Officials at Missouri State University-West Plains are seeking nominations for an honorary associate’s degree.

The degree will be awarded at the 2019 commencement ceremony in May.

It is designed to recognize and honor exceptional men and women who have given a substantial part of their lives to serving others and/or who have distinguished themselves.

Conferral of the degree also establishes a public association between Missouri State-West Plains and such exceptional men and women, thereby providing testimony to the values and quality of two-year institutions, university officials explained.

Previous recipients include:

• Kennoth G. Gammill, Honorary Associate of Applied Science Degree, 2011;
• Paul Childers, Honorary Associate of Applied Science Degree, 2012;
• Edith Williams, Honorary Associate of Arts Degree, 2013;
• Peggy Kissinger, Honorary Associate of Arts Degree, 2014;
• Linda Moore, Honorary Associate of Applied Science Degree, 2015;
• Laurel Thompson, Honorary Associate of Science Degree, 2016;
• Terry “Bo” Pace, Honorary Associate of Applied Science Degree, 2017;
• Jack McNevin, Honorary Associate of Applied Science Degree, 2018.

Members of the community, as well as the university’s Administrative Council, Faculty Senate and Staff Senate, are invited to nominate recipients for an honorary degree.

The degree granted may be the Honorary Associate of Arts Degree, the Honorary Associate of Applied Science Degree or the Honorary Associate of Science Degree.  Recipients will be announced prior to the commencement ceremony.

Recipients may be alumni, former university employees, former Board of Governors members or public officials, but they may not be, at the time of the award, current employees, incumbent members of the Board of Governors or incumbent officials of federal, state or local government.

Other criteria to be considered include a nominee’s:

• Eminent contribution to the college, the system, the community, the state or society;
• Eminent achievement in a particular field or endeavor;
• Personal status that will enhance the reputation of the college or system and serve as an example to its students and alumni;
• Potential for contribution to the goals or welfare of the college.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2019 spring commencement ceremony is March 8.

“This will be the ninth honorary degree we will present to an individual who has already given so much to our campus and the communities we serve,” said Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Shirley Lawler. “The next recipient will join eight other recipients who are all great examples of great work ethic and service to others.”

For more information about the award and nomination procedures, call the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240 or visit the honorary degree website.

Nomination forms may be downloaded from the website.