MSSU News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2007
Contact: Dr. Pat Kluthe
(417) 625-9748

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Students invited to join the prestigious Honors Program at Missouri Southern State University were introduced during a formal signing ceremony in early May in the Connor Ballroom of Billingsly Student Center at MSSU.

Missouri Southern welcomes its academic team with enthusiasm similar to that given star athletes who make a decision to attend a college or university. Many high school teachers, counselors, administrators and family members watched the students make their choices official.

MSSU President Dr. Julio León welcomed the students as they took this important step in their educational career. All the students will attend Missouri Southern this fall and several have already completed a number of college hours.

The signing ceremony continues a tradition established when the Honors Program developed in 1984. Entrance into the program is by invitation and requires a composite score of 28 or above on the ACT or a grade point average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale.

The program offers honors sections of general education courses and special honors courses in selected areas.

"The competition was as keen as ever. The students admitted will prove a formidable influence on the Southern campus and in classrooms for the years to come, and these are the people we will be hearing from in the future." says Dr. Pat Kluthe, Director of the Honors Program..

The average ACT of the 12 incoming scholars is a 31 and the average GPA in their final year of high school is 3.98.

Note to Editors: See attachment for photos of those from your area attending the Honors signing. All photograph cutlines should be read left to right.

	Front: Staci Ball, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Steven Ball, Adelina Ball STACI BALL JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Cassandra Blanchard, Dr. Julio Leon Back: Clifford Blanchard, Mrs. Pan Peak, Klaashi Blanchard CASSANDRA BLANCHARD LIBERAL, MO HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Caitlan Bermei, Dr. Julio Leon Back: Don Bermiel, Jane Bermei CAITLAN BERMEI LEE'S SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Ashley Blankenship, Dr. Julio Leon Back: Dee Ann Blankenship, Alan Blankenship (parents), Michael Collins, Biology Teacher ASHLEY BLANKENSHIP REEDS SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Rachel Bowyer, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Whitney Bowyer (sister), Lisa Bowyer, Rono Bowyer (parents) RACHEL BOWYER JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Kayla Curran, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Alicia Curran (mother). KAYLA CURRAN ROLLA HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Megan Davis, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Duane Davis (father), Chuck Blaney, (Neosho principal) Ann Davis (mother), Susan Ashton (Senior Guidance Counselor) MEGAN DAVIS NEOSHO HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Stephanie Esgar, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Ricahrd Crow, Julie Crow (parents), Mrs. Terry Rose (Girard Counselor) STEPHANIE ESGAR WEBB CITY HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Alexandra Ferguson, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Steve Haupt, (Math Teacher), John & Phyllis Hegeman, (grandparents) Janice Ferguson (mother), Chuck Braney (Neosho Principal) ALEXANDRA FERGUSON NEOSHO HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Ashlynn Fust, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Becky Fust (mother) ASHLYNN FUST HUMANSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Nicole Green, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Lance Green, Nancy Green (parents) NICOLE GREEN CARTHAGE, MO HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Danielle Henkle, Dr. Julio Leon Rear, Cris Henkle, John Henkle (parents) DANIELLE HENKLE WEBB CITY HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Taylor Hicks, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Brenda Hicks (mother) TAYLOR HICKS JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Joseph Christopher Hobbs, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Faith Hobbs (mother) JOSHP CHRISTOPHER HOBBS RA-PEC HIGH SCHOOL, RAYMORE, MO
	Front: Melissa Holt, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Mathhew Holt, Jana Holt (parents), Terry Rose (Gifted Evaluation Teacher) MELISSA HOLT WEBB CITY HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Amanda Jones, Dr. Julio Leon Rear, Mitch Jones, Kim Jones (parents) AMANDA JONES CARL JUNCTION HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Pamela Kimmell, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Laura Kimmell (sister), Ruth Kimmell (mother) PATRICIA KIMMELL NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Alexander James Kleindl, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Dr. Brad Kleindl, Jane Kleindl (parents) ALEXANDER JAMES KLEINDL JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Josh Klugh, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Onie Klugh (mother) JOSH KLUGH CHANUTE, KAN. HIGH SCHOOL
	Front, Klarly Elizabeth Kownslar, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Terry Peacock, Elizabeth Peacock (parents) KARLY ELIZABETH KOWNSLAR JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Lora Lombard, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Maria Lombard (mother) LORA LOMBARD JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Camille R. Pellegrino, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Mike Pellegrino, Gina Pellegrino (parents) CAMILLE PELLEGRINO FT. ZUMWALT SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL ST. PETERS, MO
	Front: Amber Quirin, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: John Quirin, Jeanette Quirin (parents), Marsha Randall (Debate/Forensics Coach) AMBER QUIRIN LABETTE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PARSONS, KAN.
	Front: Charity Reid, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Tami Reid (mother) CHARITY REID PURDY HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Joshua Clayton Schwartz, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Radeke grandparents, Vicki McCaull (mother), Steve Radeke, Jacob Schwartz JOSHUA CLAYTON SCHWARTZ GROVE, OKLA
	Front: Charles Solomon, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Larry Solomon, Shirlene Solomonl (parents) CHARLES SOLOMON JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL
	Front: Kristen Swadley, Dr. Julio Leon Rear: Sheri Swadley, John Swadley (parents) KRISTEN SWADLEY JOPLIN HIGH SCHOOL

NOT PICTURED:

Cody Housh, Carthage High School

Olga Bulgurova, Jefferson City High School

Brock Pflasterer, Mascoutah (IL) Community High School

Honors Signing, '07