By GINNY COOPER MCCARLEY / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO—The University of Montevallo will hold summer commencement Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. in Palmer Auditorium, with a reception to honor graduates preceding the event in the lobby of Reynolds Hall at 4 p.m.

John O. Hudson III will deliver the commencement address. Hudson, an attorney who serves as vice president of public relations and charitable giving at Alabama Power Company, is also president of the Alabama Power Foundation, one of the state’s largest corporate philanthropic organizations.

In addition, Hudson serves as executive director of the Alabama Business Charitable Trust as well as chairman of the board of directors of A.G. Gaston Enterprises.

Prior to joining Alabama Power, Hudson served as senior vice president for corporate diversity and public affairs at Regions Financial Corporation. He currently serves as chairman of the organization’s Diversity Advisory Council.

Hudson is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association and the Alabama Lawyers Association. He serves as a member of the Alabama State Bar’s Diversity in the Practice Committee.

Hudson received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alabama A&M University, is a cum laude graduate of Miles College School of Law, completed the Executive Accounting and Finance Program at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and has worked toward an LL.M. in taxation at the University of Alabama’s School of Law. He is a member of the boards of trustees of Alabama A&M University, Miles College, Miles College School of Law, and is a member of the board of directors of Jefferson State Community College Foundation.

“The Montevallo family is honored to have John Hudson as our commencement speaker,” University of Montevallo President John W. Stewart III stated. “His leadership in our community serves as a wonderful example to the Montevallo graduates he will address. We enjoy a tradition of hosting remarkable, substantive speakers on our campus and are proud that John Hudson will join these ranks.”