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

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W e look back at this school year and we marvel at all it has meant. There was a sense, as never before perhaps, that this was the year begin¬ ning a new era. Talk of a new horizon dominated the early days of the fall semester. Shuttle service from outlying areas was new and signified the Colleges renewed concern. The day care center materialized more slowly; MSTV materialized more rapidly. The Rude Cru sprange up from nowhere. And there were telecourses, new times for evening classes, a new honors program, a new degree program in nursing, an enrollment increase, a favorable report from the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, and more new things than we can think of now. Pride in the College was felt wherever we walked; spirit exuded itself in rallies, parties, and at games. There were good times. Sad times, too, we re afraid. We lost some good friends. They can never be forgotten, but the College will go on. We care about the College which cares about us. We care about the faculty who have guided us, the staff who have treated us with kindness and respect, and our classmates who have always been more; They ' ve been friends. At times in the past we ' ve thought of the College only in terms of its smallness. We ' ve failed to see its largeness of spirit and of vision. We do know one fact: Southern ' s Alive in ' 85 Opening , □ 4

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A few of Southern s Special faculty: Many outstanding faculty members give Missouri Southern a reputation for ' academic ex¬ cellence” throughout the midwest. Ten faculty members have been recognized as Outstanding Teachers” since an awards program was instituted in 1980. Each year the Missouri Southern Foundation provides an award of $1,000 to one person designated as the Outstan¬ ding Teacher” and $1,000 to the person designated as Outstanding Teacher of a Freshman Class.” Dr. Larry Martin, head of the mathematics department, and Grace Mitchell, professor emeritus of English, were the first recipients of the award in 1980. I felt a tremendous honor. especially since it was the first time it was given,” Martin said. I was so exalted, so exhilarated,” Mitchell said, but I felt unworthy. I felt maybe I hadn ' t done enough to deserve it. nominations for the awards are submitted by faculty, students, and alumni. These nominations then go before a committee of emeritus faculty and previous recipients. After finalists are chosen, the win¬ ners are selected by the deans of the four schools. Dr. Glenn Dolence, and Dr. Floyd Belk. In 1981 Marilyn Jacobs, assistant professor of nursing, and Dr. Von- nie Prentice, professor of biology, received the awards. I was grateful for the opportuni¬ ty to teach at Missouri Southern Prentice said, and to be able top have an effect on the students ' ' | Said Jacobs, I was very surf prised. I wasn ' t there when the! award was given, but I still was flab¬ bergasted.” Richard W. Massa, head of the communications department, and Donald Seneker, assistant prol fessor of law enforcement, received! the awards in 1982. I thought it was one of thl nicest things that ever happened to 1 me,” Seneker said. I remembered! seeing others get it, like Vonnilj Prentice and Marilyn Jacobs, and ( thinking how terrific it was. It wa| a double pleasure because it pul f me up with them, who I regard, c (Above left) Dr. Vonnie Prentice, head of the biology depailil ment since 1983, shows slides to his students. (Above) James Jackson, professor of biology, has taught at Missoiij n Southern since 1976. (Left) Dr. J. Merrell Junkins, profess! of psychology, is known for his interesting and informatil lectures.