Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

The University of West Alabama has announced the schedule for its annual Homecoming celebration, with events for alumni scheduled Oct.1-3.

For students, homecoming week kicks off with Casino Night on Monday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Bell Conference Center. The event features a full slate of casino-style gaming.

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, students will have a chance to get a free homecoming t-shirt from 3 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. outside the CAF. There is no cost for current students, but shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The excitement continues Wed., Sept. 30, at Serendipity, the annual homecoming talent show where students compete for prize money and bragging rights. The student-only event will begin at 7 p.m. in UWA Auditorium and will also spotlight the 2026 Homecoming court.

On Thursday, Oct. 1 beginning at 6:00 p.m. the community is invited to join the Tiger football team, the West Alabama Marching Band, UWA cheerleaders and LUie for the Homecoming pep rally and campus carnival, featuring live music by Daniel Houze. After dark, a bonfire and fireworks show, presented in collaboration with the Offices of Student Affairs and Alumni Affairs, will light up the intramural fields.

The annual homecoming alumni party, one of the most anticipated events of the year, is set for Friday, Oct. 2. Hosted by the Office of Alumni Affairs, the party begins at 6 p.m. at Bell Conference Center. Always a great time for friends, food and fun, this year’s party will feature the band 3 Miles South. Admission to the party is $40.

On Sat., Oct. 3, the annual homecoming parade will begin at 10 a.m. when UWA students and organizations, special guests, and marching bands from across the state will wind through downtown Livingston and back onto campus at Stadium Drive. Following the parade there will be an alumni tailgate party beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the hill in front of the Campus School across from the home gate of Tiger Stadium. Alumni are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or quilts to be comfortable and enjoy live music by Tyler Sellers.

On Saturday at 4 p.m., UWA will kick off against Chowan University at Tiger Stadium. The 2026 Homecoming King and Queen will be announced on the field during halftime festivities.

The will be open during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

For more information about UWA Alumni events, please contact Banks Gordy, director of Alumni Affairs, at 205-652-3867 or email bgordy@uwa.edu.

Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

Writing a dissertation requires hours of independent research and a passion for the subject being studied. For Autumn Blalock, that passion paid off when her dissertation, “The Impact of the Alabama Literacy Act on Third-Grade Reading Proficiency in Rural and Non-Rural Alabama School Districts,” earned her the University of West Alabama’s Distinguished Dissertation Award for the Spring 2026 commencement cycle, along with a job offer.

One of Blalock’s most meaningful findings from examining statewide data from 2021 through 2025 was that rural students demonstrated substantial growth in reading proficiency, challenging some of the assumptions often associated with rural education. She said the research reinforced for her that, with the right systems, support and instructional practices, students in rural communities can achieve at high levels.

For Blalock, receiving the Distinguished Dissertation Award was an honor that was deeply personal to her.

“I have spent my career as an educator believing that every child deserves the opportunity to become a strong, confident reader, and my doctoral research allowed me to explore that belief through a research lens,” she said.

The opportunity to continue that work with the Alabama Reading Initiative is especially meaningful to Blalock, and she is excited to bring together her experiences as a classroom teacher, researcher, and now reading specialist to support educators across Alabama.

“For me, the work is more than legislation, data, or assessment scores,” Blalock said. “It is about building the capacity of teachers and creating the conditions necessary for all of Alabama’s children to become successful readers.”

UWA’s Distinguished Dissertation Award recognizes outstanding scholarly work produced by doctoral candidates who have made significant contributions to their field of study, demonstrating exceptional research, originality and academic excellence.

Story & photo: Lisa Sollie

UWA alumnus says university support helped launch his military career

When Dustin “Pete” Eaves arrived at the University of West Alabama in 2003, he had no idea how much his college experience would influence his future. Nearly two decades later, the 2008 graduate, now a lieutenant colonel, commands the Security Forces Squadron at the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 186^th Air Refueling Wing in Meridian, Mississippi.

Looking back, Eaves says his path was anything but straight, but the people and experiences he encountered at UWA helped shape the leader he is today.

Fresh out of South Choctaw Academy, Eaves arrived at UWA with one career in mind.

“When I graduated high school, honestly, my initial intention was to be a football coach,” Eaves said. “That’s wild to say now. But that all changed when I got on campus. The people I met, the influence they had. For me, the journey to where I am today was anything but predictable, and that’s okay.”

One of the unexpected turns happened when he joined the military. Initially, the decision was practical, Eaves said—motivated by the G.I. Bill, a signing bonus and other benefits, and inspired by his father’s military service. What he found instead was an early career in firefighting. After completing one semester at UWA, Eaves left in spring 2004 to attend basic training and the fire academy.

When he returned to campus, Eaves learned about a student firefighter program through Livingston Fire Department. On a whim, he applied and was selected, earning a small stipend each semester.

A year later, that student position became a full-time job. Eaves also earned EMT-basic certification and assisted with ambulance service and fire rescue operations while completing his degree.

The support of UWA’s faculty, Eaves said, made it possible to keep moving forward toward graduation despite the demands of military service and a full-time job.

“I can’t say enough about the staff, and especially my instructors and professors who worked with me to help me catch up and stay on track,” he said. “Not only did I miss a semester in 2004, but I was also deployed to assist with Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in 2005.”

One particular faculty member who stands out to Eaves is retired math professor Micky Smith.

“You can’t miss a lot of math and catch up easily, but Mr. Smith would meet me after hours and explain things until I got it,” Eaves said.

That kind of commitment and support from UWA’s faculty left a lasting impression on Eaves and helped him complete his degree while continuing to serve his community and country.

After graduation, Eaves worked for both the City of Meridian Fire Department and the Key Field Fire Department. After leaving the City of Meridian he focused his efforts at Key Field, and over the next 15 years, rose through the ranks to become deputy chief.

While at UWA, Eaves also met his future wife, Betsy Greene. Both were involved in greek life and were set up on blind date by mutual friends. “We really liked each other, then I got deployed in 2006, and it was a long deployment,” he recalled. “But she hung around while I was gone, and we picked back up with our relationship when I returned. I took that as a good sign.”

The couple married in May 2007 with one school year remaining before graduation. Eaves was finishing his bachelor’s degree in technology management, while Betsy, a 2006 UWA graduate, was completing her master’s degree in early childhood and elementary education.

His mother, Anna, was also a UWA student during that time, pursuing her education degree while Eaves was completing his own.

“I remember walking into an American History class at eight in the morning and there was my mom on the front row,” he said. “I knew she was commuting and earning an education degree, but I never expected to see her in my class. I was mortified at the time, but we laugh about it now.”

Eaves said his father supported their decision to marry while he was still in school with one caveat; he had to finish his degree. Looking back, he realizes how easily his education—and the opportunities that followed—could have been derailed.

“I was working full time at Livingston Fire Department, going to school full-time, and serving in the Air National Guard,” Eaves said. “My plate was full, and it would have been super easy to drop out of school and just work.”

The support Eaves received at UWA also shaped his leadership philosophy. Today, he strives to offer the same open-door approach to the approximately 100 state employees, civilian, military technicians, and Air National Guard members he leads as they protect the installation and aircraft.

“My door is open here on base,” Eaves said. “While I am very adamant about following the chain of command, I also want to have that approachability that I found as a student at UWA.”

Eaves also credits several mentors in the fire service and the Air National Guard with shaping his leadership style.

“Gene Tolbird, who worked at Key Field for a long time, I especially aspired to be like him,” Eaves said. “Another one was Col. Jeremy Parker. Colonel Parker was one of the ones who made it possible for me to finally get my commission, which led to an opportunity to work for the Air National Guard Readiness Center. He was also a great leader and a good role model.”

Those mentors not only influenced Eaves’ leadership style but also modeled the resilience he would need throughout his own career.  The commissioning process also taught him an important lesson: setbacks are part of the journey.

“My original application to receive my commission was in maintenance,” he said, “I was told no. I was told ‘no’ three more times before I was given the opportunity to become an officer. Perseverance takes you a long way.”

For Eaves, effective leadership comes down to the impact a person can have on others.

“What makes a great leader, I believe, is the difference you can make for the people who work under you,” he said. “That’s what impacts me the most, even today. I tell people out here on the base all the time, I love helping people out. In my role as commander, I can do that every day.”

Those experiences continue to shape the advice Eaves shares with today’s students. “Be flexible, find something you’re passionate about and pursue it.”

It is a lesson Eaves has carried with him since his time at UWA—a reminder that success is rarely a straight path and that perseverance, supportive mentors and the opportunities found along the way can help shape where that path leads.