- Eva Olivia Golson, PhD, a longtime professor of English, was one of the first female graduates of the University of Chicago, earning a doctorate in literature. An annual scholarship named in her memory is awarded to an outstanding rising senior majoring in English.
- Garnie W. McGinty, a Louisiana historian taught briefly at UM prior to his long-term association with Louisiana Tech University
- Julia Tutwiler, 19th-century champion of equal educational opportunities for Alabama women, secured the funding that enabled AGIS to open in 1896. She also served as the first president of Alabama Normal College (now the University of West Alabama) and wrote a poem, "Alabama," that was later adapted as the official state song.
[edit]Notable alumni
- Slade Blackwell, Republican member of the Alabama Senate.
- Louise Fletcher, noted film actress
- Rusty Greer, former Major League Baseball player for the Texas Rangers.
- Polly Holliday, American actress best known for the character of Flo from the hit television show Alice
- Gerald January, Current basketball player for the Tromso Storm (Norway).
- Marcus Kennedy, Current basteball player for Residence Walferdange (Luxembourg) [5]. Named GSC Conference Player of the Decade (2000–2009).
- Jo Kittinger, Children's book author, speaker, and President of SCBWI
- Rebecca Luker, American musical theatre actress and soprano who has appeared in several prominent Broadway productions.
- Jon Maloney, Current English football player for Harrogate Town FC [6]. All-time lead scorer for Montevallo Men's Soccer team and the only three-time Gulf South Conference Player of the Year.
- Ray Reach, noted jazz pianist, vocalist, arranger, composer and educator, formerly (1998–2005) director of the UAB Jazz Ensemble, and currently Director of Student Jazz Programs at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
- Doug Sisson, Major League Baseball coach
- Rodger Smitherman, President Pro Tempore of the Alabama State Senate.
[edit]Traditions
The school mascot is a Falcon, and the colors are purple and gold.
[edit]Crook Week/Senior March
Traditionally, Crook Week was a week in late October when the senior class women would hide the "crook" -a staff shaped roughly like a shepherd's crook- and give obscure clues for the underclass women who were to find it. At the end of Crook Week was Senior March. When the chimes struck thirteen, if the underclass women did not find the crook, the seniors march on them, getting them out of their rooms and onto Main Quad where they would have a shaving cream and water balloon battle. If the underclass women found the crook, they were safe that year. This tradition ended in the 1990s because the administration considered it hazing despite that fact that participation on either side was purely optional.
Today, Crook Week occurs the week before Founder's Day. The administration hides the crook and leaves clues as to where it can be found. The finder of the crook gets recognized at Founder's Day with a small cash prize.
[edit]College Night
The oldest tradition at Montevallo is called College Night, an intramural competition between the Purple Side and the Gold Side. The tradition officially began on March 3, 1919, in honor of the school adding the name "college" to its title.
The homecoming competition consists of sports events, management of the side finances and spirit. While these are key to the game of College Night, the primary focus is two student written, produced, and performed musicals—one for each competing side. For a small University in which the student-to-faculty ratio is only about 16-to-1, participation is key. A noticeable number of people participate in bringing the tradition together; at least 400 actually participate in the activities, but it is a tremendous success that draws those who do participate back after many years of being out of college. Each year, the school's Palmer Auditorium—a stately building boasting a large stage, orchestra pit and seating for 1200—is standing room only as alumni and spectators gather to witness the unique tradition that is College Night.
College Night originated as a liberal arts school's response to its lack of a "proper Homecoming" - meaning an American football game. The campus is split into two teams, the Purple Side and the Gold Side. The two colors of the school, purple and gold, compete for the title of either "PV" (purple victory) or "GV" (gold victory). The student involvement is all-inclusive: there are athletic intramurals that count for points toward victory, cheerleading competitions, signs designed and painted by students to be judged and even community efforts and fund raising drives to gain points toward a victory.
College Night has been cited by some as the longest running homecoming tradition in the United States. The fact that College Night is the oldest college homecoming tradition in the U.S. has been recorded for posterity by Alex Trebek - it has been a question (or rather, answer) on Jeopardy! two times.[citation needed]
[edit]Current Events
[edit]Conflict between the President and Board of Trustees
Since 2006, Philip C. Williams has held the position of president at the University. On September 9, 2009, the Board of Trustees voted to table a decision to dismiss Dr. Wlliams, instead granting him a semester long sabbatical period and entered into mediation talks with him over disagreements.[7]
The conflict arose over an Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) provision that gives a college/university priority rights to offer classes in defined geographic areas. The provision states that if a college/university wants to offer classes in the geographic area of another college/university, it must seek the permission of that college/university.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) desired the ability to offer classes in Hoover at Jefferson State Community College. Although Hoover is a Birmingham suburb, it is located in Shelby County, which is under Montevallo's territory. Williams agreed to allow UAB to offer the classes, in return for UAB's support for the University of Montevallo to begin a Master of Business Administration program.[8]
During the meeting of the Board of Trustees on September 9, 2009, students gathered at Reynolds Hall to support Dr. Williams and protested the board's actions.