University officials launch 10th year for Annual Fund campaign - News

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Officials at Missouri State University-West Plains have launched the 10th year for their Annual Fund campaign, which helps provide educational opportunities for students at its campuses in West Plains and Mountain Grove.

Originally known as the Campus Opportunities Campaign, the program encourages alumni, friends and businesses who have benefitted from Missouri State-West Plains to envision the future by investing today.

“Even after 10 years of the Annual Fund campaign, our community far and wide continues to help us educate our students,” said Dr. Drew Bennett, chancellor of Missouri State-West Plains. “The Annual Fund helps provide ‘the extras’ our students need to receive the best education possible, and with continued cuts and withholdings from the state budget, the Annual Fund is more important than ever.”

Money from the fund support a variety of educational opportunities that benefit students directly. These include:

• scholarships;

• emergency grants which help students facing difficult situations stay in school;

• academic enrichment activities such as leadership and development programs, trips to conferences and competitions, cultural arts programs, and undergraduate research projects;

• expansion of tutoring and academic support services;

• state-of-the-art technology, labs and facilities to create the best learning environment for students and prepare them for the 21st century workforce;

• faculty training in the latest curriculum development and teaching techniques in their field of study;

• presentations by guest speakers whose topics are of importance in today’s society;

• and new programs that best prepare students for life-long learning.

FUND HELPS PROVIDE THE BASICS

Development Board President Danny James said the Annual Fund is essential in providing the basics for students. “My career in secondary education focused on teaching students the basics – essentially the foundation for their educational career,” James said. “As the president of the Missouri State University-West Plains Development Board, I focus on providing the basics for the students on our campus. The Annual Fund makes it possible to do that.”

To receive money from the Annual Fund, students, faculty and staff must submit proposals detailing the need and how the funds will be used, Director of Development Joe Kammerer said. “We have three proposal cycles each year, one for each semester and one for the summer session,” he said. “Through our Annual Fund, we hope to be able to fulfill all, or at least most, needs that are not within the existing operating budget.”

ANNUAL FUNDS USED FOR ‘BIG BLUE’

Most recently, dollars from the Annual Fund were combined with money from the Philanthropic Women for Education (PWE), a group which supports Missouri State University-West Plains in its mission by expanding the involvement of women as philanthropists, to purchase a six-seater golf cart, dubbed “Big Blue” by the students, for the admissions office. In-kind donations for the cart also were offered by South Central Golf and Screen Shots Printing, officials said.

MONEY FROM THE ANNUAL FUND at Missouri State University-West Plains went toward the purchase of this golf cart for campus tours. With the cart are, front row from left, Student Ambassador Lekisha Hernandez, Dadeville; Development Board member Sonja Stauffer; Dean of Student Services Dr. Angela Totty; Recruitment Specialist Rachel Peterson; Chancellor Drew Bennett; and board member Melissa Stewart. Second row: Board member Jack Bates, emeritus board director Paul Childers; and board members Karen Smith and Erik Montgomery. Third row: Board president Danny James, board member John Grisham and emeritus board director Jeanette Grisham. Fourth row: Board member Richard Davidson and Director of Development Joe Kammerer. Back row: Board member Dakota Bates. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

“‘Big Blue’ enables admissions office staff to give tours to potential students and their families across our ever-growing campus,” said Dr. Angela Totty, dean of student services. “Getting students in the door is the first step to student success. Seeing the campus from Kellett Hall to Putnam Student Center is sometimes what makes a student and his or her family excited about enrolling at Missouri State University-West Plains.”

Student Ambassador Justin Grogan, Willow Springs, agreed. “I love this campus, and I love being an Ambassador, and it makes me very happy to see Missouri State-West Plains growing and adding more things to make the college transition even easier,” he said. “This is exactly what this golf cart – or as we call it ‘Big Blue’ – will do for prospective students. So many times I have given tours where members of the family are not able to see the campus due to the inability to walk long distances. Big Blue will change this aspect for the better. And, it looks very cool and adds a new, flashy addition to our admissions office.”

Area residents can make a gift to the Annual Fund at any time during the current fiscal year, which runs through June 30, 2018. Gifts can be made by check payable to the Missouri State University Foundation; credit card; or online through www.wp.missouristate.edu/development. Gifts can be made quarterly, semi-annually or through any other payment option that is convenient, Kammerer said. Residents also can make a pledge, and campus officials will mail a pledge reminder in the month requested by the donor, he added.

For more information about the Annual Fund and other ways of giving to Missouri State University-West Plains, call 417-255-7240.