Warhawk Weekly 2-11: Theatre AUM awarded; Science & Technology Complex ribbon cutting
Theatre AUM takes spotlight, awards at KCACTF
Theatre AUM students and faculty earned a long list of accolades last week at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) region conference in Greensboro, N.C.
Professor Val Winkelman earned the 2025 Gold Medallion, which honors an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and has significantly dedicated their time, artistry, and enthusiasm to the development of the KCACTF.
Theatre AUM’s fall production of John Logan’s “RED” was one of the top five regional invited productions. Individual recognitions at the festival included:
- Tyreanna Causey – Inaugural Regional Scholarship based on merit and essay, honorable mention for the Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy
- Dusti RW Levy – National Award for Outstanding Casebook and Dramaturgy
- Aaron Rudnick – Vectorworks Award, a one-year subscription for the Spotlight computer program valued at more than $3,000
- Ada Withers – Second place, SETC/David Weiss Award for Scenic Design and second place, SETC/David Weiss Award for Allied Crafts for Scenic Painting
- Tiara Staples – Honorable mention in Sound Design, honorable mention in Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Directing Initiative Fellowship. Her directed scene included AUM students Michael James Pritchard, Aaron Rudnick and Jay Russell.
- Jay Russell and Michael James Pritchard – The acting partners were semifinalists for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship
More than 60 students auditioned for the Student Playwriting Festival at KCACTF. Other honors included:
- Grace Brennan was cast in a one act play, “Nuptial Mass” by Ben Abbott
- Atticus O’Banner was cast in a 10-minute play, “We Meet at Ralph’s” by J. Harvey Stone
- Dusti RW Levy served as dramaturg for the reading of “We Meet at Ralph’s”
- Faculty member Michael Krek appeared in a one act play, “The Caregiver” by Stephanie Goldman
- Krek and Neil David Seibel were invited to present juried conference presentations and group discussions
Students also participated in Stage Management, Design, Technology and Performance events. The regional festival includes representatives from nine states, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Ribbon cutting held for new Science & Technology Complex
Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) celebrated the opening of its new Science & Technology Complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony and guided tours of the 57,000-square-foot facility on Friday, Feb. 7.
The ribbon cutting event was attended by more than 100 faculty, community leaders, project officials, AUM administrators, and members of the Auburn University (AU) Board of Trustees. The Science & Technology Complex opened to the campus community the first day of spring classes in January.
“Our new Science & Technology Complex will reshape STEM education for current and future students and significantly enhance AUM’s teaching, research, and outreach capabilities in scientific disciplines,” said AUM Chancellor Carl A. Stockton.
“We look forward to using spaces in the Science & Technology Complex to support STEM professional development for K-12 educators and to also fostering research collaboration between AUM and Auburn University faculty. We now have a top-flight facility for teaching and research.”
Formerly the site of the Alabama Department of Public Health’s State Forensic Lab for over four decades, the new Science & Technology Complex features modern and adaptable classroom, laboratory, and collaborative spaces.
Learn more about the Science & Technology Complex ribbon cutting.
View the photo gallery from the ribbon cutting, tours, and open house.
Southern Studies Conference celebrates milestone year
Auburn University at Montgomery’s College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences will host the university’s 15th annual Southern Studies Conference February 21-22.
The two-day, interdisciplinary event, held at AUM, will bring together scholars from across the United States and around the world to explore various aspects of the American South. The event is free for AUM-affiliated faculty, staff and students who register in advance.
This year’s keynote speaker, Gina Caison, the Kenneth M. England Associate Professor of Southern Literature at Georgia State University, will present on the topic “Grounded in the Gulf South: Indigenous Sovereignty Beyond American Regions.” Her talk will be held from 1:15- 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, in Taylor Center 230.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Caison to campus to discuss the importance of addressing indigenous issues as scholars,” said Lacey Sloan, professor of social work and co-chair of this year’s conference. “Her scholarly work reflects the unique challenges faced by Southeast Indigenous nations, such as climate relocation programs. It also highlights often-overlooked issues that are important to the South, whether you’re indigenous or not.”
On Saturday, the conference will feature the performance “Afri-Christian Spirituality in the Plays of August Wilson: A Performance of Spirits,” presented by Wendy Coleman, dean of Alabama State University’s (ASU) College of Visual and Performing Arts, along with ASU students. The performance will be held from 12:45-1:30 p.m. in Taylor Center 230.
“Having our sister university perform and educate us during this year’s conference is exciting, especially as we celebrate a milestone year,” Sloan said. “Dr. Coleman and her students will present on a unique topic that I believe we can all learn from.”
Each year, the Southern Studies Conference features a variety of presentations, including posters, panels, art displays, oral presentations, and musical performances. Topics cover political science, literature, history, anthropology, English, philosophy, religious studies, women’s and gender studies, sociology, criminal justice, art, art history, music and more.
In celebration of the conference’s milestone year, attendees will enjoy Southern- and Mardi Gras-themed food and desserts.
Communication students place at SEJC competition
Communication students Nicholas Cutrell and Shaniece McGhee recently earned second place honors in a podcasting competition held at the Southeast Journalism Conference at Mississippi State University.
Their podcast focused on the HBO documentary “Ren Faire” and the Season 1 episode, “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Go the Will?” McGhee is in her second semester in the Communication program, while Cutrell will graduate in December.
Other AUM students who competed in the competition were junior Mya Law (opinion writing), freshman Jonathan Gardner (current events), and junior Nicholas Drayton (radio news and TV anchoring). Cutrell also competed in feature photography.
Student journalists came from nearly 20 Southeastern universities (including several SEC schools) in eight states.
Softball, baseball prepare for homestands
AUM’s 6th-ranked softball team will play at home for the first time this season on Friday, when it opens a three-game series against Trevecca Nazarene. Game 1 will start at 3 p.m., with a Saturday doubleheader to follow at noon and 2 p.m.
The Warhawks went 3-1 in last week’s Eagle Classic in Florida to improve to 5-2. In other winter and spring sports:
Baseball: Wednesday’s home game against Spring Hill has been postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast. No make-up date has been set. AUM will play its home opener Friday at 3 p.m., when Trevecca Nazarene visits. The series will continue Saturday at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tennis: AUM’s men and women will face North Georgia on Friday. The women defeated No. 9-ranked Columbus State in their opener, while the men fell to the Cougars. The AUM women are ranked 10th nationally.
Men’s basketball: AUM (9-13, 6-11 Gulf South Conference) will visit Montevallo (15-8, 11-6) on Saturday. Paul Lanzi is leading the way offensively for AUM with 13.3 points per game.
Women’s basketball: AUM (10-12, 8-9) will visit Montevallo this weekend. Allasha Dudley continues to torture opposing defenses, leading the Warhawks with 18 points per game.
Exploring student activism and voting rights
AUM’s Civil Rights & Civic Virtue Society Speaker Series continues Wednesday, Feb. 12, with
Alabama State University Assistant Professor of History and University Archivist Howard Robinson.
Robinson will discuss student activism at the 1965 Voting Rights Campaign, as well as the development of the Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail. Breakfast will be served at 8 a.m. in Taylor Center 222-223, with the program beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Beat the Continuing Merit Scholarship application deadline
If you are a currently enrolled AUM student who is in good academic standing and also meets the following requirements by the March 1 deadline, then do not forget to submit your Continuing Merit Scholarship application.
- Undergraduate Students must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of undergraduate coursework with a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of a 2.5 or higher.
- Graduate Students must have completed a minimum of 6 hours of graduate coursework with a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of a 3.0 or higher.
Submit your application before the March 1 deadline.
Submitting an application will help you receive consideration for a variety of general donor scholarships, need-based scholarships and scholarship endowments offered by the university.
Each of these scholarships varies in amount as well as in requirements outlined by the donors who support them. To be considered, a student must have an updated Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on record.
Some of AUM’s colleges, schools and departments may require separate scholarship applications. Be sure to check with your academic advisor to explore all department scholarship opportunities.
Continuing Merit Scholarships are competitive and limited in number. Scholarships will be awarded to the most qualified candidates who apply by the deadline. Applicants will be notified of their scholarship decision during the summer semester.
Students must be degree seeking in order to be eligible. Dual Enrolled, Unclassified students, Continuing Education courses, and Fully Online Academic Programs are not eligible.
Earn support for your graduate studies
Current AUM graduate students who have completed at least six credit hours and maintained a GPA of 3.4 or better may be eligible for the 2025-2026 Graduate Study Merit Scholarship offered by the AUM Alumni Association.
To be considered, students must submit the following to [email protected] by the March 14 deadline:
- Two letters of support (preferably from AUM faculty or staff), emphasizing leadership skills
- A 250-word essay outlining educational and career objectives, academic honors/awards/civic activities, and how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals
- Current resume listing employment, dates of employment, hours worked, campus and/or community leadership and academic achievements
- A completed AUM Alumni Association Graduate Study Merit Scholarship application.
Keeping up with all 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.
