Missouri Southern State University - Crossroads Yearbook (Joplin, MO)

Page 13 text:

SowHerrfil opccial jj A + ' j Even though they already support the College with their fees, students contributed to the Phon-a-thon with their own fund drive . Daphne Massa, left and Lynn Iliff, right manned the fishbowl The highlight of the ‘kick off coffee for phon-a-thon workers was the premier of the song Southern’s Special written by Greg Fisher, center, singing with Debbie Gipson and Casey McGinty. On the piano was Olivia Coombs.

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Foundation meets challenge and exceeds goal of major fund drive February marked the beginning of a new annual event at Southern. The Missouri Southern Founda¬ tion hosted the first annual Phon-A- Thon this year. The event began February 20 and continued until March 3. Preparation began back in August of 1982. Sue Billingsly, director of the Missouri Southern Foundation and Kreta Gladden, director of Alumni Affairs began compiling a mailing list of approximately 5,000 names. Official Phon-A-Thon stationary, envelopes, pledge cards and the cer¬ tificates of appreciation were design¬ ed by Gwen Hunt, director of Public Information, and Mary Anderson, secretary to Mrs. Hunt. Volunteers were asked to aid in the calling for pledges, addressing envelopes and to help in the canteen. Some 200 volunteers were on hand to donate their time. Tri State Motor Transit donated the first gift. This “kick-off’ ’ dona¬ tion for the campaign was $2,000. The check was awarded to Dr. Julio Leon, president of the college, by Harold Nickels, president of Tri State and George Boyd, Sr. Kenny Bowman and Gilbert Roper were appointed to co-chair the Phon-A-Thon. Their responsibilities included promotion, motivating volunteers, confirming that callers and captains would be there, and keeping a daily tally of pledges. Greg Fisher, one of the first students to graduate with a com¬ munications degree, wrote and per¬ formed the song “Southern’s Special’’. Fisher wrote the song himself but in arranging the music Melissa Perry worked on the basic chords. Debbie Gipson did the final arrangement and sang harmony. Olivia Combs was the pianist and Casey McGinty was the guitarist and third vocalist. The $35,000 goal was reached just one week after the first call was made. By the end of the drive they nearly doubled their goal. A final total of $75,467.90 was pledged. “All of this would not have been possible without the help of Dr. Leon, Mr. Richard Massa, Gwen Hunt, Mary Anderson, Debbie Cable,Pat Kluthe, and the maintenance crew. They’ve all spent much of their personal time helping with the drive.” 1

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10 Gilbert Roper, co-chairman and Sen. Richard Webster, spent time calling on the first day of the fund drive.