SPRINGs6/,5-%s.O FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA Cover Story 6 .. Newly-opened Campus Hub Features 5 .. Upgrades to Mane Room 8 .. Miss UNA 2014 12 .. World Renowned Photographer Exhibits Work 14 .. Pride of Dixie Band, Drum Line 16 .. UNA Alumnus Provides New Hope for Amputees 22 .. Alumni Homecoming Awards Departments 2 .. President’s Message 34 .. Athletics 41 .. Class Notes 44 .. In Memory A mural created by UNA student Jordan Wisenauer spans the length of a wall in the Mane Room, depicting notable Shoals landmarks and capturing its music scene. SPRINGs6/,5-%s.O for alumni and friends of the University of North Alabama ADMINISTRATION president’s message President William G. Cale, Jr. William G. Cale Jr. Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost John Thornell For most of and administration. In all those years there Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs you reading my has never been a rift among us. What we Donna Tipps ’83 & ’96, Interim column you are did as a university community is not so Vice President for Student Affairs aware that BJ and visible as new buildings and distinguished David Shields I have made a events, but it is the bedrock upon which our Vice President for Enrollment Management Thomas Calhoun decision that I will university now stands and upon which it Vice President for University Advancement retire from the will create its future.The Shoals community Dan Hendricks William G. Cale, Jr. UNA Presidency is similarly a rare jewel, not only genuinely Vice Provost for International Affairs on July 1 of this year. After that date the warm and welcoming, but also progressive Chunsheng Zhang Board of Trustees has named me President in promoting the arts, civic engagement, STAFF Emeritus and asked me to remain with education at all levels, and sustaining a high EDITOR the university until the end of the year to quality of life while moving our economic Carol Lyles ’70 insure continuity with our major projects future forward. UNA’s relationship with COPY EDITORS and to assist in the transition to a new our home city, Florence, has grown ever Terry Pace ’85 & ’04 Dr. William G. Cale, Jr. Student Jordan Graham Student Noelle Ingle Dr. Dan Hendricks B.J. Wilson ’80 president. As I write this note in early April stronger over the years. Our city clearly DESIGNERS the Board is preparing to name a search recognizes the value of UNA to the Karen Hodges ’84, Chuck Craig ’79 advisory committee, select a professional community and their gift of $3 million PHOTOGRAPHER fi rm to assist with identifying outstanding toward completion of the science and LEADERSHIP SUMMIT FOCUSES ON Shannon Wells ’05 candidates, and initiate a national search for technology building is a testament to their CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS my successor. The search process should belief in us and what we in turn will do for Chuck Craig ’79 conclude in late fall. Florence. BJ and I have purchased a home FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES Sonja Croom Carol Lyles ’70 I will leave it to others to assess the here and look forward to living and staying Jessica Pajaron successes and shortcomings of the past nine very active in this vibrant place. Over the The University of North Alabama services, the University Success emphasis on athletics, each academic CONTRIBUTING WRITERS years. What I would like to share are a few years we have lived in many places; nothing Foundation recently engaged a Center services, the Women’s Center, unit, and University programs with Michael Anderson ’92 personal thoughts about what has been tops the Shoals. number of outstanding alumni and the newly formed Division of the goal of presenting compelling William G. Cale, Jr. the most rewarding and exciting time in There is an irony for me as my days Jeff Hodges ’82 and friends to serve as volunteer Professional and Interdisciplinary statements that highlight immediate Noelle Ingle my professional life. UNA is a rare jewel. in the presidency draw to an end. On one leadership in an effort to build upon Studies. fundraising initiatives to potential Carol Lyles ’70 In many respects, what is often called the hand it does seem curious that at a time the enthusiasm recently generated The campus still resonates donors. Hannah Mask honeymoon has never ended. My role as in my life when a few things have fi nally Terry Pace ’85 & ’04 wit h excitement over the latest Many thanks to all of the president has been consistently supported become clear, when the university is doing by several very generous gifts to transformational gifts, which include dedicated alumni and friends who Send correspondence and address changes to: and encouraged by a campus that wants to so well, that I should conclude that it’s time the school. The volunteers met UNA Magazine move forward. Ten years ago the university to let go. But on the other, I have long held on Saturday, February 15, in the two separate gifts from anonymous participated in the Leadership Summit Offi ce of Alumni Relations Guillot University Center to discuss donors for the new Science and gathering! Your loyalty, passion, and UNA Magazine reached in a new direction, seeking a and often said that within every university, UNA Magazine UNA Box 5047 Technology building for over one devotion to the University of North 2 University of North Alabama president who would bring a strong turnover of the senior leadership from time ongoing and future building projects 3 Florence, AL 35632-0001 academic background together with the to time is necessary to retain the vitality for the campus. These discussions million dollars, the one million Alabama are contagious and we look e-mail: [email protected] other skills needed for success. I have vivid that drives the institution forward. But care included establishing scholarships and dollar estate gift from alumna forward to the next collaboration with memories from my fi rst weeks on campus is required. Rapid turnover leads to chaos, professorships to attract the brightest Mary Deeters, the additional gift the group. STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION It is the policy of the University of North Alabama to afford equal opportunities of conversations about what the faculty and decades of service leads to stagnation. from former professor Dr. Paul 2014 spring in education and in employment to qualifi ed persons regardless of age, color, and best students and faculty; 2014 spring creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, or sex, in accordance with all hoped to see happen, of what was right So I choose to step down for the best of laws, including Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil identifying specifi c priorities for each Yokley that will enhance the Beta Rights Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act, Civil Rights Act of 1991, and what needed attention. Change began. reasons and at the best of times, for me, and Executive Order 11246. The coordinators for nondiscrimination policies of the four colleges (Arts & Sciences, Beta Beta Scholarship, and the are: for students, Irons Law Firm, 219 North Court Street, Florence, AL 35630, We built and now share a strong sense of my wife, and the University. But stepping and for employees, the Director of Human Resources and Affi rmative Action, Business, Education & Human recent completion of the Student 217 Bibb Graves Hall, telephone 256-765-4291 or common purpose, an academic direction down is not stepping away. BJ and I intend email: [email protected]. Government Association endowed that is centered on both our students and to remain engaged with UNA for the long Sciences, and Nursing); enhancing Information contained herein is as it currently exists but scholarship. is subject to change without prior notice. the professional development of the faculty. haul. travel-abroad opportunities for We fully formed our model of shared students from all disciplines; as well as The summit participants also governance into a wholly cooperative All my best, creating other special projects in the critiqued individual fundraising partnership among faculty, staff, students, Bill Cale area of library services, international brochures and a video that have an Office of Student Engagement and Baptist Campus Ministries Upgrades Turn Mane Room into Main Attraction Host Event to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By Hannah Mask, Student Writer By Hannah Mask, Student Writer Ministries came together 200 African American newspapers. The Department of - Entertainment Industry added to ness and love. campaign he led to win the release December’s chilly, cheery air, unveiling a spruced up performance venue. The Mane Room, which is was a transformative leader,” Tammy woman who was given a mandatory seated at the intersection of Pine and sentence of more than 24 years for Tuscaloosa streets, has a 400-person capacity. Newly added purple and gold signage and awnings on the building’s exterior invite visitors into the venue. marched from the GUC to Baptist Inside, too, the ambience is noticeably improved. A mural created by UNA student Jordan Wisenauer DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., spans the length of a wall, depicting was a man who practiced what he the keynote speech. In addition to notable Shoals landmarks and capturing preached. To honor his legacy and its music scene. Jordan Wisenauer with family Wisenauer, a senior majoring in art, drew inspiration not only from walkway as though he were The Mane “Downtown Florence is exploding,” which is a federation of more than his favorite hangouts but also from Room’s bodyguard. said the department’s chairman, Robert architecture in the Shoals and structures “I wanted the bodyguard to look Garfrerick. “It just so happens that the such as O’Neal Bridge, for example.