Awards and Achievements

Chamber

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce recently received the 2002 Communications Award from the Missouri Society of Association Executives. The award is presented to member associations for excellence in programs and projects. The chamber's Web site, www.springfieldchamber.com, won the award in communications for its redesign project.

Community

Six area residents have formed the Easter Seals' Springfield Regional Board. Board members are Amy Austin, Susan Grimm, Jeff Jones, John Lambert, Cathy Medearis and Tim Wolters.

Court Appointed Special Advocates received a check for $5,500 from the Price Cutter Charity Championship Golf Tournament and auction at Highland Springs Country Club. This is CASA's second year to be a recipient of funds.

Clever Volunteer Fire Protection District was approved for a $102,249 grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under its Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for Fire Operations and Firefighters Safety. The grant requires a 10 percent match from the tax-support fire protection district.

Education

Bernie Dana, assistant professor of business at Evangel University, presented professional development seminars at two national conferences. He presented a seminar on employee satisfaction to the American Health Care Association's 53rd annual convention and exposition, and he presented a program on quality in long-term care at the 27th Annual Education Conference of the National Association for Healthcare Quality.

AT&T presented a $20,000 grant to three Missouri colleges to provide help training teachers on better use of technology in the classroom. The grant was presented to Central Methodist College, William Woods University and Westminster College.

Southwest Baptist University was recognized in two national guides. SBU was included in "America's 100 Best College Buys" for the seventh consecutive time and in "America's Best Christian Colleges" for the sixth time. Only 20 other institutions were named on both lists. Both publications select institutions based on surveys of 1,485 colleges and universities across the nation.

Charlotte Hardin, director of the Southwest Missouri State University Office of Multicultural Student Services, was one of 15 individuals chosen to receive the Outstanding Black Missourian Award at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has been with SMSU since 1985.

Don Schleueter, director of SMSU's Center for Continuing and Professional Education, received a $32,200 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and a $13,800 grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Funds will be used to help two Springfield companies, SMC Packaging and Ozark Circuits.

Entertainment

Mediacom honored five employees with the top customer service awards for all Mediacom cable systems in Missouri. Karen Heil from the Springfield office received the Above and Beyond Award.

Health care

Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson honored 82 employees for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service. Recognized were: Jan Harper and Jackie Rozell for 30 years of service; Barbara Keys and Duane Nay for 25 years; Judy Boucher, Mary Edds, Margaret Loftis and Katie McCain for 20 years; Beth Blake, Lynette Crump, Christopher Crutcher, Terry Green, Sally Meadows, Patricia Pate, David Templeton and Rosemary Thornton for 15 years; Sheryl Blanchard, Dr. Oren Broughton, Kim Crouse, Lisa Frazier, Cindy Gaddie, Genie Graham, Elaine Inmon, Patty Knudson, Connie Meier, Melinda Merritt, Glenn Miller, Laurel Pratt, Jennifer Round, Kathleen Schwyhart, Bessie Street, Gerry Weinstein and Kathleen Wolford for 10 years; and Melissa Amann, Staci Anderson, Linda Ashlin, Bill Aston, Steve Berkstresser, Lana Boggs, Larry Bridges, Scott Broughton, Donna Bruns, Michael Burton, Dr. Rodger Campbell, Darrell Carey, Audrey Cherry, Caryn Clevenger, Cathy Duggan, Diane Egerstrom, Jack Evans, Cheryl Fortenberry, Patricia Hardin, Debora Harmon, Rex Harmon, Reeva Hartell, Janis Hill, Kim Hollingsworth, Patrick Holmes, Janice Johnson, Lisa Kenyon, Barbara Krueger, Sherry Larson, Judy Lozar, Ken Madura, Dr. Peter Marcellus, Maureen McConnell, Brenda Musick, Ann Mustain, Helen O'Bannon, Annette Pansier, Corky Rank, Darlene Roberts, Brenda Rogers, Paul Rucker, Laurie Rylott, Debra Salmon, Jonnie Samson, Jan Sapp, Pam Tuia, Kristi West, Jacqueline Williams and Clyde Wood for 5 years.

Hospitality

Comfort Inn & Suites in Branson recently unveiled a life-sized bronze sculpture of a bald eagle to celebrate its first anniversary. Artist Kent Gordon was commissioned to create the sculpture by Myer Hotels, owner of Comfort Inn & Suites.

Interior design

Laura Daly received Home Builders Association and Springfield Design Association scholarships. She is a senior studying interior design at SMSU and works as an interior design intern with Butler Rosenbury & Partners.