MONTEVALLO TODAY Vol. C, No. 2 Fall 2011 Montevallo Today (ISSN 1052-3634) is published three times a year by the University of Montevallo, Alumni Relations/Public 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. Text, photographs and graphic images included in this publication may not be reproduced without written permission from the editor. The University of Montevallo does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or in the provision of services.

The fall 2011 semester has been filled with posi-tive news for the University of Montevallo! First, it is my distinct pleasure to be able to report a 17 percent increase among freshmen in the enrollment figures for fall 2011. This is due in part to our new enrollment management ini-tiative, as well as the efforts of every member of the campus community in telling the Montevallo story far and wide. Among the University’s goals is to increase overall enrollment by 500 under-graduate students during the next five years. Our overall enrollment for fall 2011 includes 2,542

undergraduate students and 525 graduate students, for a total student enroll-ment of 3,067. I am also pleased to report that as of the close of the annual fund year on Sept. 30, alumni giving rates have increased from 9.84 percent to 13.72 percent in just one year, with 909 new alumni donors. In addition, the faculty/staff campaign met its participation goal of 70 percent. My hat is off to each and every one of you who has chosen to support Montevallo and her students! We know we offer an outstanding value in higher education. Our 17:1 student/faculty ratio and the fact that 95 percent of our faculty members hold either the Ph.D. or other terminal degree in their fields speaks to the high-quality educational experience we offer. That we are able to do so with a cost of attendance that is less than $13,000 per year — a fraction of the cost of a comparable experience elsewhere — is yet another point of pride that adds to our value. Positive exposure has come to the University as a result of our branding efforts, which were launched on campus Sept. 21 to an enthusiastic crowd of more than 1,000. Students, alumni, faculty and staff, members of the board of trustees and the city of Montevallo community, legislators and other dignitaries, as well as area television and newspaper media converged on Main Quad on a beautiful autumn afternoon to witness the unveiling of the University’s new logo and marketing direction. The logo, known as the “falcon M,” will become an important part of the University’s identity in future marketing efforts, standing as an outward symbol of the exciting things happening within our gates. We endeavored to create a new brand that would honor Montevallo’s deep traditions and simultaneously attract promising, prospective students to our campus. For a look at the logo, see page 4. Since its humble beginnings in 1896, Montevallo has grown to become a leading institution of higher learning in the state and region. Our liberal-arts foundation makes us attractive to thinking, doing, achieving students who are not only serious about their education, but who are also driven to change the world. The magic that takes place in our classrooms is what truly defines us. Now it is time to share that magic with the world, and especially with the young men and women in our state and region. We invite each of you to sail with us on this exciting journey!

President’s Message

EDITORTiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00bunttr@montevallo.edu

ASSOcIATE EDITORS Susan Howard ’11prnews@montevallo.edu

Diane Kennedy-Jackson kennedyd@montevallo.edu

AlUMNI EDITORRacheal Banks ’99banksrb@montevallo.edu

clASS NOTES EDITORMarsha littletonlittletonm@montevallo.edu

PHOTOgRAPHERSMatt Orton, Andrea Echols ’12, Brittany Headley ’14, Ashlynn Postell ’13

DESIgNERSTiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, Justin Barron ’12, Janessa Mobley ’12

cONTRIBUTORSJames Bessette, Hollie cost, Jeremy Dunn ’11, Sherry Ford ’94, Sean Forrester, laurel Hitch-cock, Tracy Payne ’94, cynthia Tidwell ’94, leonor Vazquez-gonzalez

AlUMNI ASSOcIATION

UMNAA President—Kit Waters ’78

President-Elect—Jim Methvin ’73

Past President/ParliamentarianKaren Kelly ’80

Alumni Council RepresentativeRay Jones ’60

Admissions Representativegreg Embry ’96

Faculty Representativecarolyn Miller-Kirby

SGA PresidentSherrod Hall ’12

UMNAA Vice PresidentsBarbara Bonfield ’58, cynthia cephus ’88, Sandi Falkenhagen ’68, Wadia B. Josof ’79, larry Peevy ’67, laurl Self ’94, Keith Shoemaker ’98

Members at LargeJeffery J. Adams ’85, Matthew Arnold ’93, glenda l. Bland ’89, Barbara J. Bradford ’56, Vera cox ’56, Anne caley Hamilton ’64, claudia Harrell ’73, Michael E. Malone ’69, Andy Meginniss ’68, Jalete J. Nelms ’90, J. corey Stewart ’03, David W. Thomas ’97, Missy Watkins Wood ’80, Warwick Mann Woodall ’82

Ex-OfficioJohn W. Stewart IIIRacheal B. Banks ’99greg lee ’99

Montevallo TodayUniversity of Montevallo alumni magazine

In this Issue 4 University celebrates new branding efforts

gathered to celebrate The Main Event on Sept. 21 are (left to right) Shelby county Sheriff chris curry; state Rep. Kurt Wal-lace, District 42; state Sen. Jabo Waggoner; state Rep. April Weaver, District 49; state Sen. cam Ward; state Rep. Mike Hill, District 41; Todd Strange, mayor of Montgomery and chair of UM’s Board of Trustees; Ben Mccrory, mayor of Montevallo; and John W. Stewart III, president of the University of Montevallo.

14 Montevallo on the Move: helping neighbors in needJasmine Pearson helps serve a meal to survivors and relief workers after April’s deadly tornadoes in Pleasant grove. Many UM stu-dents, faculty and staff members gave time, energy, supplies and monetary donations to help the clean-up and restoration efforts in several communities statewide.

27 Young alum hikes Appalachian trailJeremy Dunn, a recent UM graduate, embarked on a hiking odyssey on the Appalachian Trail just days after commencement. That journey lasted more than four months and proved to be “much more than a walk in the woods.”

Departments 4 Campus News

12 Sports

15 Guest Essay

16 Montevallo Profile

18 Class Notes

26 Alumni Activities

On the cover

James R. “Deno” Wilkinson, associate dean of student affairs emeritus, checks out the new

Wilkinson Student Life Center in the recently renovated Farmer Hall. The center is named in

honor of “Deno,” who served Montevallo for more than 30 years (1960-1991), first as dean

of men, then as dean of student life, and finally as associate dean of student affairs, earning the

status of Honorary Alumnus. More on the reno-vation of Farmer Hall can be seen on page 7.

COVER PHOTO: MATT ORTON

page 4

page 14

page 27

Unconventional WisdomHORIzONTAl lOgO

TAglINE

VERTIcAl lOgO Montevallo Today4

|University unveils new logo and branding |

Main Quad was bustling with stu-dents, faculty, staff and alumni on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 21, for The Main Event. Spectators were enticed to the quad by the mysterious invitation to witness the unveiling of UM’s new visual imagery, as well as by the promise of carnival food, games and prizes. Prior to the big reveal of the new logo, the UM cheerleaders performed, building up the energy of the event. UM student and def poet lovelight cross debuted an original work describ-ing his relationship with the University, telling the crowd that it was not he who chose Montevallo, but Montevallo that chose him. Board of Trustees chairman Todd Strange addressed the crowd with enthu-siasm for a new image to represent the University. Strange, who graduated from UM (then Alabama college) just ten years after the institution began admit-ting men, encouraged students to spread the good news about Montevallo to their friends. “By displaying our new pride in such a creative, instinctively Montevallo way, I believe we will reach more people than we ever have,” he said. “But it starts at home; it starts with you and me.”

According to Vice President for Ad-ministrative Affairs Michelle Johnston, surveys conducted among Alabama high school juniors and seniors revealed that 89 percent of them had little or no knowledge of the University of Monte-vallo. She explained to The Main Event audience that a rebranding campaign was crucial to changing those numbers. “Our challenge was to capture the es-sence of the Montevallo story so that we can be recognized and regarded for who we are,” Johnston said. At the height of the crowd’s antici-pation, Johnston departed the stage and a large screen in front of Main Hall lit up with a video portraying a new vision for the University. All eyes were on the screen as the video followed students across fields onto campus and ended with a series of images of the new logo: a falcon perched atop a capital letter “M.” confetti filled the air as the video ended. Then President John W. Stew-art III addressed the audience, explain-ing that the student body was the inspiration for the new face of Monte-vallo. He said, “This new mark is just the beginning. In a crowded space of

university marketing, we want to stand out and be distinct; and we needed a logo that reflected that point of view – one that gives us our own identity. One that is undeniably, unmistakably, uniquely us.” Following Stewart’s remarks, the cheerleaders took the stage again, throw-ing flying discs and launching T-shirts into the crowd. After the reveal, attendees continued to mingle on the quad, play-ing games, enjoying carnival food such as cotton candy, funnel cakes and corn dogs, and lining up for free merchandise with the new logo. One table featured temporary tattoos of the logo. Students received appreciation gifts, gym bags containing T-shirts, cups, pens and more. Winners of carnival games also received prizes such as hats, coffee mugs and even flip-flops, all bearing the “Falcon M” logo. The new logo was developed by Big communications, Inc., an award-winning advertising agency in Birmingham. The logo will be used on all published material at the University. The tagline, “Unconventional Wisdom,” will be used on marketing materials.

Todd Strange, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, encourages the Montevallo family to display pride in the new image revealed at The Main Event.

Students Christina Shelton, Adele Stevenson and Shavonne Seymore enjoy refreshments and sport gear bearing the University’s new logo.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni5

|Campus News|

Incoming freshmen flocked to campus on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 25, to move into the residence halls for the first time. Volunteers from all areas of the University, current students, faculty, staff, alumni and Montevallo commu-nity members were stationed at each residence hall to assist freshmen and their families with carrying boxes, bags and other items into their new rooms. Male students had the choice between Napier and lund halls this fall, as demolition of Fuller Hall began during move-in week to make space for the future construction of new residence halls. The women’s halls include Brooke, Hanson, Main and Tutwiler. All students could also apply to live in Peck Hall or the new residential college, with suite-style living. Move-In Day was just the begin-ning of a series of orientation activities for incoming freshmen. Take Flight Weekend: Montevallo Exposed, hosted by UM’s Division of Student Affairs, lasted from Thursday afternoon until Sunday, Aug. 28. On Thursday afternoon, students attended meetings in their residence

halls to get to know other Montevallo newcomers, then enjoyed a carnival and barbecue on Main Quad. later in the evening, Harlan cohen, author of The Naked Roommate, addressed students in Palmer Hall with tips for thriving in the college environment. Following cohen’s presentation, students played board games in the residence hall lob-bies and in carmichael library. Friday was another full day for freshmen, with activities beginning at 10 a.m. First, students attended an assembly in Palmer Hall, followed by Diversity Exposed, an activity designed to help students value human differences and understand commonalities. After lunch, students participated in an Emotional Intelligence challenge and a presenta-tion on campus safety, then they played UM Jeopardy to learn trivia about the University. Students also attended mix-ers in their respective colleges, where they mingled with professors and met other students in their majors. Friday’s festivities concluded with a dance party in front of Main Hall. On Saturday morning, students joined in volunteer activities at the Boy

Scouts lodge, Parnell library, the recy-cling center, Seed to Table community garden, Vallocycle and the Boys and girls club. Following these activities, the city of Montevallo hosted a picnic lunch at Orr Park. Saturday afternoon, UM greek organizations invited new students to play games on the intramu-ral fields. Saturday evening, students attended a presentation by illusionist McVicar the Trickster in Palmer Hall. To end the night, students gathered at the Foam Party on King Quad. The Division of Student Affairs provided students with information about Montevallo-area churches, where students had the opportunity to wor-ship on Sunday morning. At 11 a.m., Vallocycle led a bike tour of Monte-vallo. During the afternoon, shuttles to Alabaster allowed students to shop or see movies at the colonial Promenade. On Sunday evening, UM fraternities and sororities led greek Speak, an in-formation session about greek life. The final Take Flight Weekend activity was a movie on Flowerhill lawn.

|Freshmen enter for Take Flight Week|

Students Phebe Griffin and Cassie Funk welcome incoming freshman Kayle Dickey as they help her move into Tutwiler Hall. Move-In Day was just the first in a series of orientation activities for new students beginning their University adventure.

Students Clark Maxwell and Lauren Jones laugh at their “sticky situation” as they play on the VELCRO® wall during Take Flight Weekend, UM’s freshman orientation event.

Montevallo Today6

Several campus beautification projects are under way this fall, from renova-tion to demolition, made possible by the generosity of University of Monte-vallo alumni and friends. Big changes have occurred at Farmer Hall. The student post office, bookstore and spirit store have been re-located within the building. The lower level houses the James R. Wilkinson Student life center, named in honor of UM’s first dean of men. This area includes a game room, a seating area and lounge with fireplace, laptop/cell phone charging stations and indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The Student life center also includes a World of Wings restaurant and a coffee stand serving Starbucks coffee. The Student life center was dedicated on Founders’ Day. carmichael library will also be seeing some changes, starting with a new outdoor plaza and entrance from the Oak Street parking lot, funded by a grant from The Daniel Foundation. Other changes to the library will include new furniture, a new digital media lab and the

J. A. Brown Jr. and Eleanor Brown learning center. Renovations are also taking place in the residence halls. The lobby of Main Hall has been remodeled, and the building’s deteriorating front windows have been replaced with energy-efficient double-pane windows. Replacement of the old windows will conserve energy and make the living environment in Main Hall more com-fortable for students. Approximately 200 of the old windows were saved and will be available for purchase from the Alumni Association with proceeds going to the Annual Fund. Meanwhile, demolition of Fuller Hall began on Aug. 24. The condition of the structure had deteriorated to the extent that renovation would be cost-prohibitive. A new residence hall, built on the same plan as the residential college that opened in 2010, will be built on the Fuller site. Approximately 300 bricks from Fuller Hall have been saved and will be available from the Alumni Association for a donation to the Annual Fund.

|Renovating Farmer Hall|week 19week 14

week 1

week 8

week 17

WoW and Starbucks lounge area

|Campus News|

In celebration of the University’s 115th anniversary, “sustainability” was select-ed as the theme for this year’s Founders’ Day. Richard D. cummings ’74 was the keynote speaker at the convocation held at 11 a.m. in Palmer Auditorium. cummings is the William Patterson Timmie Professor and the chair of the Department of Biochemistry at Emory University School of Medicine in At-lanta. He earned the Ph.D. in biology and biochemistry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1980. cummings has held academic positions at the University of georgia and the University of Oklahoma. He accepted his current position at Emory in 2006. He founded Emory’s gly-comics center, which revolves around the study of structures and functions of complex carbohydrates in humans, animals and their pathogens. For the past 30-plus years, cum-mings’ research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. He has also received more than $20 million in research grants. He has served as a mentor to 20 Ph.D. candidates and six master’s degree candidates.

Five individuals received awards as part of the Founders’ Day convocation. Mike Hardig, professor of biology, was named the 2011 University Scholar, while Kristen gilbert, professor of psychology, received the 2011 Fac-ulty Service Award. The University of Monteval-lo National Alumni As-sociation presented three awards. Harry Hamil-ton, associate professor of business, was honored with the Outstanding commitment to Teach-ing Award. Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt, graphic arts specialist in the Public Relations office, was honored with the Outstanding Staff Ser-vice Award, and Bruce Higdon ’66 received the Alumnus loyalty Award. Hardig joined the UM faculty in 1999. An honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army, he earned his bach-elor’s and master’s degrees at Humboldt State University in Arcata, calif., in 1990 and 1995, respectively. He com-pleted the Ph.D. in botany at Washing-ton State University in 1997. Hardig’s areas of expertise include conservation biology, evolutionary biology/ecology, plant systematics/taxonomy and genetic manipulation of domesticated species. He is the head of the Ebenezer Swamp Wetlands Re-search and Interpretive Program. Hardig received the UMNAA Outstanding commitment to Teach-ing Award in 2007. He is a member of the Botanical Society of America, the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, the Society of Systematic Biologists,

Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa leader-ship Society. His research has been published in a number of academic journals, among them the Journal of Botany, Web Ecology, Systematic Botany, Molecular Ecology and Plant Systematics and Evolution. gilbert ’90 earned both her master’s degree and her Ph.D. in experimen-tal psychology from the University of Memphis. She joined the UM faculty in 1998 as assistant professor of psychol-ogy. She was promoted to associate pro-fessor in 2001 and to professor in 2006. In addition to teaching, she currently serves as the program director for psy-chology and the director of UM’s Qual-ity Enhancement Plan (QEP) which is focused on information literacy. According to one nominator, “Dr. gilbert does her best without concern for reward. I have never sensed the

Mike Hardig, professor of biology and head of the Ebenezer Swamp Wetlands Research and Interpretive Program, was named 2011 University Scholar. Kristen Gilbert, professor of psychology and director of UM’s Quality Enhancement Plan, received the 2011 Faculty Service Award.

Richard D. Cummings ’74 delivers the address at UM’s Founders’ Day convo-cation.

Montevallo Today8

|Montevallo celebrates 115th anniversary|

slightest motivation for status, power or even simple financial benefits of her activities. She just wants what is best, for the students, faculty, administration and University—and she sets a high bar.” Her areas of research include cog-nitive aging, human factors, training older adults, attention disorders, mental models and student success. Hamilton joined the University of Montevallo faculty in 1981. He earned his doctorate from louisiana Tech Uni-versity and his master’s and bachelor’s de-grees from Suffolk University in Boston. Over the years, Hamilton has served the University on numerous committees, among them the Stephens college of Business budget committee, Faculty Senate, the Annual Fund cam-paign and SAcS Institutional Purpose and Effectiveness. What Hamilton is most recognized for is his rapport with students. “In the many classes I took with Dr. Hamilton,” one nominator said, “he knew each of his students by more than their name; knowing where they were from, what they did outside of class, and what they hoped to achieve in their future career. Dr. Hamilton’s teaching style left each of his students feeling open to ask ques-tions about the material.” He added, “Dr. Hamilton was always available after class either in his office, in the café, or at Kermit A. Johnson Field.” Hamilton has a reputation for making an impact in students’ lives, both inside and outside the classroom. One nominator said, “No professor at UM spends more time and energy at his or her job than does Dr. Hamilton. Whether it be advising students, teaching courses in a student-centered way, making himself available outside of the classroom for discussion or attending University events where his students are participating.” Roskamp-Bunt ’00 joined the staff of UM Public Relations as the graphic arts specialist in 2006. She received the APEX Award for publication excellence in both 2010 and 2011. She also received an award for excellence in the 40th annual University and college Design

Association design competition in 2010. One nominator said Roskamp-Bunt “is instrumental in assisting the efforts of virtually every department on campus with their initiatives and proj-ects. She also serves UM on her per-sonal time, attending numerous alumni events, contributing to the Annual Fund, serving on the Junior Board of Directors and promoting the University to everyone she talks with.” Roskamp-Bunt serves as adviser of the Montage, the UM yearbook, and offers her expertise to the campus newspaper and arts magazine editors as well. One nominator explained that the student publications “capture Montevallo’s history and would not be possible without [Tiffany’s] assistance.” Another nominator said Roskamp-Bunt “exemplifies the ‘Montevallo spirit’ in word and deed.” According to the nominator, “She applies her cre-ativity, project-management and com-munication skills and problem-solving abilities to anything and everything that comes her way.” Higdon ’66 served in the United States Marine corps in Vietnam. To-

day, he is a certified safety professional with more than 35 years of experience in occupational and environmental safety and health. Since 1987, Higdon has owned and managed his own busi-ness, Experience Serving People Inc. He serves as a consultant to a variety of fields including industry, construction, insurance and local governments. He has developed training programs in a number of different areas. As an undergraduate student, Higdon was among the first members of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at the University of Montevallo, and he remains active in an alumni chapter today. According to one nominator, Higdon “has been the primary catalyst organizing and rallying alumni to at-tend an annual reunion in the Florida Panhandle area” for the past 40 years. Higdon’s fraternity brothers estab-lished the Bruce D. Higdon Scholarship at Montevallo, which now has an en-dowment of more than $100,000. One nominator referred to the scholarship as a “testimony to the respect and high esteem Bruce enjoys within the UM alumni body.”

From left: Kit Waters ’78, president of UM’s National Alumni Association; Harry Hamilton, recipient of the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award; Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, who received the Outstanding Staff Service Award; and Bruce Higdon ’66, recipient of the Alumnus Loyalty Award.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni9

|Campus News|

Greetings

from the UM Honors Program!

While the months of May through Au-gust are not considered highly active for the Honors Program, this year the story was different. Ending the spring semes-ter with our second annual “Mad Dash Bash,” where we celebrated our students’ many accomplishments throughout the previous year, the summer offered additional interdisciplinary learning opportunities and saw continued effort made to enhance the physical environ-ment in Hill House, long-time home of the Honors Program. For the May term, we joined forces with several other academic programs to schedule a course on environmental law and policy, giving students an additional term in which to enroll in an upper-level Honors course. The long-awaited installation of a card-swipe access point to Hill House also began and will soon be completed. This tool will offer students after-hours access to their “home base” for study group meetings and social events so that the sense of community developed within Honors can flourish beyond class time.The Montevallo Honors Organization (MHO), the student-led arm of the Hon-ors Program, continues to bring service and social opportunities to members as well. For instance, members volunteered their time and creativity to an event in-volving local elementary school students. They planned and implemented a math-centered scavenger hunt and also served as campus hosts to these future college students. MHO officers spent time this summer planning an exciting agenda for the year ahead. considering the slate of academic and social opportunities in store for 2011-2012, the year looks to be another active, engaging and enriching experience for our students in the Hon-ors Program.

Sherry g. FordUM honors program director

The Undergraduate Research Pro-gram empowers UM students to take learning into their own hands. Through the program, students conduct individual or group research under the advisement of faculty men-tors. The program’s aim is to “in-volve students in their own learning, develop teamwork and pride, enhance interdisciplinary learning and share in the exhilaration of discovery.” Throughout the academic year, student researchers are given the op-portunity to share their work publicly

at presentations such as UM’s annual Undergrad-uate Research Day and the cOPlAc Southeast Undergraduate Research conference. One student, Virginia “ginny” Davis, conducted undergraduate research this summer at UAB under UM Assistant Professor of Biology Brett Noerager and described the experience as “incredible.” She shared the following: “I have learned more than I ever thought I could in two months. For example, both biol-ogy and chemistry were used together in running different tests, and in the classroom the subjects are separated. I used knowl-edge from the classroom that I never thought would be practical outside of school. I have used information I learned in genetics, immunology, organic chemistry and

physiology. Using classroom knowl-edge in a ‘real life’ setting has been motivating. It shows me that the hours of studying I put in will pay off in my future. I have also met many doctors and researchers who have given me great advice on medical school and life in general. The experi-ence has been very eye-opening and encouraging; it was one of the best learning experiences I have ever had.” Undergraduate Research Day XV will be held Wednesday, April 25, 2012, on the UM campus.

Montevallo Today10

|Outside the classroom|Undergraduate Research offers new opportunities

Virginia “Ginny” Davis conducted under-graduate research at UAB during the summer. She describes it as “one of the best learning experiences I have ever had.”

For the past three years, the Department of English and Foreign languages has offered a study abroad program in Spain. UM Spanish stu-dents have traveled to Spain for the month-long immersion program each summer since 2009. During the month, the students take courses for UM credit and engage in the Spanish culture and language by interacting with native speakers and visiting historical sites, museums and art galleries. In addition to attending class each day, the students take excursions to cities across Spain. This summer, two groups from Montevallo traveled to Spain, one led by Associate Professor of Spanish and French Rosa Maria Stoops and the other led by Associate Professor of Spanish leonor Vazquez-gonza-lez. Stoops said there are two main academic benefits of the study abroad program: “First, we want to get stu-dents to familiarize themselves with the language in a setting outside of the traditional college setting, where contact with the language is limited to classroom instruction for three hours

a week. We wanted to expose students to situations in which they had to use the language every day in the classroom and outside, night and day, in order to survive linguistically in a Hispanic en-vironment. The second objective of our trip is to expose students to the cultural environment in which the language is spoken, in different settings, providing them with academic, cultural, social, entertainment, artistic and culinary experiences during their stay in Spain.”Stoops said her students experienced “everyday life at the Real centro Uni-versitario Escorial Maria cristina” in addition to taking excursions to Segov-ia, Alcazar and Toledo. “In these places, Montevallo students are transported in time to almost three thousand years of history, and culture that makes them put the world in which they live in perspective,” Stoops said. Vazquez’s students lived and stud-ied at the colegio Mayor Mara, a divi-sion of the largest university in Madrid. On top of exploring all that Madrid had to offer, Vazquez said the group took “out-of-town trips to Toledo,

El Escorial, Segovia and to Alcalá de Henares, the native city of the immor-tal writer Miguel cervantes, author of Don Quixote.” “Our students benefited greatly from their experience as they went through the recognized stages of awe, culture shock and personal growth,” Vazquez said. Some of her students shared their feelings about the study abroad program. Olga Pikrun, a business major, said, “I enjoyed this trip a lot and can recommend it to all students who study Spanish language. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the Spanish culture inside and to practice the language!” Music major Alex Kovalsky said that study abroad was, for him, “an op-portunity which cannot be imitated nor replicated in any manner other than to actually go. Having the ability to spend time in an upper-level Spanish gram-mar class and then walking outside to go anywhere and being immersed in the language is something incompa-rable to any other method of learning a language.”

www.montevallo.edu/alumni11

|Study away program sends students to Spain|

Olga Pikrun, Josh Brasher, Zach Brooks, Alex Kovalsky and Leonor Vázquez-González enjoy Segovia. The Roman aqueduct of Segovia is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments on the Iberian Peninsula. It has 221 colossal piers and is the foremost symbol of Segovia.

Seven of the top student-athletes at the University of Montevallo were honored with the announcement of the athletic department’s annual awards for 2010-11. A pair of senior All-Americans were honored as the Outstanding Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Men’s soc-cer standout Nathaniel Foster received the Neal Shirley Award after a season in which he led the Falcons with 18 goals, four assists and 40 points. He was named Second Team Daktronics All-America this season. He was a two-time NScAA All-Region performer as well as being named to the All-conference team three years straight. He was also named Peach Belt conference Player of the Week twice during the season. Women’s golf senior Emily Gib-son took home the Margaret Blalock Award for the second straight year after surpassing her outstanding junior cam-paign. gibson will leave the University as the most decorated women’s golfer in school history. She was named the inaugural Peach Belt conference golfer of the Year last season and followed that with another golfer of the Year Award this season. She is also the first golfer in PBc history to qualify for the NcAA championships. She was named a 2010

First Team All-American for her prowess on the golf course and was named PBc All-Academic as well as Silver Scholar on the PBc Honor Roll for her work in the classroom. The John Bennett Walters Award and the Jan Eagles Award for the top scholar-athletes went to senior men’s soccer goalie David Esser and senior women’s tennis player Calli Robinson, respectively. Esser ended his career at Montevallo with a

3.72 gPA in finance. He was a three-year member of the UM men’s soccer team and led the Falcons to an NcAA Tournament appearance in 2008 as the starting keeper. He started 19 games that season and was named to the gulf South conference All-Tournament team. Robinson is a two-year member of the tennis team. She compiled a 3.84 gPA in communication studies. She played in and started all 44 matches in her two years at UM. She spent most of her time as the #2 or #3 singles player for the Falcons. She led the team in singles and doubles wins both her junior and senior seasons at UM. Senior men’s golfer Ruwaldt Viljoen and junior women’s soccer midfielder Denise Mannion were the recipients of the Sportsmanship Awards. Viljoen was second on the golf team in stroke average (76.9) and led the Falcons at the 2011 Peach Belt conference Tournament. He was the 2010-11 UM Student-Athlete Advi-sory committee president and helped the student-athletes’ voices be heard both on campus and in the PBc. Mannion started 16 of the Fal-cons’ 19 games this season, helping lead the Falcons to the Peach Belt

conference Tournament. Senior women’s tennis player Hayley Gant was given the DeWayne Peevy Spirit Award. gant started her career at UM as a women’s soccer player in 2008. She spent two seasons play-ing as a midfielder on the soccer team. This year, the women’s tennis team was short on players, and gant stepped in to help fill out the roster. She appeared in 12 matches for the Falcons while also attending classes and coaching a local high school boys’ soccer team. The President’s Award, presented to the team with the highest grade point average among UM athletics, was given to the women’s tennis team, who posted a 3.44 gPA in the fall semester. The University of Montevallo athletic department had 82 student-ath-letes named to the 2010-11 Peach Belt conference Presidential Honor Roll. The Presidential Honor Roll recognizes all student-athletes at the 13 PBc mem-ber institutions who had a gPA of 3.0 or higher for the academic year.

|Montevallo Athletics announces annual awards|

|Sports Update|

Nathaniel Foster, UM’s Male Athlete of the Year, exhibits his skill on the soccer field. Foster received several prestigious awards during the soccer season.

Emily Gibson, UM’s Female Athlete of the Year, lines up a putt. Gibson has been the recipient of numerous awards, both on the golf course and in the classroom, and will leave Montevallo as the most decorated women’s golfer in school history.

Montevallo Today12

|Coaches Roster|

University of Montevallo Athletic Director Jim Herlihy announced the hiring of Tommy Barksdale as the second head cross country coach in program history.

Barksdale comes to Montevallo after spending the previous two seasons as head cross country and track and field coach at Division I Morehead State University. Prior to his time at MSU, he spent two seasons as assistant coach at Division I Troy University, one season as an assistant at Wallace State community college and one season as a volunteer assistant coach here at Mon-tevallo as he helped get the women’s program started. During his time at MSU, coach Barksdale helped 33 athletes set per-sonal bests in cross country, and 37 athletes hit personal records in outdoor track. Both of his teams placed in the top 6 at the Ohio Valley conference championships during his tenure. His teams won two conference Sportsman-ship Awards and earned two All-Aca-demic team honors.

University of Montevallo women’s soccer head coach Patricia Hughes an-nounced the hiring of Shannon Agnew as her assistant coach. Agnew comes to Montevallo after spending last season as the women’s soccer assistant at lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.c. Agnew helped guide lenoir-Rhyne to a #8 national ranking and a 19-2-2 overall record in 2010. The team won both the South Atlantic Regular Season championship and Tourna-ment championship. She helped coach players who were named First and Second Team All-Americans as well as the SAc Player of the Year and Fresh-man of the Year.

Agnew has also served as the Olympic Development Program girls ’95 assistant coach in North carolina. Her team went as far as the Final Four in 2011 in Arizona.

|Tommy Barksdale named men’s and women’s cross country head coach|

|Shannon Agnew named women’s soccer assistant coach|

ADMINISTRATIONJim Herlihy, Athletic DirectorDawn Makofski, Assistant AD/SWABernadette Bartlett, Assistant AD/ Athletics Business ManagerSean Forrester, Sports Information Director

SPORTS MEDICINEMichael chadwick, Assistant AD/Head Athletic TrainerJennifer Kramer, Associate Athletic TrainerMarcelo Takejame galafassi, Assis-tant Athletic TrainerEd langham, Strength and condi-tioning coach

BASEBALLchandler Rose, Head coachErik Maas, Assistant coachMatt Rademacher, Assistant coach

CHEERLEADINGMeredith Waldrop, Head coachJah’zmin Young, Assistant coach

MEN’S BASKETBALLDanny Young, Head coachStetson Hairston, Assistant coach

MEN’S GOLFJustin Pratt, Head coach

MEN’S SOCCERKen Hassler, Head coachBruce Dietterle, Assistant coach

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRYTommy Barksdale, Head coach

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLcindy Hilbrich, Head coachBrittany godsey, Assistant coach

WOMEN’S GOLFJustin Pratt, Head coach

WOMEN’S SOCCERPatricia Hughes, Head coach/Assis-tant ADShannon Agnew, Assistant coach

WOMEN’S TENNISMark Mcguigan, Head coach

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALLKatie O’Brien, Head coachBailey coleman, Assistant coach

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRYTommy Barksdale, Head coach

www.montevallo.edu/alumni13

|Montevallo contributes to relief efforts|Tornadoes tore through the state of Ala-bama on Wednesday, April 27, killing more than 200 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses. In the aftermath of this disaster, students, faculty and staff wanted to reach out to these communities. With direction from President John W. Stewart III, the storm relief task force was spearheaded by Hollie c. cost, Director of Service learning at UM, within a few days of the devastation. cost organized Uni-versity and city representatives to form “Montevallo on the Move: Helping Neighbors in Need.” Besides collecting donations for affected areas, the committee sponsored “Thankful Thursdays” during the sum-mer months. Each Thursday, a group of volunteers, coordinated by a University department, traveled to an affected area to distribute donations, serve food or clean up debris. Numerous dona-tions were taken to the city of Eoline in Bibb county, the city of Sawyerville in Hale county, Shelby county Humane Society and in Jefferson county, the Sherman Heights community in Bir-mingham, Pratt city, crossroad Baptist church in Hueytown, Bethel Baptist in Pleasant grove, Pleasant grove Masonic lodge and others. While the city and University sent donations and

volunteers to a number of communities, Thankful Thursdays focused primarily on Pleasant grove and Sawyerville. In addition to Thankful Thurs-days, Tracy Payne, director of the Mc-Nair scholars program, led a group of McNair scholars, and Stephanie Puleo, professor of counseling, and counseling students volunteered in Pleasant grove. Students appreciated the oppor-tunity to give back to local communi-ties. Junior Tonya Fleming said, “I remember the 1998 tornado that came through Oak grove (Jefferson county) and destroyed my elementary school. I know how much heartache resulted from that experience. To give back to the people who helped us was so fulfilling.”

Student Maria Smith rides in the bed of a pickup truck to distribute water and sports drinks to clean-up crews in Pleasant Grove.

Students Ginny Davis and Sydney Shell organize clothing donations at a relief center in Jefferson County.

Hundreds of homes in the Pleasant Grove community have been reduced to piles of rubble. Montevallo Today14

“What would you do if…?” This simple question evolved into a magical game my children created on our summer trip to the grand canyon. They used it to test my reactions to a variety of different scenarios, most of which were completely ridiculous. “What would you do if we got home and our house sitter had welded all the doors and windows shut at our house and we couldn’t get inside?” “What would you do if our car suddenly started flying?” Or, my favorite, “What would you do if Eli hung from a tree limb over the grand canyon and let go?” My rapid response to that question was enacting the “Eight feet from the edge” rule. As the University’s first service learning coordinator, I’ve embarked upon a version of this game with a slightly different angle. The somewhat naïve, albeit grand, question is, “What would you do if you really could change the world?” Thanks to the combined vi-sion and support of Shelby county and the University of Montevallo, the newly formed Office of Service learning and community Engagement (OSlAcE) indirectly poses this question to our faculty, staff and students and supports them in finding the answer. We delve into community needs and attempt to address them by uniting agencies and programs with our vast treasure of academic assets. The result is that, in the short time since this program was established, we see hard evidence of valuable changes and improvements in our world begin-ning in our own backyard. Examples include Student Affairs’ delivery of The Big Event, carolyn Miller-Kirby’s support of the Montevallo Bike Share program, the formation of the Monte-vallo connection (a program dedicated to uniting the University and our local public schools), Jennifer Moore’s stu-dents’ delivery of the Awesome Authors program for kindergarteners, Tarsha

Bluiett’s students’ pen pal program, Donna Burnett’s students’ spawning of the Backpack Buddies program, Jill Wicknick’s students’ sowing seeds for our city-wide recycling program, Michael Patton and Michael Sterner’s development of the Earth and Sky camp and lambda chi Alphas’ award-winning food bank collections for Shelby Emergency Assistance. Montevallo’s service learning initia-tives extend across the state and region (i.e. laura Bloom’s students conducting vision screening for preschoolers, Jay cofield and chandra clark’s students creating distracted driving and foster care promotion videos, Tiffany Bunt, Eleanor Davis, Sally Bell, Jay cofield and laurel Hitchcock’s united efforts to involve students in tornado relief activities on Thankful Thursdays, Mike Hardig and his students’ provi-sion of wetland experiences to students, student participation in the Alternative Spring Break in the Black Belt, Falcon Scholars in Action innovatively serv-ing agencies and clients throughout Shelby county). Further endeavors have ventured as far away as Echizen, Japan

(Ted Metz’s students’ installation of sculptures in Echizen’s International Sculpture Park). Through structured and supported service learning and community en-gagement initiatives, our students are now provided the opportunity to serve the world while putting their knowl-edge into practice under the direction of trained professionals. Not only is the world slightly changed, but contacts are established that can then positively and permanently impact the professional paths of our students. Montevallo is leaving its mark on the world. I’m confident it will become as wide and deep as the grand canyon itself. So, what would YOU do if…?

|Embarking on service learning|BY HOLLIE C. COST

|Guest Essay|

www.montevallo.edu/alumni15

|Montevallo Profile|

Montevallo Today16

Suzanne Durham, Class of 1968Majored in physical education and now CEO of the YWCA of Central Alabama

Your home: 6 acres in cook Springs, Ala., for the last 10 years

Your hometown: I was born in louisville, Ky., and lived there until I was 17. I moved the summer before my senior year in high school to gadsden, Ala., in 1963. 1963 is when my social justice, social activism was turned on as I watched the civil Rights struggle firsthand in Alabama.

Tell us about your family: I am the oldest of five children and like to say I have been involved in youth work since I was 2. I have several nieces and nephews, as well as grandnieces and nephews.

What is your profession? For the last 33 years, I have been the cEO of the YWcA of central Ala., in Birmingham, which allows me to work in social services and social justice. I started as a physical education teacher, then took a turn to municipal recreation then to social services.

What is the last book you read? Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Election that Changed Everything for American Women by Rebecca Traister.

What awards/honors have you received? I have been incredibly honored and humbled over my long career to receive some outstanding honors. I have twice been named by The Birmingham News as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Women leaders and was the first nonprofit leader named Birmingham Business Journal ’s Top Female Busi-ness leader of the Year. This year I was named as top fundraiser of the year by the Alabama Fundraisers.

Most significant honor? I was elected Board chair of the YWcA of the USA as the first local association staff member to serve in that capacity.

What is your secret for success? To surround myself with folks smarter than me, coupled with hard work and lots of luck along the way.

What is the best advice you have received? Never ask someone to do something you are not willing to do, from my dad.

Do you have a favorite motto? If so, what is it? I don’t just believe in miracles, I rely on them.

What’s new? Just finished a $15 million capital campaign that has allowed a small neighborhood revitalization in Birmingham, as well as opened a small domestic violence shelter in Pell city with some program expansion in our downtown facil-ity. This is a tough economy for nonprofits, to say the least.

How did Montevallo affect your career path? In addition to a great liberal arts education in a small campus setting, it also started me on a leadership development path. I had the privilege of serving in roles that instilled in me the confi-dence to try to stretch and grow.

What is your favorite Montevallo memory? The friends I made along the way, as well as the interest many of the professors in the physical education department took in making sure their students succeeded.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni17If you would like to nominate someone for the Alumni Profile, please email us at prnews@montevallo.edu

|Class Notes|1931

Martha Wilson Blair of Montreat, N.c., recently celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends. She and her husband, J. c. Blair, were married by Dean Napier on the day she graduated. Her daughter, Martha Blair Neville ’54, also lives in Montreat.

1941Elene Thompson “Tommy” Ingram M.Ed. ’76 celebrated her 90th birthday recently with fam-ily and friends. A retired teacher, Tommy and husband T. J. reside in Montevallo where they are active in the community.

1943Gay Ray Walls of Max Meadows, Va., writes that she published her class newsletter in May and discovered that about 40 of her classmates are known to survive from the approximately 160 in her class. Each year, gay and her husband, Jim, travel to canada, where gay lived for 35 years.

1950Angie Nazaretian was recently inducted into the limestone county Sports Hall of Fame. She served (now) Athens State University for more than 42 years, first as director of the health and physical education program, and retiring as director of alumni affairs.

1953Betty Bird writes that she spends part of each year on the Monterey Bay coast in california and travels to Alabama when the weather is not too warm.

1954Delores “Dolly” Brumfield White was recently inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame. At the age of 14, she started playing in the All-American girls Professional Baseball league and was ranked the league’s second-leading hitter in 1951. She taught and coached at Henderson State University in Arkansas for a number of years and holds a place in that school’s sports hall of fame as well.

1962Lynda Jones Brown retired from T. Rowe Price as a licensed broker/

dealer in 2010 and has relocated to Beacon, N.Y., where she works in customer service at Macy’s in Poughkeepsie.

1965Carl H. R. “Bud” Paepcke recently retired after 10 years with Electronic Tracking Systems, a bank security training organization. Bud had previ-ously served with the FBI for 32 years. He plans to spend more time with his family, his church and his Boy Scout troop, which has produced 60 Eagle Scouts since 1983. During 40 years in scouting, Bud has received the Heroism Award, the god and Service Award, The District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award.

1966

1967Terry Ronald “Ron” Bell M.Ed. ’73 was recently inducted into the geor-gia Athletic coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. He coached basketball at Marist School in Atlanta from 1975-2006, compiling a 636-204 record with nine regional titles. He was named coach of the year three times by the Atlanta Tipoff club and received the National High School Basketball coach of the Year Award in 1995. Ron also coached Marist’s golf team to four state champion-ships and 12 regional titles.

Melanie Petithory recently performed in a production of Jesus Christ, Superstar in Mobile.

1969Randal Lewis McDonald M.Ed. ’72 of Mountain Brook recently retired from a 42-year career in education. Randy served as a teacher and principal in the Shelby county schools and spent the last 18 years as a science teacher at Highlands School in Birmingham.

Elaine Wood Hughes, professor of English and director of academic program initiatives emerita at UM, recently received the 2011 Alabama Humanities Award from the Alabama Humanities Foundation. The award is given annually in recognition of an Alabamian “who has made an exemplary contribu-tion to the public understanding and appreciation of the humani-ties.” Elaine served on the board of the AHF from 2000-2006 and as chairperson from 2004-2006.

Susan Peters Phillips has retired after a 26-year career in education in Shelby county. She writes that she is enjoying traveling, volunteering with senior citizens, dog training and reading.

1971Charles Faulkner, chief executive officer of Wiregrass Medical center in geneva, has been elected to an at-large position on the board of the Alabama Hospital Association. He had served as chairman from 2005-2006.

1972Tommie Plier Mitchell of chilton county is retired from Sungard Higher Education at UM and has written a book, published by Au-thorhouse, titled Lovable Courageous Callie, a memoir about her mother.

1974James Ellis Jr. retired in 2005 from teaching and coaching at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. His daughter, callie, is a senior at UM in the honors program and is co-head cheerleader for the Falcons.

1979Lisa Smith Thompson was a member of the first class to hold commence-ment ceremonies on the lawn at Flow-erhill. This year, lisa and husband David attended the graduation of their daughter, Natalie Thompson Owens

M.Ed. ’11, in the same location. Nata-lie’s husband, Brian Keith Owens ’03, was also in attendance, and her sister, Lorilyn Thompson ’13, played in the UM Wind Ensemble during the morning’s festivities.

1980Lynne Davis Richardson has been named the first dean of the college of business at the Univer-sity of Mary Washington. lynne had previously served as the dean of the college of business at Mis-sissippi State University.

1981Neal Bridges was recently inducted into the Baldwin county High School Hall of Fame in recognition of his support of BcHS and the community of Bay Minette.

1983Rose Knox has completed a manu-script to be published by the Florida Historical Society titled Canoeing and Camping on the Historic Suwannee River: A Paddler’s Guide. The work uses the river corridor to tell the cultural and historical significance of the river’s past.

1984Beth Killough Chapman, Alabama’s Secretary of State, has been inducted as president of the National Associa-tion of Secretaries of State. She will serve a one-year term.

Scott Davenport qualified in July to play in the 111th U.S. Amateur championship golf tournament. The contest was held in August in Erin, Wis. Scott shot 10-over par during two rounds of stroke play but did not qualify for the match play championship rounds. He had played in a previous U.S. Amateur in 2008 at the Pinehurst course in North carolina. Scott and his wife, Barbara Hargett Davenport ’84, reside in Marietta, ga.

The undefeated 1966 Univer-sity of Montevallo tennis team recently reunited in Winter Park, Fla., at the home of Bill Toms. The top “small col-lege” team in the South, their average score was 8-1. (Left to right) Eddie Kridakorn ’66, Belinda Toms (Eddie’s God-daughter), Bill Toms ’69, Don Andrews ’67 and Jim Taylor ’66 (captain).

Montevallo Today18

1985After a 25-year career as an elemen-tary physical education teacher in the Hoover city schools, S. Jane Schmitt M.Ed. ’95 has moved into the legal field. She is a legal assistant in the law office of Jeff W. Parmer llc in Birmingham.

1986

1987Attorney Ahrian Davis Tyler Dudley of Birmingham has been named executive director and general counsel of the Smith Scholarship Foundation. In 2004, Ahrian assisted Mignon c. Smith, a retired journalist and

Avondale Mills heiress, in establishing the foundation, which has awarded millions to more than 80 students attending Alabama institutions.

Lea Webb Williamson and hus-band David have relocated to cary, N.c., where Dave is employed by Biogen Idec.

1988

Shanda Sayle Lonkhurst and Mary Ann Kilton Mitchell, M.Ed. ’92 reunited in garmisch, germany, in December 2010. Shanda and her family reside in gamisch where Shanda has taught fourth grade at the Department of Defense school for almost 20 years. Mary Ann and her family were in germany to celebrate the christ-mas holidays while her husband, Mark, was on leave from a one-year tour of duty in Iraq.

Ronda Huckabee Lee, husband Douglas and daughter Alexandria have relocated to Houston where Douglas has accepted the position of plant manager with cedar Marine Terminals.

1989Linda Miller M.Ed. ’91, an art educator at leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School in Decatur, re-cently was named teacher of the year at that school as well as Elementary Teacher of the Year for the Decatur city school system. She is the first art teacher to win that award in the Decatur system. linda holds the Na-tional Board certification in teaching in early childhood art.

Joy Tilley Perryman appeared in the role of author Harper lee in the show, Thus Spoke the Mockingbird, at Women’s Work, a festival of perform-ing and visual arts created by women and held in Nashville for the past five years. The show was written by UM alum Joan Alvey McElroy ’87.

1991Amy McDonald M.Ed. ’95, co-di-rector of Honor Flight Birmingham, received a special commendation from the Alabama Senior citizens Hall of Fame at their recent induc-tion ceremony and annual awards. Amy was recognized for enabling senior veterans of World War II to visit the WWII Memorial and others in Washington, D.c.

Marika Schnell has relocated to Williams lake in British columbia, canada, where she is a volunteer office assistant with her fiancé’s firm, Archer Adjusting and Appraisal.

1992Molly L. Baldwin has relocated to Tuscaloosa to accept the position of vice president of development for the DcH Health System. She had previously worked with corporate DevelopMint in charleston, S.c.

Alan Campbell has been named executive director of Shelby 911, the agency responsible for dispatching most fire and medical rescue callsin the county, as well as emergency calls to the county sheriff ’s office and selected local police departments. Alan has served as Shelby county’s public safety project coordinator since 2007.

Julie D. Ramsay recently completed a book for Stenhouse Publications titled Can We Skip Lunch and Keep Writing? Julie teaches at Fultondale Elementary School in Jefferson

county. She and her husband, Gene Ramsay ’92, reside in gardendale.

1993Lori Miller Robles and her family have relocated to Arab and are living in a home built by lori’s great-grandparents. lori teaches special education at Brindlee Mountain Middle School in guntersville.

1994Terri Lovelady Harmon M.Ed. ’02 and her husband, Randall, have relocated to Alabaster to be near their daughter, Chris Harmon ’01, and her family. They also enjoy visiting their son, Jason Harmon ’04, and his wife in Philadelphia. Terri has retired from teaching for health reasons.

Thomas Parris continues to advance in TV and film production. His lat-est credits include work on a comed central TV series pilot, Playing with Guns; an ABc TV series pilot, Revenge; as well as season three of HBO’s Eastbound and Down. He also has worked as assistant director on several commercials and promotions. Thomas and wife Susan Moore Parris ’94 still reside in Wilmington, N.c., with daughter caitlin.

(Left to right) David Lonkurst, Shanda Sayle Lonkhurst ’88, Mary Ann Kilton Mitchell ’88, M.Ed. ’92 and Mark Mitchell in the Garmisch, Germany, Christ-mas Market.

Five UM alums and their families met for dinner in Wil-liamsburg, Va., recently. (Left to right) Norman Darden ’87 and Paige Darden ’86 of Lynchburg, Va.; Marty Craw-ford ’87 and Penny Crawford ’85, M.A. ’89 of Vestavia Hills; and Scott Brunner ’86 of Richmond, Va.

Scott Davenport participates in the U.S. Amateur Champi-onship golf tournament.

Ahrian Davis Tyler Dudley

Julie D. Ramsay

Susan Moore Parris ’94 and daughter Caitlin

www.montevallo.edu/alumni19

|Class Notes|1995Ann Guttery Brasher was recently promoted to vice president of opera-tions at Buzz 12, a digital marketing and social media outsourcing com-pany in the Birmingham area.

Sykina Miles Hunter M.Ed. ’00, a reading coach with the Bessemer Board of Education, recently received National Board certification in early and middle childhood/literacy in reading and language arts.

1998

2000Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt, graphic design specialist in the public relations office at UM, recently received a 2011 APEX Award for Publication Excellence in the calendars, Posters and certificates category for her design of a recruit-ment poster for the UM depart-ment of music. This is the second consecutive year that Tiffany has received an APEX award. In 2010, she received recognition in the Magazine and Journal Design and layout category for her work on Pathways to Discovery, the Univer-sity’s research magazine.

John Woodruff has accepted a position as assistant professor of Spanish at Valdosta State University in georgia.

Kristin Thompson Scroggin is a communication arts lecturer at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. She also has conducted communi-cation training and development seminars for several government agencies and contractors. Kristin and husband george reside in Huntsville with their two children.

2001William “Nick” Carlisle and wife courtney have relocated to gainesville, Fla., where courtney is completing the Ph.D. in psychology. Nick is a clinical pharmacist at North Florida Regional Medical center.

David Clemons and his wife, Carla Handley Clemons ’01, have relo-cated to Fort Payne, where David has been named president and publisher of the Times-Journal, Fort Payne’s daily newspaper. He had served as editor and publisher of The Walton Tribune in Monroe, ga., for the past two years. The Walton Tribune, published twice weekly, recently was named first in general Excellence among twice- and thrice-weekly papers in the georgia Press Associa-tion’s Better Newspaper contest.

2002Matthew Bryant has been named publisher of The Western Star news-paper in Bessemer. He had served as advertsing director for two years before receiving this promotion.

2003Kristie Duncan and her husband, David Duncan ’02, reside in Savan-

nah, ga., where Kristie is completing her M.F.A in fibers at Savannah col-lege of Art and Design. Her thesis ex-hibition, “Beaked: A Story in Fabric,” uses bluebirds to comment on human behavior and social relationships.

Stephanie Comer Newton has accepted the position of director of publicity at Thomas Nelson Publishers in Nashville, where she has worked for the past five years. She recently has served as publicist for Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo, a book that has resided on The New York Times best seller list for 42 weeks, 34 of those weeks at the top. Stephanie coordinated media interviews for the Burpo family with The Today Show, Dateline, Fox & Friends and cNN. This is the eighth New York Times best seller she has represented but the first to hit No.1.

Michelle Tidmore ’98, Remi Newhouse ’01 and Jennifer Barnette ’00 got together in New York City while Remi was in town performing with the Portland (Oregon) Gay Men’s Chorus as part of the 9/11 remembrances.

Stephanie Newton ’03 with the Burpo family

Montevallo Today20

MONTEVALLO

LABAMHEART

OFDIXIE

Are you a current UM license plate holder?

Join the UM Car Tag Club by sending your name, class year, address, phone number, and a photo of you and your license plate toUniversity Advancement/Alumni Affairs, Station 6215, Montevallo, AL 35115 or by e-mail to UMAlumniOffice@montevallo.edu so that we can recognize you as a member on the UM website and in an upcoming issue of Montevallo Today.

LET USKNOW!

UM TAG CLUB

If you would like information on becoming a UM license plate holder, please visit www.montevallo.edu/giving/AnnualFund/CarTags.shtm or contact our office at 205-665-6215.

Corey Stewart B.A. ’09 has accepted the position of pastor at Westwood Montevallo Baptist church. West-wood Montevallo is the third Shelby county site of Westwood Baptist church in Alabaster. corey and his wife, Kerri Stricklin Stewart ’03, are expecting their first child soon.

2004Jared Blake is the assistant com-munications officer for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit at camp lejeune, N.c. He and his wife, Adrianne, recently transferred from a tour at the Joint Interoperability Test command at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

2005Lindsay Sexton of concord, N.c., is employed in the human resources department at cardinal logistics Management corp. She recently was awarded the Professional in Human Resources certification by Human Resources certification Institute.

2006Kelly Lambert Lenza and her hus-band, gerald, reside in St. charles, Ill., where Kelly is a freelance artist and homemaker. She writes that she does a lot of Bikram yoga.

Brandy Walker Tate writes that she enjoys her job as a social worker at the Talladega Health Department. Brandy and her husband, Jason, reside in Sylacauga.

2007Brandt Montgomery recently became a candidate for holy orders in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. He is a senior at the general Theo-logical Seminary of the Episcopal church in New York city. He will undertake his field education studies at St. Thomas church on Fifth Ave.

2008Mary Elisabeth Nichols has been a missionary and first-grade teacher at Dakar Academy, a christian K-12 school in Dakar, Senegal, since 2009.

Ali Giamalva Mullin M.A. and her husband, Matthew, reside in Baton Rouge, la., where Ali is an English instructor at louisiana State Univer-sity. Matthew is a chemical engineer at georgia gulf in Plaquemine, la.

2010Trey West and his wife, Jordan Hampton West ’10, reside in Den-ton, Texas. Trey recently accepted the position of associate director of music at christ United Methodist church in Plano, where he will con-duct the living Proof Youth choirs and the Wesley chorale. Jordan recently completed performances with several opera companies and will be appearing this fall as zerlina in Don Giovanni with the University of North Texas Opera.

2011Crystal Gentry Crim is the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program co-ordinator with the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging. The SMP equips senior volunteers to go into their communities and inform their peers of the prevalence of Medicare/Medicaid fraud. crystal and husband James reside in Jemison.

Weddings2002

Jessica Hill and Danny Ward were married June 4 in Montgomery. Bridesmaids included UM alums Jessica Lawson Mure ’02, Cheryl Webb Crowe ’02 and Lyndsey McIntyre Holcombe ’01, M.S. ’04. After a honeymoon trip to Hawaii, the Wards reside in Birmingham, where Jessica is an executive assistant in investment services with Arlington Family Offices. Danny is a history teacher and coaches football in the Birmingham area.

2004

Heather Johnson and Dave Palmer were married April 16 at the Florala Historical Society’s Train Depot in Florala. A number of UM alums, all gold Side supporters, attended the ceremony. The Palmers reside in Paxton, Fla., where Heather has a medical practice as a doctor of orien-tal medicine, and Dave is a partner in SgProcessing Merchant Services. He also works as a graphic artist provid-ing business services.

2005

Tiffany Hollon and David gates were married June 4 at The Old House at Meriwether in lapine. The couple resides in Prattville, where Tiffany works in child support enforcement with Autauga county Department of Human Resources.

2008

Britney Young and John Dickson were married March 5 at Montevallo First United Methodist church. Brit-ney’s parents are UM alums Michael D. Young ’83 and Marci D. Wheel-er ’83. John’s mother is Donna Reed Dickson ’78, M.Ed. ’83, Ed. S. ’95. Bridesmaids included Melissa Sor-rells Grisham ’08, Jennifer Marcus Epperson ’05, Robin Cawthon Knight ’07, Ashley Cawthon ’10, Erin Donaldson Gywnn ’07 and Holly Dickson Jackson ’05, M.Ed. ’10. Britney is the coordinator of grants and scholarships at UM, and John is a sales representative for East Jordan Iron Works. The couple resides in calera.

2010

Katherine “Kati” Helm and Zach-ary Andrews ’09 were married June 5, 2010, on Main Quad at UM. The couple resides in Hoover. Kati is a public bid specialist at Datafax in Pelham, and zachary leads the con-sumables team at Target in Alabaster.

Jessical Hill and Danny Ward

Heather Johnson and Dave Palmer

Tiffany Hollon and David Gates

Britney Young and John Dickson

Katherine Helm ’10 and Zach-ary Andrews ’09

www.montevallo.edu/alumni21

|Class Notes|Births1997

Amy Wagoner Owens M.Ed. ’99 and her husband, Rodney “Bo” Owens ’96, along with daughter lillie Marie, 4, welcomed the birth of garrison Wagoner Owens July 28. The Owens family resides in Birmingham, where Amy is assistant director of residence life at UAB and Bo is a DVD author at the Eternal Word Television Network.

Kelley Crawford Romanowski and husband Scott Romanowski ’96 celebrated the birth of their third child, charles “chase” David Romanowski, May 15. chase was welcomed to the family home in Birmingham by sister Anne Scott and brother crawford. Scott is chief financial officer at Porter capital corp., and Kelley owns a children’s clothing company, Doo-dads and Designs.

Cameron Fullman Slavin and her husband, layne Slavin, cel-ebrated the birth of a daughter, Aisley claire, Sept. 23, 2010. Aisley was welcomed to the Slavin home in league city, Texas, by her big sisters, Tatum Olivia, 5, and Piper grace, 3. cameron works in healthcare administra-tion for the University of Texas M.D. Anderson cancer center in Houston. She was recently nomi-nated for the Administrator of

the Year award for the division of cancer medicine.

1998

Katherine Jennings Oglesby and husband William E. Oglesby Jr. M.Ed. ’99 celebrated the birth of their son, William Edward Oglesby III, Oct. 21, 2010. He was welcomed to the Oglesby home in Enterprise by big sister claire Isabelle, 4. Proud grandmother is Martha Smith Jennings ’62, also of Enterprise.

2003

Jessica Thompson Bankester and husband Brad announce the birth of their son, Andrew Tyler, May 3. The Bankesters reside in Priceville, where Jessica is enjoying being a stay-at-home mom. Brad is a software engi-neer for SAIc at Redstone Arsenal.

2004Leslie Hensel Mayes and husband Wes celebrated the birth of twins March 15. griffin lee and grace

claire were welcomed to the Mayes home in crestview, Fla., by big sister Anna, 2. leslie teaches first grade in Okaloosa county, Fla.

2005

Teresa Hereford Banks and her husband, Justin Banks ’05, cel-ebrated the birth of a daughter, Aria Ophelia, April 20. The Banks family resides in Alabaster.

2006

Amanda Mercer M.Ed. ’11 and husband Maurice welcomed the birth of their first child, Emma Reese Mercer, July 12. The Mercer family resides in Pelham. Amanda teaches art in the leeds city schools.

Katie White of Montevallo celebrat-ed the birth of her daughter, lillian Kate Buse, Dec. 16, 2010. Katie teaches fifth grade at centreville Middle School in Bibb county.

Deaths1934Ada Morgan Bennett, 97, of Mobile died March 10. She was a teacher with 32 years of service.

1936Patricia Swift Blalock, 97, of Bir-mingham, formerly of Selma, died Sept. 7. She worked for a number of years with the Alabama Department of Education and Rehabilitation be-fore serving as director of the Selma-Dallas county Public library.

1938

Annie Reynolds Day, 95, of Selma died Nov. 4.

Mary Emma Harris Godbold, 94, of camden died July 14. She had taught English at Orrville High School and worked with the State Employment Service, the Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Tombigbee Regional commission.

Garrison Wagnor Owens with big sister Lillie Marie

Slavin children

William Edward Oglesby III with sister Claire Isabelle

Andrew Tyler Bankester

Mayes Family

Aria Ophelia Banks

Emma Reese Mercer

Lillian Katie Buse

Montevallo Today22

1939Florence Alline Whigham Adams, 94, of Statham, ga., died June 29. She served in the Women’s Army corps (WAcs) during World War II, retiring as a first lieutenant. She went on to teach math and science in Dougherty county, ga., schools for another 20 years.

Doris Canon Blomquist, 93, of Opelika died June 20. She was a teacher with 18 years of service.

1940Annie Jean O’Daniel Vinyard, 92, of Birmingham died June 1. She was a retired federal employee with more than 30 years of service.

1941Jean Farr Henderson, 91, of Auburn died Aug. 27. She was a homemaker.

Mary Lynn Compton Wombacher, 91, of leighton died Aug. 30. She was a retired teacher with more than 30 years of service.

1942Billie Summers Chesnut, 91, of cedar Bluff died Aug. 19.

1943Mary Rebecca “Becky” Averyt of littleton, colo., died June 2.

Lois Blake Field, 90, of Tuscaloosa, formerly of Sylacauga, died July 2. She was a teacher for a number of years in Sylacauga and Auburn and served as the rep-resentative for the class of 1943 at UM. Survivors who are UM alums include lois’s granddaughter, Kristin Thompson Scroggin ’00, grandson David Thompson Jr. ’02 and her niece, Beth Wood Puckett M.Ed. ’74.

1945Mary Elizabeth Riley Higginbotham, 88, of Montgomery died Sept. 5. She was an assistant vice president at Banc Boston Mortgage.

1946Sally Hodges DuBois, 86, died Aug. 24. She was a homemaker.

1947Muriel Dees Arceneaux, 85, of Vicksburg, Miss., formerly of Houma, la., died April 22. She worked with numerous organiza-tions to benefit the people of the bayou parishes and was recognized in 1991 as a community activist.

Frances Jernigan Golden, 84, of Brundidge died May 25. She assist-ed her husband, Dr. Don golden, with his medical practice for a num-ber of years.

Lady Ruth Weed Whisonant of Montgomery died July 22. She was employed by the State of Alabama, retiring as head of the Bureau of Vital Statistics after more than 30 years of service.

1948Jimmilyn Newton Walden, 87, of Dothan died July 8. She was a retired teacher.

1949Molly Nell Carter Copple-Johnson, 83, of lincoln died Jan. 5. She was a teacher with more than 35 years of service.

Marie Childress Stroud, 83, of Tuscaloosa died Aug. 10. She was a retired teacher.

1950William Glenn McLain, 84, of Mountain Brook died July 12. He came to UM under the g.I. Bill after World War II and met his future wife, Margaret Hodges McLain ’48, who survives him. He was employed with B.F. goodrich chemical co. for 40 years.

1951Rena Celani, 82, of Stone Mountain, ga., died July 6.

Elizabeth Stillman, 81, of Wimberley, Texas, died June 5. She was a teacher at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos from 1956 until her retirement.

1952Mary Frances Collins Burnett M.Ed. ’74, 80, of clanton died April 25. She was a retired teacher.

1953Barbara Edwards McEwen, 80, of Wilsonville died Sept. 17. She had worked at the First National Bank of columbiana for a number of years before joining her husband, Sammy, in his grocery business.

1956Eunice Roberta Dobbs, 76, of Fort Payne died June 28. She served in the Army for 20 years, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. She returned to Fort Payne and worked as a physical therapist until her final illness in early 2011.

1957Vivian Welk Farris, 75, of Tenafly, N.J., died June 19. For more than 30 years, she served as assistant and office manager for her hus-band, R. linsy Farris, at columbia University Medical School.

Ann Elizabeth Priestley Peake, 75, of Pensacola, Fla., died Feb. 25.

1960

Peggy Lou Ratliff McCuiston, 73, of Pensacola, Fla., died July 12. She was a retired teacher.

1962Jerry Green, 71, of Mobile, for-merly of Birmingham, died June 10. He was a retired insurance adjustor. Survivors include his brother, Mickey Green ’68.

Edith Daniel Kennedy, 68, of Andalusia died May 17. Survivors who are UM alumni include her son, William E. Kennedy III ’93, daughter-in-law Angela Pearson Kennedy ’92, sister Helen Gibbs Couch ’58, brother-in-law Robert Couch ’60, M.A. ’62, and niece Edie Couch Beckum ’92.

Helen Gayle Williams Wilks, 92, of Jacksonville, Fla., died May 5. She was an elementary school teacher.

1963Susan Beverley Bradley Finch M.S., 91, of Birmingham died May 30. She taught speech at Jefferson State community college for a number of years.

1964James Bomar Ryall Jr., 68, of Mobile died Aug. 30. He worked as a cPA for 40 years and taught business courses at the University of South Alabama for 14 years.

1966James Joseph Dognibene, 67, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., died May 6. He was a teacher with 25 years of service.

1967Carolyn Martin Wingett, 95, of Wetumpka died April 5. She was a teacher for 28 years.

1969John C. Hurd, 63, of lagrange, ga., died May 23. He was a retired professor of biology and department chair at lagrange college.

1971John D. Brown M.Ed., 67, of Birmingham died June 25. He served as pastor of praise and wor-ship and governing leader of Mt. zion Full gospel Baptist church.

Ron E. Wilder of greenbelt, Md., died April 5. He worked in educa-tion, publishing, photography and with a charity providing assistance to persons with serious illnesses. Ron is survived by his husband of 40 years, Louis M. Fancher ’75.

1972Corene Wallace Rodgers M.Ed., 87, of Birmingham died Feb. 6. She had taught in several state school systems, retiring in 1986 from the Shelby county system.

Cynthia Dickey Wright of Odenville died May 20. She taught mathematics at Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills for 30 years, coaching her Alabama Mathcounts team to a national championship in Washington, D.c., in 1991.

www.montevallo.edu/alumni23

|Class Notes|1974William Page Cunningham, 74, of Fort Payne died May 6. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a long-time member of the Alabama Air National guard and a retired businessman.

Mattie Absher Whitsett, M.Ed., 76, of Decatur died June 17. She was a teacher of home econom-ics and a guidance counselor for a number of years prior to her retirement in 1998. Survivors who are UM alumni include her hus-band of 43 years, Bearl O’Neal Whitsett M.Ed. ’74, and daughter Rhonda Glee Whitsett M.Ed. ’95, Ed.S. ’97.

1975Bernard Andrew Finlen, 57, of Birmingham died July 22.

1980Nancy Barnett Shelton M.Ed. ’83, 52, of Birmingham died June 17. She was a teacher at Oak grove Elementary School for 25 years.

1995Christopher Wayne Cofer, 39, of Anniston died April 3. He was an attorney as well as founder and cEO of cofer and Associates P.A.

1999Amanda Moran Treadwell, 36, of Opelika died Sept. 16.

Condolences1954To Charlotte Harrison Boles of Milton, Fla., on the death of her husband, B.B., July 1.

1961To Laura Bailey Parks of Batesville, Ark., on the death of her husband, the Rev. limuel g. Parks, Sept. 2.

To Shirley Beavers Reynolds and her husband, F. Knox Reynolds ’62, of Moody on the death of their son, William clay Reynolds, June 3.

1974To Dilcy Windham Hilley of Birmingham on the death of her mother, Kathryn Tucker Windham, June 12. Ms. Windham, of Selma, was a jour-nalist, author, photographer and widely known storyteller.

1979To Michael E. Meadows of Atlanta on the death of his mother,

Bettie Ruth Reynolds Meadows, of Mccalla June 14.

1985To Brenda Godbold M.Ed. of clanton on the death of her mother, Mittie E. godbold, also of clanton, April 23.

1987To Jenny Avery M.Ed. ’90 of calera on the death of her hus-band, Donald Roy Avery, May 29. He was a sales representative. Additional survivors who are UM alumni include daughter Jennifer “JiJi” Avery Lawley ’99, M.Ed. ’01, and her husband, Morgan Lawley ’98; and son Heath Avery ’92, and his wife, Wendy Glenn Avery ’91, M.Ed. ’98.

1999To Suzanne Scott Trammell M.Ed. of Vestavia Hills on the death of her mother, Helen Wyatt Scott, of clanton Aug. 29.

2004To Amanda Fox, M.Ed. ’10 of Montevallo on the death of her father, Michael carl Tinney, also of Montevallo, Sept. 3. Amanda serves UM as associate registrar.

2010To Haley M. Dennis of Brierfield on the death of her father, Richard Wade Dennis, 55, of Montevallo. Haley’s mother, Sheila Dennis, is administrative secretary and facilities project assistant in UM’s physical plant. To the family of George Davis Corn on the death of his mother, Opal Outlaw corn, June 27. george is an assistant supervisor in UM’s electrical shop in the physical plant.

To the family of Sarah G. Palmer, associate professor of English emer-ita at UM, who died Aug. 8. After teaching English at chilton county High School for a number of years, she began her teaching career at Montevallo in 1967. She retired in 1989, then returned to UM as a part-time adjunct instructor and master tutor in the Harbert Writing center for an additional 11 years.

To the family of Jessie “Ronnie” Pannell, 60, of Jemison, who died Sept. 23. Jessie worked as an HVAc mechanic in UM’s physical plant.

To Rhonda Littleton Reynolds, science specialist in UM’s AMSTI unit, on the death of her father, Obie Joe littleton, May 16.

Alumni Legacy ScholarshipDeadline: July 1

To recruit the children and/or grandchildren of active alumni to attend the University of Montevallo. To provide a scholarship in honor of the commitment of graduates who contribute to the develop-ment of the University of Montevallo.

Purpose:

Criteria/Guidelines:Students who are children or grandchildren of active alumni are eligible to apply. A parent or grandpar-ent must hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from UM and be considered an active alumnus (as defined by the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association) for three of the past five years. Interested students should indicate they are a child or grandchild of a UM graduate on the application. The amount of the scholarship is $500 for one academic year, which may be used at the University of Montevallo bookstore to purchase books and supplies as needed to assist in the successful transition to college. The number of scholarships awarded will be based upon the availability of funds.

To apply, please visit: www.montevallo.edu/alumni/ScholarshipApplication.shtm

Montevallo Today24

|Montevallo remembers Cynthia K. Shackelford|

BY SUSAN HOWARD ’11

cynthia Shackelford, UM’s director of pub-lic relations and editor of Montevallo Today, died July 27 after a long illness following a stroke. During the 18 years she worked for the University, cynthia touched the lives of everyone with whom she came in contact. She served on countless UM committees, among them the Student Publications committee and the college Night committee. She was the recipient of the college Night dedication in 2003. She was a member of the American Association of University Women and a num-ber of other organizations. I had the pleasure of meeting cynthia when I came to Montevallo in 2007 and served on the Montage staff. But it was not until my sophomore year, when she hired me as a student worker, that I really started to get to know cynthia. Every day when I went into her office to get my next writing assignment, she would invite me to sit down and chat for a few minutes. She loved to talk, and she was an endless fountain of knowledge. She knew more about Montevallo than anyone I’ve ever met. cynthia was always happy to help with anything I needed, academically, profes-sionally or personally. She encouraged me to set high standards and stick to them. She supported my decision to run for editor of the Montage, and when I got the job, she was always willing to answer questions and offer advice. cynthia introduced me to people all over campus and wrote me letters of recom-mendation. She taught me the tedious differ-ences between MlA and AP styles. I am so thankful that I had the oppor-tunity to get to know cynthia, but I am just one in a myriad of students, coworkers, family members and friends who loved and were loved by her. The University held a memorial service in cynthia’s honor on Wednesday, Aug. 3. Palmer Auditorium was full of people who loved cynthia. Several of cynthia’s colleagues and friends spoke about her legacy. Some of those people share their thoughts here: Cynthia taught me so much about journalism. No matter how busy she was, she always made time for her students. So many times while at Monte-vallo, I would ask for her input. It’s a habit I con-tinued while working in the “real” world. Besides a mentor, she was also a friend. She genuinely cared for her students. –Justin Averette ’06

I am blessed as are all that called her friend. We are blessed to call her a colleague—she is a per-manent part of this institution—an institution that was as much her own as her alma mater. “Thank you” is not enough. –Marion Brown ’03, director of events Her work with the students will be Cynthia’s lasting legacy. She was always available with advice and encouragement. … Cynthia also did better than anyone had any right to expect at mak-ing students feel like family. She made it part of the culture, and Diane, Marsha and Tiffany carry that out still. –David clemons ’03 When anyone came to Cynthia’s office for a visit, she was fully focused on that person. She was thoughtful and reflective in her responses, and she never let on that ANYTHING was more important than what was on the table right then...never giving a hint that other things were going on and that her ‘to do list’ was a mile long. –Michelle Johnston, vice president for administrative affairs Cynthia Shackelford hired me more than 15 years ago. It was my honor and privilege to work with her. Words, even from a writer, cannot adequately describe the volume of what I learned from her, or her value to me, not only as my boss but also as my friend. Cynthia loved the University of Montevallo, and we are all better for it. –Diane Kennedy-Jackson, public relations assistant

I had the privilege of working with Cynthia for 13 years, and every day was a learning experience. She taught me more about public relations, media relations and journalism than words can tell, but she was also my friend. I always admired her kindness and thoughtfulness, but the quality for which I will most remember her is her generosity. Whether money, time, expertise or just a friendly ear to listen, Cynthia gave without hesitation, and all of us at the University are better for her being here. –Marsha littleton, senior departmental secretary, public relations Her office always looked a sea of chaos. Yet she was a master of organizing chaos. She loved her family, which truly included her cats. And she loved us, for we too were her family. Though our seas are rough in her absence, I see her sea as calm, and the only thing that might trip her is the cat underfoot rubbing figure eights around her legs.–Matthew Orton, director of photo lab I am fortunate enough to have worked for Cynthia both as a student worker and six years later as a full-time employee. I learned so much from her; she was a great resource. She was a pillar in the foundation that makes Montevallo such a special place. We aren’t going to be the same with-out her. I am privileged to say she was my mentor, my boss, my professional hero and most importantly my friend. –Tiffany Roskamp-Bunt ’00, graphic arts specialist, public relations.

A scholarship fund has been established at UM in memory of Cynthia. Donations may be made to the UM foundation earmarked for the Cynthia K. Shackelford Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact University Advancement at 205.665.6220

|Montevallo remembers Cynthia K. Shackelford|

The University of Montevallo’s 44th an-nual Olympics Day was held Saturday, Aug. 6. Proceeds from Olympics Day benefit the Hope Bryant Smith Service Scholarship. The day’s events included a 5-K run, a one-mile fun run/walk and tennis and golf tournaments. The Hope Bryant Smith Memorial 5-K Run is Olympics Day’s main event. Elliot Simpson was the overall male winner among alumni. Cristy Eller was the first place alumna. Among non-alumni, Jeff Clark and Ann Eller were the first place male and female finishers, respectively. 5-K winners for each age division were also recognized. Female winners were: 15 and younger, Emily Mae Davis; 15-19, Ra-chel Willingham; 20-29, Katie Marchi-ony and Amanda golden; 30-39, laura Franck; 40-49, Tammy Hand; 50-55, Therese Bynum; 56-59, Debbie Tanjo; 60-65, Maureen Mayfield; 66-69, cathy Mccain; and 70-75, Priscilla Davis.

Male age division winners were: 15-19, Eddie Davis; 20-29, Jason Whitcomb; 30-39, John Dean; 40-49, curtis Waites; 50-55, Peter Neuberger; and 60-65, charles Amos Thompson.In the one-mile fun run/walk, Rebekah Smith and Matthew Karl Smith had the fastest times. Sarah Barnett was recognized as the “Senior Sensation,” and Mary Elizabeth House received the “Whippersnapper” award. Melissa Smith’s family received the “Multiples of Kin” award for the family with the most participants in the race. The tennis matches included six participants: Blakey crowe, Tim DeBord, Darold Dunlavy, Steven Julaka, Amanda Waldrup and Jim Wilkinson. Dan Beard and Phillip Estes were the champions of the golf tournament with a gross score of 57. chris Reyer had the longest drive, and Jason Palmer won the closest-to-the-pin contest.

|Olympics Day|

|Alumni Activities|

Jerry Fulmer ’69 lines up a putt at the golf tourney as Paul Doran ’68 looks on.

Jim Wilkinson, Darold Dunlavy ’63, Steven Julaka ’13, Amanda Waldrup ’92, Tim DeBord ’11 and Blakey Crowe ’70 answered the challenge of the tennis tournament.

Runners answer the starting gun of the Hope Bryant Smith Memorial 5-K Run, the main event of UM’s Olympics Day.

Montevallo Today26

Jennifer Stewart nears the finish line in the Hope Bryant Smith Memorial 5-K Run.

|A summer’s journey|BY JEREMY DUNN ’11

www.montevallo.edu/alumni27

I hardly slept for the first two weeks of the semester, such was my excitement. Mere days before my final semester at Montevallo began, I decided what I would do—what I felt I had to do—after graduating: On May 12, 2011, I would begin a journey I had dreamed about for years—a through-hike of the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail. At last, May arrived, and after a few frenzied days divided among writ-ing papers, studying for final exams, and saying goodbyes, my college years came to a close. Five days after walking across the stage to receive my diploma, I found myself taking my first steps down a path on Springer Mountain, ga., a path which I hoped to follow all the way to Maine. This “path” quickly showed that to follow it meant a rough and rocky road. My sixth morning on the trail, I awoke to record-breaking May cold in the North carolina mountains, reluctantly crawled from my sleeping bag, pulled myself to the edge of the worn shelter floor, and with stiff, shivering fingers fumbled with my shoelaces. I grimaced as I stood up, the pads of my feet ach-ing with a disconcerting soreness from their first days of pounding on the rug-

ged Appalachian Trail. Already, I could tell that this journey was going to be much more than a walk in the woods. life on the trail was tough, some-times downright miserable. To walk the entire trail in one shot means to walk through all kinds of terrain and weath-er—to stumble across alpine mountain tops in thunderstorms, to post-hole in mud, to walk parched through the heat of summer, to put on wet, cold clothes first thing in the morning, to endure physical and mental weariness. Still, the pull I felt to continue northward would not abate. I’d spent my life reading about journeys, about adventure, and this adventure was incredible. Each day I had the opportunity to see and experience new things. From the craggy Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North carolina to the awe-inspiring White Mountains of New Hampshire, the trail led me over terrain that stirred (and spilled) my blood. The trail also put me in contact with people from all over the United States, as well as people from other countries who were similarly drawn to peregrinate among some of the world’s oldest mountains. Finally, the trail taught me the joys of a distilled life. Water, food, shelter, the occasional

shower, and the companionship of oth-ers—these were the elixir of life. Before the journey began, I had never been as haggard as I often was on the trail, and I had never felt so kingly. On September 19, after four months and seven days of walking, I climbed to the 5,268-foot peak of Mount Katahdin in Maine, the north-ern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. My friend Brad— with whom I’d hiked for over two months of the journey—produced and uncorked a bottle of champagne to celebrate the journey’s end. To stand there felt surreal, kind of like the feeling I had when I walked across the stage at Montevallo to receive my diploma. Standing there, I thought back to a night when I sat at my desk in Napier Hall working on a translation assignment for my Old English class. A word had caught my eye as I thumbed through my Anglo-Saxon dictionary: norð (the Old English equivalent of the Modern English north). The ancient word beckoned, seemed to hold the promise of a journey. The word pulled me to Springer Mountain to begin a northbound journey on the Appalachian Trail, impelled me to the mountain on which I now stood. I’d made it—Norð.

|Alumni Activities|

Montevallo Today28

Whom would you like to thank for your success? There were many professors, advisers and coaches that guided me in the right direction, allowing for me to reach goals I had set for myself. Some of the many who helped along the way included Dr. Carolyn Miller-Kirby and Dr. Paul Vaccaro. Their encouragement and counseling through my undergraduate years gave me the background to con-tinue on to graduate school.

Dr. Raleshia Nix Burke ’94,

optometrist

Dr. Heather SanInocencio ’02, licensed physical therapist

How did Montevallo affect your career choice?: I have to give a special thanks to the biology department, namely Dr. Beal, for keeping me abreast of opportunities that would come along and help to influence my career decision. He told me about an Enrichment Program for minority students that would take place on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham...I was one of the eight selected, and this Sophomore Enrichment Program, as it was called, was an intense eight-week program. I began my career path in fall 1998 thanks to the competence and concern of the faculty in the biology department at the University of Montevallo. I must add that the education that I received and the biology/chemistry degree that I obtained prepared me for entrance into the professional program at the UAB School of Optometry.

Dr. Brandon McKim ’00,

veterinarian

Favorite aspect of Montevallo: One of my favorite aspects of UM is the beautiful campus that is built around nature and the preservation of campus history. I loved the giant pecan trees and all the squirrels. As rough as some of them are, I loved those brick roads that wind through campus. Most of all, I loved the close-knit community and family feel that UM provided.

|Professional Spotlight - Medicine|Alumni serving in the medical field share a few words

www.montevallo.edu/alumni29

Words of wisdom to students: Make sure to participate in College Night. Take advantage of the small size of the college; get to know your professors and seek their advice.

Whom would you like to thank for your success? The chemistry/biology faculty, especially Dr. Peter-son, my adviser. Without them, I would not have chosen or succeeded in the sciences.

Dr. Jeffrey Price ’90

family medicine

Words of wisdom to students: Everyone needs to set goals in life. Have fun in college and be involved in extracurricular activities, but stay focused on your long-term goal of being a doctor. Don’t get distracted by the college atmosphere or friends who have not set goals or who may never have goals.

Whom would you like to thank for your success? I would like to thank Dr. Braid who was a biology professor when I attended the University of Montevallo. He was a great influence on me, and I appreci-ate him tremendously.

Dr. Richard Cummings ’74, professor and chair of biochemistry

If you would like to nominate someone for the Alumni Profile (located on page 16) or for the new Professional Spotlight, please email us at prnews@montevallo.eduThe next profession to be featured in Montevallo Today will be publishing.

Tell us about your job: I am the chair of the department of bio-chemistry at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga., and I also hold an endowed chair as the William Patterson Timmie Professor. At Emory I was also a founder of the Glycomics Center; this new Center is gaining world-wide recogni-tion for our research into glycomics and glycobiology.

How did Montevallo affect your career choice? The University of Montevallo provided me with options in the most intellectually generous sense, which is what great institutions are supposed to do. The broad education I received at Montevallo was unbelievably enlightening to this poor young country boy, and opened my eyes and ears to a world of scholarship and research, not only about science, but also about music, literature, and business. All of that excited me to enter a career as a biomedical researcher and helped me to grow my little creative talents.

Dr. Cecily Collins ’07, obstetrics and gynecology resident

Tuesday, February 7 5:30 p.m. College of Education Alumni Recognition Dinner Anna Irvin Dining Hall

Friday, February 1010 a.m. - 5 p.m. Preview and early bidding portion of Art Auction Bloch Art Gallery 3 p.m. UMNAA Board of Directors Meeting Wallace Speech & Hearing Center 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Global and Community Outreach Reception Valley Street/International House 5:30 p.m. Class of 1957 Dinner Anna Irvin Dining Hall 5:30 p.m. Class of 1962 Dinner Ramsay 106 7 p.m. College Night Productions Palmer Auditorium

Saturday, February 11 8 - 11 a.m. Alumni Coffee & Registration Reynolds Hall 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. UM Bookstore open (10% discount for alumni) Farmer Hall 9:30 - 11 a.m. Kinesiology Coffee Myrick Hall10 - 11 a.m. Music Department Reception Fraser Seminar Room, Davis Hall10 - 10:45 a.m. Behavioral & Social Sciences/Social Work Reception Jeter Student Lounge10 - 11:30 a.m. Family & Consumer Sciences Coffee Ackerley Room, Bloch Hall10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 16th Annual Alumni Art Exhibition and Silent Auction Bloch Art Gallery11 a.m. Montevallo Masters Reception Main Hall Lobby11 a.m. - Noon English and Foreign Languages Reception Sarah Palmer Commons Comer Hall Room 202, 2nd FloorNoon Awards & Recognition Luncheon Anna Irvin Dining Hall • Distinguished Alumnus Award • Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Awards • Honored Classes/UMNAA Business 1 - 2 p.m. Stephens College of Business Reception Myrick Hall, Classroom 2 1 - 2 p.m. Montevallo (Images of America Series) Book Signing Comer Auditorium 2 p.m. Purple & Gold Basketball Game Myrick Hall 2 p.m. 1952 Class Reunion Tutwiler Parlor 2 p.m. 1957 Class Reunion Ramsay 119 2 p.m. 1962 Class Reunion Ramsay 106 2 p.m. Alabama College Society Meeting & Coffee Reynolds Hall 3 p.m. College Night Club Meeting Carmichael Library, Ground Floor 3 p.m. Communication Studies Alumni Tea Reynolds Hall, Room 226 3:30 p.m. Minority Alumni Reception Farmer Hall, 2nd floor 3:30 - 5 p.m. Reception Flowerhill 4 - 5:30 p.m. Art Auction/Bloch Party Bloch Art Gallery 4 - 6 p.m. McNair Scholars Program Reception McNair Office, Farmer Hall 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. 1972 Class Reunion & Reception King House 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. 1982 Class Reunion & Reception Stewart Student Retreat 5 - 6:30 p.m. Young Alumni Event Main Street Tavern 5 - 6:30 p.m. 1992 Class Reunion & Reception Reynolds Hall 7 p.m. College Night Productions Palmer Auditorium

2012 Hometown Homecoming schedule

www.montevallo.edu/alumni31

Thursday, Feb. 9 ______ tickets @ $10 each = ______Friday, Feb. 10 ______ tickets @ $15 each = ______Saturday, Feb. 11 ______ tickets @ $15 each = ______

Class of ’62 ______ tickets @ $15 each = ______Class of ’72 ______ tickets @ $15 each = ______Class of ’82 ______ tickets @ $10 each = ______Class of ’92 ______ tickets @ $10 each = ______Young Alumni Event ______ tickets @ $10 each = ______ Homecoming Luncheon (Sat.) ______ tickets @ $15 each = ______class Photo ______ @ $10 each = ______class of ’62 Medallions ______ @ $10 each = ______

$__________

Name Address E-mail Phone class Year

Enclosed is a separate check for:class gift for Department Unrestricted gift

*Tickets for Friday or Saturday productions may be ordered only by alumni who have made a contribution since October 1, 2011. Those individuals may order two tickets for either Friday or Saturday, but may not order tickets for both nights. contributions may be included with ticket order. Please send your payment and form by February 1, 2012.

Make checks payable to: University of Montevallo

Return forms to: University of Montevallo • Station 6215 • Montevallo, Al 35115

Purple and Gold Productions:

Reunions:

Other:

Total:

alumni announcements ss1Check out yearbooks, bulletins and so much more on the library digitization project: www.archive.org/details/universityofmontevallo

The Alumni Directory will be published by Harris Connect. The softbound edition will be $79.99, hardbound will be $99.99, CD will be $99.99, and an alternate version with specific data may be available.

2012 Hometown Homecoming – February 10-11, 2012

In Spring 2011, the Sigma Epsilon Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha celebrated its 40th year of becoming a colony of the national fraternity. A BBQ luncheon and fellowship at Oak Mountain State Park celebrated this milestone.

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Homecoming reservation form

Tuesday, February 7 5:30 p.m. College of Education Alumni Recognition Dinner Anna Irvin Dining Hall

Friday, February 1010 a.m. - 5 p.m. Preview and early bidding portion of Art Auction Bloch Art Gallery 3 p.m. UMNAA Board of Directors Meeting Wallace Speech & Hearing Center 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Global and Community Outreach Reception Valley Street/International House 5:30 p.m. Class of 1957 Dinner Anna Irvin Dining Hall 5:30 p.m. Class of 1962 Dinner Ramsay 106 7 p.m. College Night Productions Palmer Auditorium

Saturday, February 11 8 - 11 a.m. Alumni Coffee & Registration Reynolds Hall 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. UM Bookstore open (10% discount for alumni) Farmer Hall 9:30 - 11 a.m. Kinesiology Coffee Myrick Hall10 - 11 a.m. Music Department Reception Fraser Seminar Room, Davis Hall10 - 10:45 a.m. Behavioral & Social Sciences/Social Work Reception Jeter Student Lounge10 - 11:30 a.m. Family & Consumer Sciences Coffee Ackerley Room, Bloch Hall10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 16th Annual Alumni Art Exhibition and Silent Auction Bloch Art Gallery11 a.m. Montevallo Masters Reception Main Hall Lobby11 a.m. - Noon English and Foreign Languages Reception Sarah Palmer Commons Comer Hall Room 202, 2nd FloorNoon Awards & Recognition Luncheon Anna Irvin Dining Hall • Distinguished Alumnus Award • Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Awards • Honored Classes/UMNAA Business 1 - 2 p.m. Stephens College of Business Reception Myrick Hall, Classroom 2 1 - 2 p.m. Montevallo (Images of America Series) Book Signing Comer Auditorium 2 p.m. Purple & Gold Basketball Game Myrick Hall 2 p.m. 1952 Class Reunion Tutwiler Parlor 2 p.m. 1957 Class Reunion Ramsay 119 2 p.m. 1962 Class Reunion Ramsay 106 2 p.m. Alabama College Society Meeting & Coffee Reynolds Hall 3 p.m. College Night Club Meeting Carmichael Library, Ground Floor 3 p.m. Communication Studies Alumni Tea Reynolds Hall, Room 226 3:30 p.m. Minority Alumni Reception Farmer Hall, 2nd floor 3:30 - 5 p.m. Reception Flowerhill 4 - 5:30 p.m. Art Auction/Bloch Party Bloch Art Gallery 4 - 6 p.m. McNair Scholars Program Reception McNair Office, Farmer Hall 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. 1972 Class Reunion & Reception King House 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. 1982 Class Reunion & Reception Stewart Student Retreat 5 - 6:30 p.m. Young Alumni Event Main Street Tavern 5 - 6:30 p.m. 1992 Class Reunion & Reception Reynolds Hall 7 p.m. College Night Productions Palmer Auditorium

“Montevallo: a mountain in a valley. This bucolic, natural phrase aptly describes the beauty of this central Alabama town. Early settlers were drawn to the area by its abundant agricultural and mineral resources, and in 1826, the tiny village of Monte-vallo was born. The nature of the town changed significantly in 1896 with the found-ing of the Alabama girls’ Industrial School, now the University of Montevallo. The Olmsted Brothers firm of Brookline, Massachusetts, laid out the central campus, and its master plan still inspires current development. Since 1896, the focus of the town has shifted from agriculture and mining to education. The university’s mission is to be Alabama’s ‘Public liberal Arts college.’ Prominent figures include writer and veteran E. B. Sledge, actresses Polly Holiday and Rebecca luker, and Major league Baseball player Rusty greer.” (from Montevallo, a newly published book co-authored by clark Hultquist, Ph.D., and carey Heatherly, M.l.I.S.) This book is the result of the col-laboration of Hultquist, professor of history and chair of the department of behavioral and social sciences, and Heatherly, assistant professor, reference librarian, and the university archivist.

|UM faculty publish Montevallo book|