Category: Montevallo Today

The first two classes inducted into the newly created Shelby County Hall of Fame are significant in identifying the importance of the University of Montevallo within the 808 square miles consistently identified as one of the greatest places to live in the United States of America. The inaugural class inducted in 2024 included a UM… Continue reading Foundation of Shelby County Hall of Fame Built with Influential University of Montevallo Alumni

The University of Montevallo celebrated an eventful 129th Founders’ Day with the annual investiture of the senior class, the launch of the “Remembering the War in the Pacific” exhibition, a newly renovated bottom floor of Carmichael Library, the 100th anniversary of its Social Work Program and a dinner recognizing outstanding alumni, faculty and staff at… Continue reading University of Montevallo Celebrates 129th Founders’ Day

Back in 2011, Montevallo graduate Patsy Holliman Auiler ’65 gained a new purpose in life after traveling with some other family members to a safari camp in the Masai Mara area of Kenya, East Africa.  That first trip led to Patsy’s beginning an effort to raise money for villagers that she got to know there,… Continue reading Mission Trips Leave Lasting Impact on Montevallo Alumni

Your home: Columbiana, Ala. What is your profession? Principal, Elvin Hill Elementary School. What made you choose Montevallo as a school? When I decided that education was what I wanted to pursue, it was almost a no-brainer because Montevallo was the school for teachers. I knew that I wanted to be close to home, but still… Continue reading Questions and Answers with Courtney Madison ’09, M.Ed. ’17

Tara Pontius comes from a family with deep ties to Montevallo. Her mother is an alum, and her oldest son, Andrew, attended for two years. Her sons’ father, Drew, and their grandfather also walked the bricks, making the University a longstanding family legacy. The newest addition to the Falcon family is Tara’s youngest son, Jackson.… Continue reading Donor Profile: Tara Pontius

Long before he ever moved to Alabama, Dr. Milad Jasemi became fond of the state upon watching the film “Forrest Gump.” “This movie was really a change of perspective to the world for me,” the Iran native said. “At the end, there were tears on my jeans. I noticed later that the movie was not… Continue reading Faculty Profile: Dr. Milad Jasemi

The UM National Alumni Association honored the recipients of its 2025 Homecoming awards on Feb. 14 at its Homecoming Awards Dinner andAnnual Business Meeting in Anna Irvin Dining Hall. Willie L. Phillips ’00 received the Distinguished Alumni Award, the UMNAA’s highest annual honor. The Nathalie Molton Gibbons Alumni Achievement Award went to David Howard Thornton ’04… Continue reading UMNAA Recognizes Outstanding Alumni at Homecoming Awards Dinner

Generosity Heals: Bob Chapman Gives Back, Thanks UM for his Health Care Career When Robert C. “Bob” Chapman first came to UM (then Alabama College), he didn’t know yet that his passion for health care would spark a nearly 40-year career in health care administration. “I recognized the health care needs of people, whether it’s… Continue reading Donor Profile: Bob Chapman

Your home: Alabaster  Your hometown: Birmingham What is your profession? I’m a customer service manager with BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama.  What made you choose your career path? I was going to go to medical school and then I took human genetics. It was like, “Uh, this is not for me.” I majored in kinesiology because… Continue reading Questions and Answers with Christina Jackson ’10

Reflecting on National Championship and Looking to the Future As a small child, Gabe Hixenbaugh wanted to be a boxer. “My mom wasn’t really about that, so she wanted me to get into wrestling instead,” the graduate student said. This alternative proved fruitful for the Alabaster native, who clinched a national wrestling championship victory in March… Continue reading Student Profile: Gabe Hixenbaugh