Campus Events for the Community, P.16 the Magazine of Missouri
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The magazineMissouri of Missouri Western State University Western Spring 2017 Campus events for the community, p.16 Most spirited classrooms rock President’s Perspective The Public Relations and Marketing Office held a Most Spirited Classroom contest last fall for elementary school classrooms, and the winning classes received a pizza party with Max. Winners included the following teachers and their classes: Tish Gerling ’16, Hosea fourth-grade; Rachel McIntosh ’09, St. Francis Xavier third-grade; Melissa Schubert ’05, Lake Contrary first-grade; Jamie Stuck ’03, Amazonia fourth-grade; and three North Dear Friends, When this issue went Platte second-grade classes taught by Jamie Barnard ’03, Erica Newsome ’04 As you may to press in April, the and Tracy Verduzco. know, state General Assembly had allocations for all not yet voted on a final public colleges version of the FY18 and universities budget, so that amount in the state have may change. been faced with In the meantime, funding withholds however, it was for fiscal year 2017. important that we I wanted to take plan for a reduced this opportunity to appropriation from the keep our alumni and state for the coming friends informed year. To review and about what that identify cost savings means for Missouri Western. measures, we have created a budget First and foremost, I want to advisory council that will continue to note that Missouri Western’s top review all of our options. priorities remain our students and our Please note that the University’s employees. As we carefully review our cash position is such that we do not options, we will do so with that goal in anticipate having any issues covering mind. our expenses. Our reserves, when The state allocation withholds for combined with our cost-saving the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017 measures, will help us weather were effective immediately. As this was this withhold and any cuts to our a midyear cut we had not anticipated, appropriation in the coming fiscal year. we had to find ways to quickly cover As you can imagine, monetary the anticipated budget reduction. This gifts to Missouri Western have included an immediate reduction in become more important than ever. We operating and travel budgets across truly appreciate your support of this the board by 3 percent. The University University and its students. also suspended its summer theatre program, Western Playhouse, and its Sincerely, debate program. In addition to the current fiscal year cuts, the state’s proposed FY18 Robert A. Vartabedian budget by Gov. Greitens includes President cutting $2.09 million (9 percent) from Missouri Western State University Missouri Western’s state appropriation. In this issue Campus News The Missouri Western Magazine is a publication of the University ON THE COVER Missouri Western’s events and speakers enhance the quality of life in the community. Events clockwise from top left: Holi Festival, Griffon volleyball, Nikki Giovanni, Tom Ridge, Advancement Office for alumni and friends of Missouri Western Manufacturing State University and its predecessor institutions. Haskell Dancers, Madrigal Feaste, Cokie Roberts, and “The 25th Annual Putnam County associate degree Spelling Bee.” Center, the International Fair. Cover design by Raghavendra Kotakonda. SPRING 2017 VOLUME 15 options approved SECTIONS FEATURES NUMBER 2 Missouri Western will begin EDITOR 3 Campus News offering two options in the Associate 8 Yes, You Can – Diane Holtz of Applied Science degree in DESIGN EDITOR Manufacturing Engineering Technology 12 Sports the BGS Degree Kendy Scudder ’94 Thanks to the Bachelor of General this fall. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING 22 Alumni News Studies degree, many students are now Jomel Nichols The University worked collaboratively with workforce development groups in alumni. Read about three who DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS 24 Alumnotes and Alumni Profiles Colleen Kowich the region, including the Chamber of are pleased with the program and PHOTOGRAPHERS Commerce Manufacturing Council and proud of their accomplishments. Rachael Bergeron Workforce Development Committee Aubry Carpenter ’14 John Ellis and the Engineering Technology 16 Town and Gown: Community Gillian Evans program’s Industrial Advisory Board. Kartheek Gaddameedi Feedback from these groups identified Enjoys Campus Events Raghavendra Kotakonda Super Science Saturday A look back at the past year proves Alicia Otto a workforce demand for mid-level technicians in the region’s growing Almost 1,700 attended the annual and always popular Super Science Saturday, held in Agenstein and that Missouri Western serves as a advanced manufacturing economy, Remington halls. Several faculty from academic departments participated with a variety of activities, including good community partner by providing BOARD OF GOVERNORS Dr. Ben Caldwell, Dr. Natalie Mikita and Dr. Gary Clapp, who put on chemistry shows throughout the day. Greg Mason ’89, Chair and two options emerged: Precision a host of activities and events for David Liechti, Vice Chair Machining and Instrumentation and the public. Automation. Al Purcell, Deborah Smith ’79, Joseph Kellogg, Student Governor. The Precision Machining option ALUMNI BOARD centers on hands-on learning in Alumna Entrepreneur Mary Vaughan ’79, President Natalie Redmond ’00, First Vice President machine tool and computer numeric Alumna entrepreneur Stephanie Tripp ’12, owner of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, prepares to cut the ribbon for her Jim Jeffers ’73, Second Vice President controlled labs and will prepare store in the East Hills Mall in St. Joseph, Missouri. The store opened in November 2016, and the ribbon Angie Springs ’02, Immediate Past President workforce-ready two-year graduates. cutting was held in January. Left of Tripp is Dr. Mike Lane, dean of the Craig School of Business. Tripp is Marilyn Beck ’77, Joe Byer ’11, Shelby Coxon ’99, Linda Crabtree The Instrumentation and Automation also pictured with Kelley Tripp, who works in the pretzel bakery, and Annette Weeks ’87, director of the Craig ’60, Jodi Deering ’01, Diane Hook ’90, Bob Hughs ’06, Lai-Monté Hunter ’99, Claudia James ’89, Linda Kerner ’73, Kendell Misemer option focuses on hands-on learning School of Business’s Center for Entrepreneurship. Behind Stephanie and Kelley are David Bradley and Steve ’82, Phyllis Myers ’56, Molly Pierce ’77, James Sanders ’84, Ralph in electricity, electronics and computer Craig. The two were special guests at the ribbon cutting because of the role they played in helping Stephanie Schank ’82, David Slater ’83, Jennifer Stanek ’99, Larry Stobbs applications in industries and will earn the opportunity for the franchise and helping fund it. More than 200 free pretzels were given away at the 16 ’74, Joseph Vigliaturo ’75. Lilia White ’12, Tona Williams ’00, Mary Workman ’76 and Reyhan Wilkinson, student representative. meet the business and industrial trend ribbon cutting. FOUNDATION BOARD of the ever-growing electronics and Seth Wright, Chair automation applications in production. Dennis Rosonke, Vice Chair Bill Grimwood, Treasurer Missouri Western also worked Diane Hook ’90, Secretary with Hillyard Vocational-Technical School in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Ashley Albers, Mike Basch, Kit Bradley Bowlin, Jared Brooner, Eric Bruder ’93, Susan Campbell ’01, Ali Carolus, Wayne Chatham ’90, design an articulation plan that will Jason Grayson ’98, Ed Haffey ’62, Jason Horn ’95, Steve Johnston, award course credit and accelerate Rodger Karn ’98, Jennifer Kneib-Dixon ’89, Chris Looney, Michael Pankau ’84, Susan Pettigrew ’83, Jerry Pickman ’85, executive completion for Hillyard graduates who director; Brent Porlier ’82; Al Purcell; Tom Richmond; David enter the Missouri Western A.A.S. Shinneman; Tom Tewell; Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western president; Greg VerMulm ’89; John Wilson, Julie Woods ’96 and MET program. The University currently Zack Workman ’74. offers an A.A.S. in Manufacturing 29 MISSOURI WESTERN MAGAZINE Engineering Technology and a B.S. 4525 Downs Drive, Spratt Hall 108 in Manufacturing Engineering St. Joseph, MO 64507 (816) 271-5651 Technology. [email protected] missouriwestern.edu/magazine Missouri Western State University is an equal opportunity institution. THE MAGAZINE OF MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY Spring 2017 3 12 Campus News Campus News Marissa Klingseis: Champion weightlifter Fall Commencement iced The surge in popularity of CrossFit, Klingseis began lifting under Weightlifting. She broke an American An ice storm last December left cancelled for the weekend of Dec. a high-intensity fitness program, the tutelage of John Carr, who had lifting record as a youth and hopes to travelers stranded on Interstate 29 17 and 18. One of those cancelled has brought a renewal of interest in begun the weightlifting program at break one as an adult. for up to 10 hours, caused numerous activities was Missouri Western’s weightlifting, and it is becoming more InterServ’s Wesley Center, St. Joseph, In 2017, Klingseis plans to compete accidents and led to several activities fall Commencement, which was and more popular for both women in 1978. After elementary school, she in three meets – one in Chicago, one in rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 20. and men. But for Marissa Klingseis, a began lifting at the Wesley Center and Miami, and one in Anaheim, California. No one could remember a time senior biology student, weightlifting today is guided by Dennis Snethen ’82, “I love the feel of competing. I’m that a commencement had to be has been part of her life since she was director of Youth Services at InterServ. always nervous. But the second I postponed due to weather (the in third grade. “It’s my second home,” she says grab the bar and warm up, I feel like December ceremony was added in Not only is she a committed with a smile. everything will be alright, and all my 1998), so the fall 2016 ceremony weightlifter, usually working out twice Since Klingseis began competing, work will pay off.” may hold that distinction. a day, but she has competed all over she has traveled all over the world, She says she’d love to become a Two ceremonies were held the the world with USA Weightlifting.