NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Athletics Seeking Volunteers for National Championship Event

The University of Montevallo is serving as the institutional host for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships, and the Athletics Department is seeking volunteers to assist with this two-day event March 13-14 at the Birmingham Crossplex. If you are interested in assisting with this event, please sign up. If you are a member of UM staff, please consult with your supervisor or HR regarding employment rules before signing up to volunteer.

Help Needed for Financial Literacy Week

The Falcon Success Center needs your help during Financial Literacy Week, which will be held March 9-12. We are looking for teams of five people who can commit to one hour during this week to participate in Financial Feud, our version of Family Feud, which will test teams’ knowledge of financial information and UM trivia. Teams can be made up of students, faculty and/or staff. Come be a part of the fun! For more information, email Bria Hines or call 205-665-6092. Visit this link for a full schedule of events.

Request for Moving Boxes

The College of Fine Arts Dean’s Office and the Department of Theatre are in need of your empty boxes! These two areas will be moving into the Center for the Arts. Please consider collecting your empty paper boxes and other similar-sized boxes suitable for moving office supplies and files for Erin Limerick to pick up. Limerick can be reached by email or at 205-665-6663.

Undergraduate Research Program Travel Awards

The Undergraduate Research Program provides travel awards of up to $500 to undergraduate student researchers for travel to professional meetings and conferences to present papers or posters. The award may be used for registration, travel, lodging and related expenses. Students can download the application online and email the completed application in PDF format to URProgram@montevallo.edu with the subject line “UR Travel Award.” For additional information, visit the Undergraduate Research webpage. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Cindy Tidwell or Tonja Battle at URProgram@montevallo.edu.

Harbert Writing Center Seeking Writing Consultants

Do you ever read a student paper and think, “I wish all of my students wrote like this?” If so, please encourage those excellent writers to apply for a writing consultant position in the Harbert Writing Center. We want to employ students from multiple disciplines. The job postings will be up on the Student Employment webpage within the week. If you or your students have any questions about the Harbert Writing Center or the writing consultant position, please email Dr. Cynthia Mwenja at writingcenter@montevallo.edu.

Applications Open for Enrollment in Child Study Center Pre-K

UM’s Child Study Center Pre-K program is now accepting applications for pre-registration for the 2020-2021 school year. The random drawing for acceptance will be held on March 20.

A copy of the child’s birth certificate and a recent utility bill must be uploaded or provided prior to the lottery drawing. Fees (tuition) for this program will be paid monthly during the school year and are based off a sliding income scale. We do not receive the sliding income scale until mid-summer.

For full details, visit this link. Even more detailed instructions in English or Spanish can be provided by request. If you need assistance or more detailed instructions, please call the FCS Office at 205-665-6385 or email Amanda Grauel.

EVENTS

Building Administrator Training

Monday, March 2, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Farmer Hall Meeting Room

If you are a campus building administrator, please make plans to attend this training. We will review the role and responsibilities of a building administrator.

March Professional Photo Days

Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4, 8 to 11 a.m., Peterson House

University Marketing & Communications is pleased to offer Professional Photo Days. Each month, the digital marketing manager will have two designated mornings available for professional headshots. Anyone on campus is welcome to participate (faculty, staff or student). There is no charge. This month’s Professional Photo Days are Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 4, from 8 to 11 a.m. Please contact Alyssa Green to reserve a time slot.

Flu Vaccine Clinic

Wednesday, March 4, Noon to 4 p.m., Student Health Services, Main Hall

Student Health Services will be hosting a spring flu vaccine clinic on March 4 from noon to 4 p.m. Vaccines are available at no cost to insured students, University employees, spouses, dependents older than 18 and retirees. To receive a free flu vaccine, you must bring your health insurance card. Cost of vaccine without health insurance is $25.

Homegrown Heroines

Wednesday, March 4, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Wills 200

In celebration of International Women’s Day, four amazing local women will share insights about their experiences as leaders and role models, and will answer questions from attendees. Speakers: Dr. Hollie Cost, Stacia Brady, Jackie Chappell and Julia Davis.

Blue Nature: A Colloquium

March 5, 2 to 7 p.m. and March 6, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Merchants & Planters Bank Auditorium, Comer Hall

This two-day, interdisciplinary colloquium organized by the Department of Art brings together scholars, experts and students from the UM community and beyond to explore blue ideas, materials and spaces, from medieval literature to early modern painting to local waterways to Caribbean islands. The colloquium features faculty research and creative endeavors, students’ art installations and research projects and guest lectures to put into context our community’s blue experiences and to provoke creative thinking about the nature of blue. Schedule of events: montevallo.edu/blue-nature

Azul/Blue Exhibition

Closing reception and gallery talk, Thursday, March 5, 5 to 7 p.m., The Gallery at Bloch Hall

This exhibition is an expression of the color and concepts of blue. It is also a collaboration allowing contact and communication via art for 32 artists from Cuba and the United States. The artists, inspired by blue and the power of art to reach across the horizon of 90 miles of blue sky and water between our shores, traded work, and at times both artists worked on the same piece of art. This show embraces the life connection of each artist through all the metaphors and concepts for blue. It is a way to find a common shore and to dissolve boundaries in order to embrace our common human hopes. The closing reception is part of the Blue Nature Colloquium, March 5-6.

Faculty Recital: Dr. Jonathan Houghtling, Trombone

Thursday, March 5, 7:30 p.m., LeBaron Recital Hall

Dr. Jonathan Houghtling, trombone, and Dr. Laurie Middaugh, piano, will present a recital consisting of a wide variety of repertoire ranging from Leopold Mozart to Michael Colgrass. Come explore the trombone as we travel through four centuries of music history.

Wind Ensemble

Friday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., Palmer Auditorium

The Wind Ensemble, consisting of approximately 60 woodwind, brass and percussion students, both music majors and non-majors, will perform classic wind band repertory and contemporary works.

Spring Preview Day

Saturday, March 7, at 8:30 a.m., McChesney Student Activity Center

The University of Montevallo invites prospective students and their families to attend Spring Preview Day on Saturday, March 7. Activities for the day begin at the McChesney Student Activity Center at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Preview Day gives high school and transfer students a close-up look at the Montevallo experience. More information can be found online.

High School Honor Band Concert

Sunday, March 8, 3 p.m., Palmer Auditorium

Finale concert of the High School Honor Band three-day festival consisting of three bands of students conducted by guest conductors.

Toolbox Talk: Connecting with Students Digitally

Wednesday, March 11, Noon, Wills 200

The Malone Center’s March Toolbox Talk topic is “Connecting with Students Digitally.” As the number of non-traditional students and online courses continue to grow, there is an increasing demand to meet with students digitally. During this workshop, participants will be introduced to a few different platforms for hosting virtual office hours and virtual advising appointments. Lunch is provided for participants who register prior to 8 a.m. on March 9. Register online now.

Montevallo Astronomical Society and UM Astronomy Club Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 to 9 p.m., James Wylie Shepherd Observatory

All visitors are welcome for an evening of celestial observing and good company. Spring observing dates are scheduled for March 11, March 18, March 25, April 15 and April 22.

All dates are 7:30 to 9 p.m., and will be held provided it is not raining or overcast.

For those with GPS navigation systems, the physical address of the JWSO is 1093 Pebble Road, Montevallo, 35115. The gates will be open. (Ignore the No Trespassing signs).

Directions to the JWSO: Following 119 South through Montevallo, turn right onto 10 West (Middle Street) for 1 mile, bearing right onto 17 North. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto 206 West, and after 0.4 miles, turn right onto Pebble Road, continuing 0.7 miles to the UM Gentry Springs property.

VALIC/AIG Financial Advisor on Campus

Thursday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Carmichael Library Large Group Study Room

Interested in saving for retirement? Al Perry, UM’s VALIC/AIG financial advisor, will be offering individual retirement counseling on campus in the Carmichael Library Group Study Room Thursday, March 12.  Schedule an appointment online.

Exploring Communication Studies Day

Thursday, March 12, 1 to 3 p.m., Main Quad

The University of Montevallo’s Second Annual Exploring Communication Studies Day ignites a passion for excellence by equipping individuals with a diverse set of skills that inspires authentic, creative and ethical communication. Join us March 12 and IGNITE YOUR PASSION.

ACT Prep Course

Saturday, March 14, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wills Hall

The University of Montevallo will host a single-day ACT prep course for local high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. The $110 single-day course covers all ACT test subjects with in-class practice testing and includes lunch and a snack. Each participant will also receive a copy of the official ACT prep book, a math review card and other resources. Children of UM employees and students receiving free and reduced lunch get a 20 percent discount. Register online now or contact Sarah Hendren, director of partnerships and outreach, at 205-665-6077.

Be Well Shelby — Family Fun Day

Saturday, March 14, Noon to 4 p.m., Orr Park

Be Well Shelby is a mental illness awareness campaign to provide resources and reduce stigma related to mental illness in Shelby County. Join us for a day of family fun in Orr Park on March 14. We’ll have a variety of vendors, activities and giveaways for the family including Zumba classes, carnival games and prizes, a live DJ, food trucks and stage performances.

Faculty/Staff Highlights

Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music Education Dr. Ted Hoffman had an article titled “Music Teacher Recruitment of Precollegiate and Marginalized Populations: A Review of the Literature” published in the most recent issue of UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education. UPDATE is widely regarded as a top-tier selective peer-reviewed journal in the field of music education research. The article was coauthored by Dr. Tiger Robison (University of Wyoming), Dr. Blair Williams (Texas Tech University), and Dr. John Eros (California State University–East Bay).

Student Highlights

Barbara “Kaye” Culp has been named a fellow in the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program for graduate students from universities around central Alabama. Culp is a graduate student in the counseling program in the UM College of Education and Human Development. Based on her extensive community service and advocacy, she was selected from among many other competing scholars to a Fellows class of 17. The new class welcomed Fellows from Samford University; UAB schools of Health Professions, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Public Health; Auburn University and The University of Alabama schools of Social Work and Law. All fellows design and implement a research-based service project with a community in need, and they receive a $2,750 stipend. As the third fellow from UM, Culp intends to serve families in Bibb County in association with DHR and the Cahaba Medical Care Foundation. All graduate students are welcome to apply and can learn more at asfalabama.org.

The Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Association had the first major event of the year, the Texas Lunker Challenge presented by Mossy Oak Fishing. This one-day big bass format event provided plenty of excitement as hundreds of the nation’s best young college anglers competed on a world-class fishery. UM’s own Bradley Martin finished third with a largemouth bass weighing 6.56 pounds. In the latest College fishing polls, the UM bass team is currently ranked third by Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series and second by FLW.

Several UM voice majors from the Department of Music were selected as finalists in the 2020 Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing student auditions competition held at UAB Feb. 21-22. Among the finalists chosen from singers throughout the state were:

Elicia Freeman — Second place, Second Year College Treble Classical Category
Grace Collins — Third place, Second Year College Treble Classical Category and third place, Second Year College Treble Musical Theater Category
Daniel Moore — Second place, Third Year College TTB Musical Theater Category
Kane White — Second place, Third Year College TTB Classical Category and first place, Third Year College TTB Musical Theater Category
DeLee Benton — Third place, Fourth Year College Treble Classical Category

Freeman and Benton study voice with Dr. Melanie Williams. Collins, Moore and White are voice students of Dr. Roderick George.