By Daniel Sanders

The 129^th annual Founders’ Day took place on October 9^th in Palmer Hall. Founders’ day is a beloved tradition here at the university, with many moving parts. The ceremony began at 11am, starting with the faculty in their processional regalia leading the senior class into Palmer Hall from the Main Quad. 

The convocation began with a welcome and introductions by Dr. Terry Roberson, invocation by Kendall Miller and the National Anthem sung by Chloe McWhirter. 

Next, a speech about the founding of the university was given by Caleb Jernigan, president of SGA. He began his speech with the statement that was put out in Alabama newspapers when the University of Montevallo, then Alabama College, was founded. It highlighted that it would train women to be independent wage earners. He also spoke about how the city of Montevallo was chosen to host this school, and how the deciding factors were its central location in the state, the existing school building (which is now Reynolds Hall), the donations of land from the city, and the abundance of clean water that was available to residents. “There was not a foot of pavement or a single electric light,” said Jernigan. “But there was an abundance of water, supplied by the numerous springs along Shoal Creek.”  

He continued to quote Miss. Anne Kennedy, the first chair of the Department of English, about the location of the university. “Had it been started in Tuscaloosa, one of the principal competitions of ours, or any other center of culture in the old south, it would doubtless have been stifled by the ideals of feminine education already well written there. It would have been dwarfed, or warped, or misshaped.” 

Next, Carey W. Heatherly, professor and Head of Archives and Special Collections, gave a retrospective on the university’s 129-year history. He highlighted events that happened in 1925, such as the construction of Ramsay Hall, accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the founding of the university’s Social Work program. 

Fast forwarding half a century to 1975, the school is now officially called the University of Montevallo, a 600,000-dollar bid is approved by the president of the university to build the (then new) college of business building Morgan Hall and Purple wins college night. 

Finally, he spoke about the university in 2000 and 2001. Everyone survived y-2k, Ludacris performed at Spring Fest in Palmer Hall where students could see him for 8 dollars, and it’s a Gold Victory. 

The keynote address by Dr. Courtney Bentley, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, spoke about the value that a liberal arts college gives to students. “I had a conversation with Professor Lane (?) recently where he indicated someone used the phrase ‘Renaissance Education’ to explain liberal arts,” she said. “Why the words ‘Renaissance Education’? What do those words really mean? Why is it important? […] In a nutshell, the liberal arts is a multi-disciplinary approach where a broad field of study is valued. […] So why do we value such an approach? Well, that’s both complex and beautifully simple. The education you’re receiving here is preparing you to be resilient, adaptable, and timeless.” 

Following the keynote speech, the Montevallo Concert Choir performed “Alleluia” by Jake Randstad. The piece is hauntingly beautiful with percussive elements interspliced throughout the performance. 

Next was the Investiture of the Senior Class, where Dr. Bentley led the senior class reciting the class pledge. She then robed D’Nadia Ross, Senior Class president, and the seniors in the audience followed suit. 

After the Seniors finished their pledge, Dr. Ruth Truss introduced this year’s University Scholar. This year’s recipient is Dr. Clark Hultquist, who is a history professor here at Montevallo. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his colleagues for his nomination, but also the students that make his job worthwhile. “I wanted to talk to the seniors who will be graduating in seven months,” he said. “I wanted to express my thanks to you, in the classroom for the last twenty years. You have encouraged me, you have inspired me, you’ve laughed at me, you’ve laughed with me. It’s just been a great crowd.” 

Mr. Eddie Baker, President of the National Alumni Association, presented the Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumni Loyalty Award, which was awarded to Ms. Lindsay Song, benefactor of the Alan and Lindsay Song Center for the Arts. 

The ceremony ended with everyone in attendance standing and singing the Alma Mater, and the Benediction was given by Ross. 

As recessional music played, students spilled out onto the bricks to embrace family and friends. Sorority sisters gathered to take group photos, friends squeezed together to fit in the photo frame, and families embraced their students. Many faculty members left Palmer Hall laughing with their colleagues, headed to the complementary lunch hosted in the Anna Irvin Dining Hall.