Warhawk Weekly 5-13: Spring graduates unlock possibilities; NCAA softball Super Regional
Spring graduates prepare to unlock possibilities
From nurses and accountants to social workers and mathematicians, members of Auburn University at Montgomery’s record-setting Spring 2025 graduating class are ready to be difference-makers in Alabama’s River Region and beyond.
“It’s everything to me,” AUM nursing graduate Michael Shalayda said of earning his bachelor’s degree. Shalayda, who has already accepted a position at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, was one of more than 700 students who made up the university’s largest-ever commencement class.
More than 100 members of the graduating class earned a GPA of at least 3.4.
For many graduates, commencement marked the start of a brand new journey. For others, like Sylondia Fells, it marked a continuation. Fells, a veteran classroom educator, earned her Education Specialist degree – her fourth college degree.
“We have to stay current,” Fells said. “There’s always new things to learn, and we have to stay abreast of what’s going on.”
Fells also strives to reinforce the importance of education to her daughter, who is in the process of earning a bachelor’s degree. “I am just trying to continue to show her that, as a mom, a wife, and a full-time teacher, that anything can be done and it’s possible.”
Mayor of the Town of Pike Road Gordon Stone, who addressed the Spring graduating class, emphasized the importance of a college education as a key capable of opening any door. Stone, who earned a master’s degree from AUM after graduating from Auburn, serves as executive director of the Higher Education Partnership, an advocacy group representing the interests of students, faculty, staff, alumni and other key stakeholders of Alabama’s 14 four-year public colleges and universities.
“It is a key that will unlock for you opportunities that you can visualize and opportunities that you have never imagined,” Stone said. “You have chosen to pursue that key and now it is yours. Let’s talk about what you will do with that key. Let’s talk about the opportunities that are on the other side of that door.”
Warhawks advance to NCAA softball Super Regional
Thanks to its consistent pitching and balanced offense, AUM’s softball team swept through the NCAA Division II South Region 2 Championship to earn a berth in Super Regional play for the third time in the last four seasons.
AUM (40-11) will travel to face 5th-ranked University of Tampa in a best-of-three series beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. at Naimoli Field. The teams will meet again on Friday at 2 p.m., with a deciding third game to follow at 5 p.m., if necessary. On the line is a trip to the eight-team NCAA Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 22-28.
AUM earned its trip to the Super Regional with a dominant 8-1 win over Region 2 host Saint Leo on Saturday in a game disrupted by a 2-hour weather delay. Reese Cauley, selected as the Pitcher of the Year on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association 2025 All-South Region Team, earned the complete game win with six strikeouts. Cauley also drove in two runs and received plenty of help from Chloe Baynes, Haley Ann Frank, Lexie Bullock and Faith Wheat, who had multi-hit games.
The Warhawks went 3-0 in the regional, opening with a 5-1 win over West Florida last Thursday and following up with a 4-2 win over Saint Leo on Friday in winner’s bracket play.
Green Zone Training helps military-affiliated students
AUM will host Green Zone training to help faculty and staff meet the needs of the university’s more than 800 military-affiliated students.
Green Zone training focuses on increasing awareness of the backgrounds and needs of military affiliated students at AUM. The training is offered to all interested faculty and staff.
The session will be held from 9 – 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14 in the AUM Library Room 221 (WASC all purpose room). Participants are required to register to attend the training.
Participants will receive a certificate and a green zone sticker to place outside their office space once training is completed.
Paddle up, Warhawks
AUM’s Office of Collaborative Partnerships is hoping to make some waves at the 11th Annual Montgomery Dragon Boat Festival with the help of students, faculty and staff. The university is putting together a crew of 20 rowers and five alternates to represent AUM in the event, which will be held on Saturday, June 14, at 8:30 a.m. at Riverfront Park.
So far, the team has secured eight rowers and three volunteers but needs your help to complete the crew.
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.
Options for middle school and high school students include a free STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) Camp and other opportunities specializing in video game storytelling and character development, digital photography, digital illustration, computer science and debate and public speaking.
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.
