Lacey Hall Carter, West Plains, received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award Thursday evening, May 2, during the annual Alumni and Friends Picnic hosted by the Missouri State University-West Plains office of university advancement.

The award is presented annually to a former student 40 years of age or younger who has shown great promise in his/her personal life and professional field and was actively involved while at student at MSU-WP.

Originally from Willow Springs, Carter graduated from MSU-WP with an Associate of Arts in General Studies degree in 2007 and an Associate of Science in Nursing degree in 2010.

She received the First Generation Award at the 2010 Celebration of Leaders and was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges.

While at MSU-WP, she was a Student Ambassador, the 2008-2009 Student Government Association president, Student Nurses Association member and Welcome Week Steering Committee member.

Carter completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at MSU in December 2014 and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in December 2016.

She has worked at Ozarks Healthcare since February 2018 and currently serves as the chief nursing officer.

Carter currently serves as a member of the university’s Nursing Advisory Board.