Outstanding Graduate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2008
Lee Elliff Pound
(417) 625-9355
                                                             

 

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – Abbie Stratton of Jasper, Mo. has been named “Outstanding Graduate” by the Missouri Southern Alumni Association at Missouri Southern State University.  The award was formally announced at the Honors Convocation, Wednesday, April 30 in Taylor Performing Arts Center at Missouri Southern.
               
Stratton is a senior Elementary Education (Social Studies) major.  She will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. 
               
Stratton grew up in Edna, Kan.  She is the daughter of Dwight and Brenda Cooper of Edna, Kan.  She is the granddaughter of Charles and Donna Rexwinkle of Independence, Kan. and Margaret Cooper of Edna, Kan.

 

She is a graduate of Labette County (Kan.) High School.
               
Lee Elliff Pound, Director of Alumni Affairs at Missouri Southern, says the Outstanding Graduates are selected on the basis of superior involvement and leadership on campus and community, high academic achievements and respect of fellow students and faculty.
               
Stratton has a 4.0 grade point average and has been on the Deans’ List all four years of college.  She is a member of the MSSU Honors Program.   International travel has been a part of her university experience.  She has  traveled to Oxford University in England to study the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien.
               
Stratton says she will never regret her decision to attend MSSU, although it was not a part of her original plans:

 

“I actually "ended up" at Missouri Southern State University after a scholarship opportunity fell through with another college,” Stratton says.  “I say that humbly, because I cannot possibly imagine my life had I gone to any other university.  I have come to love and respect this school through my time here.”

 

“I have seen many of the faculty members go to great lengths to help not only myself, but many of the friends made at MSSU,” Stratton continues.  “These individuals are the ones that make this university a place I would send my children and suggest to my younger acquaintances attend.  That lost scholarship from a competitor college has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.”

 

Stratton’s community activities include volunteering for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, tutoring with the group "Teaching Reading to Every Kid" (TREK), tutoring, mentoring with the Upward Bound program, and working as a Girl Scout unit leader at the Camp Oakledge Girl Scout Camp and teaching swimming lessons.

 

She has served as Vice President/President of Teachers of Elementary Age Children, President of International Reading Association, Secretary for Student Missouri State Teachers Association, Vice President/President of Teachers of Elementary Age Children, Chair of the Dolence Award Committee and member of the Selection Committee for Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society).

 

Stratton is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Phi (Education Honor Society), Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), and Alpha Chi, an academic honor society open to students with a 3.75 grade point average or better.  She is also a member of World Issues for Educators and the Spanish Club.

 

Stratton and her husband Adam reside in Jasper, Mo. (Adam, a 2007 graduate of MSSU, also graduated with Honors and received the Outstanding Honors Program Graduate Award.   Adam’s parents are Max and Donna Stratton of Golden City).

 

The wheels of her future have already been set into motion:  Abbie Stratton has been hired to teach sixth grade next fall at Mark Twain Accelerated Elementary School in Carthage, Mo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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