Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檊na 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 鈥淏eaux鈥� 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.