News and Events
Wednesday Memo
October 7, 2009
Dabbs to be Founders’ Day convocation speaker | Founders’ week schedule |
UM team lighting the way for suicide prevention | UM athletes playing to ‘kick’ cancer
Dabbs to be Founders’ Day convocation speaker
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Mary Louise Rice Dabbs, a member of the class of 1956, will be the speaker for the 113th Founders’ Day convocation, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, in Palmer Auditorium on the University of Montevallo campus. A resident of Montgomery, Dabbs received the B.A. in art. She went on to earn an MAT in 1962 in elementary education at Montevallo. She also has a Montevallo connection that few can claim. She has missed only two Montevallo Homecoming celebrations since enrolling as a student. During her career, Dabbs taught art, English, social studies and elementary education. She directed two child-care centers and implemented a state-wide child abuse prevention program called First Steps. From 1992 until 2002, Dabbs worked in the Child-Care Management Program for the Family Guidance Center of Alabama and then took a part-time job there as a senior caregiver specialist. She received the Alumnus Loyalty Award from UM in 1988. She was a member of the National Alumni Association Board for 13 years, serving as president from 1992–1994. |
Dabbs was married for 50 years to the late Billy Dabbs. They began dating while both were taking graduate courses at Montevallo. They have three children, all of whom attended Montevallo. Almost three years ago, she published Journey through the Maze, a chronicle of the first seven years of the life she and her late husband had after his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. Her granddaughter, as a four-year-old, drew the cover illustration for the book.
By way of a planned gift to Montevallo through her trust fund, Dabbs became a member of the 1896 Society. Her gift will create and endow the Rice-Dabbs-Bryant Family Scholarship. Her sister Jane graduated from UM in 1959, her daughter Adele in 1986 and her son Paul in 1987. Her son John and late husband Billy both attended UM briefly. She created a scholarship in memory of her mother, the Louise White Dawson Scholarship in Social Work, which is now endowed.
Dabbs is a member of the Cloverdale Baptist Church and a volunteer for Baptist Hospice.
The University of Montevallo will celebrate its 113th Founders’ Day Thursday, Oct. 8, with events scheduled over a four-day period running from Tuesday, Oct. 6–Friday, Oct. 9.
Included in the activities for Oct. 8 are the convocation, which will begin at 11 a.m. in Palmer Auditorium, featuring keynote speaker Mary Louise Rice Dabbs ’56. During the convocation, the traditional robing of the seniors will take place. Awards will be presented, including the 2009 University Scholar Award, which will be presented to Kelly Wacker; the Faculty Service Award, which will be presented to Hollie Cost; the Alumnus Loyalty Award, which will be presented to Freddie Ford; the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award, which will be presented to Ruth Truss; and the Outstanding Staff Service Award, which will be presented to Amanda Fox.
The schedule for the remainder of Founders’ Week follows:
Thursday, October 8:
• Convocation, 113th Founders’ Day ceremony — 11 a.m., Palmer Auditorium
• Reception (faculty, staff, seniors and alumni invited) — 12:30 p.m., Anna Irvin Dining Hall
Open Houses:
• Peterson Hall (Art) — 1–3 p.m.
• New residence hall — tours beginning at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
• Van Tuyll House (Graduate Studies) — 1–3 p.m.
• James Wylie Shepherd Observatory — 1:30–3 p.m. (performance at 2:30 p.m.)
Get a first glimpse at the new, state-of-the-art telescope and enjoy the premiere performance of Dr. Jody Landers’ vocal and instrumental composition, “How Sweet the Moonlight,” written especially for the Shepherd Observatory.
• Ebenezer Wetlands — 3–4:30 p.m. (recognition and appreciation ceremony at 3:30 p.m.)
If you haven’t had an opportunity to enjoy the wetlands, now is your chance! The 760' boardwalk through the wetlands will give you an up-close and personal look at this priceless ecological preserve. If you have been out to visit, come and see the improvements, additions and plans for the future! Shuttle service provided to the wetlands; the shuttle stop will be at the front of Main Hall beginning at 2:30 p.m., with the last returning shuttle at 4:45 p.m.
• Life Raft Debate — 7 p.m., Palmer Auditorium
Friday, October 9:
• Hall of Fame Inductees Reception — 5 p.m., Hall of Fame Room - Student Activity Center
• Alabama Symphony Orchestra — 7:30 p.m., Palmer Auditorium
For more information, contact Marion Brown, chair of the Founders’ Day Committee, at Ext. 6292.
UM team lighting the way for suicide prevention
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Seventeen Illuminating Montevallo team members are currently registered for the 2009 Out of the Darkness Walk, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m., at Birmingham’s Heardmont Park. (Registration begins at 2 p.m.) The team has already raised close to $1,000! Like last year, we have team sponsorship and will have a UM tent at which to meet. For those who have not yet signed-up, now is the time. There are several benefits to being a team member including experiencing advocacy, socializing with faculty and staff from across campus and a great workout. If fund-raising is holding you back from joining our team, do not let it. If we have 50 team members and each raises $10 that is $500, which goes toward the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. |
To sign-up go to www.outofthedarkness.org/ and type our team name, Illuminating Montevallo, in the “Participant/Team Search,” box which is on the left side of the home page. Once you click “Search,” our page comes up and then click “Join Team.” It’s that easy!
For more information contact Megan Reichert, UM walk team captain, at mreicher@forum.montevallo.edu or Mary Bartlett at bartlettm@montevallo.edu.
UM athletes playing to ‘kick’ cancer
Courtesy: Sports Information
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the University of Montevallo women’s soccer team is doing its part to increase awareness across campus and in the community by hosting a fundraising event.
“For the Cure – Pink Polo Day” will be the theme of this Saturday’s (10/10) doubleheader against USC-Aiken. All spectators are encouraged to wear pink to the match to visually show their support for breast cancer awareness. The women’s soccer team will also be taking the field in pink jerseys and playing with a pink ball.
The pink theme will continue with the sale of pink University of Montevallo soccer T-shirts, miniature pink soccer balls that will be thrown into the crowd during both the women’s and men’s matches, as well as pink-themed and flavored concession items that will be available for purchase.
The women’s match begins at 1:30 p.m., while the men take the field at 4 p.m.
Other Organizations helping support the cause by attending the event will be:
• Jim ‘N Nick’s, who will be providing free cheesy biscuits for everyone to enjoy and selling sweet tea, with all proceeds going to breast cancer awareness.
• Campus Outreach, who will be hosting a cookout during both matches.
• Athletes Kickin’ Cancer, who will have a booth set up with information about their organization.