Warhawk Weekly 9-30: Selma to Montgomery art exhibit; Day of Giving
Selma to Montgomery marches inspire student art exhibition at AUM
Auburn University at Montgomery’s (AUM) Cason McDermott Art Gallery will present “Selma to Montgomery,” a special exhibition of student artwork on view Oct. 3–31.
The exhibition features the work of more than 30 young artists from Kaitlin Stanley’s class at Booker T. Washington (BTW) Magnet High School and students from AUM’s Beginning Photography class this fall. Each piece interprets some aspect of the historic Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. The project was made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
Stanley first introduced her students to AUM’s gallery in Spring 2025 during a visit to view an exhibition and hear an artist talk by New Orleans-based painter Aaron Collier. That experience sparked a collaboration between Stanley and AUM Department of Fine Arts Chair William Fenn on a joint photography project that encouraged their students to explore the civil rights marches and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
To provide a shared foundation for the work, students were tasked with incorporating a cyanotype — a photographic blueprint process invented in 1839 by English scientist John Herschel — into their projects.
“It’s a chemical process that is both fun and safe to demonstrate,” said Fenn, who teaches AUM’s Beginning Photography course.
To teach the process, Fenn partnered with AUM peer mentor and criminal justice major Maddie Wooldridge and AUM academic advisor Christina Buntyn to visit BTW. Together, they demonstrated the cyanotype process, discussed its history, and connected it to the marches.
“I love opportunities where AUM employees and students get to interact directly with high school students on a project,” Fenn said. “This goes beyond a typical campus visit and allows for true educational relationships to be formed. Having personable and engaged individuals like Ms. Wooldridge and Ms. Buntyn in attendance also gives high school students the opportunity to get a taste of what our university has to offer.”
For the final phase of the project, each student received a cyanotype depicting a map of the route between Selma and Montgomery and was instructed to incorporate their own photographs and mixed media.
“We hope visitors will appreciate the diverse approaches each student took to the subject matter,” Fenn said.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be held Friday, Oct. 3, from 4:30 -7 p.m. at the Cason McDermott Art Gallery in Goodwyn Hall 101. The gallery is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The exhibition, which runs through Oct. 31, is free and open to the public.
AUM Day of Giving a powerful success
Because of the generosity of the Warhawk community, AUM’s 2025 Day of Giving was a resounding success. Over the course of 24 hours, supporters made more than 200 gifts totaling $20,000, an incredible testament to the strength and spirit of our community and supporters.
Every gift made during Day of Giving represented an investment not only in AUM, but also in the potential of every student, every dream, and every opportunity to build a brighter future.
Thank you for Giving the Warhawk Way!
Theatre AUM play explores ancient Greek comedy
Theatre AUM will present “THE BIRDZ,” a modern adaptation of Aristophanes’ play The Birds, one of the playwright’s longest surviving comedies.
AUM’s production runs Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11 at 7 p.m., with the final matinee performance on Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. All performances will take place in the Taylor Center Theatre.
Directed by AUM Professor of Theatre Neil David Seibel, THE BIRDZ is based on the original classical satirical comedy that was first performed in 414 BCE. Theatre AUM’s adaptation of the play follows two friends who decide they’ve had enough of human nonsense and seek a better life among the birds, convincing them to build a floating city in the sky and cutting off the gods from humankind. Retold with contemporary music and updated for 2025, the play looks at universal themes of power, coming together and transformation.
Admission is free for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and OLLI members with a valid ID. Ticket prices for others are as follows:
- $5: Military & Senior Citizens
- $10: General Public
Cash or check payments are accepted. Audience members are encouraged to arrive on time, as there will be no late seating.
Participate in AUM’s Blood Drive
Today, AUM is partnering with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers to host a campus blood drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the LifeSouth bloodmobile, located at 7061 Senators Drive on campus.
All donors will receive a recognition keepsake and a free cholesterol screening. Donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and present a driver’s license or other valid form of ID. Sixteen-year-old donors must also provide written parental permission.
This event is sponsored by AUM’s Department of Medical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences and AUM Athletics.
AUM to host Graduate Studies Preview Night
AUM will host a Graduate Studies Preview Night to showcase its diverse range of master’s and doctoral programs, spanning fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Business, Education and Nursing.
The event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 5-7 p.m. in Taylor Center 221-223.
Whether you’re a soon-to-be graduate exploring your next academic step or a seasoned professional, the event offers valuable insight into how an advanced degree can support your career growth and development.
Application fees will be waived for event attendees. Register online now to save your spot.
Nominations open for 2025 Warhawk Spirit Awards
AUM’s annual Warhawk Spirit Awards recognize outstanding members of the AUM community who embody the university’s Core Values.
This year, we invite faculty and staff to show your Warhawk spirit by nominating a deserving colleague for this prestigious honor. The nomination deadline is Friday, Oct. 3.
Submit your nomination today and help celebrate those who make AUM a remarkable place to learn and work.
The Warhawk Spirit Awards will be presented during the annual Chancellor’s Convocation on Friday, Nov. 7. An RSVP for the Convocation will be sent out closer to the event date.
Kickstart your future with AUM’s MS-SLP program
Applications are now open for our Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology online program’s Fall 2026 cohort.
Open to individuals with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders or a related field, the MS-SLP program prepares graduates for licensure and certification.
Apply before the January 15 deadline.
Keep up with 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.
