Sylvia also traveled the world, teaching at the American School of Madrid in Spain and was once briefly detained by the KGB while traveling through Russia.

1962

Carol Diane Bond, 77, of Clermont, Florida, died May 17. She married her husband, Richard, in 1963 after graduating. Carol had a heart for mission work.

26 | Montevallo Today

Roy Mitchell McCaig, 78, of Lincoln, Alabama, died April 13. Roy was a lifelong resident of Talladega County and owned McCaig Motels and McCaig Properties. Roy’s wife, Wanda, and daughter, Angel, were by his side.

Jane Rucks, 77, of Huntsville, died Feb. 19. Before retiring, Jane was an educator at Anderson Christian School in Anderson, South Carolina.

1964

Jerry Atkins, 75, of Somerville, Alabama, died Feb. 1. Jerry was a star athlete during his time at UM, serving as captain of both the baseball and basketball teams as well as achieving the status of All-Alabama Collegiate Conference Player. He later became a teacher and coach at several schools.

Howard Griffin Rogers, 80, of Morgan City, Louisiana, died April 21. He was a veteran, teacher, father and husband.

Howard was principal at Sumpter Williams and Shannon Elementary until his retirement.

1965

Glenda Ann Anderson, 73, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died Feb. 24. Glenda was a teacher at the Montessori Institute of Tidewater

DR. JOHN B. LOTT, professor emeritus and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences died May 4.

Joining the faculty in 1959, John was a well-loved, prominent figure on campus for more than 35 years. He met his wife, Sandra, when she joined the English faculty in 1960.

John spent his entire teaching and administrative career at the University of Montevallo, taking part in some of the school’s most formative and transitional years. He was a faculty member and administrator during the crucial years in which Alabama College became the University of Montevallo and during which the student body and curriculum of the school grew and changed dramatically.

Beginning as an assistant professor of English, John served as professor and Chair of the English Department (1962-1980) and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1980-1989). He then went on to serve as Director of International/Intercultural Studies until his retirement in 1995.

and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Glenda also advocated for the rights of veterans, especially those with PTSD, through the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

William R. Billotte, 73, of La Marque, Texas, died May 18.

William was a coach and history teacher in Irwin County, Georgia, before moving to Texas to pursue a career in insurance and be closer to his parents.

James Howard Bramblett, 73, of Birmingham, died March 25.

James was the owner and creator of Jimco Services and a former employee of the Electrolux Division of Sara Lee. John Golden English, 73, of Pleasant Grove, Alabama, died April 10. John was a communications specialist in the Marine Corps for seven years and achieved the rank of staff sergeant. In addition to being a beloved family man, John served as treasurer for The Elks Club.

1970

Jessie Ed Greer, 73, of Greensboro, Alabama, died Feb. 5. Ed worked for the Hale County Board of Education where he was a coach and history/drivers’ education teacher.

1971

Dr. William Michael Burgan, 67, of Columbus, Georgia, died Oct. 25, 2016. William had a long career in higher education, working as a professor in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, Florida and Colorado.

William also served as a psychologist at Pastoral Institute where he combined his two main passions: Christianity and psychology.

1972

Willie Lee Brown M.Ed., 73, of Birmingham, died May 13. After spending 10 years as a teacher in Jefferson County, Willie joined the Birmingham Police Department, eventually earning the rank of sergeant before retiring in 2010.

Willie was also a deacon at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and played in the church orchestra.

Wallace Hubert Thompson Jr., 72, of Lexington, Alabama, died May 9. Wallace had a career in banking and worked for the FDIC for several years. He was also a Bible class teacher and devoted member of Northside Church of Christ in Lexington.

Fara Payne Zaleski, 66, of Montgomery, died April 6. Fara worked for more than 20 years at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. She was

a devoted member of Eastern Hills Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher, church librarian and singer in the choir.

1973

Guinevere Robinson Clifton, 81, of Hoover, died April 20.

Guinevere was the first recipient of a Master’s of Fine Arts degree in UM’s history. She also had an illustrious 40-year teaching career, earning the distinction of Who’s Who Among American Teachers five times.

Ralph Thompson, 93, of Bay Minette, Alabama, died April 27.

Ralph was a WWII veteran and a retired agent for the Baldwin County Extension Service for more than 40 years.

1974

Howard Bailey, 73, of The Villages, Florida, died March 9. Howard was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and worked at IBM for 37 years before working for Golf Management Solutions of The Villages.

Nancy Murphree, 64, of Huntsville, died Feb. 24. Nancy was a resident of Huntsville for

nearly 40 years, working in the Huntsville City school system as a teacher and principal.

Kathy Starr, 64, of Caledonia, Mississippi, died April 1. Kathy was a soft-line manager at K-Mart for more than 20 years.

1975

Wallace Bart Avery, 65, of Tuscaloosa, died May 26. Wallace’s career in the trucking industry brought him to cities across the southeast including Huntsville, Little Rock, New Orleans and Mobile. He was a member of Sertoma Service Club in Tuscaloosa and loved to play sports.

1976

Hon. Jerry Randall Shirey, 75, of Semmes, Alabama, died Tuesday, May 30. Jerry’s time in the U.S. army as a chaplin’s assistant later led him to be a counseling psychologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs and a VA certifying official for Bishop State Community College. After retiring, Jerry became a founding father for the city of Semmes and served as a city councilman.

1977

Janice Keel, 60, of Canton, Georgia, died on Feb. 1. Janice had two children and loved the beaches of Destin, Florida, where she lived for a number of years.

1979

Wilbert C. Schwartz M.Ed., 89, of Johnson City, Tennessee, died May 29. Wilbert was a resident of Johnson City for most of his life. He served as a church deacon for more than 60 years and a teacher for approximately 40.

1986

Regina Danette Tawbush, 52, of Cleveland, Alabama, died March 4.

Regina taught science for 29 years at Hayden and Cleveland high schools and coached volleyball.

1991

Robert Trey Hughes, 49, of Alabaster, died April 14. Shortly after graduating, Trey became the editor of the Clanton Advertiser and successfully turned the paper from a weekly to a daily publication. He later worked as the director of communications for the International Code Council in Birmingham. Trey

loved sports, country music and his family.

1999

Stephanie Slone, 56, of Anniston, Alabama, died April 17. Stephanie was a member of Word Alive Church.

2006

Stephanie Foster, 34, of Helena, Alabama, died on June 17. Stephanie was a teacher at Odyssey Early School.

CONDOLENCES To the family of professor emeritus, Dr. David Michael Martin Sr., 69, of Montevallo, who died on March 7. David was a pioneer in the field of early childhood education in Alabama. He received the College Night dedication in 1975 and received the Fireman of the Year award for his service on the city’s volunteer fire department.

To Dr. Phyllis Richardson Spruiell ’74, emeriti, on the death of her daughter, Lauren Spruiell Nickels, 36, who died March 1 in Leeds, Alabama.

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www.montevallo.edu/alumni | 27

ALUMNI EVENTS

Chilton County Alumni Club Wine Tasting at Hidden Meadow Vineyard & Winery 1 Dr. Lisa Green Clark ’97 shows her alumni pride at the wine tasting; 2 From left: Bill Bailey, Fred Crawford ’68, Eddie Reed ’73, Dr. Lisa Green Clark ’97, Matthew Clark, Cassie Popwell ’15, Beth Rockco, Dr. Tracy Rockco ’94.

2

Atlanta Area Alumni Gathering 3 Atlanta area alumni from the 1960s to 2000s gather for dinner at Uncle Julio’s Perimeter in Atlanta; 4 From left: Keith Shoemaker ’98 and Jordan Hutchison ’10 anxiously await the breaking of the dessert piñata.

Shelby County Alumni Club Benefit Bash 5 Debbie Kennedy ’73 is the jackpot winner of prizes totaling more than $1,000; 6 Shana Reach ’95 shows off the Pandora bracelet, donated by Paul’s Diamond Center of Alabaster, that she was able to take home from the Benefit Bash; 7 UM Assistant Professor of Political Science Andrea Eckelman excitedly shows off her prize package.

Alumni spotted at events held from March through June

1

River Region Alumni Club at the Montgomery Biscuits Baseball Game 8 Alumni from the River Region gather at the Riverwalk Stadium City Suite to see the Montgomery Biscuits take on the Birmingham Barons; 9 Devin Bridges and Alison Bridges M.Ed. ’11; 10 Rowena West ’04, of Selma, wins a special prize bag for being the alumna who drove the farthest to attend the River Region Alumni event.

Junior Board Spring Soirée 11 Joel Harris ’02, social chair of the Jr. Board, checks final details before the event starts; 12 The Spring Soirée and Silent Auction has become a favorite event of many young alumni;

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28 | Montevallo Today

5

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7

8

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10

12 13 Brothers of Alpha Kappa Lambda enjoy the photo booth provided by Elevated Entertainment.

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Night at the Ballpark sponsored by the Jefferson County Alumni Club and Junior Alumni Board 14 From left: Mike Smith, Karen Willette ’87 and Virginia Young ’84 enjoy each other’s company while waiting on the rain-delayed game to begin; 15 Genelle Powell ’87 shows off her Montevallo spirit at the Barons baseball game; 16 From left: Ashley Irvin and her fiancé Garrett Lenzie ’16, Stacy Daniels ’16, Zachary Banks ’08; 17 Sitting: Ronnie Jackson ’73, Chris Jackson ’73, Kit Waters ’78, Keith Waters, Karen Kelly ’80, Sandi Falkenhagen ’68, Brent Falkenhagen; standing: Diane Ray ’68, Paul Doran ’68.

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ALUMNI EVENTS

Delta Sigma Theta Celebrates 40th Anniversary It has been 40 years since Delta Sigma Theta became the first chartered black organization at the University of Montevallo. On April 22, alumnae of the Nu Omicron chapter returned to campus to celebrate that milestone as a part of a weekend-long celebration.

Attendees arrived early to begin the day’s festivities. They started the day at Palmer Hall where they posed for a group photo on the front steps before participating in a campus tour led by current SGA President Liz Juarez, and orientation leaders Nia Taylor and Terrence Boykin. The group enjoyed touring facilities and reminiscing with each other about time spent at UM.

30 | Montevallo Today

After the tour, more than 100 attendees checked in at the alumni tent at University Lake where they received plenty of Montevallo merchandise. Greetings were extended to the group by reunion organizer Dr. Terra Miller ’06; Cedric Norman ’09, assistant director of student life; and Dr. Tracy Rockco, alumni director. Attendees spent the afternoon eating a catered barbeque lunch, listening to music, playing games and discussing future plans.

At the conclusion of lunch, the alumnae members held a meeting, deciding to establish an agency fund to support the Nu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. One of the endeavors of the fund will be to establish an annual scholarship. They also elected to contribute to the financial emergency and food assistance programs through the UM Counseling Center to benefit current students.

For some attendees, it was their first return to campus in nearly 30 years. “It was such a pleasure to work with Terra in providing support for Saturday’s event. She worked diligently

with picnic co-organizers Kenya Thomas ’05 and Jana Singleton Taylor ’94 to make it a huge success. It was amazing to talk with the women as they checked in, to hear what it was that brought them back and some of their favorite memories from their time at UM. I hope they all feel welcome to return often and be a part of other alumni activities,” said Rockco.

She went on to say, “It is especially notable they not only wanted to gather to pay tribute to their history, but also to recognize ways they can support current UM students. That is what it means to be an alumna of the University of Montevallo.”

Above, left: Dr. Terra Miller ’06 with the daughter of Tynea Swain O’Neal; above, center: Reunion weekend attendees pose for a group photo on the steps of Palmer Hall; above, right, from left: (front row) Charter members: Shirley Colvin, Phyllis Branch, Brenda Essix, Luretta Livingston, (second row) Cheryl Myrick, Connie Sheppard, Geri Horn, Linda Cunningham, Judy Washington, Cathy Gilbert, Tiajuana Conwell; (not pictured) Sheilah Frazier; left: April Ray ’10 and Kirbie Delanie ’10.

ALUMNI NEWS

T

A Legacy Worth Sharing

he University of Montevallo is steeped in traditions passed down from class to class — whether it’s the robing of the seniors at Founders’ Day, the intellectual smackdown of the Life Raft Debate or the month-long celebration of school spirit in College Night.

However, some alumni share an even greater sense of lineage with members of younger graduating classes: their children. Legacy students are individuals who walk the same brick streets as their parents or grandparents. There’s more benefit to being a legacy student than simply sharing memories, though. A special books scholarship is reserved for the children of active donating alumni who hold a degree from UM. One of the current scholarship recipients is Stephen Gilbert, a longtime resident of Montevallo, whose parents met while attending school at UM in the 80s. After a brief stint working at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, his mom, Sharon Gilbert, returned to Montevallo to work as the director of Upward Bound.

Because of Sharon’s role at UM, Stephen basically grew up on campus. He attended Montevallo Elementary, Middle and High School.

When it came time to consider higher education, he had a simple reply when Sharon asked him where he wanted to attend. “Mom, why would I want to go anywhere else?” he asked.

Stephen is now a UM history major, sharing a similar love for the social sciences with his mother. “I’m happy because my son is following my scholarship and my legacy,“ said Sharon. During orientation week, Stephen said he met lifelong friends. Because he knew the community like the back of his hand, he acted as their unofficial guide to Montevallo.

The Howards are another family rooted firmly at UM. Mary and Joe Howard met and fell in love while attending UM in the late 80s and early 90s. Joe even proposed to Mary on the stage of Palmer Auditorium after she co-led the Gold Side to victory in 1991.

Their son Ryan now attends UM as an honors student preparing to enter his junior

year. While Mary and Joe remain loyal alumni who return every year for College Night, they encouraged Ryan to make his college experience his own.

“Our hope was that Ryan would chart his own path at UM. So far, he has done this and has exceeded our expectations,” said Mary.

The familial bond has persisted however, with Ryan majoring in accounting like his father and following in Mary’s footsteps as an active and loyal Gold. He even penned the script that earned Gold Side a victory last February.

Thanks to Mary and Joe’s active status, Ryan also receives financial support from the Alumni Legacy Scholarship.

For more information on the legacy scholarship, visit www.montevallo.edu/alumni/ scholarships or call the Alumni Office at 205-665-6215.

Above: Alumna Sharon Gilbert and son Stephen share college experiences on the brick streets.

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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 montevallotickets.universitytickets.com

September 9

City of Montevallo Bicentennial Celebration

October 12

121st Founders’ Day Convocation, Palmer Hall, 11 a.m.

UMNAA Board meeting, Merrill Room, 1 p.m.

Alumni Awards Dinner, Anna Irvin, 6 p.m.

October 13

50th Annual Olympics Day Golf Tournament Hosted by the Department of Athletics, Montevallo Golf Course, 10:30 a.m.

October 14

Greek Alumni Reunion University Lake Pavilion, 2-5 p.m.

December 8

Graduate Reception SAC concourse, 4 p.m. followed by Commencement, 5 p.m.

DEADLINES

September 7

James Wilkinson Greek Loyalty Hall of Fame Award Send nomination to Stephanie Shaw, Greek Alumni Club chair, at stephbshaw@gmail.com.

November 1

Distinguished Alumnus Award, Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award and Nathalie Molton Gibbons Young Achievers Award Submit nominations at www.montevallo.edu/ alumni-association-awards.

December 1

Alumni Leadership Scholarship for entering freshmen Applications may be submitted at www.montevallo.edu/alumni/ scholarships.

SAVE THE DATE

Homecoming: Sentimental Journey February 9-10, 2018

ATTENTION ALUMNI! We are looking for reunion chairs and committee members for

Homecoming 2018. If you graduated in 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 or 2008, please contact Tracy Rockco, director of Alumni Affairs, at paynet@montevallo.edu or 205-665-6215. The Homecoming theme is Sentimental Journey where we will welcome alumni to travel home.