TROY News Center

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday encouraged Troy University graduates to apply their knowledge and skill to make a difference in their communities.

Speaking to nearly 650 students taking part in Friday’s spring commencement ceremony in Trojan Arena, Gov. Bentley told graduates they were embarking on a “new journey.”

“This is a great accomplishment to receive your diploma after years of hard work,” he said. “Now, you enter the next phase of your life, the next challenge, the next opportunity. No matter where you go from here, you have the chance and you can make the choice to be what I like to call a servant leader.”

Gov. Bentley said true leadership includes remaining true to one’s values and core principles.

“In order to be a leader, you must be a follower,” he said. “Not a follower of other people, but rather a follower of principles. The most effective leaders adhere to a core set of values that shape every decision they make. Such values include keeping your word and the willingness to make difficult decisions, even if you know those decisions might be unpopular.”

Gov. Bentley told graduates that they emerge with their diplomas in some very challenging times.

“Our nation and our state face unique and difficult circumstances. We have the hope of a brighter future, but we know that some difficult times still lie ahead,” he said. “As you go forward from here, I want to encourage you to stand strong, to adhere to your values and to assume the role of a servant leader.”

The spring graduating class included some 915 students who filed intents to graduate, including some 825 from the Troy Campus alone. Students participating in Friday’s ceremony represented 27 states and 14 countries.

Following the awarding of diplomas, Gov. Bentley was presented with an honorary doctorate by TROY Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. and Gerald O. Dial, President Pro Tem of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley addresses Troy University graduates on Friday during spring commencement ceremonies in Trojan Arena on the Troy Campus.

Gerald O. Dial, President Pro Tem of the Troy University Board of Trustees, and TROY Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., present Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley with a honorary doctorate during Friday's spring commencement ceremony on the Troy Campus. Gov. Bentley encouraged graduates to take the knowledge and skills they have learned at TROY and become servant leaders who make a difference in their communities.

TROY – Troy University and the Cannes Film Festival have something in common: a music industry major from Mobile.

Paul Melancon, who graduates with a bachelor’s degree from the John M. Long School of Music today, has something most freshly minted music majors don’t see for many years: composing credits in a film being screened at Marche du Film during the international film festival in France.

“It’s almost unheard of to have a student intern gaining official composer credits in their internship,” he said. “It’s a rare thing and a very special thing.”

That process started a semester ago, in Robert W. Smith’s music industry senior practicum where the students had to develop a “pitch package” on themselves and market themselves in order to secure the semester-long internship needed for degree completion.

Jay Vincent, a television and film composer in Los Angeles, Calif., was the target of one of Melancon’s pitches and agreed to take him on in the un-paid internship. In addition to his composing, Vincent is an award-winning and internationally recognized conductor, performer, orchestrator, arranger and music producer – composing the 2012 Golden Globe Awards original music. His work on the top-rated television series “LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” and his close collaboration with EA on “Dragon Age 2” on trailers for “DragonAge2” and “Mass Effect 3” have made him a staple in video game trailer music.

Vincent has also amassed many feature film credits, among his television and advertisement work.

It was his current scoring of “El Regreso de Elias Urquijo,” a Spanish film by award-winning director Roque Madrid, that landed Melancon, a 2006 Alma Bryant High School graduate, his credits on the world independent movie stage. The film is still in production, and, as such isn’t an official entry at Cannes.

“Initially, I was doing administrative work, until Jay saw my skills in technical and musical areas and he started giving me more responsibilities on the projects. That’s pretty unheard of in an internship in music,” Melancon said.

That writing ended up in scenes that were scored by Melancon. He had already earned Vincent’s trust in work with EA and in “LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles,” where one of his small pieces found its way into the Cartoon Network’s miniseries. He also worked on editing the original music composed by John Williams.

While “Elias” is still in production and won’t be submitted to Cannes for adjudication until next year, Melancon said the experience – and the ability to network with other professionals in Hollywood – will give him a boost in finding work after college.

“I have a foothold to return to L.A.,” he said, noting that’s his post-commencement plans after spending a few days with family and friends in Mobile.

“The Music Industry Program gave me the versatility I needed to be successful,” he said. “You have to be musically inclined, but you have the skill set to work with – the technology, and the business knowledge. You have the opportunity (in the program) to wear multiple hats and you’re able to do multiple jobs.”

Troy University graduate Paul Melancon, a music industry major from Mobile, earned official credits for music composition on an international independent feature film that will be screened later this month at the Cannes Film Festival in France. (TROY photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)

MONTGOMERY—Major General Walter D. Givhan of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base will deliver the keynote address to Troy University graduates on Monday, May 20, during the spring commencement ceremony for the Montgomery Campus.

The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. inside the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts. About 180 students will receive undergraduate and graduate degrees this semester at the Montgomery Campus.

General Givhan, a TROY alumnus, serves as Commander of the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education and Vice Commander of Air University. The LeMay Center is responsible for the research, development and production of Air Force doctrine and input for joint and multinational doctrine development activities.

A native of Safford, Ala., General Givhan graduated from Morgan Academy in Selma and the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., where he was a National Merit Scholar. His postgraduate degrees include a Master of Science in interantional relations from Troy University in 1989.

He served as the U.S. air liaison officer to the commanding general, French ground forces, for operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he led the effort to rebuild the Afghan air force as Commanding General of the Combined Air Power Transition Force. The general has commanded a combat training squadron, an operations group, an air base wing, an air expeditionary wing and the Air Force Institute of Technology.

His previous staff assignments include deputy military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of the Congressional Action Division for the Air Force Legislative Liaison.

General Givhan is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flying hours in the T-37, T-38, T-1, AT-38, F-15 and A-10 aircraft.

DOTHAN—Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver will deliver the keynote address to Troy University graduates during the spring commencement ceremony for the Dothan Campus on Sunday, May 19.

The ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. at the Dothan Civic Center. More than 190 students are set to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees this semester at the Dothan Campus.

Culver, a lifelong resident of Dothan, was first elected to the Houston County Commission as District 4 representative in 1986, the youngest person ever elected to the commission. He was appointed chairman in 1997 by then Governor Fob James to fill a vacancy, and was elected to a full term the following year. He has been re-elected three times.

During his more than 25 years on the commission, Culver has played an active role in recruiting new business and industry to the area, and was president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama in 2001.

Culver is married to the former Tami Cochran of Dothan. He has three children: Stephanie, 27, Robert, 24 and Cannon, 13. Culver is an active member of the First United Methodist Church.