Written by
Dee Loflin, Manager/Writer SMT
Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Southeast Missouri State University has named 2,496 students to its Dean’s list for academic achievement during the spring 2013 session.
Students named to the list earned at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and completed at least 12 degree credit hours during the spring session. We congratulation all of the students who have worked very hard to earn this recognition.
View the complete spring 2013 Dean’s List here.
Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Over the past few days, Beta Club members from all across America travelled to Mobile, Alabama for their annual National Convention. During the state conventions, all eighteen states involved with the club elected a state secretary, vice president, and president who all received an invitation to attend and compete at the national level. Aside from the candidates and their campaigns, there were also many academic competitions along with Quiz Bowl and other art-related competitions.
Three schools from the southeast Missouri area had the chance to represent the state in Mobile. Malden, Bloomfield, and Richland High School all travelled south and were very successful at National Convention. The students got to see the city, visit the beach, and listen to multiple entrepreneurs, inspirational speakers, and perform their campaign skit for their candidate.
Bloomfield ran Kendra Elder, our Missouri State Beta Secretary. Their campaign skin was entitled “Kickin’ It With Kendra” and they also competed in an academic competition.
Richland ran Kannon Qualls, our Missouri State Beta Vice President. Their campaign skit was entitled “Express Yourself with Kannon”. Their skit landed in the top ten out of all thirty-seven skits that competed at the national level. They had two students that participated in the acrylic painting competition along with the spelling test after placing at state level.
Malden High School had a very successful trip to Mobile. Their candidate, Darren Green, our Missouri State Beta President, placed at the national level and is now the National Beta President. Missouri is so proud to have Malden represent us at the national level. Malden’s skit, entitled “The Big Beta Theory”, placed in the top ten skits. Their group talent song mash-up, “Tunapanda – A Celebration of Life” placed third out of fourteen other special talents. They had many competitors in academics and they placed second in the creative writing category.
The Betas had a great opportunity to talk to multiple inspirational and keynote speakers that visited their convention. Although many of the speakers were just teenagers who shared their experiences with leadership, fear, and academics, the audience received a lot of advice from Betas of all ages, including one of the first Beta Club members ever, Mrs. Elizabeth Hines. They also received a great inspirational testimony from Desiree Lynch, a former Beta Club member from Wilson, Oklahoma. Lynch told the Betas all about her first business that she started at the age of twelve, the many decisions she had to make after watching it grow and prosper, life decisions including college and career opportunities, and the roadmap of her inspiring life and story.
With nearly three-thousand students in total attendance, there was a lot of competition for Green, along with the other Missouri schools that were willing to compete. With thirty-seven competitors total, the judges and the voting delegates had a hard time choosing who would represent the Beta Club nationally. Although it was tough to make decisions, Missouri, Texas, and South Carolina were the three lucky states that now hold office.
The Missouri Betas were the second largest state to attend the convention in Alabama, right behind Texas. Our home state was proud to have more than three-hundred-and-sixty members present. Each competitor did a fantastic job on their speech, question, and skit. Missouri was really represented well by the three schools that competed nationally.
The new National President, Darren Green, will be travelling to other Beta conventions throughout the year to support and encourage other Betas all over the country. Next year, the National Convention will be held in Virginia, where Green will be taking part in and leading the convention for the first time.
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
All Heartland Valedictorians and their parents were invited to the ceremony. Students who attended recorded greetings that will be featured in special announcements scheduled to begin in mid-June and air throughout the summer on KFVS12 and WQWQ-TV.
Valedictorians from four states were treated to lunch with featured speaker Mary-Ann Maloney of KFVS12's Heartland News, along with Dr. Debbie Below, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success and Dean of Students for SEMO. Paul Keener, KFVS12's Director of Marketing and Creative Services, served as master of ceremonies.
"I always look forward to the Heartland's Best Banquet," stated Maloney. "It is truly inspiring to meet and honor young people from all over the Heartland who have worked so hard."
Greeting the valedictorians were Dr. Below along with other event sponsors, Mr. Jim Limbaugh, Executive Vice President of Planning and Business Development at Southeast HEALTH; Steve Taylor and Kim Heckemeyer of Burns, Taylor, Heckemeyer, and Green, LLC; Marilyn Brayton with Larry Hillis Dodge; and Matt Seiler, Assistant District Engineer at Missouri Department of Transportation Southeast District, respresenting the Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety.
"Heartland's Best is one of our signature annual events," said Tim Ingram, KFVS12's Vice President and General Manager. "It involves positive young people who have worked hard to be the best of their class. We hope, that by honoring their efforts, we will help inspire other Heartland students."This is the 27th anniversary of the Heartland's Best campaign on KFVS2.
Jessica Loflin has a GPA of 4.267 and is the daughter of Dee Loflin. She has received many honors throughout her life as well as taking several college credit hours from Missouri State University, Three Rivers College and Southeast Missouri State University while attending high school.
Her academic honors from high school include the Faculty Foreign Language Award her junior year, Faculty English Award, Faculty Mathematics Award, Dexter Honor's Society, Top 10%, the National Society for High School Scholars, and Missouri Girls' State.
She is involved in many clubs, both in school and in the community. They include the Foreign Language Club, Future Business Leaders of America, the National Wild Turkey Federation, DHS marching and concert band, Extreme JAKES, Student Council, Crowley's Ridge Blackpowder Club, and Dexter Rotary Interact.
Jessica will be attending Southeast Missouri State University where she has been accepted into the Pre-Veterinary Program and the Jane Stephens Honors Program. Once she has completed the 60-hour program she will apply to the University Missouri Veterinary College in Columbia, Missouri to obtain her doctorate degree in Veterinary Medicine.
Congratulations Jessica! The Dexter community is proud of you and your accomplishments!
Written by
Dee Loflin SMT Manager/Writer
Springfield, Missouri – Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean’s list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during the spring semester and at least a 3.50 grad point average on a 4.00 scale.
The following Dexter Alumni earned their place on the dean’s list: Brittney Gant, Steve Harrellson, Tyler Miller, Dalton Putnam, Lauren Ward, and Nathan Watkins. Congratulations to all of these students as they have worked very hard this semester to achieve their goals academically.
Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons while guided by three overarching and enduring commitments to student learning, inclusive excellence and institutional impact. The university’s identity is distinguished by its statewide mission in public affairs, which entails a campus-wide commitment to foster competence and responsibility in ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement.
For more information about MSU, visit www.missouristate.edu. You can also be our fan on Facebook, follow us onTwitter, add us to your circle on Google+ and see what’s happening on YouTube. Receive notification of Missouri State news releases as soon as they are posted by subscribing to our RSS feed.
Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Mobile, Alabama - The local Missouri Beta Club members are preparing for their journey to Mobile, Alabama on Wednesday, June 19th. During the following days, the Betas will be learning, sharing, and leading each other as they prepare for the upcoming school year as a whole so they can continue to lead by serving others. Schools from all over the United States will be travelling to Mobile and will be spending the weekend with sponsors, students, leaders, and well-known speakers at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
This year’s theme is the Heart of Beta, which was used at each and every state convention held earlier in the school year during March and April. The Missouri convention was held in Branson, as it is every year, and the new event center was filled with students all over the state, including multiple guest speakers.
Although it is a statewide event, southeast Missouri and the Stoddard County area has proved that they are true Betas at heart. For two years in a row, Bloomfield, Richland, and Malden High School have all been chosen by the Missouri Beta members to serve as their State Representatives and will compete at National Convention within the next few days.
Darren Green, an upcoming senior at Malden High School, was elected as the Missouri State Beta President with his Big Beta Theory campaign skit and competed against Vinburnum High School for the position at State Convention. Green is a proud leader of the Malden Betas who also took 1st place in Creative Writing, Oratory Competition, Campaign Skit, and Group Talent, and will also be performing at Nationals.
Kannon Qualls, an upcoming senior at Richland High School, was elected the Missouri State Beta Vice President with his “Express Yourself” campaign skit. While growing up with autism, Qualls knew that the song and skit was a perfect way to represent his personality and his speech. Qualls defeated nine other schools from all over Missouri back in March at State and is looking forward to his trip to Mobile. Richland also took second place in the Acrylic Painting Competition and third place in the Spelling Competition, which they will be competing in Mobile for.
Kendra Elder (Bloomfield), was voted in as the Missouri State Beta Secretary with her “Kicking It With Kendra” campaign skit. Bloomfield ran against two other schools and successfully placed 2nd in the Campaign Skit and will be competing at Nationals.
Other Missouri schools, such as Twin Rivers High School and Puxico High School will also be attending the National Convention but will not be representing Missouri for office. They will be competing in Quiz Bowl and other academic tests, exams, and art projects.
Beta Club is a large part of schools in almost twenty different states. The hotel will definitely be buzzing with excitement when all the Betas arrive this Wednesday and officially begin Convention on Thursday afternoon. The members will get to see speakers from all over the country and will get to meet other students that have the same incredibly motivation as they do. The national club motto is “Lead by serving others” and with over three thousand students willing to serve, Mobile is going to be a busy, busy place!
A national Beta Club member described his State Leadership Summit like this: “I never thought a weekend conference would change my life.” Beta offers opportunities for students who all have different strengths and weaknesses. Many compete in art, academics, Quiz Bowl, creative writing, poetry, and even scrapbooking. Beta really does have a place for everyone, which is why all the Missouri Betas are looking forward to heading to Nationals!
The community is wishing the best of luck to all of the competitors and hope that the Betas have a great time on their trip!
