Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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Knowledgable rewards oy Kara Swin- A job atter graduation led to selt-disco er - and a trip liome to the worn and cracked campus sidewalks he ' d traveled once before. After graduating in 1991 with a bachelor ' s degree in finance from Northwest, Jason White left Mar ille and journeyed to Kansas City, Mo., where he believed happiness awaited. What he gained from the experience, howe er, made him .i better man. I always thought I ' d be a super-duper stockbroker, but that all changed, he said. 1 did stocks for about a-year-and-a-half but was ne er happy. I knew 1 had .i calling somew ' here else. His instincts were right. A telephone call to the economics department landed White a semester teaching position in 1997, while Associate Professor Mike Wilson took sabbatical in England. White begged and pleaded with department chairs to keep him on staff once Wilson returned, but unfortunately, filled positions kept him at bay. He decided to continue his education and earned a doctorate from the University of Missouri- Kansas City in hope a position would open, because White knew he ' d found his calling - teaching. In 1998, his dream of teaching at the unixersity became a reality. A wife, two children and a successful career later. White said his teaching experience flew by. I just recently turned 35, but I don ' t feel five years older, White said. I feel the same as when I got here. White said although his age kept creeping up, he considered hmiself a kid at heart. I hope I will always be, because I ' m a lot more comfortable hanging out with students than faculty, White said with a chuckle. I don ' t mind going to The Pub on a Friday night. I think students like seeing me out of the classroom, because it lets them see I ' m a real person. White quickly became known as the economic professor students raved about. When students started signing up for trimester classes. White ' s were the first to close. White had a strategy for each class he taught. He lectured for 20 minutes, discussed real world events and sports for another 20 minutes and cried to finish the class period with the remaining lecture. Jason Teaching at his alma mater kept lason White a kid at heart. ' White came to tiie university atter a change in his stockbroking career, phoiofn- ik£ Dye I ' ll do anything to keep them awake, he said. I don ' t always like to talk about economics. White ' s enthusiasm and love for teaching earned him various awards throughout his career. In November, The Southern Economics Association recognized White with the Kenneth G. Elzinga Distinguished Teaching Award. The award honored educators who made outstanding contributions to economics education at their university and beyond. White said the awards and the gift of knowledge he ga e students outweighed 1 any paycheck he could have received as a stockbroker. 1 would have made more money in the private sector, but it never would have been as rewarding, White said. 1 like sharing knowledge with people and teaching them something they haven ' t thought of before. Front Row: Pat Gross, Dr. .Ann Rowlette and Charlone Stiens. Back Front Row; Rente Rohs. Ming-Chibi Hung, Paricia Drews and Karen Row: Frances Shipley, Jenell Ciak. Lauren Leach, Beth Gondge, Susan Hoskey. Row 2: James Hickey, Leah Manos, Richard Felton and Baker, Jeanne Crawford and Detbie Clark. Gregory HaJJ.xk Back R.nv: Jeff Bradley and John Fore- Front Row: Matt Johnson, Janice Brandon-Falcone. Patricia Headley, Rebecca Schelp and Krista Kupfer. Row 2: David McLaughlin. Joel Benson, Tom Spenser, Jason Stevens and Robert Dewhirst. Back Row: Dan Smith, Brian Hesse, Richard Field, Ron Fern,, hm Eisivhen, Richard Fulton and Richard Fnjcht.

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Faith guides homef ront help by Amber Brazil He did not want to keep the opportunity of coming to America for himself. Desiring to share what he learned, he sought God ' s guidance in reaching his dream to impact the world. Joao Mendonca ' s home country of Brazil represented a place he wanted to make an impact on. As a geography major, Mendonca hoped to work in regional development. 1 may move back to Brazil sometime to help them, Mendonca said. Brazil has a lot of potential, they just need social help. They have great resources, just not the education or planning to use them. Mendonca first came to Grant City, Mo., his senior year of high school to learn English in an exchange program. Deciding to continue his education in the area, he enrolled at the university. Since coming to America, he realized how much growing Bra:il had to do. He .said while being the most developed Third World country, with cities built like an American metropolis, the countryside was so poor people were standing, because they did not use resources properly. Mendonca wished to take his skills learned at the university and aid the country in developing their rural land. Why stay locked up here in an office? Mendonca said. Sure, I ' d make a good paycheck but not a difference. Whatever happened in the future, Mendonca believed God determined it. God has a plan, Mendonca said. 1 didn ' t expect to be here. Wherever Jesus takes me, it ' ll be all right. I may stay here longer, and that ' s ok too. While living in America, religion became an important part in Mendonca ' s life. As a Catholic in Brazil, he said he had no other option because he was baptized as that. He went through Catholic schooling hut didn ' t have much of a connection to it. In coming to America, he was bom again. Through the blood of Jesus, now, I ' ve gained a new life, and created a more intimate relationship with this invisible bing that is alive, he said. Mendonca believed building a new relationship in his faith and acquiring education in America were life-changing phases that would shape his future in Brazil or any country. Lindahl. Alyss;i Linds.iy, Scth Lind«v. Tcrnn Lode. Allen Loemker. St.icey Long, R.ichcl Lun:inann, Kristi LuKen, Niliki »o Atei c oMcck .,.

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Marriott. Nicnlc Marshall, Cynthia Martellc. Liincy M IV, Audrey Ml Adams, Stephanie ' ,K(imnu..T,J. i.Keown, Ryan McLain, Melanie McNeil. Janellc McKgers, Emily Mera-Manittes, Samia Merrick, Ashley Meyer. Katrina Miller. Adam Miller, Christine Moc, Carrie Mt)cller, Britney Mfxxly, Merideth Mwire. Megan Moore. Scan Murphy. Bethany Murtha, Christine Mut2. Angela Nagatomo, Mai Neil. Rachel Nichols. Kelsey N ' lxon, Kathleen Novelli. Dan Nunnikhoven. Nathan Nutting, Adam Olms. Kristina Osbom, Rachel Oser, Tara Packard, Heidi Pankau. Brent r.uk.Junghoon rt;lliam, Christopher Pema, Kacie Peterson. Dawn Phillips. Meredith Pinder, Rachel Piper. Jermifer Pins, Brandy PLut.John [ lanski. Shannon Pope, Lee Posten. Angela nest, Amanda : I ichard. Suzanne ;( mire:, Elizabeth Ramsey, Tim Rav. Harold Reece. Charlie Reinig. Rebecca Renshaw, Kari Reschke. Amy Ridens. Stephanie Rix.Jeff Roherstsn. Erin Rohert-s, Erin R.Kkhold, Brandon Rosser, Debra Rusco. Christine Rust. Mike Ryder. Harmah Schaffer. Jeannic Schelp, Rebecca Schieber, Ashley Schmidt. Jessica Schnakenberg, Sarah Schroder, Kahssa Schrocr, Matthew Schumacher. Rachel chwar:. Laura - ' hearer. Lindsay -hires. Heidi r