Newsmakers

Penny R. Clayton, an associate professor at Drury University, earned the certified fraud examiner title from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Certified fraud examiners are responsible for resolving a wide range of allegations of fraud and white-collar crime. The examiners must have the expertise to obtain evidence, take statements, write reports, testify and assist in detecting and preventing white-collar crime.

Advertising

Trevor Worley has joined Wannen-macher Advertising Co. Inc. as a sales

associate. Worley brings 20 years of sales experience in the finance, insurance and communications fields. Worley, a College of the Ozarks graduate, works on Big Sports Magazine, agency-developed trade shows and special projects.

Education

SMSU professors Julie Masterson and Ron Netsell of the communication sciences and disorders department have received a grant from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the University of Cincinnati for the Enhanced Doctoral Training for Speech-Language Pathologists program. The award – $17,000 a year for two years – will support graduate students working toward research doctorate degrees in communication sciences and disorders.

The Missouri Association of School Libraries named Glendale High School communication arts teacher Shannon Smith and librarian Marilyn Harris winners of the 2005 Teacher-Librarian Collaboration Award. Smith and Harris designed a Webquest – a program developed at San Diego State University in the late 1990s to help teachers mix the World Wide Web with student learning – to assist them in teaching students to write a research paper. They will receive their awards at the MASL spring conference April 4 at Tan-Tar-A Resort at Lake of the Ozarks.

Shelley Kilpatrick, assistant professor of psychology at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, won the course competition award from the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love. According to the institute, Kilpatrick was selected “for her excellent work as an educator teaching at the interface of science, theology and unselfish love.” For being one of 11 winners selected from more than 70 applicants, Kilpatrick was awarded a prize of $6,000 and invited to attend a conference on the pedagogy of unlimited love at the Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, Calif.

Gary Gray, professor of chemistry at SBU, received the Excellence in Teaching award at the Governor’s Conference on Higher Education in Columbia. Gray was one of 74 outstanding faculty from postsecondary schools, colleges and universities to be honored with the award. Recipients were selected by their respective institutions for their teaching, advising and service to the school community, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement.

Holland Elementary School in Springfield has won a $10,000 technology grant from Samsung. Retiree Ed Fox, a volunteer at the school, wrote a 100-word essay for the Samsung Hope for Education contest that was selected as one of 100 in the country to win the prize. Fox, who spends time helping Holland teachers with presentations and lectures, wrote on the use of digital electronics in the classroom.

Engineering

Stephen L. Nelson was certified as a professional land surveyor. Nelson, who is working with the land survey/engineering team headed by Kevin C. Skibiski at Heideman | Associates Inc., has more than 10 years of experience. He works as survey party chief and project manager. Nelson also attends municipal meetings and prepares computer-generated drawings and calculations.

Health care

Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences announced 56 new graduates from

the associate degree, bachelor degree and medical transcription certificate programs. Commencement ceremonies were held Jan. 14 in Stone Chapel at Drury University. Drury Director of Special Programs Sue Rollins gave the commencement address, with an invocation from Rabbi Rita Sherwin of Temple Israel.

Lori Pogue joined Mercy Health Plans as account executive in the small group-commercial sales division. Her duties include selling health insurance to employer groups with up to 99 employees. She has more than 17 years of experience in health care, with seven of those years in the health insurance industry. Pogue most recently served as the account executive for St. John’s Division of Managed Care.

The Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees announced three new members. Robert Y. Copeland Jr., CEO of McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage, was elected to a three-year term as a member of the board. McCune-Brooks Board Chair Donald G. LaFerla was re-elected to a one-year term as an at-large trustee of the board. Jeffrey L. Dryden, vice president and member of the medical staff of Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, also was re-elected to a one-year term as an at-large board member to represent physicians. As members of the board, responsibilities include overseeing MHA administration and developing association policy.

Insurance

The American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters has recognized Carla Brixey, CPCU, AIS, CPIW, as qualifying for the Continuing Professional Education Program. The program recognizes those in continuing education activities. Brixey is a product development analyst for American National Property and Casualty Company.

Law

Jay M. Dade joined Springfield law firm Shughart Thomson & Kilroy PC. Dade is the firm’s newest lawyer in its labor and employment law practice. Dade has represented employers in federal and state courts and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.

Public relations

Rachel Peacock-Young joined ACR Nally Communications as a public relations coordinator. She is responsible for special events, creative services and working with the public relations needs of clients. Peacock-Young earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and communications at Southwest Missouri State University.

Panera Bread/Traditional Bakery Inc. hired Mindy Spitz to handle community relations for the southwest Missouri market. Her responsibilities include working with schools and nonprofit organizations on fund-raising events. Spitz has more than 10 years of experience in sales and marketing.