Warhawk Weekly 2-3: Homecoming launches into orbit; ACTF takes the stage
Homecoming 2026 launches into orbit
AUM Homecoming Week 2026 blasted off Monday with a kickoff pep rally, a spirited faculty/staff vs. students basketball game, and a lineup of exciting events.
With this year’s theme “Welcome to the Warhawk Universe,” Homecoming Week features a variety of out-of-this-world activities created to showcase Warhawk pride and welcome alumni back to campus. Events include Chancellor’s Cup competitions, Homecoming Court elections, Greek Night, and more.
Alumni can take part in Baseball Alumni Day at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the AUM Baseball Complex as the Warhawks take on Southern Wesleyan University. Alumni who reserved a space can enjoy food, drinks and a front-row seat to the action. The celebration continues that evening with the AUM Alumni Association’s “Casino Night,” an alumni game night beginning at 7 p.m. in Taylor Center 221-223. Tickets are $25 and include games, food and drinks.
Homecoming Week wraps up Saturday, Feb. 7, with tailgating and a women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader against Union University on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. During the games, fans will celebrate Curtiss the Warhawk’s 14th birthday, and the 2026 Homecoming Court and Chancellor’s Cup winners will be announced.
Theatre AUM students participate in ACTF this week
Two Theatre AUM productions —“THE BIRDZ” and “Blood at the Root”— have earned multiple 2026 American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) nominations, recognizing students for outstanding acting and production work. Theatre AUM will also present “THE BIRDZ,” one of only five distinguished productions selected from the region to perform at this year’s conference.
The conference begins today at AUM, bringing theatre students and faculty from colleges across the Southeast to campus. Co-hosted by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the conference runs through Saturday, Feb. 7.
The following AUM students have received 2026 Region IV ACTF nominations:
“THE BIRDZ,” directed and adapted by Neil David Seibel, professor of theatre
- Daylyn Knox, Meadow Lokey, Jay Russell – Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
- Aaron Rudnick – Stage Management
- Ada Withers – Scenic Design, Scenic Charge Artist, Allied Design and Technologies
- Atticus O’Banner – Dramaturgy
- Jenna Thornton – Poster Design, Allied Design and Technologies
- Michael James Pritchard – Projection Design
- Tiara Staples – Sound Design
- Tyreanna Causey – Costume Design
- William Rouse – Lighting Design
“Blood at the Root,” directed by recent Theatre AUM graduate Tiara Staples
- Grace Brennan, Atticus O’Banner – Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
- Dusti RW Levy – Stage Manager
- Will Rouse – Lighting Design
- Tyreanna Causey – Costume Design
- Tiara Staples – Sound Design
- Derek Flowers (Research Assistant) – Dramaturg
The weeklong event also features workshops and professional development opportunities designed to help students refine their craft, connect with theatre professionals and gain career experience.
Nominate AUM for Community’s Choice Awards
Auburn University at Montgomery needs your support to hold its status as the River Region’s favorite university in the 2026 Montgomery Advertiser “Best of the River Region” Community’s Choice Awards. The nomination period begins Feb. 5.
The annual awards celebrate and recognize the best that Montgomery has to offer. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate AUM as a top university in the Montgomery region in the following categories:
- Beauty & Health: Hearing Aid/Hearing Specialist Center
- Kids & Education: Child Care
- Kids & Education: College/University
- Sports & Fitness: Fitness Center/Gym
- Top Employers: Place to Work
Online nominations close Feb. 26, with the top five nominees in each category advancing to the voting round in April, where winners and finalists will be selected.
To submit your nomination, visit the Montgomery Advertiser’s Community’s Choice Awards nomination page.
McGhee earns prestigious BEA scholarship
AUM senior communication major Shaniece McGhee is one of five undergraduate students nationwide selected for the prestigious Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Multimedia Journalist scholarship.
Students selected for the scholarship award attend BEAVegas, the association’s annual national conference that brings together more than 1,000 professors, researchers and media students from more than 300 college and universities. Held in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the 2026 conference will take place April 17-21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas.
As a member of this year’s BEAVegas student multimedia journalist team, Shaniece will report on conference events and infuse various storytelling methods, such as writing, audio and video, into her daily assignments.
Through the scholarship, student multimedia journalists receive professional equipment to use onsite, press credentials and access to the NAB Show Newsroom. The award also provides funding for convention registration, housing and round-trip economy airfare of up to $500. Additionally, students receive a $500 stipend for food and incidentals.
Shaniece, a Montgomery native, is a staff writer for the university’s student-run newspaper, The AUMnibus, and member of the AUMLive communication club. In 2025, she won second place in the Southeast Journalism Conference podcasting category.
COB talk spotlights soft skills in the AI era
AUM’s College of Business will host “Why Not Win? Beyond Business Basics,” a speaker event to equip students with practical, career-ready soft skills needed to stand out in an AI-driven business world.
Presented by the Why Not Win Institute in partnership with the College of Business, the event will feature distinguished business leaders and sessions on “Soft Skills: The Hard Currency of Business Success” and “Misrepresented Business Practices” from noon–1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Goodwyn Hall 109.
The program’s featured guest speakers are:
- Larry D. Thornton Sr. – Founder of the Why Not Win Institute, Montgomery entrepreneur, artist, author and the first Black McDonald’s franchisee in Birmingham, with decades of leadership development experience.
- Dale Thornton Jr. – Franchise and organizational leadership expert and West Zone Vice President of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association (NBMOA), offering real-world insight into scaling teams and operations.
- Daewoo Park, Ph.D. – Dean of AUM’s College of Business, bringing expertise in innovation, strategic management, and student success.
By connecting students with accomplished leaders and emphasizing the human skills that technology can’t replace, the event reflects AUM’s commitment to student success. Through exploring topics such as communication, leadership and ethical decision-making, students will also learn to build the confidence, professionalism and adaptability employers are demanding right now.
The event’s co-sponsors include Coca-Cola, GMC and the City of Montgomery, underscoring a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of talent for a rapidly changing economy.
The talk is free and open to students, faculty and staff (lunch provided).
Registration is required. Register online.
Volunteer to help at GEARSEF
AUM’s College of Sciences will host the Greater Eastern Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (GEARSEF) on Friday, March 13. The event will bring more than 220 middle and high school students from 27 counties to AUM’s campus to compete in a wide range of science and engineering categories.
Student, faculty, and staff volunteers are needed to help ensure a welcoming and successful experience for participating students. Volunteer opportunities include chaperoning visitors in Warhawk Alley, screening movies, and monitoring the AUM-STEM Expo, among other roles.
To volunteer, complete the GEARSEF Volunteer Form or email Molly Belew Trammell at [email protected]. Individuals interested in judging a category, email Dr. Chelsea Ward at [email protected].
Warhawk Athletics: Warhawks on the Court, Field and at Chipotle
Court and field highlights
Warhawks men’s basketball picked up a thrilling 76–74 overtime road win at Mississippi College and returns home Thursday, Feb. 5, to host Christian Brothers during Greek Night and AUM Homecoming Week. AUM softball opened the season 2–0 at the Gulf Shores Invitational with wins over Florida Tech and St. Leo and will compete next at the Columbus State Invitational on Feb. 6. Warhawks baseball opened its season with a doubleheader against Young-Harris College this weekend, securing a 6-5 win in the series opener at the AUM Baseball Complex before falling in the second game. The Warhawks look to bounce back today on the road against Georgia Southwestern, with first pitch set for 5 p.m. in Americus, Georgia.
‘Do Good With Chipotle’ fundraiser
Support your favorite Warhawk teams while enjoying a meal at Chipotle on Wednesday, Feb. 4, during “Do Good with Chipotle,” a special fundraiser benefiting AUM Athletics. From 5–9 p.m., 25% of event sales will be donated to the cause.
Dine in or order online for pickup at Chipotle, located at 2560 Berryhill Road, Suite C. When ordering online, use code TBN76RX, or show the flyer in the restaurant to ensure your purchase counts toward the fundraiser.
Do good with Chipotle for dinner and support the Warhawks at the same time.
Register for math placement tests
AUM’s free math placement program can help students save time and tuition costs. Students can take math placement tests on the following dates in Goodwyn Hall 115:
- Friday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.
- Friday, March 6, 9 a.m.
- Friday, April 3, 9 a.m.
- Friday, May 1, 9 a.m.
- Friday, June 5, 9 a.m.
- Friday, July 10, 9 a.m.
Register for a placement test: aum.edu/mathplacement.
Keep up with campus events
There’s an easy way to keep up with all of the fun events offered on our campus. Enroll in AUM365 and get the 4-1-1 from Curtiss The Warhawk himself. Text curti$$ to 334-398-6025 to receive reminders about upcoming happening.
