Student advocates stressed the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders during the fifth annual Bright Futures breakfast symposium held Friday, Oct. 19, at the Holiday Inn.

 

“This is our community and our home, so every kid who lives here is our business,” said host Becky Winters, program director for AmeriCorps, before nearly 100 community leaders in attendance.

 

Run by R-I social workers, Bright Futures serves as an umbrella organization for community partners who work together to see that the basic needs of students are met so they can focus on learning. Poplar Bluff Schools became affiliated with the national nonprofit in 2014.

 

Each school has its own site council made up of parents, faith-based officials, business folks and social service representatives to help identify the unique needs of the building. Programs highlighted at the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ event included lunch buddies, club day, and a young women’s group known as Chi & Company.

 

Melanie Hamann of Three Rivers College and R-I school board member Roger Hanner provided heartfelt testimonies about their involvement mentoring students over the lunch hour. Lunch buddies taught Hamann to “look at life through a different lens,” while Hanner said he views the commitment as a future investment.

 

“Thirty years from now, these kids will be running this town,” Hanner said, adding half-jokingly: “I may need one of them in the nursing home.”

 

Lake Road fourth grader Somaria Simpson discussed club day, which gives students an opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities twice a month at the elementary school. PBHS freshman Serena Davis talked about gaining confidence as a Junior High student through Chi & Co., an organization started by banker Christy Frazier-Moore to empower females.

 

“You have to treat every child as if he or she will be the next human success story,” said speaker Bill Dee of Poplar Bluff Realty, longtime sponsor of Oak Grove Elementary School.

  

 

Pictured: Roger Hanner of the Board of Education challenges the audience to volunteer to become lunch buddies for the district.

Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District

George Gasser, assistant director of admissions for recruitment at Southeast Missouri State University, has been named director of Alumni Relations at Southeast.

Gasser will begin his new duties Nov. 26. He was selected after a national search and will replace Jay Wolz who recently retired.

Gasser says he is thrilled for the opportunity to extend the traditions and spirit of the Southeast Alumni Association, while connecting alumni with students and the University community.

“I’m very excited to build upon the amazing foundation of those before me and continue to help alumni feel connected to the University they know and love,” he said. “I hope to bring a lot of new energy, and design events and programs that are successful and showcase how alumni are important to the fabric of our Southeast community and how they can continue to support the students and the University.”

Dr. Trudy Lee, interim vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, said, “We are so pleased that George Gasser will be joining our advancement team as director of Alumni Relations. This is an extremely important position to Southeast Missouri State, and we are excited to see how he leads the University in both traditional and innovative ways to connect and engage with our alumni.”

Southeast’s Alumni Association builds valued and lasting relationships with alumni and friends of the University. The Alumni Association develops relationships with alumni by providing opportunities for social interaction, career enhancement and occasions to give back to the University, as well as honoring the traditions and rich history of Southeast. The Alumni Association also provides a channel for communication between the University, its alumni and the student body.

As director, Gasser will be responsible for administration and evaluation of the alumni program, including strategic planning, program development, volunteer management, communication and relationship development. His duties will focus on creating, implementing and evaluating programs that connect alumni to Southeast, including online and social media outreach. He also will be responsible for developing and implementing a range of activities and institutional events both on and off campus for alumni and friends of the University. Other duties include coordinating and managing activities and events of the Alumni Association Board and alumni chapters and coordinating Homecoming events, including overseeing the selection of alumni awards and honors, and identifying potential candidates. Gasser will develop and manage affinity programs and sponsorships related to an Alumni Association membership program and collaborate with Career Services to develop opportunities for alumni and student mentorship programs. The Alumni Relations director also provides leadership to the Student Alumni Association and liaises with campus student groups to promote future alumni connections.

Gasser has been employed at Southeast since December 2010, having previously served as admissions counselor, admissions counselor II and assistant director of admissions for recruitment, all in the Office of Admissions.

His leadership has extended into the community as well, volunteering for the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, the annual FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Technology Challenge robotics competitions hosted by Southeast, and the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.

He graduated from Southeast with a Master of Arts in higher education administration in 2010 and Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a minor in German in 2008. As a student at Southeast, he was heavily involved on campus, having served as Student Government president and holding Student Activities Council offices. He participated in Presidential Ambassadors, the Rock Climbing Club, Wrestling Club and Cycling Club.  During his graduate program, Gasser was a graduate assistant in the Office of Career Services and an intern in the office of the vice president for Finance and Administration.

A native of Farmington, Missouri, Gasser has made Cape Girardeau, Missouri, his home and enjoys hiking and fostering dogs for the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. He also enjoys cooking and spending time with friends, his wife and their four dogs. Gasser is married to Alix Gasser, assistant director of admissions for communications at Southeast and a Southeast graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in integrated marketing communications in 2010 and a Master of Business Administration with a major in entrepreneurship in 2015.

Dexter, Missouri - Central Elementary School announced their 2018 1st Quarter Honor Roll students for 5th grade.  Students must maintain a B average to be on the Honor Roll each quarter.

Making the honor roll is not as easy as one might think.  Central Elementary students who are high achievers acquire and develop excellent study habits and skills, especially in time management.  

Successful, lifelong learners set aside a time and a space every day to do their homework. Student who can manage their daily workload have a better chance of attaining academic success.

Below are the following 5th grade Honor Roll students in alphabetical order:

Dexter, Missouri - Central Elementary School announced their 2018 1st Quarter Honor Roll students for 4th grade.  Students must maintain a B average to be on the Honor Roll each quarter.

Making the honor roll is not as easy as one might think.  Central Elementary students who are high achievers acquire and develop excellent study habits and skills, especially in time management.  

Successful, lifelong learners set aside a time and a space every day to do their homework. Student who can manage their daily workload have a better chance of attaining academic success.

Below are the following 4th grade Honor Roll students in alphabetical order: