The magazine of Missouri Western State University Missouri Spring 2014Western Kuwait Indonesia South Brazil Korea Brazil South Korea South Saudi KoreaInternational Students Arabia Enrich Campus Community pg. 18 Saudi Andorra Honduras Brazil Arabia AROUND CAMPUS Missouri Western’s international flavor The campus and community are being introduced to new cultures and foreign countries, thanks to Missouri Western’s increasing internationalization. The Office of International Student Services and international students host an International Fair every year. Also, Jianhua Lian, a professor from Xidian University in China, is teaching at Missouri Western this year, and she and her Chinese language students planned a Chinese New Year celebration this spring. PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Dear Friends, Admissions processes for international In 2008, when I students, began my presidency, allocating funds there were seven for international international students recruitment trips at Missouri Western and establishing State University. One agreements with of my immediate many international priorities was to better universities. prepare our graduates for careers in a global It is essential that marketplace by our students have increasing the number the opportunities of international students and faculty to develop strong cross-cultural members on campus and increasing competencies and are familiar with study away opportunities. others who are quite different from themselves. Creating an international We have made tremendous strides as student experience in St. Joseph a University toward these efforts. We allows our students to have a broader have increased from seven students to understanding of other cultures 87 in the spring of 2014, representing and improve their interpersonal more than 25 countries. Opportunities communication abilities. These skills to study abroad have sent Missouri will serve them well in increasingly Western students to Belize, India, global business environments and in Honduras, China and more. While increasingly diverse communities. we continue to focus on this area and pursue even further growth, we have The internationalization of our campus made remarkable strides in just six carries enormous benefits for our years. students, but also for our faculty, staff and our region. We can all be proud The growth in our international of the increasingly global footprint of student population and in our study Missouri Western State University. away opportunities has been the result of years of hard work and commitment from faculty and staff members across campus. Missouri Western has put in several pieces of infrastructure to make this happen, including creating Robert A. Vartabedian an International Student Services President, Office and hiring a director, tightening Missouri Western State University IN THIS ISSUE International students are changing the Missouri Western ON THE COVER landscape. Photo by Randy Edmonds. SECTIONS FEATURES The Missouri Western Magazine is a publication of the University Advancement Office for alumni and friends of Missouri Western State University and its predecessor institutions. 4 Cinema Students Score 3 Campus News SPRING 2014 Super Experience VOLUME 12 NUMBER 2 Cinema students produced an ad for one 12 Sports of television’s most-watched programs – EDITOR Super Bowl XLVIII. Diane Holtz 26 Alumni News DESIGN EDITOR 14 Real Success in University’s Kendy Jones ’94 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING Synthetic Biology Research Mallory Murray 31 Alumnotes Since 2006, biology and math students have DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS been conducting cutting-edge research and Colleen Kowich finding great success and recognition. STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Brown, Seth Campbell, Gilbert Imbiri, Mitch Stroup 16 In Their Own Words BOARD OF GOVERNORS A professor, graduate student and an Leo Blakley ’62, Chair alumna team up to produce an outstanding Dirck Clark ’85, Vice Chair historical film and book. Lesley Graves, David Liechti, Greg Mason ’89, Al Purcell, Deborah Smith ’79, Lionel Attawia, Student Governor. 18 International Students Enrich ALUMNI BOARD Shelby Coxon ’99, President Campus Community David Slater ’82, First Vice President A diverse and growing population of Angie Springs ’02, Second Vice President Robert Sigrist ’95, Immediate Past President international students at the University is Sheryl Bremer ’81, Carole Dunn ’91, Luke Gorham ’06, Diane Hook adding to a great college experience for all ’90, Claudia James ’85, Brian Jardes ’05, James Jeffers ’73, Linda students. Kerner ’73, Randy Klein ’78, Bruce Kneib ’84, Brandy Meeks ’07, Kendell Misemer ’82, Arthur Montgomery ’89, Molly Pierce ’77, 4 Ralph Schank ’82, Tom Schneider ’64, Jennifer Stanek ’99, Mary 22 Debate and Forensics Returns Vaughan ’79, Joseph Vigliaturo ’75. to Missouri Western FOUNDATION BOARD A long-time and popular program makes a Corky Marquart ’84, Chair comeback at Missouri Western, and quickly Jason Horn ’95, Vice Chair John Wilson, Treasurer makes a name for itself. Seth Wright, Secretary Kit (Bradley) Bowlin, Drew Brown, Eric Bruder ’93, Jim Carolus, Pat Dillon, Jason Grayson ’98, Ed Haffey ’62, Diane Hook ’90, Jennifer Kneib-Dixon ’89, Chris Looney, Lisa Norton, Mike Pankau ’84, Brent Porlier ’82, Al Purcell, Tom Richmond, David Roberts, J.L. Robertson, Dennis Rosonke, LaVell Rucker ’03, Dave Shinne- man, Sara Summers Stein, Jon Styslinger, Tom Tewell, Robert Vartabedian, Greg VerMulm ’89, Julie Woods ’96, Zack Workman ’74, Jerry Pickman ’85, executive director. MISSOURI WESTERN MAGAZINE 4525 Downs Drive, Spratt Hall 108 St. Joseph, MO 64507 (816) 271-5651 [email protected] griff.vn/magazine 18 Missouri Western State University is an equal opportunity institution. 12 CAMPUS NEWS Pre-med students benefit from changes MU Medical School Agreement Ensworth Medical This spring, Missouri Western The effort to expand the MU Scholarship Fund joined a program with the University program came from the Area Health Missouri Western students who of Missouri-Columbia School of Education Centers, and Dr. Baker are interested in medical school have Medicine in an effort to bring more credits the local group with helping a better opportunity for scholarships, doctors to rural areas. Missouri Western be included in the thanks to a change in the Ensworth MU School of Medicine’s Bryant new agreements. Medical Scholarship Fund. Scholars Pre-Admissions Program One benefit to students, he said, was The fund had previously been set encourages future physicians to practice that they will be among a smaller pool up through U.S. Bank in St. Joseph, in underserved rural areas by allowing of applicants for MU’s medical school. Mo. to offer loan monies to students undergraduates interested in rural And, earning medical school admission in medical school. A legal change medicine to earn pre-admission to at the end of their sophomore year takes for tax purposes has now placed the its medical school. The program had a lot of pressure off them when they are money in the Missouri Western State agreements with six higher education ready to graduate. University Foundation and will now institutions in the state since it began The agreement also gives Missouri be offered as scholarships instead of 20 years ago, and Missouri Western Western another recruiting tool for loans. Additionally, only Missouri joined six more colleges and universities outstanding students. Western students are now eligible to in the agreement. With the addition of MU, Missouri apply. Now, Missouri Western students Western now has pre-admission “We will now be able reward some finishing their sophomore year have the agreements with the University of of our strongest students,” said Dr. option of applying for pre-admission to Missouri-Kansas City School of Jason Baker, professor of biology and MU School of Medicine if they meet Medicine and Kirksville College of coordinator of the program. “It is a the criteria. Dr. Jason Baker, professor Osteopathic Medicine, and an early- great benefit.” of biology, is Missouri Western’s matriculation and early-admission program coordinator. agreement with Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience. Theatre shines “Drowsy Chaperone,” left, and “The Producers,” right, were two of the Missouri Western’s great theatre productions this past season. Tee Quillin directed “Drowsy Chaperone” and Dallas Henry directed “The Producers.” THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Spring 2014 3 CAMPUS NEWS Cinema students score super experience Creating an ad for the Super Bowl best learning experience,” said Henry, several shoppers after they discover is something most college students assistant professor of theatre and how much they will save on their next can only dream about, but the Hy-Vee cinema. “It raises the stakes. It’s not purchase of gasoline. grocery store in St. Joseph gave Missouri much different from what I would have Henry wrote the spot and was Western that opportunity for Super done with my production company.” executive producer. Chris Rayle, from Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2. Students in Henry said he and Brad McAnally, St. Joseph, was producer. Blair Stalder, Dallas Henry’s Commercial Production store director at the St. Joseph Hy-Vee, from Liberty Hill, Texas, was director, class produced two 30-second spots started talking about the project last and Kelsey Houser, from St. Joseph, was for St. Joseph, Mo.-area audiences that summer. McAnally visited Henry’s assistant director. Stalder and Houser aired in the second