A TOTAL OF $423,982 worth of labor went into Missouri State University-West Plains’ Operation 50K community service initiative this past year, and Chancellor Drew Bennett recently presented a ceremonial check in that amount to West Plains City Council members. At the university’s commencement May 17, Bennett reported a total of 56,531 hours of community service had been contributed by faculty, staff, students, alumni and others with ties to the university over the past year as part of the university’s 50th anniversary celebration. The final tally, he added, was 10 percent above the 50,000-hour goal. When the hours are calculated at minimum wage, Operation 50K participants gave $423,982 worth of labor to the community through such causes as the Adopt-A-Street program, Boy Scout troops, the West Plains Area Boys and Girls Club, Christos House, 4H programs, Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, among others. On hand for the presentation were, from left, West Plains City Council members Bob Burtrum and Brenda Smith, Mayor Jack Pahlmann, Bennett, and Councilmen Mike Topliff and Royce Fugate. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)
Over $400,000 worth of labor went into Operation 50K