Newsmakers

Mark Harrell joined Freelance Creative Group, which specializes in advertising and marketing. Harrell’s responsibilities include outside sales as well as commercial photography. He has more than 20 years of experience in the commercial printing industry and is the Springfield Cardinals official photographer.

Architecture

Andrew Wells, architect and co-founder of Dake Wells Architecture, lectured at Drury University’s Hammons School of Architecture about the firm’s work. The lecture, entitled “Ordinary,” was a part of the school’s 2007–08 lecture series, which features architects from across the nation. Wells, a 1991 Drury graduate, focused on how his firm is inspired by ordinary things to create unique architecture.

Arts

Springfield Regional Arts Council presented the 2007 Ozzie Awards during the Nov. 16 grand opening of the Creamery Arts Center. The Legacy Award was given posthumously to Mick Denniston. Seymour Arts Council received the Ozzie organization award, and Gary Ellison received the individual award. Ozzie recipients are honored for their exemplary contributions to the arts.

Banking

Bank of America was selected as one of the 2007 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers by Working Mother magazine, marking the 19th year the bank has been on the list. Working Mother evaluates work force profiles, compensation, child care, flexibility, time off and leave, and company culture. Particular weight was given to flexibility and family-friendly policies.

Education

Greg Onstot, former vice president of university advancement at Missouri State University, will receive the Virginia Carter Smith Recognition Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District VI. The district comprises about 300 colleges and universities in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The award is presented to a senior advancement professional who is ending his or her career. Onstot joined MSU in 1982 as its first director of development and alumni relations and was appointed vice president of university advancement in May 1984.

Evangel University’s Students In Free Enterprise team won second place at the 2007 Duel in the Ozarks, a personal-finance case study competition hosted by Drury University. The teams were presented with a hypothetical case study about a student in financial distress and had 36 hours to research the situation and develop a solution. Evangel finished behind College of the Ozarks. Other teams competing were from MSU and John Brown University in northwest Arkansas.

Springfield R-XII School District and Springfield-Greene County Park Board received the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant to fund after-school programs at Weller, McGregor and Weaver elementary schools and Reed Middle School. The district will receive $1.27 million over five years from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The parks department will sustain the program beyond the grant period.

Springfield schools also received three $10,000 grants from the Afterschool Health/METS Program to fund after-school programs with a health or math, engineering, technology and science focus. The programs will be provided at Portland, Bingham and Pittman elementary schools in collaboration with Ozarks Regional YMCA.