Legacy program educates youth
By Kimberly Feather

Staff Writer

The Missouri Southern alumni association is sponsoring the Legacy Program for children ages 5-14 on Saturday, Sept. 28.

This program allows children or relatives of Missouri Southern graduates to spend a day on campus and learn what the College has to offer.

When the program began in 1998, it only allowed children ages 11-14 to participate. The alumni association passed surveys around to participants in the program and found that expanding the program to ages 5-14 gives younger generations a chance to experience life at Southern.

"The program is full this year; we can't take anymore," said Lee Elliff Pound, alumni director.

The program was originally only going to accept 20 participants, but expanded to accommodate 32.

Children ages 5-7 will experience a bug hunt at the Biology Pond, gardening, and stained glass windows. Ages 8-10 will participate in a TV production and tie-dying T-shirts, and ages 11-13 will make jewelry and join in conversational Spanish. Plenty of hands-on experiences will be available for the children. Every student will bring home a piece of Southern from the activities they participate in throughout the day. After classes, participants will meet at Touchdown Alley and enjoy a free meal and tickets to a Southern Lions football game. Everyone will receive a free Legacy Day T-shirt.

Tammy Hunter, alumni office student helper, has a 5-year-old son who participates in the program.

"I think that this is a pretty awesome program, where the alumni get to bring their kids," she said. "It's for the kids, and they get to learn and have fun. 

Since the program has expanded from ages 11-14 to ages 5-14, the alumni association hopes more children will learn about Southern and select it as their college when it comes time to decide. Children are shown how fun the College s campus can be.

Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 28 on the main floor of the Billingsly Student Center. Interactive classes are from 2-4:30 p.m. Afterward, participants will meet at Touchdown Alley at 4:30 p.m. and then attend the 7 p.m. football game when the Southern Lions play the Washburn Ichabods.