WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Dr. Herb Lunday, former dean of student services and athletic director at Missouri State University-West Plains, will receive the Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award during the Missouri State University Alumni Association’s annual spring picnic for alumni and friends at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5, in the exhibit hall at the West Plains Civic Center.
In its seventh year, the award recognizes extraordinary service among former employees of Missouri State-West Plains. Among the qualities considered are professional and/or academic achievements, as well as a demonstrated commitment to the university’s mission. Nominees must have been employed by the university for at least five years and must not currently be employed by the Missouri State University System.
“Dr. Lunday left large shoes to fill when he retired from the university in December 2014. His ‘go-get-’em’ attitude resulted in the development of many helpful services for our students and spurred unprecedented growth in our campus. His tenacious work ethic has left an indelible mark on and a memorable legacy for this university,” said Missouri State-West Plains Director of Development Joe Kammerer.
Lunday began his career at Missouri State University at the Springfield campus, where he first served as director of career information, placement and cooperative education in 1984. He was appointed acting vice president of student affairs in 1986. He came to the West Plains campus in 1993 as the coordinator of financial aid before being appointed as acting coordinator of financial aid, food service, bookstore and athletic director in 1994. He was named director student services in 1995, then dean of student services in 1999.
Under his direction, more services for students were added, including athletics; the advising and testing center known as the Advising and Academic Coaching Center for Empowering Student Success (AACCESS); the Career Development Center; and professional, health, legal, counseling and credit counseling services.
Lunday is responsible for authoring and co-authoring several grant proposals which led to the establishment of the Veterans Incentive Program and the Veterans Services Center, the College Parent Resource Center and the CCAMPIS childcare program, as well as numerous outreach programs through admissions office such as campus caravans, high school extravaganzas, financial aid workshops and the recently developed College Express enrollment program. The programs played a significant role in doubling campus enrollment during his tenure, officials said, pointing out enrollment went from 1,018 students in the fall of 1993 to 2,123 in the fall of 2013.
One of his most recent university projects was the Operation 50K initiative, for which he served as the administrative leader. The project encouraged students, faculty, staff and others with ties to the university to volunteer a total of 50,000 hours of community service during the 2013-14 academic year.
“As an employee of the university system for 30 years, he was a driving force in student success,” said Associate Provost Dr. Rachelle Darabi. “He was instrumental in developing academic and student support services for student athletes in his role as the director of athletics. He has visited with hundreds of students, listened to complaints, provided guidance, offered support, etc. He championed students at every turn.”
Lunday also became very active in the West Plains community and lent his support to numerous projects and causes, including serving on the boards of Ozark Independent Living, West Plains Community Foundation, Heart of the Ozarks United Way, West Plains Country Club, Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce, West Plains Planning and Zoning Commission, and the West Plains Home Rule Charter Commission, to name a few. In several instances, he served as board chairperson. He served on the committees for Ozarks Medical Center’s 50th anniversary, the 37th Judicial Circuit Juvenile Division and Drug Court, the Robert Neathery Skate Park, and Howell County All-Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee, and he was a volunteer mentor with the Howell County Juvenile Services Mentoring Achieves Great Individual Connection (MAGIC) program.
Lunday has received numerous awards for his community service, including Missouri State University’s Staff Excellence in Community Service and Staff Excellence in Public Affairs awards, and the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Award. In addition, the Grizzly Booster Club Executive Board of Directors honored him and his wife, Mary Beth, with the Grizzly Track Award in 2002 for their tireless work and support of the program.
The first Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award was given at the 2010 annual picnic to former Director of Development and Associate Professor of History Carol Silvey. It has since been presented to former Missouri State-West Plains Dean Marvin Green (2011), former Professor of English Dr. Connie O’Neal (2012), former Assistant Professor of Mathematics Rita Fugate (2013), former Assistant Professor of Communications Kay Garrett (2014) and former Professor of History Dr. Ed McKinney (2015).
The annual picnic is free and open to all Missouri State University alumni and friends; however, reservations should be made prior to the event, organizers said. For more information or to make reservations, call the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240.