Stillman hosted its Spring Convocation, which commemorates the beginning of a new academic semester, with special guest speaker, Mayor Walter Maddox, on Thursday, January 20 at 11 a.m. in Birthright Auditorium.

Mayor Maddox opened his address to the audience of faculty, staff, students and friends of the College by expressing his gratitude for being invited to speak at the Convocation. “The city of Tuscaloosa and Stillman’s histories run deep,” he said. “The people of Tuscaloosa see Stillman and see God living through it and that is why it is the beacon light on a hill to us all.”

He expressed how Americans have always had to fight over the years and even now with the biggest problem in the United States today, the economy.  “The American story is just simply inspiring,” he said. Mayor Maddox gave encouraging words to the student body to become advocates of change and continue to fight by doing their part in helping the United States in whatever field of study they pursue. 

Mayor Maddox told the Stillman students to be the alternative for our nation in its constant depleting society.  “Whether you want to or not you are America’s last form of defense.”  He also let students know that they have inherited the challenges of this nation and they need to form a sense of responsibility and take part in being the positive future of the country.

He addressed the students saying, “At Stillman College, you are part of the proud tradition that is preparing people to be better…Stillman empowers you to become servant-leaders…after all, we are one people who’s futures are all linked.”

A Tuscaloosa native, Maddox is Tuscaloosa’s 36^th Mayor. He graduated from Central High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration from the University of Alabama Birmingham. 

- STILLMAN-