Newsmakers

Patty Johns, trust officer at The Trust Company of the Ozarks, was class salutatorian at the Southern Trust School and one of 21 third-year students who received diplomas during graduation ceremonies. Johns also was elected president of her graduating class.

Jennifer Wasson joined Metropolitan National Bank in Springfield as assistant vice president, loan administration manager. Wasson manages loan servicing, document imaging and centralized document processing activities.

Community

Junior Achievement received a $2,780 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and a $4,000 grant from the Darr Family Foundation. The money will be used for JA programming in Title 1 schools for the 2008–09 school year.

Linda McAllister was elected 2008–09 president of the Junior League of Springfield. McAllister has been a Junior League member for 11 years.

Education

Brenda Descamps, leadership development manager for Ozarks Technical Community College’s Center for Workforce Development, received certification through Coach Training Alliance in Boulder, Colo., as a certified professional leadership coach.

Jason Huneycutt, choral director at Nixa High School, was chosen as the 2008 recipient of the Prelude Award, given by the Missouri Choral Directors Association.

Two Drury University students received national summer internships. Third-year student Katie Cash is an intern with the Washington Center’s Criminal Justice Program, where she obtained a position with the public defender’s office in Montgomery County, Md. Drury biology and chemistry major Mian Wang received an internship with the Mayo Clinic, one of only 80 accepted from across the country. Wang is performing cancer research and analysis.

Government

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., received the 2008 Geography Legislator of the Year Award from the National Geographic Education Foundation for his commitment to improving geographic literacy among elementary and secondary students.

Health Care

Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Frederick Faust joined Ozarks Community Hospital at OCH North Pediatrics.

Dr. Dorinda Faulkner, who is board-certified in family practice, joined Ozarks Community Hospital at the OCH Primrose Clinic.

Technology

Brad Eldridge was hired as sales consultant for Inter-Tel Technologies Inc. Eldridge previously worked in real estate and also has served as executive director of the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission.

Alexander Open Systems hired Luke Simon as an account manager responsible for the government and education sectors. Simon has five years of technology experience and nine years of sales experience.

Suddenlink Communications’ Branson and Branson West technical operations centers were awarded Gold Safety Awards by the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers.

Winners had recordable incident rates that were at least 50 percent below the industry’s national rate as measured by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. [[In-content Ad]]