National TRiO Day proclaimed in West Plains

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – West Plains Mayor Jack Pahlmann recently signed and presented a proclamation to members of Missouri State University-West Plains’ TRiO Student Support Services designating Feb. 25 as National TRiO Day in West Plains.

2017 March 9 by Vickie Driskell

WEST PLAINS MAYOR JACK PAHLMANN recently signed and presented a proclamation to members of Missouri State University-West Plains’ TRiO Student Support Services designating Feb. 25 as National TRiO Day in West Plains. The day is designed for TRiO students to show their appreciation for the community’s support of the program by giving back to the community. During the week of Feb. 27 through March 3, TRiO students picked up trash on campus, read to kindergarteners and first graders at West Plains Elementary School, hosted a coloring contest second through fourth graders at West Plains Elementary, and conducted a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. The university’s federally-funded TRiO program was established in 2010 to provide tutoring, academic advising and financial counseling for first-generation or low-income students and students with disabilities. From left are TRiO Coordinator Mary Kellum, Pahlmann, TRiO Academic Specialist Kathy Mann and student Heather Holmes, West Plains. (Missouri State-West Plains photo)

DR. ANGELA TOTTY, seated, dean of student services, takes a pie in the face for a good cause as part of a fund-raising contest for Habitat for Humanity sponsored by the TRiO Student Support Services Club at Missouri State University-West Plains as part of its National TRiO Day celebrations. The contest asked students to “vote” for the faculty or staff member they would most like to see receive a pie in the face by placing money in that person’s collection box. Totty received the most “votes.” TRiO Academic Specialist Kathy Mann received least number of votes and had the honor of throwing the pie. Other faculty and staff participating in the contest included Professor of English Dr. Phillip Howerton, Professor of English Frank Priest, Associate Professor of Psychology/Sociology Judy Carr and Student Life and Development Coordinator Jared Cates. A total of $150 was raised for Habitat by the contest, and another $21 was given to local Habitat Director Craig King, who was on hand for the pie throwing. In the background above, students Dannie Powers, Lebanon, left, and Arana Crawford, Thayer, right, take photos of the pie throwing. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)