MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – When Missouri State University-West Plains opened its extended campus in Mountain Grove in 1995, officials hoped to provide area residents with the opportunity to pursue a higher education while staying close to home. For two former students of the campus, Elizabeth Schwertfeger and Del Davis, that hope is becoming a reality this fall as they both begin careers teaching at nearby public schools.
ELIZABETH SCHWERTFEGER
Schwertfeger, a resident of Mountain Grove, earned her Associate of Arts (AA) in General Studies at Shannon Hall and completed her bachelor’s degree in education, with an emphasis in special education, through Missouri State University in Springfield. This fall, she fulfills a long-time dream when she begins teaching fifth grade special education at Willow Springs Elementary School.
“I decided to become a special education teacher when I was in middle school, and I’ve pursued that goal ever since,” she said. “One thing I am looking forward to is having my own classroom and students. I plan to be a teacher who encourages, supports and challenges my students to learn and do their best.”
The decision to begin her education at the Mountain Grove campus was easy, she said, “because it was close to home. Between the classes at Shannon Hall, online classes and ITV (interactive television) classes, students can receive an AA degree without traveling to West Plains.”
Schwertfeger said one of the many positive aspects of the campus is the small size of the classes. Faculty and staff at Shannon Hall are very kind and helpful, too, she added. “It may be a small campus, but it has a big heart,” she said. “I would highly recommend the campus to other students. My years of taking classes and working as a student in IT (information technology) at Shannon Hall were all very positive experiences. Shannon Hall became a home away from home for almost four years, between taking classes and working there.
“Shannon Hall also has a lot of great technology,” she continued. “They have two ITV classrooms, multiple computers for students to use, Smart Boards and IT workers in the building to assist students when needed. I am really glad I decided to complete my AA degree at the Shannon Hall campus.”
DEL DAVIS
Davis, a Norwood resident, earned Missouri State-West Plains’ AA degrees in general studies and teaching through Shannon Hall and at the West Plains campus, and he earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Springfield. In December, he will receive a master’s degree in history from Missouri State-Springfield.
Although he has taught World Regional Geography and some history courses at Shannon Hall, he will take on a full-time position teaching government at Houston High School this fall. In addition, he will continue teaching an evening geography course at Shannon Hall.
Prior to attending college, Davis worked in manufacturing for 25 years, but he always had a passion for history, thanks in large part to an inspiring high school teacher he once had. Once he entered the workforce, however, he never thought he would pursue that passion. The 2008 economic recession changed all that when, after having worked his way into a supervisory position, he was let go as part of a downsizing effort. Realizing the recession could last a long time, and not wanting to leave the area to find another manufacturing job, he decided to look into teaching.
As with Schwertfeger, Davis’ primary reason for choosing the Mountain Grove campus was its proximity to home. The smaller class sizes also played a role. “It’s super friendly with a hometown feel,” he said of the campus. “The administrators were very helpful and encouraging, as well.”
Davis admits he probably wouldn’t have gone to college if Mountain Grove campus wasn’t there. “Having just been laid off, income was a major factor. Not knowing how college worked, I probably wouldn’t have enrolled at Springfield or West Plains just to try it out. But with Mountain Grove being closer, I was able to give it a shot,” he explained.
Davis took most of the classes needed for his AA in General Studies at Shannon Hall, but as he pursued additional degrees in teaching, he made the trek to West Plains to take courses in geography and economics that weren’t offered at Mountain Grove at the time. “But that’s just the field I was in,” he said. “If I had just been going for my AA in General Studies, I could have done everything (at Mountain Grove).”
For those who are still on the fence about attending college, Davis encouraged them to give it a try. “Even though a college degree isn’t for everyone, I believe everyone would benefit from at least taking a few college courses because they can help in daily life,” he said. “Psychology courses helped me understand children better and where their frustrations in school are coming from, and one of my favorite courses was an ecology class. I learned a lot about the environment and things I as an individual can do to improve it. Even if you’re not sure you want to get a degree, you can enroll for a semester and see if college is a good fit. There are just so many advantages to taking classes just for the sake of learning and keeping your mind active.”
Area residents can learn more about Missouri State-West Plains’ campus at Mountain Grove’s Shannon Hall by visiting the website or calling 417-547-7575 or 1-888-466-7897.