Story By: Kylie Jordan
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – On Oct. 12, The University of Montevallo celebrated 127 years at its Founders’ Day convocation.
Observed on the second Thursday of October, the Founders’ Day celebration is held to recognize the senior class and outstanding faculty and staff. A keynote speaker also shares words of advice with the soon-to-be graduates.
In an annual tradition, Founders’ Day starts when the bell strikes 11 a.m. with the senior class walking from Main Quad to Palmer Auditorium.
University of Montevallo President Dr. John W. Stewart started the convocation by welcoming all attending. He then invited SGA President Colton Rodano to the podium to deliver the invocation, followed by Josh Giles, who sang the national anthem.
Rodano prayed over Founders’ Day, thanking God for the opportunities given to alumni from the university, the senior class, and the people who will come after the senior class’ success,
“Our university has produced some of our state’s and country’s finest leaders, ranging from deans of law schools to attorneys at the Department of Justice,” Rodano said. “I expect that some future leaders are here today wearing their senior robes for the first time, fully prepared from their liberal arts education, ready to take on the world”
I expect that some future leaders are here today wearing their senior robes for the first time, fully prepared from their liberal arts education, ready to take on the world.
Colton Rodano
After the invocation, President Steward relayed the history of the University of Montevallo, from its time as the Alabama Girls’ Industrial School, to Alabama College, and now the University of Montevallo.
“There was little opportunity and training for women, and Senator Bloch found this intolerable,” said President Stewart. This inspired him to become a voice in changing the legislature to open the Alabama Girls’ Industrial School.
Alabama was fortunate to have Julia Tutwiller, “a fierce advocate for women’s education,” President Stewart said.
“Today we honor those who laid a firm foundation as we, again, are together, shoulder to shoulder, 127 years later as a university and greater community” President Stewart concluded.
President Stewart then recognized UM Board of Trustees members, including Hon. Todd Strange, Chairman, Cynthia Todd, Hon. Matt Fridy, and Anita Brueck.
He also mentioned Dr. Dona Ploessl, Interim Dean of the College of Education and Human Development; Dr. Amiee Mellon, Dean of the Michael E. Stevens College of Business; Dr. Steve Peters, Dean of the College of Fine Arts; and Dr. Robert Barone, Academic Grand Marshal.
Lastly, President Stewart asked representatives of the City of Montevallo and Shelby County, representatives of the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association or Junior Board, members of the UM Foundation Board, Members of the 1896 Society, veterans who have served in the military, and any alumni of the University of Montevallo to stand to be recognized.
Dr. Courtney Bentley, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Abigail Heuton, SGA Senior Class President, joined at the podium to recite the class pledge with the senior class. After reciting the class pledge, Dr. Bently donned Heuton with her graduation robe and the senior class donned theirs for the first time.
Next, President Stewart recognized the students who found the Crook, a wooden stick.
“In 1926, this unique tradition was begun by seniors at the university who felt the juniors needed to make the transition from junior to ‘an exalted senior’,” President Stewart said. “Since 1999, finding the Crook has been opened to all students each year.”
The Founders’ Day committee determines where the Crook will be hidden every year and publishes clues to its location. For the third year in a row, Rachel Johnson, Cole Swain, and Lucy Frost-Helms found the Crook which was hidden in Myrick Hall to celebrate the university’s new nursing program.
President Stewart introduced this Founders’ Day keynote speaker, Julia Maloney, an attorney with the United States Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division.
Maloney returned 10 years after her own Founders’ Day convocation as a senior with “accomplishments and accolades that most do not achieve in 20 years,” President Stewart said.
Maloney focused her speech on overcoming failure. “At some point, you will do your best, you will try your hardest, you will give it your all and it won’t be enough,” Maloney said. “But don’t let that deter you.”
One Montevallo memory Maloney has of failure is College Night. In her senior year in 2003, she devoted herself to College Night.
“I put everything I had into College Night because I thought that victory, that success, it would make my life perfect. It would make me happy,” Maloney said. “We lost, and it broke me.”
Ten years later Maloney said she looks back at that memory fondly. “It’s not as simple as a win or a loss. It’s what you do next,” Maloney said.
It’s not as simple as a win or a loss. It’s what you do next.
Julia Maloney
Concluding her speech, Maloney said to the senior class, “Whatever lies ahead of you, please remember it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. What matters is what you do next.”
President Stewart presented Julia Maloney with the President’s Award for her outstanding achievements as an attorney and alumna, followed by a performance from the university’s concert choir in honor of Maloney.
The last segment of Founders’ Day is to honor those who have made achievements possible: the faculty and staff at the university.
The University Scholar Award winner was Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Associate Professor of Psychology.
Dr. Richandson‘s list of accolades is long, including having published six peer-reviewed articles and four book chapters, given 12 presentations, and co-authored a book published by the Oxford University Press on chronic pain. Dr. RIchardson’s current research involves a clinical trial on spinal cord injury funded by the United States Department of Defense.
Dr. Susan Caplow, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, won the Dr. Jermaine B Mitchell Faculty Service Award for her involvement in the growth of the Environmental Studies program and fostering meaningful cross-disciplinary connections between faculty and students.
“I am so grateful to be able to honor the memory of Dr. Jermaine Mitchell and continue his legacy of service,” Dr. Caplow said.
Dr. Lynn Kirkland, College of Education and Human Development, was the recipient of the Adjunct Teaching Award for her passion and dedication to teaching and the commitment and betterment of students’ lives.
Dr. Kirkland has taught in the Homewood City Schools and has worked as an educator, department chair and dean at the School of Education at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
The inaugural Johnny D. Holsomback Shine Award was presented as a Staff Senate award. It was presented to Hosomback, who passed away over the summer.
This award was created to recognize a UM staff member’s dedication and service to the university’s students, colleagues, and citizens of the greater community.
The final three awards were bestowed by the University of Montevallo National Alumni Association.
The Outstanding Staff Service Award winner was Kira Thomas. Since 2017, she has served as the Director of Marketing and Communications at the university.
Dr. Jason Newell, Professor of Social Work and Director of Social Work Program, was awarded the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. Dr. Newell was also recognized as the first Dr. Jeanine C. Bozeman Social Work Chair.
The final recognition of Founders’ Day was for Dr. Suzan Vaughn, the winner of the Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumni Loyalty Award. Dr. Vaughn was recognized for her return to the University of Montevallo to serve as a professor in social work after working as a child welfare worker. She retired in 2009 after teaching students at UM for 34 years.
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