Warhawk Weekly 5-6: Largest-ever commencement class; Graduation marshals
AUM to celebrate largest-ever commencement class
Auburn University at Montgomery will celebrate the largest graduating class in school history during its Spring 2025 commencement on Saturday, May 10.
AUM will award an estimated 733 degrees during a pair of ceremonies at the AUM Athletics Complex. Graduates of AUM’s Colleges of Education, Nursing & Health Sciences, and Sciences will be recognized beginning at 10 a.m. At 2 p.m., graduates of the Colleges of Business, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and University College will be honored. The university will provide online live-streaming of its ceremonies.
Graduates will be addressed by a civic leader and educational advocate who also happens to be one of AUM’s own. Town of Pike Road Mayor Gordon Stone, who earned an MBA from the university, will serve as the commencement speaker. Stone has served as Pike Road’s Mayor since 2004, guiding the community’s growth from 350 residents to more than 12,000. Since 1997, he has also served as executive director of the Higher Education Partnership, an advocacy group representing students, faculty, staff, alumni and other key stakeholders of Alabama’s 14 public four-year universities.
Meet the university’s graduation marshals
Seventeen outstanding AUM students will have the honor of serving as graduation marshals for their respective colleges during commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10. AUM’s Spring 2025 student marshals are:
College of Business
- Alan Gamper, Accounting, Prattville, Ala.
- Nahia Izco, Human Resource Management, Pamplona, Spain
- Sanjana Mendadala, Master of Science in Management Information Systems, Andhra Pradesh, India
College of Education
- Khaliah Corneliah Ashley, Master’s in Secondary Education – English Language Arts, Goodwater, Ala.
- Rickey Taylor Fennie, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Montgomery, Ala.
- Hailey Whitlock, Kinesiology, Deatsville, Ala.
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- Madalyn Barfield, Social Work, Montgomery, Ala.
- Kailey Hill, English-Creative Writing, Deatsville, Ala.
- Maya Camille Thompson, Communication Studies, Chicago, Ill.
College of Nursing & Health Sciences
- George Deloney, Master of Science in Nursing Health Systems, Ozark, Ala.
- Haley Ann Frank, Communication Disorders, Mansfield, Ga.
- Karis Walker, Nursing, Clanton, Ala.
College of Sciences
- Peyton Baker, Mathematics, Montgomery, Ala.
- Julie Langdon, Environmental Science, Dallas, Texas
- Shelbi Ralls, Chemistry, Phoenix, Ariz.
University College
- Victoria Parrish, Interdisciplinary Studies (minor in Graphic Design), Sylacauga, Ala.
- John C. Tunnell, Interdisciplinary Studies, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Tell us where your degree will take you
If you’re a member of our Spring 2025 graduating class, tell us where your AUM education will take you. Drop an email to [email protected] with the following:
- Your graduation photo
- Your name
- Your major/degree
- Your hometown
- Your future plans
- Favorite AUM class/professor
- What will you miss most about your time at AUM?
The university will share features on its social media platforms.
Food for fines drive supports UHP Food Pantry
AUM Library has launched its annual “Fine Feathered Friends” food for fines initiative, and faculty and staff are invited to join the cause this year.
Running until May 30, the food drive allows AUM community members to donate non-perishable food items to help students both pay down overdue library fines and stock the University Honors Program Food Pantry.
For every donated item, $1.50 will be deducted from a student’s outstanding fines, offering much-needed relief so students can focus on their studies. Acceptable donations include shelf-stable, unopened goods such as soups, pasta, canned vegetables, and snacks. Donations can be dropped off at the library’s first floor circulation desk.
With your support, you will help students clear their overdue library fines while addressing food insecurity for students on campus!
For more information, email Samantha McNeilly.
Warhawks return to NCAA postseason play
For the fifth consecutive season, AUM’s softball team will compete in NCAA Division II postseason play. The Warhawks (37-11) earned an at-large bid as the No. 3 seed in the South Region in Saint Leo, Florida, where they will open play Thursday against sixth-seeded West Florida at Mary Cannon Cabot Stadium.
No. 2-seeded Saint Leo and seventh-seeded Mississippi College round out the double-elimination regional. The winner of the Saint Leo site will meet the winner of the Tampa regional in the South Super Regional May 15-16.
After capturing the regular season Gulf South Conference championship, the Warhawks swept through the GSC tournament before West Florida rallied for a 7-6 victory in the tournament championship game. AUM enters postseason play with one of the nation’s top pitching staffs, ranking sixth nationally with a 1.75 ERA.
Three Warhawks were named to the Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team — Arianna Machado, Chloe Baynes and Reese Cauley. Baynes and Cauley also earned First-Team All-GSC honors to go along with Chelisa Newsome. Haley Ann Frank and Rebecca Komers earned Second-Team All-GSC honors.
AUM Athletics will host a send-off for the team today at 3:45 p.m. at the Athletics Complex. Snacks and refreshments will be provided to attendees.
Faculty workshop helps reenergize and rethink courses
AUM will offer “Summer Teaching Refresh,” a series of faculty workshops designed to help educators update, reenergize, and refine their courses.
The inaugural workshops will be held on Friday, June 6 and Friday, June 20 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. with lunch included. An optional workday is set for Friday, June 13, from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. (no lunch will be provided). Participants who attend both core days will receive a $500 stipend.
The Summer Teaching Refresh promises an engaging opportunity for instructors to connect with colleagues, share teaching strategies, and explore innovative approaches to course design.
Participants will focus on key aspects of teaching, including:
- Building community within the classroom
- Structuring lecture time for enhanced engagement and better content retention
- Exploring effective assessment methods
- Additional topics based on individual goals and faculty needs
This unique event is organized in collaboration with HHMI grant faculty members Tara Beziat, Chelsea Ward, Clarissa Arms-Chavez, and Flor Breitman.
Register now online for the Summer Teaching Refresh. Preference will be given to faculty members who have not previously participated in HHMI working groups or teaching sessions.
For more information, email Chelsea Ward.
Summer camps offer blend of science and art
Need a summer outlet for your son or daughter? AUM’s summer camp offerings for middle school and high school learners offer a blend of scientific inquiry and artistic creativity.
Camps include a free STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) Camp for local middle school students and other opportunities specializing in video game storytelling and character development, digital photography, and digital illustration.
Seeing the big picture through Big Data
Make sense of the story Big Data is telling you by enrolling in our Data Analytics & Statistical Modeling certification program. It’s perfect for professionals and students who are interested in building expertise in data visualization, decision science and statistical analysis and modeling.
Space is limited for this 8-week program offered by AUM Continuing Education. AUM students and employees can take the program for a discounted rate of $499.
Don’t miss out on 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.
