Beverage company president receives MSU's Bronze Bear

James P. Ferguson, president of Heart of America Beverage Co., 2860 S. Austin Ave., has been selected as the 12th recipient of the Missouri State University Bronze Bear Award.

Ferguson established the school's African-American Scholarship, is a past member and president of the MSU Board of Governors, is a past member of the MSU Foundation Board of Trustees and is a current member of The Founders Club, a group consisting of those who have donated at least $10,000 to the university. He also was chairman of the presidential search committee when John Keiser was hired as president in 1993, according to an MSU news release.

“The Bronze Bear is the highest nonacademic award the university presents and Jim Ferguson is an excellent addition to the long line of distinguished recipients," MSU President James Cofer said in the release. "Mr. Ferguson has touched almost every aspect of Missouri State University during his long association with the university."

The MSU Board of Governors voted Oct. 23 to give Ferguson the award, which will be presented during the Dec. 17 commencement ceremony at JQH Arena. The award is a miniature version of the 14-foot bronze bear statue in front of the university's Plaster Student Union, the release said.

The 2009 recipients of the award were Michael Nietzel, former MSU president, and the Pinegar family.[[In-content Ad]]