May 17, 2006

 LIVINGSTON, Ala.—The University of West Alabama honored approximately 280 graduates during spring commencement exercises held May 6 on the Livingston campus. In addition, several outstanding graduates and professors were recognized with special awards.           

Ralph M. Lyon Award

Three graduates received the Ralph M. Lyon Award for maintaining the highest GPA among all graduates during the current school term. First presented in 1973, the award is named for Ralph M. Lyon, a longtime UWA professor and administrator. 

William Joel Bonner III of Camden gradated with a 4.0 GPA and as an Honors Scholar, completing the Honors Program with the writing and successful defense of a thesis. An English major, he was named the University Scholar in English, and he received the Alpha Chi Honor Society Achievement Award and the Virginia Irwin Scholarship from Cardinal Key honor society. He is also a member of Alpha Chi, Blue Key, Cardinal Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Tau Delta honor societies. He was also involved with Baptist Campus Ministries, the Wesley Foundation and the UWA housing staff. Bonner served as Editor of the Sucarnochee Review literary magazine, and he is listed in Who’s Who Among Students in America’s Universities and Colleges and on the National Dean’s List. He is the son of Bill and Dawne Bonner.

Patrick Warren Kicker of Decatur also graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Named the University Scholar in biology, Kicker also received the Alpha Chi Achievement Award and the Virginia Irwin Scholarship from Cardinal Key. He is a member of Alpha Chi, Beta Beta Beta, Blue Key, Cardinal Key, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. Kicker is listed in Who’s Who Among Students in America’s Universities and Colleges. He was also a member of the UWA Cross Country team and a Resident Assistant. Receiving his degree in biology comprehensive, he is the son of James and Pat Kicker.

The third recipient of the Lyon Award, Michael Allan Noble of Thomasville also received recognition as an Honors Scholar after successful completion of the UWA Honors Program.

He was named the University Scholar in English by the College of Liberal Arts. Noble is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Psi Chi honor societies. He was also active in the Wesley Foundation. Noble is the recipient of the Fulbright and Gilman scholarships. Earning his bachelor’s degree in English and psychology, he is the son of Michael and Shelia Noble.

William E. Gilbert Award

Mary Pagliero, Associate Professor of Romance Languages, received the William E. Gilbert Award for outstanding teaching and excellence in classroom instruction. Pagliero, who serves as International Programs Committee Chairperson and the International Students Association Advisor, is also the 1999 recipient of the Loraine McIlwain Bell Trustee Professor Award.

She is the Fulbright Scholar Program campus representative, UWA Lions Club vice president and a member of several University committees. Pagliero has also served as Director of the UWA Honors Program, Student Success Coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts and public relations officer for the UWA chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. She is also a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Delta Phi, Friends of the Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library, Sumter County Fine Arts Council, the Primrose Club and several professional organizations.

Pagliero received the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in history and the Master of Arts in Spanish from the University of Tennessee. She earned the Master of Arts in French from the University of Alabama.

The Gilbert award, given annually at commencement, was established through an endowed fund by William L. Gilbert in memory of his son, William E. Gilbert, UWA Associate Professor of History. It is supported in part by an endowment by Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Cunningham in memory of Mrs. Cunningham’s mother, Loraine McIlwain Bell. Selected by a student committee, Pagliero will serve as University macebearer and lead the academic procession at commencement and Honors Day ceremonies in the coming academic year.

Emeriti Professors

Dr. Donald Wayne Salter, Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences, was named Emeritus Professor of Biology. A member of the UWA faculty since 1995, Salter has authored or coauthored 11 publications and 22 abstracts during his tenure. Salter has been particularly active in the Alabama Academy of Sciences (AAS). In 2004, Salter was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Research Opportunity Award.

In 2002, Salter was the recipient of the Loraine McIlwain Bell Trustee Professor Award, honoring excellence in teaching, research and leadership to the University. He has served for a number of years as Chairperson of the Scientific Review Committee for the West Alabama Regional Science Fair, and he was instrumental in the development of the UWA Elementary Science Olympiad.

Salter earned the Bachelor of Science in Bacteriology from the University of Alabama and the Master of Science in Bacteriology from the University of Florida. He served as Chief of Bacteriology, Mycology and Mycobacteriology Sections in the Department of Pathology in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Penn. Salter then earned the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Before coming to UWA, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of Illinois and as a research scientist at Michigan State University.                           

Elizabeth Springer, Associate Professor of Accounting, was named Emeritus Professor of Accounting. Since joining the UWA faculty in 1982, Springer has given outstanding service to the Department of Accounting and Business Administration, the College of Business and the University. Springer was awarded the William E. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Teaching in 1993, recognizing her dedication to excellent instruction in the classroom.

She served as advisor of both the Accounting Club and Delta Mu Delta, the honorary fraternity for students in the College of Business. Springer also served as Secretary of the UWA Faculty Senate, Chair of the SACS Financial Resources Committee and Chair of several College of Business search committees.

She received the Bachelor of Science degree and the Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Alabama. She is also a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Alabama. Springer previously worked in public accounting at Senna and Company in Tuscaloosa, Ala.