By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

A Dexter college student is truly on a journey of a lifetime.

Jansen Williams of Dexter, is a music therapy student at Maryville University in St. Louis. Jansen and a crew of students and faculty from Maryville are on a service learning trip to Guatemala. The students and their professors are providing therapy services to residents of Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro located in Antigua, Guatemala.

The goal during this first year of this project is to provide purposeful activities and contribute to the quality of life for the residents. And to do that the students are immersing themselves in the culture of the country and sharing their time and talents.

Jansen and her fellow travelers have been spending each morning in intensive Spanish language lessons, and the remainder of the day providing therapy services to the residents.

Jansen is the daughter of Kim and Gary Williams of Dexter and is a graduate of Dexter High School She recently sent the following message to her mother by email:

“Words cannot explain how amazing today was! Feel free to share this.

“There was a man at the school in the orphanage today that asked one of the OT (Occupational Therapy) students to sing ‘Amazing Grace.’ He can speak English. She grabbed me and told him that I was the singer. So, I sang ‘Amazing Grace’ to him. He had tears in his eyes when I finished. He started asking me about some of the words and what they mean. For example he asked about the word "sound" because he thought it sounded the same as "sun." I explained to him the difference between the words. I ended up singing the song four times.

“This man started talking to me and told me that he is blind. He said, ‘I pray to God every day and ask Him to give me sight. I do not want to die like this.’

“The first thought that came into my mind while he shared this with me was, ‘What do I say?’ It was amazing the conversation that I had with this man. I know that the Lord was with me during this amazing experience! There is no way I could have done it without Him!

“The man asked me to sing it one more time. After finishing, he reached his arms out and gave me a huge hug and thanked me for talking to him and singing.

“I immediately walked into the room where we store our supplies each day and let out a few tears. One of my music therapy professors (who actually attends a Disciples of Christ church in St. Louis) immediately walked over to me and asked if I was okay. I told her what happened and she gave me the biggest hug.

“This trip has been absolutely amazing! I appreciate all the prayers and support from everyone. It makes me sad that I have to leave these amazing people in four days!”

To follow more about Jansen’s amazing journey, visit the project blog online at http://blogs.maryville.edu/guatemala/

PHOTO ABOVE:Jansen Williams of Dexter (second from left) is part of a group of Maryville University Music Therapy and Occupational Therapy students that traveled to Guatemala for a service learning program at a local orphanage.

ShowMe Times Gallery

A SMT Report

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. - Former Arkansas governor and former presidential candidate Mike Huckbee will be the featured guest this Sunday as more than 300 students at Three Rivers College receive degrees and certificates.

Huckabee is the speaker at this weekend's commencement at Three Rivers. The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Black River Coliseum. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

"We are extremely honored to have Mr. Huckabee as our guest,” Three Rivers president Devin Stephenson said. "Our graduates have worked hard, and I want them to hear from a speaker who will motivate them to continue to dream big, a speaker who is nationally recognized, and a speaker who is a person of influence and integrity."

Huckabee was considered one of the leading candidates a field of GOP candidates running for the White House. However, he announced last weekend he would not be a candidate for President in 2012.

He served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 until 2007. He made a bid for the GOP nomination in the 2008 presidential election.

Time Magazine has called Huckabee one of the five best governors in America. He is the host of the number-one-rated weekend hit "Huckabee” on the Fox News channel, as well as “The Huckabee Report” on ABC Radio Networks. Two of his seven books have spent several weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and lives in Florida with his wife, Janet.

Huckabee’s appearance is being sponsored by the Three Rivers Endowment Trust, a not-for-profit organization created to support and drive donations to the college. A private fundraising reception will be held in honor of Mr. Huckabee prior to the commencement ceremony, with all proceeds returning to the college.

Photo Above: Huckabee at an event in Cape Girardeau in 2008. (SMT file photo by Annabeth Miller)

Taylor Jarrell will graduate Friday from Dexter High School. At the DHS Awards Assembly on Monday, Taylor received the Faculty Spirit Award. (Photo and story by Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor)

The Top Ten

the basics

Name: Taylor Jarrell
Age: 18
Hometown: Dexter

the questions

1. What's school spirit?
School spirit is the underlying passion for your school to be the best it can possibly be. More than just cheering at the football games, but to root on your school to be one of the best in the state in all categories!

2. What defines a Bearcat?
When I think of a Bearcat, three words come to mind: Pride, Courage, and Discipline!

3. What were some of of your activities as a Bearcat?
Choir, (Chamber Choir, Honors Choir, Show Choir) Band (Varsity Band, Jazz Band) Football, basketball

4. What makes a Bearcat special?
What makes a Bearcat special is because they never lose their pride. Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat.

5. Plans after graduation?
I plan to attend Missouri State University in Springfield to study vocal music and extend my knowledge of music.

6. When I grow up I want to be?
Hopefully after college I can get a job teaching music.

7. Who's your hero?
I really don't have one single hero. Many people have helped me and pushed me to be my all. So to single one or two out would be impossible.

8. What's your favorite word?
Integrity

9. What's the best thing about DHS?
Being with all your friends!!!

10. What's words of wisdom to you have for younger Bearcats?
My only words of wisdom I have for younger Bearcats is whatever you do, do it to your best ability and with integrity!!!


Bearcat Spirit runs in the family. Taylor's mother Nancy writes: "I will have to really agree with this. I was not raised in Dexter. I was raised in Corning, AR and I was a Bobcat. I thought I would always be a Bobcat. However, the Bearcat pride is so strong here and you feel such a part of the Bearcat family that I am now truly a Bearcat and will always be a Bearcat. Even though all my children have grown and now are all graduated (after Friday), I know that I will still support the schools and sports programs. I am excited for my grandchild to start school. I love the schools here and the town we live in and am proud to be a Bearcat!"

By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - There’s some good news today on the employment picture in the ShowMe State. Missouri’s unemployment rate continued to edge down in April, according to data released this week by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).

Missouri’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent, down by two-tenths of a point from the March figure on a seasonally-adjusted basis. Since January of this year, Missouri’s unemployment rate has now fallen by seven-tenths of a point.

In comparison, the U.S. seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is currently 9.0 percent.

Missouri nonfarm payroll employment added another 2,500 jobs in April, with the most significant growth in construction, manufacturing and retail trade. Construction continues to show signs of traction following severe job losses over the past few years. Manufacturing has also been growing for several months; in April the industry employed nearly 250,000 Missourians, an increase of 7,700 jobs, or 3.2 percent, over the past year.

A ShowMe News Report

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., - A Bell City student has been awarded a newly endowed scholarship at Southeast Missouri State Univesity.

Tiffani Stone of Bell City is the recipient of the Homer and Emma Atkinson Scholarship recently endowed through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. Stone is a social work major at Southeast.

The Foundation received a $10,000 gift from Naomi Atkinson Newman to establish the scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming senior majoring in social work with a minimum 2.0 grade point average who has overcome great odds to complete a degree. The Department of Social Work Scholarship Committee selected the recipient.

Stone says she chose to major in social work because of a social worker she had as a child. She added that she was grateful for Newman’s generosity and the faculty members who nominated her.

“I had the same social worker throughout my time in foster homes. She stayed with me until I was adopted before she retired. I want to be that person for others,” Stone said. “Mrs. Newman’s generous gift will not only help me complete my education but it also proves people have acknowledged the work I put into my schooling. It may have been a hard road for me to get where I’m at today, but I’d do it all over again if I had to.”

Newman made this contribution to the Foundation to honor her father and mother, Homer and Emma Atkinson, who valued education greatly. They were unable to finance Newman’s education but taught her by example a strong work ethic.

Newman says she is grateful to be able to offer a student in a situation similar to hers the opportunity to continue his or her education.

“I am pleased I can help someone earn a college degree because of my contribution,” Newman said.