Current Issue: Volume 22 - Number 1 - June 29, 2006
Board recognizes gift from Robert W. Plaster
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The MSSU Board of Governors y met the evening of Thursday, June 15 and approved a resolution to recognize Mr. Robert W. Plaster, a Lebanon, Mo., successful businessman and civic leader. Mr. Plaster is known for his support of higher education and for his philanthropic giving.
Mr. Plaster, who was an accounting student at Joplin Junior College in the 1950s, has made a substantial seven-figure gift to the Missouri Southern Foundation, the largest gift the Foundation has received to date.
The gift will be used for the construction of the Student Recreation Center and for support of the Business School.
In recognition of Mr. Plaster’s generous contribution to the Foundation, the Board approved changing the name of Matthews Hall to “Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center.” In addition, the Business School, which is housed in the building, will be named “The Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration.”
MSSU president, Julio León, praised Mr. Plaster’s commitment to Missouri Southern: “It’s very gratifying to see former students become so successful in the business world. He is one the finest examples of what the free enterprise system can do. Mr. Plaster’s generous gift to his Alma Mater will enable us to continue our tradition of providing high quality education for our students.”
In other action, the Board approved a recommendation of the Board’s Budget and Audit Committee to approve the proposed budget for 2006-07. The budget includes a 4 percent cost-of-living increase for faculty and staff.
The board also approved a recommendation to conduct a regional survey of wages and salaries for non-faculty positions.
The Board also approved Thursday recommendations for promotion and tenure for several faculty members (for details, see http://www.mssu.edu/news/promotions_tenure06.htm) and heard an end-of-session legislative report from Kyna Iman, the university lobbyist in Jefferson City.
The Stadium Planning Committee also reported to the Board and recommended the hiring of an architectural firm to draft a comprehensive plan for renovations to Fred Hughes Stadium.
Board reorganizes at June meeting
Dwight Douglas, Joplin, will serve as Chair of the Board of Governors at Missouri Southern State University for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, following the recommendation of a Board Nominating Committee.
Mr. Douglas was appointed to his first term on the Board in 2003 and served as President of the Board in 2004-2005. He was reappointed for a second term February 28, 2006. His second term ends August 2011. Board By-laws were revised and updated last year and titles were changed from President to Chair, and a Nominating Committee selection process was established for appointment of leadership roles.
Mr. Douglas is an attorney in the Neosho law firm of Douglas & Douglas and serves as corporate counsel for Freeman Neosho Hospital. He also has served on the Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission and is a former member of the Missouri State University Board of Governors. Mr. Douglas received his law and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He filled the position of Stephen P. Carlton, Carthage, who resigned from the Board after he was elected to Associate Circuit Judge Division VI in Jasper County.
The Board also accepted the nomination of Douglas A. Brooks, Ph.D., as Vice Chair.
Dr. Brooks opened a private practice in psychology in Joplin in 1982. From 1979 to 1994 he was director of the Clark Community Mental Health Center (formerly the Barry-Lawrence County Counseling Center). He consults for Elm Acres Youth Home and Police Departments in Carthage and Neosho. He was appointed to the Board in January 2002.
Mr. Douglas succeeds Elizabeth Deffenbaugh, whose term on the Board expires this year. She will continue serving on the Board pending action on a new appointment by Gov. Matt Blunt.
The two assumed their posts at the conclusion of a regular Board of Governors meeting Thursday, June 15.
Enrollment on the rise
For students, summer traditionally has been a time to kick back and relax. However, more and more Missouri Southern State University students are taking summer classes.
That trend has resulted in an increase in enrollment of nearly 4 percent compared to the same time last year at MSSU.
Enrollment for the summer semester is 1,899, a 3.9 percent increase from the summer 2005 figure of 1,828.
The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figure has also increased. The FTE number for this summer is 1,235 compared to 1,191 for last year.
"Students see Missouri Southern as their school of choice," Delores Honey, Assistant Vice President for Assessment and Institutional Research, says. "We have a well-rounded increase in all segments of the enrollment population."
Dr. Honey says enrollment figures show increases in both full-time, part-time and out-of-state students.
Retired registrar, counselor Eugene Mouser dies
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Eugene C. Mouser Jr., age 77, of Joplin, retired registrar, professor and counselor at Missouri Southern State University, has died. Funeral services were held last week.
Mouser was born April 3, 1929, in El Dorado, Kan., the son of Eugene C. Mouser Sr. and Mary Lankston Mouser. Following graduation from high school in Drumright, Okla. in 1947, he obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Oklahoma State University.
He taught instrumental and vocal music at Drumright while attending Oklahoma State University in advanced studies, where he obtained certification in student counseling.
In 1966, Eugene and his family moved to Stillwater to work at Oklahoma State University and pursue a doctorate in education. In 1970, the Mouser family moved to Joplin where Gene accepted a position at Missouri Southern State University, as a psychology faculty member and director of counseling.. He earned a doctor of education degree at OSU in 1972.
While at Missouri Southern, Gene was director of counseling and testing from 1970 to 1988. In 1988, he was appointed to the position of registrar and served in that capacity until retirement in 1997.
"He was one of the individuals and involved in the development early in the college's life as a four-year institution," MSSU President Julio León reportedly said, adding: "He helped shape the institution to what it is today and he did it in direct contact with the students."
Gene's wife La Vaughn survives. Additional survivors include three sons, Eugene C. Mouser III (Janet), of Olathe, Kan., William R. Mouser, Yukon, Okla., and Jeffrey Culp Mouser (Judy), of Cassville, Mo. He had numerous grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions are requested to the MSSU Foundation or the Byers Avenue United Methodist Church in care of Mason-Woodard Mortuary.
Summer jazz tonight!
The Southern Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Jeffrey Macomber, Music, will present "Summer Jazz Showcase" at 7:30 p.m., tonight, Thursday, June 29 in Webster Hall Auditorium.
The summer jazz orchestra will be joined by the MSSU Student Jazz Combo, with guest vocalist Kathy Macomber.
The concert will feature the following selections: "Blues in Hoss Flat", "Night Train", "Misty", "Us", "Too Young To Go Steady", "Thou Swell", "Funky Cha-Cha", "Skylark", "Fever", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", and "Leep Frog".
The Summer Jazz Orchestra will perform again at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 2 in front of the Old Navy store at the Northpark Mall located at 101 N. Range Line Road in Joplin.
The concerts are free and open to the public.
Alumni projects benefit Mansion restoration
Alumni and friends of Missouri Southern State University are being invited to take part in the restoration of the Mission Hills Mansion on the MSSU campus.
Lee Elliff Pound, Alumi Director, says a planned Alumni Courtyard will serve as the location for receptions, pre-game tailgate parties and other outdoor events for alumni, faculty, staff and friends.
The Missouri Southern Alumni Association is offering $100 or $500 engraved bricks or $1,000 engraved plaques to become part of the planned Alumni Courtyard of the restored Mansion. Several options are available for those wanting to assist with the renovation project: All contributions are tax-deductible. Those wanting to purchase a plaque or bricks should respond no later than Oct. 1, 2006.
For more information, contact the Missouri Southern State University Alumni Association at (417) 625-9355 or e-mail alumniassoc@mssu.edu.
Join MSIPC trip to Carnegie Hall
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Missouri Southern International Piano Competition is offering a trip to New York City to attend the Carnegie Hall debut of the grand prize winner of the 2006 competition.
Tatiana Tessman, 26, of Russia, will perform in Weill Recital at Carnegie Hall on Monday, Oct. 9, as part of her grand prize sponsored by Empire District Electric Company.
The tour is scheduled for Oct. 6 – 10 and will include, in addition to the concert, ground transportation, air flights, accommodations at the Westin Hotel in the heart of Times Square, a Broadway show, a dinner cruise in New York harbor and other activities.
For details on the trip, interested persons may contact the MSIPC office at (417) 625-9755 or email to msipc@mssu.edu. For more information, see http://www.mssu.edu/news/carnegietrip06.htm.
NYC's WQXR 96.3 FM to broadcast MSIPC performances
Particpants in the 2006 Missouri Southern International Piano Competition will be the focus of a program on a New York City radio station accessible in the midwest over the internet.
WQXR 96.3 FM radio, the largest classical radio station in New York, will broadcast the performances of the top winners of the 2006 Missouri Southern International Piano Competition on the popular program “Young Artists Showcase.”
On Wednesday of this week “Young Artists Showcase,” devoted a full hour to highlight the Junior Division's first, second, and third place winners as well as the second place Senior Division winner of the 2006 MSIPC
The program included the Gala Winners Concert performances of Mi-Eun Kim, age 17 from the US; Lo-An Lin, age 17 from Taiwan; Xiaoqiu Xue, age 16 from China; and Sergei Saratovsky, age 24 from Russia.
On July 5, the program will devote another full hour to highlight the grand prize winner Tatiana Tessman from Russia and Sang-il Han, the Senior third-prize winner from Korea. The program will air at 8 p.m., CST.
The programs are hosted by Robert Sherman, a long time radio personality, faculty member of the Juilliard School and a columnist for the New York Times.
Interested persons may listen to the 8 p.m., July 5, broadcast by going to www.wqxr.com and follow the direction to access AOL Radio. Once the AOL Radio software is installed, WQXR can be accessed easily by selecting it in the classical station list.
IEP hosts first summer English Camp
Bill Trudeau, International English Program (IEP) will host the first summer English Camp in the U.S beginning July 7. A summer camp and winter camp were led by IEP faculty in 2004 and 2005 in China.
Eleven students ages 11-19, from China, Taiwan, Russia and Korea are scheduled to arrive at MSSU on July 6. The 15-day camp will close July 21.
The camp is designed around mass communication in the US and will include visits to local media centers, as well as a production through the campus television station in cooperation with Judy Stiles, KGCS General Manager. Lead instructor for the camp is Trish Udell, instructor in the IEP, advisor to the International Club at Southern, and coordinator of the Chilean Exchange.
Students will be housed with host families, enhancing the English environment for learning. One student, from Taiwan, is being hosted as the first Rotary exchange student by the Daybreak Rotary Club of Joplin. That student, upon completing the English camp, will enroll in Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Mo.
Human Rights Education Task Force
Donna Cavitte, Executive Director for the State of Missouri Commission on Human Rights, will speak at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 6 in the basement of Joplin's City Hall at 602 Main St. in Joplin.
Cavitte's program will detail the Missouri Commission for Human Rights complaint process, explain the employment, public accomodation and housing portions of the law and offer suggestions guarding against discrimination.
Since 1957, the MCHR has had an obligation to the citizens of Missouri to educate them about illegal discrimination.
The program is free and open to the public.
Student wins art contest
Samantha Thompson, studio art major at MSSU, is the winner of "Innovations in Art,", a contest presented by bioMérieux corporation. In recognition of her winning entry, Thompson will receive a $1,500 cash prize from bioMérieux. The Missouri Southern State University Art Department will also receive a $1,500 donation.
Thompson’s painting was a 36 x 48 acrylic of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as it appears under a microscope. Paintings were judged on three key criteria: depiction and representation of the theme, creativity of image representation, and innovation in style or technique.”
Processes used in the painting included chromatography, diffusion, solubility characteristics and alteration of surface tension.
Thompson’s painting will be displayed internally at the bioMérieux corporate facilities in St. Louis, Mo. or Durham, N.C.
bioMérieux is a worldwide group specializing in the field of in vitro diagnostics for clinical and industrial applications. The company is present in more than 130 countries.
KGCS-TV to air MSIPC presentations
Two lectures to area school children presented during this year's Missouri Southern International Piano Competition will air in July on KGCS-TV.
The lectures, by New York music critic Robert Sherman, were taped in April. During the lectures, Sherman praises the local schools for their music programs. He also involves competitors from the piano competition, with demonstrations and discussions on stage.
The first program will air at 9 p.m. Sunday, July 9. The second will air at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11. They will be repeated at various other times this summer, as part of the "MSSU Lecture Series" programming on KGCS.
KGCS-TV may be seen over the air on UHF channel 57, on channel 7 of the Cable One system, and channel 77 on the Mediacom system. The station is operated as a service of the Department of Communication at Missouri Southern State University.
Kennedy, Marlowe on Education Digest
Education Digest, a show hosted by Jerry Williams, Lifelong Learning, focuses on topics that are of great interest to our community. During the second segment, "Between the Covers", a faculty members of MSSU will discuss books they have enjoyed reading. This week's program discusses the rain forests with Mike Kennedy, Biology.
Also Ann Marlowe, English will talk about “The Da Vinci Hoax”. The show will air on KGCS at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 7 p.m. on Sundays. This is seen in Joplin, Webb City and Carterville on Cable One and on Mediacom outlets in surrounding areas and on channel 57. It will also air at 6:30 pm on Saturday nights and 7 p.m., Sundays on SITV which is seen in Monett, Lamar, Carthage, and surrounding areas on Cox Cable systems and in Neosho on the Cebridge Cable system.
If you are interested in participating as a guest on this show please e-mail Robin Douglas, Lifelong Learning, at douglas-r@mssu.edu.
SAA membership discount card
Student Alumni Association (SAA) membership discount cards are available for purchase at a cost of $10 each. These cards will be available for purchase to any MSSU Alumni, faculty, staff, or friends.
Discounts are available at a wide variety of local restaurants and entertainment sites including Sonic, Domino's Pizza Carl Richard Bowling Centers, Carousel Park, the MSSU Bookstore and more.
For information visit www.mssu.edu/news/saadiscounts06.htm or contact the MSSU Alumni Association office at 625-9355.
Beverly Block and Carla Huntington, School of Business, presented information to approximately 40 Upward Bound students on June 26-27. The students are from five area high schools, Joplin, Webb City, Galena, East Newton, and Carthage. Beverly talked to the students about dining etiquette on Monday. On Tuesday evening, at the Ramada Inn, the students dined using the information they had learned. After the dining experience, Carla discussed and showed the students ballroom dancing. She taught two dances, the waltz and the cha-cha.
A poem by Joey Brown, English, titled "Dixieana" will appear in the fall issue of the literary journal Clare.
Rusty Raymond, Music, recently led leadership clinics at two Grammy award winning high schools, Blue Springs High School and Valley High School (West Des Moines, Iowa). Rusty has been working with both schools for the past six years.
Art Saltzman, English, has had an essay accepted by The Means. "Busy Signals" will appear in the next issue.
A musical duo featuring Stephen Smith, Public Information, will play at the Gateway Creamery at 7th and Kentucky in Joplin Saturday night, June 30. Come listen to the music and try your hand at boccie (Italian bowling).
Nancy Willis-Smith, RN, MSN, part-time faculty for UMKC Master of Science in Nursing on the MSSU campus was selected by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as the 2006 Missouri recipient of the Award for Excellence. Nancy will be recognized at a ceremony during the academy's national conference this month in Grapevine, Tex.. Willis-Smith completed the University of Missouri-Kansas City post-graduate program on the MSSU campus in 1998. She is a certified family nurse practitioner and women's health practitioner. She practices in Lamar with Dr. Timothy Sprenkle in addition to her teaching responsibilities.
For Sale: Historic arts and crafts bungalow in Carthage. Three bedrooms, one bath, 2100 square feet, on a large lot. One and a half-car detached garage, plus carport. Beautiful wood trim and hardwood floors. Many recent updates, must see. Near Mark Twain Elementary School. $110, 000. Shown by appointment. Call: (417) 540-5155 or (417) 793-6909.
