Story: Lisa Sollie

The University of West Alabama’s Center for Conservation and Agriculture will host an Agriculture and Conservation Celebration on Earth Day, April 22, at ALFA Environmental Hall from 1–5:30 p.m.

The Center advances conservation and agriculture in the Black Belt region through education, outreach, research, and hands-on student experiences. Interns with the West Alabama Agriculture and Conservation Association assist local landowners with technical services such as invasive species management and prescribed fire application.

At the celebration attendees can learn how the Center is making a difference in agriculture and conservation through live demonstrations and educational exhibits. Demonstrations will include raised garden beds, pig traps, seed drills and meat fabrication.

Exhibits will feature a fire trailer from the Central Alabama Prescribed Burn Association, West Alabama Bee Company, Congo grass treatment, thermal drones and other drone applications, and IV Vet equipment.

The event will also include refreshments, live entertainment by Hunter Chappell, and door prizes.

Admission is free and open to the public. Please RSVP by April 15 to Kaitlyn Schmidt at  schmidtk7166@uwa.edu or John McCall, jmccall@uwa.edu.

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The University of West Alabama and the Alumni Association recognized the accomplishments of 12 outstanding alumni at its annual awards ceremony, held Feb. 26 in the Bell Conference Center on UWA’s campus, in conjunction with the Society of the Golden Key Induction Ceremony.

The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards were established in 1994 to recognize graduates from each college or division who have distinguished themselves in a manner that reflects honor on the University and the Association. In 2012, the Emerging Leader Awards were also introduced to recognize individuals having graduated within the past 10 years who demonstrate exceptional promise for success and leadership.

The following individuals were honored at the Association’s Alumni Achievement Awards:

College of Business
Naomi Allen of Demopolis, Alabama, received the College of Business Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. A 2007 alumna of UWA, Allen is a partner at Mason and Gardner CPAs LLC and has been an outstanding resource for internship opportunities for College of Business accounting students.

Ale’gna Davis of Montgomery, Alabama, received the College of Business Emerging Leader Award. A 2018 alumna, Davis is the student programs coordinator with the Higher Education Partnership.

Julia S. Tutwiler College of Education
Richjetta Branch of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, received the College of Education Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. A 2011 and 2014 alumnus, Branch is the director of the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy for Tuscaloosa Schools.

Haley Richardson of Livingston, Alabama, received the College of Education Emerging Leader Award. A two-time alumna (2018 and 2021), Richardson is a second-grade teacher at the University Charter School.

Division of Engineering Technology
Phillip Carlisle of Mobile, Alabama, received the Division of Engineering Technology Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. A 2005 graduate, Carlisle is vice president and director of information technology at Volkert, Inc.

Jacob Bush of West Blocton, Alabama, received the Division of Engineering Technology Emerging Leader Award. A 2016 alumna, Bush is the process controls superintendent at Phifer Inc.

College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Armond “Beaux” Boudreaux of Twin City, Georgia, received the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Boudreaux, a 2004 graduate of UWA, is an associate professor of English at Georgia Southern University-East Georgia campus.

JacQuan Winters of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, received the College of Liberal Arts Emerging Leader Award. A 2016 and 2018 alumnus, Winters is currently a commercial broker with Pritchett-Moore Real Estate.

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Samuel Mosley of Livingston, Alabama, received the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. A 2010 and 2019 alumnus of UWA, Mosley is athletic director and head football coach at the University Charter School.

Jade Montgomery of Nashville, Tennessee, received the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Emerging Leader Award. A 2019 alumna, Montgomery is an overnight ICU clinical pharmacist at Vanderbilt Hospital.

Ira D. Pruitt College of Nursing
Rachel Hannah of Butler, Alabama, received the College of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. A 1998 graduate of UWA, Hannah is director of nursing at Ochsner Choctaw General.

Braeden Turner of Jackson, Alabama, received the College of Nursing Emerging Leader Award. Turner, a 2016 alumnus, is a family nurse practitioner at Chatom Primary Care.

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Story: Lisa Sollie

Two distinguished individuals, including an orthopedic surgeon and a clinical director of a local physical therapy clinic, were inducted into the University of West Alabama’s Society of the Golden Key during a ceremony at the Bell Conference Center, Thursday, Feb. 26.

E. Lyle Cain, Jr., MD, a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, and Candice Davis of Meridian, Mississippi, were added to the prestigious Golden Key roster. Induction into the Society of the Golden Key is the highest honor bestowed upon a UWA alumnus or former faculty member.

E. Lyle Cain, Jr., MD
Dr. E. Lyle Cain Jr. is an orthopedic surgeon and managing partner at Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama. The medical director for the University of West Alabama’s athletic training programs since 2000 and the University of Alabama since 2001, Cain has also served on the board of directors for the American Sports Medicine Institute, a non-profit research and education foundation.

Active in national orthopedic leadership, Cain is a past board member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and a current board member of the Southern Orthopaedic Association. Throughout his career, he has trained more than 250 physicians and hundreds of certified athletic trainers in the science of musculoskeletal medicine and the art of compassionate team care.

Among his many honors for service to athletes, Cain was named the 2016 Southeastern Athletic Trainers Association Hughston Sports Medicine Person of the Year, the 2021 Southeastern Conference Physician of the Year, and the 2023 Alabama Athletic Training Association Sports Medicine Person of the Year.

Candice Davis, DPT, PT
Candice Davis, DPT, PT, is in her thirteenth year with the University of West Alabama Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Center, where she serves as a clinical instructor in physical therapy and athletic training and as an adjunct professor in UWA’s athletic training program. She is currently employed as clinic director at ATI Physical Therapy in Livingston, Alabama, where she is responsible for the evaluation and treatment of patients from Livingston and the surrounding areas requiring physical therapy services. 

A 2005 graduate of the University of West Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training, Davis worked with multiple UWA athletic programs as a student, including football, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball and softball. She was also a member of the athletic training staff for the 2005 Gulf South Conference championship baseball team. 

Davis earned her doctor of physical therapy degree in 2007 from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Florida and began her professional career at what is now Ochsner Rush Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.  Active in service to her alma mater, she was elected president of the UWA Alumni Association in 2016 after serving two years as vice president.

Alongside the inductees, 12 other individuals were recognized at the National Alumni Achievement Awards, which took place in conjunction with the Golden Key Induction ceremony.

Founded in 1963 by UWA faculty members, Ralph Lyon, Robert B. Gilbert, Elizabeth Hoover, Alda Mae Spieth and William Tidwell, Jr., The Society of the Golden Key, recognizes alumni and former faculty who have distinguished themselves through their achievements and the positive impact they’ve made on the University. Since its founding, 249 distinguished individuals have been inducted into the society, each leaving a legacy of achievement and service.

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