University of Montevallo Honors Graduates at 2025 Spring Commencement

May 8, 2025

The University of Montevallo proudly celebrated the Class of 2025 at its Spring Commencement ceremony in McChesney Student Activity Center on May 3. Students, faculty, staff, family, friends and members of the UM community gathered in Central State Bank Arena to honor the academic achievements of 317 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 99 candidates for graduate degrees.

“An education equips us with a drive to acquire and learn,” said Colton Rodano, Student Government Association president. “We, through our education, will be graduating with this appetite for knowledge. I am proud to be a part of the next generation of explorers that will question the reality of the circumstances before them, and I hope to learn enough to make the world a better place.”

Outgoing Senior Class President Karla Mancilla commended her fellow graduates for their resilience in the face of adversity, stating, “This class is made up of people who have continuously persevered even when faced with challenges. Look down at your gown and feel the weight of your cap. These aren’t just symbols of finishing school. They represent all the times you told yourself, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ and still you showed up anyway.”

This year’s commencement address was given by Carey Heatherly, UM’s archivist and special collections librarian. Starting as a staff member at Carmichael Library in 2003, Heatherly has helped create and develop the Anna Crawford Milner Archives and Special Collections, a trove of papers, photographs, ephemera and realia curated to chronicle the University’s long history.

“This institution has grown, succeeded, adapted and weathered many storms in our lifetime,” said UM President John W. Stewart III in his introduction of Heatherly. “We wanted to have an individual address you today to speak on the topic of ‘us.’ There’s no better individual than the guardian of UM history.”

Heatherly also offers classes through the Honors Program and serves as the faculty advisor to Montage, the University’s yearbook. After sharing with the audience highlights of Montevallo’s rich legacy, he encouraged the graduating class to carry those stories with them in hopes that they’ll recall meaningful pieces of UM’s history whenever they return to the bricks.

“Remember the things you learned and why you learned them here: civic engagement, creativity, sense of community and intellectual curiosity,” Heatherly said. “Remember that this isn’t just about buildings and dates. It’s about lives changed, about you and your role in that legacy.”

The ceremony continued as Stewart, Professor of History Dr. Jim Day and Registrar Amanda Fox ’04, M.Ed. ’10 conferred the degrees, the first four of which were awarded on behalf of Birmingham-Southern College to transfer students who finished their educational journey at Montevallo

“First founded in 1902, our Alumni Association’s approximately 29,000 members can be found across the U.S. and abroad,” Baker said. “Today, you join a legacy dedicated to serving this cherished institution, its people and its future.”

Stewart also recognized those earning a diploma from Falcon Flight, a program started in 2018 that allows Shelby County students with learning disabilities to attend classes at UM and learn essential life and jobs skills that will allow them to continue their journey into adulthood after finishing high school.