From L:  Kinesiology Department Chair, Dr. Paul Vaccaro, Toni Leo, University of Montevallo President, Dr. Philip Williams   

                       

Each February, the Department of Kinesiology honors an Alumnus of the Year as part of the University of Montevallo's Homecoming celebration.  This year's recipient is Ms. Toni Leo.

Ms. Leo graduated from UM in 1980 with a B.S. in Physical Education.  She continued her studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she received her M.S. in Physical Education.  Ms. Leo has taught Physical Education, Dance Education and Health Education at the high school level and was an Associate Professor of Physical Education at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, NC. 

In addition to her teaching positions, Ms. Leo has coached volleyball, basketball and tennis.  She also has quite a remarkable sports resume of her own!  She is widely regarded as UM’s first outstanding female basketball player and was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame.  She still holds the record for rebounds in a single game (25). 

As a testament to Ms. Leo’s outstanding career, she has earned a number of awards of distinction, including Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Public School Health Educator of the Year, Dance Educator of the Year, Shelby County Coach of the Year for Basketball and Huntsville City Boys Tennis Coach of the Year. 

The Department of Kinesiology is pleased to have Toni Leo as our Alumna of the Year.  She has represented the Department of Kinesiology and the University of Montevallo in exemplary fashion.