Warhawk Weekly 5-12: Wilson inspires Class of 2026; Celebrate #AUMGrads
Wilson inspires AUM’s Class of 2026 to finish strong
At spring commencement, Auburn University at Montgomery alumnus and former professional baseball player Pookie Wilson delivered a heartfelt message to the Class of 2026 about perseverance, resilience and the importance of finishing what you start.
Wilson reflected on his own journey from arriving at AUM in 1988 as a student-athlete with dreams of playing professional baseball to eventually returning decades later to complete the degree he once left behind to pursue his career. After a professional baseball career with the Florida Marlins organization and years spent coaching and mentoring young athletes, Wilson earned his degree from AUM in December 2025.
Throughout his address, Wilson encouraged graduates to embrace setbacks as part of growth and to continue moving forward even when life becomes difficult.
“Success isn’t about never failing,” Wilson told graduates. “Success is about learning how to keep going when things get hard.”
Wilson closed his speech by leaving graduates with three key lessons: chase your dreams, embrace challenges and finish what you start. He reminded graduates that life may not always follow the timeline they expect, but persistence and discipline can lead them exactly where they are meant to be.
“Work hard. Support the people around you. Stay humble. And never stop learning,” Wilson said. “If you stay committed, stay disciplined, and keep moving forward, you will eventually arrive exactly where you’re meant to be.”
AUM celebrated more than 700 graduates during two commencement ceremonies Saturday at the AUM Athletics Complex.
Celebrate #AUMGrads with a billboard tribute
As part of our celebration of spring 2026 #AUMGrads, we are inviting graduates to share their regalia photos and future plans.
If you missed the opportunity to share your graduation portraits, there’s still time. Submissions will be considered for a chance to appear on an AUM digital billboard or AUM’s official social media platforms.
Submit your photos and future plans two ways:
- Upload your photos, 2MB to 10MB, at aum.edu/aumgrad/
- Email your photo, name, major and future plans to [email protected].
The future of every #AUMGrad is bright, and your next chapter might just be on a billboard.
AUM Brand Survey: We want your opinion
AUM has partnered with Ologie, a national branding and marketing agency with deep expertise in higher education, to understand the perceptions, strengths and opportunities associated with the AUM brand. This research will allow us to measure and establish clear pathways to grow brand awareness, clarify our story, and cultivate trust and pride among our stakeholders.
As part of their discovery process, Ologie has created a short survey. Take the online survey.
For your participation, you can opt into a drawing at the end of the survey to win one of 100, $20 Amazon e-gift cards.
Your voice and feedback are critical to shaping AUM. We appreciate your time and participation. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will close on Friday, May 15, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Thank you for helping shape the future of AUM.
Questions? Email the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications at [email protected]
Cheer on Warhawks softball before NCAA South Regional
AUM’s softball team is headed to the NCAA postseason tournament after earning a spot in the NCAA Division II South Regional.
Help send off the Warhawks at 3 p.m. today outside the AUM Athletics Complex as they prepare to leave for Florida. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to arrive by 3 p.m. to cheer on the team before its 3:15 p.m. departure. Free doughnuts will be available while supplies last.
AUM will compete in the South Regional hosted by Saint Leo University. The Warhawks will open tournament play against fifth-seeded University of Tampa at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in Saint Leo, Florida.
The winner of AUM’s regional bracket will advance to the next round of the national tournament, known as the Super Regionals.
Learn more about NCAA South Regionals in the Athletics Newsroom.
Green Zone training available for faculty, staff
As a university consistently recognized as a Military Friendly School by Viqtory Media, AUM takes pride in anticipating and meeting the needs of its more than 800 military-affiliated students.
One of the best ways faculty and staff can help these students is by completing Green Zone training, which focuses on increasing awareness of the backgrounds and needs of student veterans, spouses and military dependents.
Green Zone training will be offered from 9-11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, in Goodwyn Hall 116.
Participants that attend will receive a certificate and a green zone sticker to place outside their office space. Registration is required for this training.
AUM AV Storytelling Camp returns June 8-11
AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Department of Communication and Theatre will offer the fifth annual Audio-Visual (AV) Storytelling Camp June 8-11.
The free, four-day camp is open to 24 area high school students interested in producing multimedia stories. Participants will explore podcasting, television, voice acting, news writing and strategic communication while learning how to create media projects for their portfolios.
Campers will have the opportunity to develop projects such as documentaries, creative photography pieces or fictional radio dramas.
The camp is supported by a grant from the Alabama Press Association and the AUM Office of the Provost. The registration deadline is June 1.
Build in-demand data analytics skills this summer
Data drives decisions, and professionals who can interpret it are in demand across industries.
AUM’s 2026 Summer Data Analytics Certificate Program helps students, professionals, and practitioners build high-impact skills in data science, statistical learning, statistical modeling and data-driven decision making.
In this three day, six-module course, participants will gain practical tools to analyze, interpret, and leverage data across industries such as business, healthcare, academia, and public policy.
Take your analytical skills to the next level this summer by registering for a session:
