On the Street

Missouri State University officials announced Sept. 30 a series of gifts that will increase the MSU Foundation’s endowment by more than 10 percent. All told, $4.65 million in gifts were announced, with $4.4 million directed to boosting the MSU Foundation’s current $40 million endowment.

The new endowments are enabling MSU to add two new endowed chairs at $1 million each, and four endowed professorships of $250,000 each, which more than doubles MSU’s number of endowed faculty positions. Eight endowed scholarship funds totaling $1.4 million were added, and funds also were donated for a wooden practice court in Hammons Student Center. Funds also were given to fund a renovation of the boardroom and the president’s suite of offices in Carrington Hall.

A peek at Big Eddy

Artifacts from the Big Eddy archaeological dig are on display through Nov. 13 as part of the American Indian Heritage Exhibit and Celebration at Wonders of Wildlife.

The Big Eddy dig is featured in the October National Geographic magazine, which calls it a “trove of North American prehistory.”

Neal Lopinot, Ph.D., director of MSU’s Center for Archaeological Research, and his team have rescued artifacts from the Big Eddy site, located six miles upstream from Stockton Dam, where water from hydroelectric power generation threatens to engulf the excavation.

One of the best

Springfield ranks as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, according to America’s Promise-The Alliance For Youth.

The honored cities, which also included Kansas City, St. Joseph and St. Louis, were chosen based on their commitment to provide a healthy, safe and caring upbringing for youth.

In Springfield, 39 percent of graduates scored at or above the national average on the ACT, and the graduate rate is 80.4 percent. And in 2003, youth involved with Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield participated in approximately 5,000 areas of community service, according to a news release from Gov. Matt Blunt, who extended his congratulations to all Missouri cities honored on the list.

Slice of Nice

Springfield financial consultant Nadia Cavner and her family are donating $30,000 to the food bank at The Kitchen Inc.

The Cavners have committed to donate an additional $50,000 if the community steps up and matches that amount by Oct. 21. Mary Ann Johnston, spokesperson for The Kitchen, said Oct. 5 that about $10,000 had been collected since Cavner issued the challenge.

Donations can be sent to The Cavner Family Match at The Kitchen, 1630 N. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65803.