COMO | May 2020 by The COMO Companies Magazines | COMO Magazine

MAY 2020 | T HE EDU CAT I O N I SSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIM E S COM PAN Y

SENIORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

AN EARLY COLLEGE OPTION

ALTERNATIVE PRESCHOOLS

PAG E 91

PAG E 8 3

PAG E 53

Resilience [ri-zil-yuh ns] (n.)

The ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change.

Perseverance in the face of uncertainty isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy. Doubt. Fear. Frustration. They take their toll and wear you down. But you are strong. You endure. Because you are resilient. So, stay the course. Trust your plan. Hold your ground. And know you are never alone.

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F I N D C A L M A M I D S T T H E C H AO S .

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R A G T A G

F I L M

S O C I E T Y

Committed and authentic for the greater good of our company, and more importantly, our clients.

Polly Reynolds CPA, CTFA,

Vice President and Trust Officer Jenny and I have our own responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses. By encouraging and supporting one another, we enhance each other and more importantly, our clients benefit from working with a cohesive, high performing team. And theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to count on us to cheer them on toward their professional and personal goals. We work hard, and we have joy. There is just nothing better to witness, as well as being a part of The Trust Company!

Jenny Hayes

Account Administrator Polly and I work towards a common vision, which is providing excellent customer service to our amazing clients. This collaboration makes our relationship with each other and our clients successful. Individually we can do a lot, but together we can do so much more. When women support each other, as we do, incredible and marvelous things happen!

See us for your investment portfolio, trusts, estates and wealth management.

Jenny Hayes

Polly Reynolds

4210 Philips Farm Road, Ste. 109 Columbia, MO 65201 573.876.7000 thetrustco.com Toll Free 800.285.7878 This is a Trust Representative Office.

We are Monarch. Monarch Title Company is dedicated to our clients at all times. We value the importance of helping the community we live and work in thrive. During this time we are proud to offer solutions, not only for the immediate situation but going forward to make our closing business more efficient for our customers.

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May is for Giving Back In Honor of

Foster Care Awareness Month We will donate $100 for every sale made in May to one of these three great organizations who are near and dear to our hearts.

On Eagle's Wings Farm loves, serves, and restores hope to children and families facing trials and traumas of life by meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

oneagleswingsfarm.org

Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association is a not for profit agency that educates, supports, and advocates for foster and adoptive children, youth and families in central Missouri.

mofosteradopt.com

Bethany demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services.

bethany.org

Help support these incredible organizations who take their time and energy to better our world with their amazing contributions.

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Letter from the Editor

Virtual Classrooms & Unknowns

“Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” – MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

f COVID-19 has turned anything on its head, education is certainly at the top of the list. What once was a classroom fi lled with students now sits empty. School busses used to transport children now transport meals. A bustling downtown fi lled with high energy chatter has become silent as higher education institutions sent their students home for the rest of the semester, if not longer. Our hearts go out to the parents trying to balance their workload and their child’s education while at home. We also feel for the students whose final year was cut short with abrupt goodbyes and the cancelation or postponement of events that were meant to celebrate their senior year. Crafting an Education Issue during the many daily changes that came with COVID-19 was quite the feat, but I have to give amazing props to our writers and staff members who rolled with the punches and still pulled off an amazing issue. My hope is that, as you’re reading this issue, you’ll be encouraged and hopeful for the future. Education looks crazy different right now, and while it may never go back to what “normal” used to be, that leaves so much room for innovation! Systems and processes will be improved upon. New partnerships will be formed. And teachers will continue to be creative and thoughtful in how they approach their lessons and students. All great things! In this issue, you will read about a few innovations already in the works, like a partnership between Boone Hospital Center

and Stephens College to develop a nursing program that will give students more reallife experience than traditional nursing programs (page 59). Columbia Public Schools has also partnered with Moberly Area Community College to create a program that puts high school students on an accelerated path to earning a college degree (page 83). And as our way of honoring a few seniors who won’t be having the senior year they had hoped for, we reached out to each high school in Columbia asking them to nominate a senior from their school who deserved extra recognition. You will find their stories on page 91, and let me affi rm that they are indeed quite incredible, and they have amazing futures ahead of them. We also covered the younger grades with a story on unique preschool models offered across Boone County (page 53) and a story on one mother’s journey to help her elementary son with dyslexia fi nd a diagnosis for his learning disability and help afterward (page 49). It may look different, but our future is still bright.

ART DIRECTOR’S PICKS Quarantine Edition I’m already sick of the phrase “the new normal,” but that is where we’re at. Here is what my normal is looking like these days. 1.

Making fried morels.

Making homemade ranch dressing.

Making gnocchi from scratch.

Really just eating a lot.

Doing dishes (see 1 through 4).

Taking my vitamins.

Trying, once and for all, to ﬁnish Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”

Facetiming my grandpa.

Breaking out the True/False puzzle.

10. Realizing how much coffee I drink. 11.

Ordering more Fretboard beans.

12.

Figuring out how to adjust tracking on my VCR.

13.

Watching Cheers from the beginning.

14. Taking naps. 15.

Perfecting my Zoom background.

16. Trying not to shave my head.

Cheers,

17.

Taking more vitamins.

18. Being really grateful for my job. EMMA BENTLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

19.

Missing my nieces.

20. More naps.

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President Erica Pefferman

Erica@comomag.com

Senior Vice President Fran Patrick Fran@comomag.com

EDITORIAL Publisher Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

Editor-in-Chief Emma Bentley Emma@comomag.com

Department Editor Hannah Kueck

Hannah@comomag.com

DESIGN Art Director Cassidy Shearrer

Cassidy@comomag.com

Senior Graphic Designer Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com

Graphic Designer Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Director of Sales Bonnie Hudson Bonnie@comomag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Keith Borgmeyer, Anthony Jinson, SilverBox Photographers, Travis Shaffer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kristin Blake, Therasia Brautigam, Nicole Flood, Lauren Sable Freiman, Jessica Jainchill, Kermit Miller, David Morrison, Jennifer Truesdale, Jessica Vaughn Martin, Ross Whitehead

Operations Manager Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com

OUR MISSION

To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reﬂects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.

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INTERNS

Prince Chingarande, Jasmine-Kay Johnson

ON T H EM E

Who was your favorite teacher?

Jessica Jainchill Freelance Writer

Therasia Brautigam Freelance Writer

Muriel Browder Advisory Board Member

Joe Miller Advisory Board Member

Mrs. Burden, my second grade teacher, gave me a lifelong concern for good posture and a belief that cursive writing is an art. Now my print is atrocious, and I can only write cursive.

My Westminster College advisor, Dr. Barri Bumgarner. She’s always encouraged me to keep writing, and she taught me everything I know about English education.

Earl Coleman at Hickman was my music “student teacher” my sophomore year and my orchestra and vocal teacher the next two years. He’s such a talented vocalist and musician who loved each of his students.

One of my favorite teachers was my high school history teacher, Mrs. Lovercamp. She was tough and demanding but fair, and she created a love for American history and politics for me.

Shop online with convenient order pick-up, shipping, and even local delivery!

cominghomecomo.com /cominghomecomo @coming_home_como cominghomecomo@gmail.com

FEATURES

53 FREE TO BE A KID Local preschools provide alternative education to meet the individualized needs of students.

MAY 2020 | The Education Issue

Editor’s Letter

GOURMET Farm to Table, Student to Chef

LIVING 21 ART & CULTURE Finding Your Roar

23 PET FRIENDLY A Man’s Best Fin

25 WELLNESS Making Everyone’s Safety a Priority

46 FAVORITE FINDS On Erica’s Bookshelf

49 FRIENDS & FAMILY All Mixed Up

65 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Gary and Sandy Ward

WORKING

MOVERS & SHAKERS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT The Politics of Disease

CELEBRATIONS William Woods University

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT Rotaract Club of Columbia

BUSINESS UPDATE Early College Program

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE A COVID-19 Disruption

69 CLOSER LOOK

PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Annelle Whitt

HOMES Small but Mighty

BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

106

THIS OR THAT Dianne Lynch

59 WORKING TOGETHER TO FILL A JOB GAP Stephens College and Boone Hospital Center form a partnership to pioneer a new course in nursing.

91 SENIORS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Eight of Columbia’s top high school seniors share their contributions to the community before starting a new chapter in their lives.

98 WHAT’S NEW ON THE EAST SIDE? Explore what’s being built and discover new favorites on Columbia’s east side of town.

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Living

FARM TO TABLE, STUDENT TO CHEF

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

Giovanni Bartolacci, an up-and-coming chef, got his culinary start at the Columbia Area Career Center.

This diminutive home in the heart of Columbia was built with efﬁciency and style in mind.

65 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Gary and Sandy Ward talk about their ﬁrst date and their growing family.

The

University of Missouri student-run florist specializing in cutting-edge design making your wedding or special event a spectacular affair.

Our special events division focuses on weddings, receptions, large-scale events, and more. From the Mizzou campus to beyond the City of Columbia, we bring inspirations to life, one bloom at a time.

Photography by Kelsi Kliethermes Photography

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Living

ART & CULTURE

Finding Your Roar Author Aaron Fox releases a new children’s book. BY ROSS WHITEHEAD

l lustrated by Terri Kelleher and written by Aaron Fox, “How Truman Found His Roar” is a coming-of-age tale about MU’s beloved mascot, Truman the Tiger. The story follows a young Truman who is self-conscious about his inability to muster up a ferocious tiger roar like his parents. Throughout the children’s book, Truman takes the advice of his parents and travels across Missouri in an attempt to find his road. Along his journey, he visits historic landmarks including the St. Louis Zoo, the Gateway Arch, Columbia’s best local bars and restaurants, and even gets lost in Kansas Country. To Aaron, finding your roar means “finding out what makes you you and gives you confidence to be who you are.” With the book, he hopes that children will be emboldened to find their roar no matter where it may come from. In the book, Truman found his roar when he went to MU, but Aaron wants his audience to know that “some people find [their roar] before they leave high school, some find it in college, and some people find it later in life,” he says. “Mizzou helped Truman find his roar, but it wasn’t because he went to that college — it was because the community embraced him.” Aaron says that it took writing children’s books for him to finally find a passion that gave him the confidence that Truman found in attending MU. Aaron and his wife, Kelly, have two young children, and he dedicated the book to his son, Hudson, who he hopes “to raise to be a proud tiger,” and to his father, Ron, who taught him how to be a proud tiger himself. The Tiger legacy is very important to generations of the Fox family, and the love for MU exudes through the black-and-gold-laden illustrations. The Tiger legacy would not be as rich as it is if it wasn’t for Mizzou sports. In the book, Truman finds his roar when he enters Faurot

“Mizzou helped Truman ﬁnd his roar, but it wasn't because he went to that college — it was because the community embraced him.” Field and sees “tigers” like him uproariously cheering for their favorite football team. It’s here that Truman is able to find people who are struggling with the same issues as him and are able to use Mizzou sports as a way to find community. Mizzou football games are also where Aaron was able to find his community and build lifelong friendships through a shared love of sports and the enduring spirit of a tiger. The response to “How Truman Found His Roar” has far exceeded Aaron’s expectations. The Mizzou Alumni Association has purchased copies to give to kids in their Tigers in Training program. He even had a book signing in Washington, Missouri, with the Mizzou Alumni Association, and the response was “so great” that he almost ran out of copies before the night was over. It has been extremely well-received among Mizzou fans and even friends and family of Mizzou fans as it offers a well-developed and timely origin story for the beloved mascot. Aaron has partnered with campus bookstore and Plume Gifts to promote and distribute his work. You can also purchase the book on Amazon. What’s next for Aaron? A sequel to his very first children’s book, “Sloan the Sloth,” which he hopes to be available on October 20 — International Sloth Day.

COMOMAG.COM

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There’s no place like hope. BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER. Children in foster care who have a CASA volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later. As a volunteer, you can make all the difference for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in your community. Your voice is needed more now than ever to help change a child’s story.

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MAY 2020

Living

A Man’s Best Fin How Kayvon Ashrafzadeh’s carnival prize turned into a lifelong passion. BY HANNAH KUECK

or Kayvon Ashrafzadeh, owner of the Columbia Pet Center, fish have been a part of life for 36 years. So much so that he’s translated his passion for these aquatic creatures into a career. He talks about fish for hours at work, and then he goes home to tend to his own fish. Kayvon remembers vividly the moment he got his first fish. When he was 12 years old, he attended a carnival at his elementary school. While playing one of the games, he successfully landed a ping pong ball in a bowl. His prize for winning was a small goldfish in a plastic bag. He brought his new friend home and set up his dad’s old aquarium. “Ultimately, my parents let me dig a pond in my backyard so I could move that goldfish there,” Kayvon remembers. When he turned 16, he got his first job at a pet store. “This is all I’ve done for a paycheck ever since,” he says.

Decorating the aquariums, or “aquascaping,” is one of Kayvon’s favorite parts of keeping fish. His personal style for decorating is what he describes as “cube of nature.” “I like my aquariums to look like a cube has been sliced right out of the animal’s environment and put it into my house,” he says. This can mean putting in rocks for his African Rift Lake Cichlids and driftwood plants for his South American fish. Curating an aquarium to reflect the fish’s natural environment isn’t a necessary task to keep the fish happy. “It’s taking it to the nerdiest level I can, and for no other reason besides that I want to,” Kayvon explains. “These fish are mostly captive-bred — they’ve never seen their native environment. I could

“It’s taking it to the nerdiest level I can, and for no other reason besides that I want to.”

PET FRIENDLY

give them fluorescent green gravel and purple plants, and I’d assume they’d think it’s natural.” Much of what aquarists do is the “science of fishkeeping,” Kayvon says. Understanding this science goes beyond the fish. It’s about understanding what their place is in their environment — what they eat and what wants to eat them, what depth they prefer, and what types of fish can live with them. Successfully owning fish requires a mastery of these balances. This science also extends to the fish tank. The pH levels needed for fish vary from species to species. Filtration is also an important element within the fish tank. “The fish are living in what amounts to their own toilet bowl, so it needs its own wastewater management,” Kayvon explains. These filters need to be able to catch solids and break down the waste, and they need to be reliable, so they don’t have to be replaced often. Aquarists measure their success in several different ways. For Kayvon, he measures his own success by the reproduction of his fish. “If they’re making babies and the babies are growing up, then we feel like we’ve given them everything they need — we’ve mimicked their environment sufficiently,” he explains. Even after talking about fish all day, Kayvon never gets tired of the subject. He explains: “Fish can enrich the room. This isn’t something that should be a hassle — it should be a passion.” COMOMAG.COM

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Living

WELLNESS

Making Everyone’s Safety a Priority A program unique to Missouri aims to protect students f rom making poor choices. BY PRINCE CHINGARANDE

otivated by the devastation he saw drunk drivers cause families, attorney Kurt Larson began an initiative in 2004 in Springfield, Missouri, called “Safe and Sober Prom Night.” That initiative would eventually become the Safe and Sober program that now expands across Missouri. Primarily in high schools and middle schools, Safe and Sober is hosted in 500 schools throughout the state, with 49 of those being in Boone County and three of those being in Columbia. Safe and Sober educates students through videos on the risks and consequences involved in underage drinking and drug use. The videos share the real-life experiences and stories of people who have been affected by these choices. Upon completing the curriculum, students are encouraged to take a personal pledge, written or online, to make safe choices that will protect themselves and the people around them. “Our goal with the pledges is that we hope the positive peer pressure holds students accountable. We’re trying to create a culture

of change within the schools,” says Jill Finney, the organization’s executive director.

Evolving with the Times In addition to alcohol and drug use, Safe and Sober is also educating students on mental health and vaping. But Jill says this comes with its own set of challenges, given that the topics can be somewhat controversial. One of the program’s toughest challenges relates to foolproof outreach within schools. “The biggest thing is really getting the message out there that we’re available,” Jill says. “We have a really great curriculum with content that applies to our two age groups, and we provide this absolutely free to schools and educators. So I think our toughest thing is really spreading the word that we’re here, here’s what we do, and here’s how valuable it can be.” Currently, the program is developing digital material like blog posts to send to schools and teachers through social media for them to share with their students. And while continuing to educate and positively impact students’ lives is a goal, the

“Our goal with the pledges is that we hope the positive peer pressure holds students accountable.” main goal for Safe and Sober’s future is growth. “We want to grow,” says Jill. “We want to expand our content. Right now, a lot of our content is focused on drunk driving, and we are working to expand to vaping.” The vaping content will launch in August, along with a video on opioid use. A curriculum and programs that discuss mental health in-depth is also in the works. The organization has also started reaching out to elementary schools, specifically older elementary school children. While their programming will not be as comprehensive as their traditional middle and high school curriculum, their main goal is still to connect elementary students with the right information, given that these students have begun to be faced with alcohol and drug use earlier on in their lives. Ultimately, Safe and Sober’s goal is to impact children all across the nation and, as Jill says, “We would love to have our program outside the borders of Missouri.”

COMOMAG.COM

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Our farmers are here for you. Now more than ever, we see the importance of our local food systems through the work our farmers are doing to keep us nourished and healthy. Columbia Farmers Market remains open to the public, in a regulated fashion, but we also understand individuals may not feel comfortable attending. • We are dedicating Saturdays from 8:00-8:30am for Seniors and/or At-Risk individuals to shop. • Curbside Pickup is available during Saturday Market for pre-orders!

Help keep us all healthy by reviewing our new safety guidelines at columbiafarmersmarket.org/covid-19-safety-at-cfm

MAY 2020

Living

VOICES

A COVID-19 Disruption A college student shares her experience of what it’s like adjusting to the changes COVID-19 has brought. BY H ANNAH KUEC K

rom reading daily reports of new cases being confi rmed to the countless emails the student body at Stephens College received regarding how the college was working to keep campus safe, I didn’t realize how much COVID-19 would impact me or my semester at Stephens College until it did. I was ending a phone call with my father when I saw a long email from President Dianne Lynch. Truth be told, I didn’t read this email until my phone started blowing up with messages from my peers inquiring about the upcoming evacuation. Confused, I fi nally fi nished reading the email. Residential students were to pack up their small dorm rooms, leaving only a few boxes of non-essential items, and classes were to move online until the beginning of April. That was the plan — to return to campus and an almost-normal life after a couple weeks. I knew that was too good to be true. I spent the last weekend I was permitted to be on campus packing up my apartment and saying goodbyes to my friends. I had one fi nal embrace with my best friend who will be graduating and moving on from Stephens College. I had one last movie night in the apartment that had become my home. And, little did I know, I also said goodbye to my motivation and inspiration — COVID-19 took that from me, too. I grabbed my cat and shoved the last of my belongings into my overly packed silver Nissan and drove 80 miles to the small farm town of Mayview, Missouri, where the Wi-Fi connection works a fraction of the time and the closest Walmart is a 15-minute drive away. Th is is where I would be spending the rest of my spring semester of my junior year.

“This isn’t a vacation – this is my and many others’ reality for the foreseeable future.” I’ve become an official student of “Zoom University,” where I have video conferences with my fellow classmates and professors who are trying their hardest to make up for us not being with them in-person. On my fi rst real day of Zoom classes, we were presenting the tutorial videos we completed prior to leaving campus. These videos were too mighty for my weak Wi-Fi, and right as my partner and I were about to discuss our project, I lost connection. I consider myself a highly ambitious person. I work on campus as a community director, where I oversee an entire residence hall; I hold the role of managing editor for our campus magazine, Stephens Life; and I work as the department editor here at COMO magazine. But once I left Columbia, all of that ambition stayed there. I constantly have to remind myself that I still have a to-do list. That this isn’t a vacation — this is my and many others’ reality for the foreseeable future. Like many of my classmates and other college students that have had their lives uprooted, I’ve had to learn to adjust with an online education. I live most of my life through a computer screen, but I never expected my education to be through one.

Hannah Kuek is a student at Stephens College and department editor for COMO magazine.

COMOMAG.COM

MAY 2020

Living

HOMES

This tiny home in the heart of Columbia was built with eff iciency and style in mind. BY THERASIA BRAUTIGAM | PHOTOS BY TRAVIS SHAFFER

COMOMAG.COM

MAY 2020

Living

HOMES

hen a Columbia couple approached Brian Morgan, a local architect, about building their dream home on a small plot of land, they had three key elements in mind: compactness, efficiency, and style. Brian partnered with Jake Bruton of Aarow Building to turn this dream home into a reality.

Compact but Comfortable The plot of land the couple had purchased is located between the streets of Ash and Worley and had one major challenge: It was located on a utility easement, meaning, as Brian describes, there are “utility pipes and lines buried underground on the piece of property.” Th is impacted both the structural design and efficiency of the house from the beginning. “It starts by limiting where we can build. The general shape of the house was defined for us. The width of the house is within six inches of the full useable area,” says Brian. The finished width measures just 22 and a half feet wide. Limited to a long and narrow rectangular shape, the house could only be 23 feet wide maximum in order to not confl ict with the utility lines. The square footage of the house was also limited, totaling in at 1,036 square feet. Despite the small size, the house includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a living room. The clients originally had the third bedroom designed as an adaptable space which they could use as a studio for their art or an Airbnb for extra income.

Saving Energy

"A little bit of deliberate and attentive construction takes something from lowbrow to high design."

Out of all the features that make this home stand out, efficiency is at the top of the list. Brian made sure that when designing the house, every aspect was used in a deliberate way. “It’s efficient for using square footage. It’s efficient for cost of construction. It’s efficient with everything we could explore with this house,” says Brian. Before building the house, Brian and his team created a 3D model to test how sunlight would enter the house. By adjusting the light entering the house, it can lower the cost related to heating and cooling and electric. In order to maximize the amount of natural light, Brian placed multiple windows on the south side of the house. Partnering with Jake on this venture was important to Brian because Aarow Building focuses on building energy efficient, durable, and architecturally significant homes. Jake explains that, when building the home, the BY AUeffi R Ociency L A WED M Afrom N A the LFAstart. RO size made the largest impact

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“The house is built with energy efficiency in mind, but its tiny size also contributes to efficiency. It doesn’t cost that much to heat and cool a house that size. It also didn’t get an expensive insulation package because our air sealing package was incredible,” he says. Air sealing focuses on reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of a house. Doing this can help regulate the temperature of the house, keeping heating and cooling costs down and providing better health and comfort.

Budget Friendly Aside from energy efficiency, the house is also cost-efficient. From the start, the homeowners had a tight budget set, and between Brian and Jake, the budget was kept. The fi rst factor that impacted the budget was the size of the house. “When you decide the size of the home, you have impacted 75% of the budget, if not 90% of the budget,” says Jake. Because of the budget, Brian and Jake both had to be attentive about their choices. “Everything has to be a give and pick. We can’t do all the energy efficient things that we want. We can’t do all the aesthetic things that we want, so we have to make a prioritized list, and that list has to have actual, fi rm budget numbers attached to it,” says Jake. As a way to keep costs down, some materials were used in unique ways to add a modern style. Brian worked with Andy Werth, at Stickman Woodworks, to use plywood for the cabinets and baseboards. On the baseboards, Andy’s team added a chamfered edge to the top of the plywood to expose texture and add a minor detail. Brian also chose to use a combination of metal and wood for the outside of the house. Three sides are wrapped in an affordable black metal that is typically used for agricultural purposes. The south side, which is the front of the house and opens to the yard, is covered in a more expensive western red cedar rainscreen. The pairing adds both warmth and simplicity with a modern twist. This combination is the perfect cost-effective way to have high-end designs. “A little bit of deliberate and attentive construction takes something from lowbrow to high design,” says Jake.

Around the Neighborhood While designing the home, Brian looked to other houses in the neighborhood. “That neighborhood has a lot of older homes. It is a very established part of town. Our thought was, how can we play with some of the context, some of the existing shapes of the homes already there, and add a modern twist to it?” he says. In order to add this twist to the outside of the home, Brian designed an overhang on the south side that creates an image of a front porch. The idea is for the homeowners to also add a fence by the corner of the house. Th is would add to the image of a traditional home with a modern flair. As for the location itself, it’s an area of town both Brian and Jake would like to complete more work in. “I think that area is unappreciated for its accessibility to amenities. For the cultural aspects of Columbia, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find neighborhoods that are closer than that,” says Jake.

MAY 2020

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Preparing Yourself to Buy a Home By Marcus Jones Find more at tlclender.com

t’s no secret — COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of our lives. And the mortgage industry is not immune from this global pandemic. But what will the long-term impact be? It’s a question that many are asking, but not many have a good answer to (yet).

THE NUMBERS

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.31% during the week ending April 16, a decline of two basis points from the week previous. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.17%. The average rate for a 30-year home loan dropped to an all-time low of 3.29% in early March as concerns regarding COVID-19 began to be more prevalent. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable rate mortgage fell six basis points over the week of April 12, averaging 3.34%. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed rate mortgage increased three basis points to an average of 2.8%. All of that to say this — there are some positives in the market, but those aren’t present without a significant amount of uncertainty. I saw a quote recently from Freddie Mac’s chief economist, Sam Khater, that I thought was interesting. “Undoubtedly, the housing market is facing its greatest challenge in over a decade as our nation weathers this unprecedented economic event. Although the uncertainty

of the crisis means forecasts of economic activity are more unclear than usual, we expect that most of the economic damage from the virus will be contained to the first half of the year.” With the prospect of getting back to “normal” sooner than later, what can you be doing right now if you’re looking to get into your first home or maybe upgrade?

1. LOOK AT VIRTUAL HOME TOURS. There are plenty of realtors working through the COVID-19 challenge, and you should have no problem finding opportunities to continue to gather information about homes available in your area.

2. WORK TO SOLIDIFY YOUR FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. I know this is a challenging time financially for some. But for some, this presents a

chance to get your finances together. Most are spending less money from week to week given the decreased activity. If you are a fortunate one whose income hasn’t changed, store those extra dollars away for a downpayment or to pay off debt.

3. CONTACT A LOCAL LOAN OFFICER. I am talking to people everyday who are reaching out to gather more information. They know rates are low, but aren’t sure how that impacts them. That’s where we come in. Give me a call or shoot me an email (marcus. jones@tlclender.com) today and I can help you work through your options in the current environment. Our community is resilient and we will get through this season of struggle! Stay strong and keep fighting for yourself, your family, and those around you.

Marcus Jones

TOTAL LENDING CONCEPTS Marcus is a hometown guy who graduated from Rock Bridge High School. He joined the United States Army and married the love of his life. After two degrees, two kids, and several moves, they found their way back to Columbia. Marcus is devoted to serving the community he grew up in. He has a true passion for educating and empowering our local youth, which led him to found two nonprofit basketball programs, Columbia Magic and 94FT. Marcus serves the Boys & Girls Club as a mentor and member of the program faculties committee. He also assists our Nations Veterans on Central Missouri Honor Flights, as a guardian. Marcus brings the same service and commitment to the Total Lending Concepts team.

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Don’t You Glare By Marc Schumer Find more at windowtintcolumbiamo.com

s COVID-19 spreads, most of us have been staying in our homes for days —

only leaving for necessities. You’ve started working from home, tutoring your kids at home, and so much more. Because of this, our screen time at home is increasing significantly, so it’s important that the view doesn’t get disrupted by the pesky glares

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caused by the sunshine peeking in through the windows. So how can this problem be resolved? The answer is simple: Llumar Vista Window Films. Having this film added to your home windows will help increase the value of your home and productivity levels while we continue to adjust to this new normal. Llumar Vista Window Films reduce these glares by up to 87%. With this film, those video calls, long hours of looking over spreadsheets, and days of looking at your screens will be much more enjoyable with no disrupted views. No matter where you’ve set up your temporary office, whether it’s in the kitchen, dining room, or your home office space — the Llumar Vista Window Films can be installed to any window in your house to

make your life and work more enjoyable during these troubling times. With Llumar Columbia, you can get these residential tints in a variety of shades to customize your view. At The Tint Guys, we do an on-site consultation to assess window size, construction, and your needs and wants. We’ll even do all of the installation to help bring some ease into your life. Llumar Vista Window Films has a lifetime transferable warranty for residential installations. So, if something happens to your film, The Tint Guys have you and your home covered. Ready to reduce your glares and increase your productivity levels? Give The Tint Guys a call; we’re here to help you find the perfect tint solution for you and your family.

Marc Schumer

THE TINT GUYS, A DIVISION OF SOUND PERFORMANCE INC Marc and his wife, Shelly, have been in business in the same location serving Columbia and the surrounding areas for nearly 20 years. Their original focus on personal connection, expert service, and value-based products stands as true today as it did in 2001. They truly enjoy bringing solution-based options with competitive pricing to all of Mid-Missouri. They split their time between their work-family and their six kids and one grandchild. 1310 INDIANA AVE., COLUMBIA, MO 65203 573-874-9203 | WINDOWTINTCOLUMBIAMO.COM

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Plant with a Purpose By Nate Anderson Find more at rostlandscaping.com

andscaping trees are a key part of any outdoor space. When utilized correctly, your tree plantings can be one of your landscape’s biggest assets. The value of a well thought out tree planting can go beyond simply looking nice. As a landscape designer, I first determine the purpose of the tree before picking which specific tree to use. The three most common purposes that homeowners approach me about are aesthetics, shade, and screening.

AESTHETICS Choosing a tree based on aesthetics is simply personal preference, but make sure the tree fits the area it is being planted in. One of the most common mistakes I see homeowners make is planting a tree or shrub that fits an area at the time of planting, but then grows so much that it engulfs the house at maturity. If you want to add extra heighth to a tight area, consider a columnar shaped tree such as a ‘Taylor’ Juniper or ‘Slender Silhouette’ Sweetgum. Filling the vertical space in your small garden helps add layers to an area where there isn’t much horizontal space to use. When thinking about aesthetics, remember to pick trees that add a lot of interest. ‘Ruby Falls’ Redbud is a great specimen tree with a spread of only 6 feet, and it has beautiful spring blooms and a burgundy foliage.

Japanese Maples are a great shade-loving tree that are prized for their unique structure and branching patterns. If you have a lot of deciduous plantings around your house currently, mix in an evergreen tree for some winter interest. Bonsai ‘Thunderhead’ Pines are a unique tree that you can be sure you won’t see in everyone’s landscape.

SHADE Shade trees are a great way to make an outdoor space more comfortable, and they can reduce your monthly energy bills. For this application, picking the right tree is important, but it is even more important to pick the right location. Plant your tree in a spot so that it will shade the southwest sun to get the most out of your plantings. By casting shade over your air conditioner units or windows, you can make your home more efficient. Your patio and outdoor living spaces will become more usable during the hottest part of the day with

a well-placed tree. ‘Autumn Fantasy’ Maples are a popular shade tree because of their brilliant red fall colors. Planting these trees out in the yard will also add a sense of scale to your property.

SCREENING Trees can also help hide unsightly views or create privacy. ‘Planting masses of evergreens will make it so those views are hidden year-round. ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae is a great fast-growing screening evergreen. I recommend staggering your screening trees and mixing in a couple varieties of trees to help keep it looking natural. Your screening trees can even help reduce noise and wind. When thinking about your next landscape project, remember to consider your purpose when choosing your trees. Talking to the staff at Superior Garden Center or hiring a qualified designer is a great way to get some guidance in picking the perfect tree.

Nate Anderson

ROST LANDSCAPING Nate Anderson has been a resident of Columbia for 7 years, and he has been working in the landscape industry for just as long. Nate is a designer/estimator for Rost Inc. While working on his degree in plant science and landscape design, he was working as a foreman at Rost Landscaping where he oversaw landscape construction projects. He credits much of his inspiration to his “early years” where he got to be a part of the construction of many beautiful landscapes. He is passionate about creating unique and functional outdoor spaces and still considered himself to be very hands on. While not at work, Nate and his wife are gardening, hiking, kayaking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. 573-445-4465 | ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM

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Creative Closings By Tracy Arey Find more at discovercolumbiamo.com

here’s no denying that things have been very different lately. With COVID-19 moving into our area, there are lots of changes to many areas of our lives. Now, more than ever, we are seeing the creativity and ingenuity in many sectors — real estate included! We are now offering virtual showings and are able to close sales remotely — keeping you and your family safe! With over 59 years of combined experience, we have seen our market move through many cycles. We can tell you one thing: our market is strong! You don’t have to take our word for it; just look at these numbers over the last month: 265 NEW LISTINGS 368 PROPERTIES UNDER CONTRACT 331 CLOSED PROPERTIES COVID-19 has changed many things, but we can assure you, we are here for you. It isn’t changing our dedication to our clients, our prompt communication, or our passion for the Columbia market. If you’re considering buying or selling a home this summer, reach out to us! We can go over any concerns you might be having about your future and we’ll get you set up with a custom buying or selling plan! Stay well, Columbia!

Tracy Arey

TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE Tracy has accumulated 30 years in the Columbia real estate market working with single-family home buyers and sellers, new construction, investment property, and development. His well-rounded knowledge and creativity have made him a top agent throughout his career. His wife, Beth, and son, Bennett, also work on his team. Tracy uses his expertise and outside the box thinking to achieve his clients’ goals. Growing up in Iowa taught him the value of family, the Golden Rule, and work ethic. His company mirrors these exact values. If you are thinking of buying or selling in the area, he’d be happy to sit down at the kitchen table and discuss all your options and how he can help achieve your goals together!

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G I OVA N N I B A R T O L ACC I

A local young man gets his culinary start at the Columbia Area Career Center BY J E S S I C A VAU G H N M A R T I N

GOURMET

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GOURMET

udging by Giovanni Bartolacci’s name, you’d expect him to have a natural talent for crafting Italian cuisine. And you’d be half right — he does have mad kitchen skills. But they aren’t genetic, he says; they’re learned. “My family didn’t really have a rich food culture. We didn’t really cook that often,” he says. But there was change ahead on the Bartolacci family’s culinary horizon, thanks to the culinary arts program offered by the Columbia Area Career Center. “When I was going into high school, I saw culinary arts classes being offered,” Giovanni says. “It wasn’t so much that I wanted to learn how to cook, but I really just wanted to eat good food. So I signed up for the Culinary I class and just really enjoyed the environment.” The fast-paced, on-your-feet setting spoke to Giovanni. “I never really liked traditional classroom teaching, but being able to get up and walk around in the kitchen and play with knives and fi re was really cool,” he says. That flame took hold, and now, Giovanni has taken his high school interest and turned it into a blazing culinary career.

Hustling from the Start Today, Giovanni has gone from student to chef; his current post at Blue Hill in New York state. If you’re a fan of the Netfl ix series “Chef ’s Table,” this restaurant’s name might ring a bell: The executive chef and co-owner of Blue Hill is the famed chef Dan Barber, who appears in the second episode of the inaugural season. Giovanni sees him off-screen in the kitchen everyday, he says. “Oh yeah, he’s there every single day,” he says. “He’s not necessarily on the line cooking, but he’s always there watching everyone, answering emails, taking care of big picture things. He’s always at the chefs’ meeting with us. Pretty hands-on for a celebrity chef.” Giovanni’s first paid gig in a kitchen was in an eatery coined with a similarly cool-toned name, just spelled a little differently. During his high school years, he worked at Bleu in Columbia, and then at The Wine Cellar and Bistro (now Cherry Street Cellar) until graduation. Oh, and that’s all while he was preparing for the SkillsUSA Culinary Arts national competition, which he’d go on to win during his senior year of high school. Like many high school seniors, he was thinking beyond graduation day. But there was no mulling over a long list of colleges; Giovanni had his mind made up. He was going to join the CIA. Nope, this is not a plot twist — it’s the Culinary Institute of America, the alma mater of both of his mentors, Columbia Area Career Center instructors Brook Harlan and Katie Frink.

MAY 2020

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GOURMET

Giovanni began classwork at CIA in New York City during the summer of 2016, and during his time there, he completed his associate degree, then his bachelor’s.

Building Blocks of Style Giovanni has traveled far, in miles and in practice, from his early days learning to fl ip omelets. “I did a semester in California, in Napa Valley, where I learned about farm-to-table cuisine,” he says. “From there, I went and was really interested in working in Italy, and so I got an internship in Tuscany at a cooking school called Toscana Saporita. I was there for three months and we were just teaching American tourists about Italian cuisine.” During his years at CIA, Giovanni spent time at another restaurant featured on “Chef’s Table,” Sean Brock’s Husk in Charleston. From there, he says, “I had some time to think about my future and where I wanted to go.” He combined all his favorite parts of his culinary experience to shape his next move. “I really wanted to learn more about farm-to-table cooking and responsible agriculture while still working with a chef and learning how to cook. And Blue Hill just seemed like the best choice.” His official title at Blue Hill is event cook; he helps create and plate food for special events, weddings, and other catered affairs. Though his tenure has been short (he began in February), it’s been a natural fit. “I’m really excited about my decision, and it’s a really fun place to work,” he says.

Early Turning Points Over the course of his career, Giovanni has cooked across the globe, but the most meaningful moments didn’t happen in Tuscan kitchens or under the wing of a celebrity chef. They happened right here in Mid-Missouri. “I was in between junior and senior year, and there isn’t a third-year culinary program for all of the students; however, there is a program called independent study,” he says. “So Chef Harlan chooses one or two students [for independent study] who have excelled the past two years and who would be able to plan and execute different events,

MAY 2020

who show an interest in cooking, and who want to learn more. I never saw myself as someone who wanted to do that. I figured I would just do Culinary I and II and then would go in the baking and pastry program and then to CIA. But kind of a transformative moment was when Chef Katy Frink took me aside and kind of convinced me to do the independent study. And I think I grew a lot my senior year, and I’d be in a very different place now than if I had just done the baking and pastry class.” He gives the career center credit for his early success in the industry. “When I started school [at CIA], the fi rst cooking class you could take is culinary fundamentals,” he says. “That is a 15-week class. We had it every day, and you’re basically learning simple knife cuts, soups and broths, stocks, all the way up to basic cooking methods. I would say that everything within those 15 weeks I had already learned [at the career center].” But not everything was repetition, he says. “Now of course, there are differences. Every chef has their own style, how they like to do certain things, but for the most part, it was just reinforcement for me.” He’s right. Each chef has his own culinary philosophy, and that includes Giovanni, who’s found inspiration from one of the country’s great restaurants, La Bernadin. “It’s a seafood restaurant, and their motto is ‘the fish is the star of the plate,’” Giovanni says. “That kind of resonates with me. I like very simply prepared dishes where you’re highlighting one ingredient. I even like to take it a little bit further and include some seasonality, so if you have a really good squash, squash is the main thing on the plate, and everything else should help increase the experience for the squash.” Hearing this, it’s no surprise that Giovanni has ended up at Blue Hill, where the philosophy focuses on local seasonality, simplicity, and zero waste. “During the peak season, 80% of produce and things are coming from the farm,” he says. “It’s just very interesting to see what the cooks do not only with desirable things, but with things that most people would waste.” So, where will he go from here? He’s keeping an open mind, he says, but it’s likely that a chef’s coat will be ever present in his wardrobe. “In five to 10 years, I’ll probably still be cooking. I don’t know if I’ll be at Blue Hill or not, but I’m sure I’ll just be cooking somewhere.” We’ve got a hunch he’s right — we’ll keep an eye out for Giovanni on “Chef’s Table” in a decade or so.

ON MY BOOKSHELF COMO magazine’s publisher Erica Pefferman shares her recommended reading list. PH OTO BY KEITH BOR G MEYER

I often get credit for the culture we have at our company or the way we cultivate relationships with our clients, but the truth is that I have learned everything I know from a couple of great mentors and the things written in the books I’ve recommended below. These authors have served as great inspiration for me and given our team direction when we needed to strengthen our foundation. May they serve the same for you.

FIRST ROW:

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John C. Maxwell Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Good to Great by Jim Collins

SECOND ROW:

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

The Orange Revolution by Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly

MAY 2020

Living

FAVORITE FINDS

THIRD ROW:

Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni Multipliers by Liz Wiseman Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard & Sheldon Bowles Linchpin by Seth Godin Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh

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FAMILIES.

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INDIVIDUALS.

We’re here to help with the emotional and mental impact of social isolation. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with sadness, depression, or anxiety, we are here for you. • Couples & Marriage Counseling • Individual Counseling • Family Counseling • Premarital Counseling • Anxiety • Depression • Grief

We’re currently seeing clients via Telehealth video sessions To learn more or request an appointment, visit marriageandfamilycenter.com

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FRIENDS & FAMILY

A motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to help her young son discover and embrace his learning disorder. BY L AU R E N S A B L E FR E I M A N

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arly in her son Walker’s educational journey, Beth Dunafon’s intuition was telling her that something wasn’t quite right. She knew, and reports from his teachers confirmed, that he was a smart kid. Yet he struggled and struggled with letters, reading, and writing. As a result, his self-esteem suffered. He was unhappy at school, frustrated because he felt like he was constantly failing. “His teachers always said how smart he was,” Beth says. “He wasn’t quite up to gradelevel, but he was making progress. He does just well enough that there wouldn’t have been any red flags without me knowing that it wasn’t quite right.” As she pieced the information together, Beth began to suspect that Walker had dyslexia, a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words. Because Walker’s paternal aunt and cousin are both dyslexic, Beth knew that dyslexia is a hereditary neurological disorder. She also knew that, many times, dyslexia presents alongside ADD/ADHD, which Walker, who has a hard time staying focused on his work, had already been diagnosed with. “It was such a struggle for such a long time because they won’t test very early, because a lot of kids reverse their letters. But he had the classic signs — switching letters, reading front to back, Bs and Ds were always backwards,” Beth says. “He would always comment about how dumb he was, because people would tell him he should be seeing something on paper when what he was seeing was all mixed up.” While speaking with staff at Beulah Ralph Elementary, Beth learned that the school district doesn’t test specifically for dyslexia. “They test for a discrepancy between your IQ and your reading and writing abilities,” Beth explains. “If there is a big enough gap, they know the student could be performing higher.” But Beth wanted to confirm her hunch, so this past summer, after Walker’s second grade year, Beth scheduled and paid for independent testing through the University of Missouri’s Speech and Hearing Clinic. The results confirmed what Beth had suspected

MAY 2020

— Walker was struggling with dyslexia. “After we got the testing back, I was able to tell Walker that his brain sees things differently than everybody else, so he will have to work harder to train his brain to see what most people see,” Beth says. “But because he is working his brain, it is getting stronger and stronger and more creative than other brains that don’t have to struggle.” According to Beth, having a diagnosis and an explanation for his academic struggles, was a huge relief to Walker, who wanted to share the news with everyone. THE RIGHT HELP MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE This past September, Beth hired Stacy Cooper to tutor Walker in reading and writing. “She is awesome,” Beth says. “She has gotten him to the point where he is reading fluently, but not quite at grade-level. He is probably about a year behind in reading. If he continues to read, he will gradually catch up.” By the time the school district tested Walker for his Individualized Education Plan, he had made so much progress with Stacy that he didn’t qualify for reading help at school. He did, however, qualify for 30 minutes of writing help at school each day, which he began in October. Walker’s hard work, and Beth’s persistence, is paying off. He recently brought home a sticker chart and big piece of candy from his writing tutor at school and said: “See Mom? I knew I was a smarty pants.” “He is so smart, he thinks outside of the box, and he even has strong political ideas as a third grader,” Beth says. “As a mom, that’s all you want. You want your kid to have confidence and to feel good about himself, and having all this help has helped.” As Beth looks towards the future, she says Walker’s diagnosis will ensure that he has the opportunity to be as successful as possible. “When I look down the line at taking the ACT, will he need more time for it? Will he qualify at that point to have extra time as needed? I don’t know. Time will tell,” Beth says. “I’m glad we know now so if he does, he has the opportunity to perform the best he can with his disability.” While Walker has been thriving with additional support both at and outside of school, Stacy says repetition and practice are key to continued growth and success. Years of training and experience as a Columbia Public

“After we got the testing back, I was able to tell Walker that his brain sees things differently than everybody else, so he will have to work harder to train his brain to see what most people see. But because he is working his brain, it is getting stronger and stronger and more creative than other brains that don’t have to struggle.”

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

The Dunafon family

Schools teacher and as a private tutor have taught Stacy that once a student has broken the code of reading, they will continue to progress if they continue to practice their skills. “Anytime students quit reading, they will regress,” Stacy says. “So over a summer break or spring break, typically a dyslexic brain will regress faster than someone who didn’t have to work so hard to break the code. Walker will have to continue on his own regularly, and if he does, he should do fine at reading. He is a strong reader now.” THE RIGHT BOOKS ARE IMPORTANT One of Stacy’s best — and most practical — tips for encouraging reading for all kids is to

let them pick books that interest them. “You don’t want someone picking out a book for you to read,” Stacy says. “Kids have to continue reading regularly, every day, particularly books they are interested in, so they pick up the book on their own.” If the subject matter is interesting to them, a child may even be able to handle a harder book, Stacy says. But the real skill is in finding a “just right” book for each child that is challenging, but not so challenging that it becomes frustrating. Stacy also cautions parents that nonfiction text is often written on a tougher readability level, so directions for math word problems or for science and social studies

assignments might be more challenging to read and comprehend. “Parents should be aware of that,” Stacy says. “Even an on-level reader might have trouble with complicated directions, but a dyslexic kid can lose their confidence quickly.” While Beth says only time will tell if Walker will need continued reading and writing support through middle school and high school, she finds great relief in knowing that his diagnosis has opened up a support system for his success. “I don’t know if he’ll ever be excited to go to school, but at least he isn’t so upset and frustrated, and he doesn’t feel like he’s constantly failing,” Beth says.

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FREE TO BE A KiD Parents with education backgrounds are adding to the diversity of schooling options for our little ones. BY K R I ST I N B L A K E

t wasn’t until Molly Campbell became a mom that she better understood that there’s no onesize-fits-all approach to parenting. “Before I had my kid, I was like, ‘This is the way you should do it and I’ve read about it,’” she says. “I felt like I was a little bit more of a know-itall with parents.” But once she had her child and started Willow Tree Playschool in 2016, Molly started to realize that each child and family is different, and that listening to parents’ needs and experience is key. “Being a parent really humbled me as an educator,” she says. That realization has carried over into her approach at Willow Tree today. And Molly isn’t the only one looking for and starting alternative preschools. From language immersion to nature-based learning, Columbia preschools offer more than traditional education.

Why alternative preschools? Matthew Hawley’s daughter used to come home from school disinterested and quiet, and he wasn’t happy about her education. Having worked in other independent private schools, Matthew knew what joyful education could be like, but this wasn’t it. He and his wife, Hope, couldn’t find what they wanted, so they made a preschool themselves. In 2018, the Hawleys opened Meadowlark School with a class of 10 students, and for his daughter, it was a complete 180, Matthew says. “She was much more excited to go to school,” he says. “She got in the car and was immediately just yammering on about guess what happened, guess who did this, that, and the other.” Bill and Jamie Connelly didn’t have any qualms with the public school system, but once they found La Petite École for their daughter, it was the right fit. Bill says the draws of this dual-language

MAY 2020

immersion school are getting to work at an individualized pace and being challenged. And in February, La Petite École announced it would be expanding through the fifth grade, which means that by the time their daughter graduates, she will have attended the school for a decade. And it shows — Bill says his daughter often hums French songs around the house and likes to correct him on his Rs. He appreciates how her education has shown her diversity and has made her more ambitious. “No matter what she’s exposed to at this point, she’s going to handle it pretty comfortably,” Bill says. Like the Hawleys, Joëlle Quoirin wanted her children to have a different type of education, and in 2005, this native Belgian opened up La Petite École, which began as a preschool program. Today, the school serves around 80 students through its day school and after-school programs and also offers a

“One of the relationships that I feel like we overlook in our school systems right now is their relationship with the natural world.”

—Megan Fox

COMOMAG.COM

summer program for children ages 2 to 10. La Petite École operates on an 80-20 model, where the majority of the day is spent in French and the rest in English. Joëlle says that a common misconception about her school is that it only teaches French and nothing else. “We certainly do that, but that is not our main focus,” she says. “We really tailor to the needs of our individual children and focus more on what is going to make them successful in tomorrow’s world, as opposed to simply providing for their needs today.”

Hands-on and play-inspired methodology There are many schools of thought in early childhood education, and Columbia is a microcosm of all these ideas, with local preschools finding inspiration from Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and beyond. Meadowlark School adopts a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. Although this educational philosophy has similarities with Montessori, Matthew says they are different. “We are much more open-ended in our activities, and we’re not necessarily attached to a specific outcome when they explore the activity,” he says. In practice, this looks like handing the children a tape recorder and having them take it apart to see its parts. “It’s not a specific, one-off craft where everybody is supposed to look the same,” Matthew says. “Every child is free to explore it in their own way.” Molly found her educational niche for Willow Tree when she left the country. After graduating college, Molly moved to Spain to work as an au pair. It was there that her host family introduced her to a local Waldorf school, and Molly quickly became interested in this ideology. At age 25, she then moved to India for a year to help set up a Waldorf preschool. Molly says her time in India was “going around on this little moped trying to figure out where to buy stuff for this little school that I was really starting from scratch, so it gave me a lot of confidence.” With her experiences in Spain and India in tow, she decided to open up a school inspired by Waldorf and LifeWays pedagogies; today, her school serves around 20 families. Waldorf and LifeWays methodologies value play but with an emphasis on beauty, daily chores, and simplicity, even down to the toys in the room. Molly’s partner contributed his

MAY 2020

Looking for a school? City Garden 123 S. Ninth St. 573-326-9268

Columbia Montessori School

3 Anderson Ave. 573-449-5418

Forest Kindergarten at Blue Fox Farm 190 E. Fox Hollow Rd., Ashland 573-397-2278

Garden Gate School 107 Park Hill Ave. 573-444-1438

La Petite École 1111 S. Fairview Rd. 573-999-9237

Meadowlark School

705 N. Providence Rd. 573-823-6502

Wild Folk Learning Community

11461 Callahan Creek, Harrisburg 917-370-5279

Willow Tree Playschool and Wildflower Day Nursery Unity Center, 1600 W. Broadway 816-590-8491 / 573-864-2542

woodworking skills, and she hand-dyed the silks they use in class. Her friend wove the baskets and her mother made the doll clothes and aprons. Along with time outside, Willow Tree Playschool focuses on rhythm, with each day corresponding to one special activity. For example, every Monday the children do yoga, and each Thursday, they bring in vegetables, which they help chop up and roast. “Less is more at this age,” Molly says. “You’re meeting the child where they’re at and not pushing them to be somewhere they’re not.”

Nature-based education For Forest Kindergarten at Blue Fox Farm, nature is the main inspiration for a curriculum built with Waldorf ideas. Located on 70 acres in southern Boone County, this recently built schoolhouse serves 15 families with kids ages 3 to 6.

In 2016, Megan Fox founded the school, which she calls a nature immersion program. “They’re learning about who they are, what they can do, how they relate to their family and their friends and their community,” she says. “And one of the relationships that I feel like we overlook in our school systems right now is their relationship with the natural world.” Megan says it’s her goal to help these kids reinsert themselves back into this natural world. Depending on the season, children at Forest Kindergarten take care of the animals, tend the garden, or make “pies” in the mud kitchen. Each day, Megan leads an “adventure” that can be anything from a visit to the creek to a walk in the woods. She takes the children to visit the farm’s elderberry orchard, which is cultivated by her husband. “Nature and being outside is important for not only physical development but socioemotional development for children,” Megan says. Also inspired by the intersection of nature and education, Polina Malikin started Wild Folk Learning Community in order to serve those looking for alternative education beyond preschool years. This homeschool enrichment program located in Harrisburg typically serves around 20 students with ages ranging from 5 to 15. As a young child, Polina emigrated from St. Petersburg, Russia, and remembers being the spokesperson and translator for her family. Along with decades of experience in education and child care, she thought she knew all there was to know about school and children. But it wasn’t until Polina became a mom that she really began dreaming with her partner and friends of what she wanted her children’s education to look like. “Wild Folk is a result of all of that collaborative dreaming of, What would it look like if we had a school that focused on all the things that we really felt were important for a 21st century citizen to learn?” she says. “What are the things that are really irreplaceable and so special to childhood?” Along with a deep connection to the earth, Polina wants to impart mindfulness, nonviolent communication, and justice to her students. “We all have so much to learn, but we also are enough as we are, and we have so many gifts to give, just as much as we have gifts to be learned and received,” she says.

COMOMAG.COM

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MAY 2020

Working Together Stephens College and Boone Hospital Center form a partnership to pioneer a new course in nursing. BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE

It’s an interesting time to be a nurse — or a nursing student. As we fight the Covid-19 pandemic, we do so with a major nursing shortage nationwide. In Mid-Missouri, at least, the shortage is a multi-pronged problem that neighbors Stephens College and Boone Hospital Center have teamed up to solve. Together, they are launching an “immersive” nursing program to combat the shortage. It all started in February 2018, when Stephens College President Dr. Dianne Lynch visited Boone Hospital Center President Jim Sinek with the idea to collaborate on a nursing program. “On that historic Monday morning, Dr. Dianne Lynch came into my office, I think it was about 7:30 a.m.,” Jim recalls. “She said, ‘We ought to come together and partner on a new nursing program in Columbia.’ And if you’ve ever seen Dr. Lynch revved up on an idea, full of energy, and always with a positive attitude, it is quite a sight to behold! My response was pretty short and sweet, given the strong and successful partnership Boone has had with Stephens. I said ‘Let’s do it.’” Jim says it took about a year to receive approval for the program from the board of BJC Health Care, Boone Hospital’s parent company at the time, as well as the Boone Hospital Center Trustees and the Stephens College board. The Missouri State Board of Nursing

MAY 2020

approved the program in November 2019, and the program now awaits accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. That accreditation is expected by June of this year, at which time Stephens will begin accepting applications to the program, with the fi rst class of nursing students entering the program this fall. During this process, Dr. Noreen Houck came on in July 2019 as the founding director of the Stephens nursing program and was tasked with writing the curriculum. “From my point of view, coming in to write the program was the real opportunity — to ask, ‘Where is health care today?’ and design a program that fits the current reality,” Noreen says. Noreen moved to Missouri from upstate New York, where she grew up around Syracuse. Previously, she served as chair of the nursing program at State University of New York College at Plattsburgh from 2004 to 2019. “Stephens College is really growing its health sciences programs,” she says, pointing to Stephens’ Master of Physician Assistant program that was launched two years ago and has been very successful. “We’re really adjusting for where students are today and what they’re looking for, and we’re making sure they’re getting a rock-solid education that generates graduates who are ready for today’s world.”

Stephens College President Dr. Dianne Lynch and Boone Hospital President Jim Sinek

Filling the Gap One part of the nursing shortage is the lack of capacity at local nursing schools. “We knew that we had a nursing shortage,” says Jim. “We knew that the nursing schools in Mid-Missouri, including University of Missouri, Moberly Area Community College, Columbia College, Central Methodist, and Lincoln University all collectively turn away a significant number of qualified applicants because they just don’t have enough seats; they just don’t have the capacity in their current programs.” “University of Missouri nursing school turns away about 100 qualified applicants a year, and the other nursing schools collectively turn away about the same number. We felt this was an opportunity for two organizations to come together to alleviate the nursing shortage here in Mid-Missouri,” Jim says. Stephens will be able to offer around 20 seats to students this fall and then around two dozen each fall after that, and while that doesn’t completely offset the number of qualified students turned away by other local programs, it does make a dent. And Jim is hopeful that Boone Hospital and Stephens will be able to grow the program over time. The Stephens nursing program is unique in a few ways. First of all, it’s an accelerated three-year bachelor’s degree program, which will pump nurses into the workforce faster than other programs. Also, it is a direct-entry program, meaning students begin nursing coursework their freshman year and are doing

COMOMAG.COM

clinical classwork by their fi rst summer, which contrasts with other local nursing programs, in which students spend their fi rst two years completing prerequisites and liberal arts and sciences classes before ever having a nursing course. Boone Hospital nurses will have the opportunity to apply for adjunct instructor positions and be clinical faculty on site, allowing students to learn from experienced nurses. Lastly, the nursing classrooms and simulation lab will be located at Boone Hospital Center. Th is decision was intentionally made to combat the high turnover rate in the field, with statistics indicating that 35% to 40% of nurses leave the field within their fi rst year due to burnout or a disconnect between expectations and reality. “[Nurses] are entering the field and finding out it’s not really what they thought it was going to be, and that they’re really not cut out to be a nurse,” Jim explains. “As Dianne and I talked, we really wanted this to be a unique, immersive nursing program where the nursing students are immersed in a hospital setting almost immediately so that while they’re learning the academic side of being a nurse, they’re also getting a very quick and very practical understanding of what it means to be a nurse — in particular, a nurse at Boone Hospital Center.” “Boone Hospital has a reputation of being a choice employer for nurses,” Noreen says. “The state-of-the-art simulation lab and classrooms for the program will be located in Boone Hospital, and that’s not usual for a lot of programs. It allows for those hand-on experiences, whether they’re real or simulated, right there at the point of care where they’re going to have the most current resources and equipment before they actually provide patient care.” The simulation lab will recreate a real Boone Hospital nursing unit, with all the equipment a nurse is expected to know how to use and with sophisticated SimMan and SimWoman robots, whose medical conditions can be programmed by instructors so students can respond and react before ever practicing on a real person. Other

MAY 2020

nursing program students will have access to the simulation lab, but Stephens students will have fi rst priority.

Looking Towards the Unknown While there is no formal agreement in place that indicates Boone Hospital guarantees jobs or hiring advantages for Stephens nursing grads, Jim says: “If we had the supply, we would hire, at any point in time, 40 to 60 registered nurses to fill our core nursing positions. And I think the University Hospital would probably say the same thing, as well as the VA, not to mention other hospitals across Mid-Missouri. Those core nursing positions [at Boone Hospital] currently are being filled by part-time nursing staff who are working extra shifts and overtime. Or we’re having to contract with outside nursing agencies, which is a very expensive proposition. But sometimes that’s what you have to do if you don’t have enough nurses to recruit into those core nursing positions. “Patients are being taken care of, we’re fi lling our shifts,” Jim says. “The problem is that our preference is to have core Boone Hospital Center nurses fi lling all of those positions and shifts because they know Boone Hospital, they know our culture, they’ve been trained here, they know our policies and procedures. These students will be prime nurse graduates for Boone Hospital. We hope we can employ every single one of them.” What remains to be seen is if the nursing shortage will increase in light of the Covid-19 pandemic — or if it will act as a call to service, encouraging more people to go into nursing. “I think we’ve come up with a really exciting and forward-thinking program. Actually, the current situation [with the Covid-19 pandemic] emphasizes the need for the type of program we’ve written,” Noreen says. “We want to create really well-rounded practitioners who have a bigger view of public policy, epidemiology, and public health.”

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MORE THAN YOUR BANKER It’s the hard times that bring out people’s true character. During this season of uncertainty, our bankers are working hard to help our community stay strong, safe and well. If you need someone to talk to about your financial situation, we are here to help. Call 888-547-6541 to talk.

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MAY 2020

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Living

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

S: I admire Gary’s boldness in sharing his

faith — he doesn’t hold back. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP? G: Sandy and I are very compatible. We enjoy

traveling, eating, and spending time with our family. But we also understand there are some things we do not enjoy doing with each other. S: Our personalities are different, but

complementary. We can always find something to talk about. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT?

Gary & Sandy Ward Gary and Sandy Ward talk about their first date and their growing family. HOW DID YOU MEET? Gary: My college roommate said he knew this

“real country girl,” so he set us up on a blind date. We were married eight months later. Sandy: Gary’s college roommate was a

fraternity brother of mine in Delta Sigma Pi at Oklahoma University. He thought Gary and I would be a good fit. We talked on the phone a couple of times before our fi rst date. He was a great conversationalist, so I was basically hooked before we ever went out. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE? G: Red Lobster followed by an evening of

dancing at Charlie’s Nostalgia. S: Red Lobster was a big deal in Norman,

Oklahoma, and Charlie’s was one of my favorite places to dance. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. G: We have a daughter, Lauren; her husband, Rusty; and our granddaughter, Clara, who all live here in Columbia. Our son, Matt, lives in Tokyo. And we have a yellow lab, Nala. S: Lauren and Rusty are staying busy with

work and raising Clara. Matt loves Tokyo and is pursuing a career in IT. Nala is our lovable and high-maintenance yellow Lab.

WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY DURING THE WEEK? G: I came to Columbia a little over 14 years ago as the associate vice chancellor of facilities here at MU. I am now the vice chancellor for operations. S: In Pennsylvania, I worked for Mount Nittany

Medical Center in human resources. After moving to Missouri, I continued working with them as an independent contractor. Now, I’m back on staff as an administrator of their electronic performance evaluation system. WHAT IS THE KEY TO A LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?

G: The top of our list right now is Barred Owl. S: Barred Owl. It has such a unique menu. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU? G: Watching Lauren and Rusty raise Clara

and seeing what great things she will do. S: My future is focused on being the best wife, mom, and Gigi I can be. I’m just enjoying the journey. HOW ARE LAUREN AND CLARA DOING?* G: They are both doing great, in no small part due to the prayers from this community. I will never forget that horrifically beautiful experience, and every day that I get to see my three girls, it reminds me of how blessed I am. S: You would never know by looking at

Lauren that she went through such a traumatic experience. The experience taught her so much, and she has grown as a result. She is a great mom, and Clara is flourishing under Lauren’s and Rusty’s loving care.

G: Have a Christ-centered home. Loving and obeying the Lord above all else teaches me the importance of putting Sandy above myself. S: Shared faith, values, a commitment to

make it work, and a few common interests you can talk about. WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY OF YOUR PARTNER? G: The most important goal for a Christian is to live a life in continued growth to be Christlike. Sandy is closer to that goal than any other person I have ever met.

*Read “The Deal,” written by Gary on comomag.com, for the backstory to this question.

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Working

78 WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES 150 YEARS Once a school for female Civil War orphans, WWU now serves traditional and non-traditional students.

PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

AN EARLY COLLEGE OPTION

Meet Annelle B. Whitt, district coordinator of the Multicultural Achievement Committee program for Columbia Public Schools.

Columbia Public Schools and Moberly Area Community College partner for a different type of college experience.

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Working

CLOSER LOOK

MAY 2020

Kristie worked with high school students for 25 years as an English teacher and a principal before she decided to launch Savvy Strategies. She’s also a mom of six children, so she’s been through the college admissions process several times herself. “The college admissions process is complicated and competitive,” she says. “I know the ins and outs of it really well, so I’m there to help guide them.” Kristie’s next goal for Savvy Strategies is to launch online courses to allow her students to do the practice exams and courses on their own time. 3610 BUT TONWOOD DR., STE. 200 573-315-4222 SAV V Y-STRATEGIES.COM

Frenchy Treats

El Oso

In May 2019, Betsaida Estrada and her family started their dining endeavors as El Oso Grill on Wheels, a food truck that offered the Columbia community authentic Mexican food. After having great success with a food truck, they made the decision to expand from those wheels to a restaurant. In September 2019, the family opened El Oso. The new restaurant has several of the same menu items that were available at the food truck, but now they can give the community even more dishes. They hope to continue to thrive in this small space and provide authentic food to the community. Betsaida explains that the restaurant’s tacos are always a popular choice among their customers. One of the most popular dishes they serve, however, is the molcajete.

This dish, as Betsaida describes, is served in a traditional molcajete bowl that’s made out of stone. Betsaida explains, “We have good food that’s made a little different.” 522 E. BROADWAY 573-256-2855 ELOSORESTAURANT.WIXSITE.COM/MENU

Savvy Strategies

Kristie Beck started Savvy Strategies in June 2017 with a goal to help students with the college admissions process. Kristie explains that there’s two sides to this business: college admissions consulting, where she works with students anywhere from seventh grade to 12th grade, and ACT and SAT prep.

When Julie Hutton moved to the United States with her husband, she found herself missing the delicacies she had in France. In March 2019, she decided to take a big step and start Frenchy Treats — a one-woman company that specializes in chocolate croissants and French macarons that can be found at Plume and the Columbia Farmers Market. Julie learned how to make these pastries when she still lived in France; there, she took a class with professional chefs to perfect her macaron. She’s mastered the art of croissant making through trial and error. “I must have gone through four or five different recipes for croissants before I finally found one that tasted the most like home,” Julie says. Julie’s goal is to keep the company small so she can continue connecting with her clients and baking herself. However, Julie would like to see herself in a partnership with this company so it can continue to grow in Columbia as she and her husband can set off on their next adventure. 573-569-9559 FRENCHY TREATS.COM

COMOMAG.COM

Briefly in the News M AY 2020 70

MAY 2020

ED UCATION

Columbia Public Schools Foundation Grant Brings Museum to Schools A grant for $17,700 from the Columbia Public Schools Foundation brought the Black History 101 Mobile Museum to each CPS middle and high school for a day throughout two weeks in March. Founded by Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum is an awardwinning collection of over 7,000 original artifacts of black memorabilia, including items from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era and modern hiphop culture.

Working

“Like McLarty Automotive Group, Gray-Daniels Auto Family is deeply rooted in the communities it serves. We are excited about the opportunity to build on its more than 30-year history and grow our presence in America’s Heartland.”

BRIEFLY

AWAR D S

MU Department of Health Management and Informatics Receives Award The Department of Health Management and Informatics at the MU School of Medicine received a prestigious national award. The department’s master of health administration program won the 2020 Canon Solutions America Award for Sustainability in Healthcare Management Education and Practice from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management. Th is award recognizes the department’s sustainability initiatives and emphasis on sustainability education within health management and administration.

— MARK McLARTY, McLARTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN

PHIL ANTHR OPY

Local FASTSIGNS Recognized for Philanthropic Project FASTSIGNS of Columbia was recognized at the 2020 FASTSIGNS International Convention through the FASTSIGNS Cares initiative for their extensive work with Children’s Miracle Network. In an effort to affect positive change with Children’s Miracle Network, the Columbia team began creating cranial helmet wraps specifically for children with deformational plagiocephaly. The team works hand-inhand with parents throughout the process so that the parents feel more comfortable with their child being in a cranial helmet. C ELEBR ATIONS

ACQU I S IT IO NS

McLarty Automotive Group Acquires Asbury's Mississippi Holdings McLarty Automotive Group, owner of the Joe Machens dealerships in Columbia, has completed its acquisition of Atlanta-based Asbury Automotive Group’s Mississippi holdings with the purchase of GrayDaniels Auto Family. Gray-Daniels is the largest dealership group in Arkansas with approximately $400 million in annual revenues. With the addition of Gray-Daniels Auto Family, MAG is expected to be one of the top 25 automotive dealers in the U.S. with nearly $1.7 billion in annual revenue.

CEL EBR ATIONS

Mobility Worldwide MO-Columbia Receives Grant Mobility Worldwide MO-Columbia is pleased to announce that it has received a $4,000 grant from the Boone Electric Community Trust. These funds will assist with the installation of a fire, smoke, and security alarm for a new facility, which is currently under construction. Having outgrown the current location on Heriford Road, generous donations enabled construction of a new facility that began last fall with completion slated for this coming summer.

Welcome Home Receives Accreditation The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International announced that Welcome Home Inc. has been accredited for a period of three years for its rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention programs. Th is status represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization in the field. The organization has been providing shelter to homeless veterans for nearly three decades, and it has been providing emergency and transitional shelter, rapid rehousing, employment assistance, and other supportive services in their new facility since September 2017.

COMOMAG.COM

Your financial goals, aspirations and investment needs are just that — yours. Your financial plan should reflect this and we believe it all starts with developing a deep understanding of your needs. We strive to offer the personalized attention and the highest level of service based on your goals, your time frame and your tolerance for risk. Because building portfolios isn’t the most important thing we do. Building relationships is. Call today for your confidential consultation.

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MAY 2020

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MAY 2020

BRIAN KISIDA

An assistant professor in the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs at MU, Brian Kisida has been invited by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to join its Commission on the Arts. Brian has more than 10 years of experience in program evaluation and policy analysis. He also serves on the advisory committee for MU’s Artist in Residence program.

JARED VERSLUES

Crockett Engineering announced that Jared Verslues has recently become a partner at the organization. Jared began his journey with Crockett Engineering as an intern in 2010 and became a full-time employee in 2012. Jared values client services and hard work, and he makes it his mission to look for ways to improve the effectiveness of the firm, grow the firm’s presence in the community, and embody the firm’s values in every client and colleague interaction.

DR. JEFFREY WA L K I N G TO N

The Board of Trustees of Columbia Independent School is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Walkington as the next head of school. Jeffrey has 10 years of administrative experience and will come to CIS from his position as special assistant to the provost’s office at the University of Illinois, where

he researches transformative learning experiences that connect K-12 programs to the university.

M AX VI K H T E R

Christian Fellowship School is excited to announce that Max Vikhter will become the new head of school in June. Max will be taking the place of Scott Williams, who has been in leadership for more than 28 years. Earlier in his career, Max spent some time with the Salvation Army and later became a teacher in the Chicago public school system, where he worked his way up to administration leadership.

D R . N AT H A R DY

Dr. Nat Hardy has accepted the position of the founding dean of arts and humanities and the Sara Jane Johnson Scholar at Stephens College. Nat most recently served as associate dean of arts and sciences at the College of Saint Mary, a women’s college in Omaha, Nebraska. He has considerable administrative experience in higher education, holding positions at several colleges and universities around the country.

CENTRAL TRUST CO M PA N Y

Central Trust Company, an affiliate of Central Bank, is pleased to announce several employee promotions. Amber Myers has been promoted to vice president and relationship

manager. Amber has been with the company since 2004. She provides wealth advisory and other administrative services for IRAs and investment management accounts. Greg Jones has been promoted to senior vice president and relationship manager. Greg has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry and is dedicated to providing clients with broad-based advice in estate and charitable planning, endowment management, trust administration, and wealth management. Sarah Hanneken has been promoted to vice president and relationship manager. Sarah has been with the company since 2013 and administers personal trusts, estates, investment management relationships, and individual retirement accounts. Teresa Douglass has been promoted to senior vice president and senior fiduciary officer. Teresa has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning, estate and trust administration, tax preparation, and tax controversy matters. She has practiced law and public accounting, and has also worked for the Internal Revenue Service.

VERSLUES

WA L K I N G TO N

MYERS

JONES

JERI L. RUFF

Great Circle appointed Jeri L. Ruff to its statewide board. Jeri is a behavioral health social worker at the Missouri Psychiatric Center at MU and a licensed clinical social worker. She’s earned degrees from MU, Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville, and Quincy University.

HANNEKEN

DOUGLASS

COMOMAG.COM

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ERNIE UELIGGER

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

2412 Forum Blvd, Suite 101, Columbia | 573-874-1122 | NathanJonesLaw.com

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Politics of Disease Reflecting on the state government's initial reaction in mid-March to COVID-19. BY KRCG 13â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KERMIT MILLER

t was a walk on eggshells. On March 12, Governor Mike Parson stepped to a podium in Springfield, Missouri, to announce the state's second presumptive positive case of the COVID-19 coronavirus, a 20-something individual who had just returned to Greene County from a trip to Austria. His tone was steady and his cadence measured, demonstrating a need to convey urgency without fanning the flames of fear. "As governor, I have no greater responsibility than to keep all Missourians healthy and safe," Parson said. "I know there is growing concern across the state and the nation right now, but I want to assure you that we are taking all steps necessary to protect the people of our state." COVID-19 put state and local officials under immediate (and virtually unprecedented) pressure. With four dozen positive cases and two fatalities in the state at this writing, the coronavirus pandemic has triggered extensive social media chatter, often blurring the line between fact and fiction about the disease and calling into question the political motivations of the people doing the talking. It also has exposed some unanticipated accountability for the preparedness of the government to manage both the disease and the public's perception. By the end of February, Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr had created the Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention to gather information on COVID-19. On the same day Parson made the announcement in Springfield, state lawmakers jumped onto the exploding list of institutions suspending normal operations. Legislative leaders barred non-essential people from their respective legislative chambers and gently suggested that

visitors avoid the Capitol entirely. They sent lawmakers home to begin the midterm break a week early. Senators were not to return to Jefferson City until March 30. House leaders declared a "technical session," to allow budget committee members to keep working on the fiscal year 2021 spending plan. The full House returned to Jefferson City on March 18, expecting to vote on the next year's budget. Instead, the floor leader limited the discussion to supplemental spending in the current fiscal year. As a result, House members spent that Wednesday arguing over how much to commit to coronavirus mitigation. The GOP majority capped the figure at $40 million. But not before House Democrats took them to task. "This is not politics. I swear to God this is not politics," Jon Carpenter of Kansas City insisted. Carpenter pitched a commitment of $87 million for health care infrastructure, such as ICU beds, masks, and testing. The amendment failed. "Missouri is wildly behind in the process of being proactive, of making sure that things are going to be taken care of," House Minority Leader Crystal Quade had told capitol reporters the week before. Quade noted the governor's disaster declaration could free up as much as $180 million from the budget reserve fund for coronavirus mitigation. Parson's political campaign rival, Democrat State Auditor Nicole Galloway, joined that chorus and called on Parson to suspend fees, fines, and other charges the state imposes on its taxpayers. Kansas City Representative Rory Rowland went further,

advocating executive/legislative action to stop the clock on all debt payments, including car loans, credit card charges, and mortgage payments. "That would give people peace of mind. They don't have to worry about their financial health right now," Rowland observed. Like most governors, Parson followed the continually evolving CDC guidelines for getting mass testing underway, and he called on the public to maintain social distancing. He resisted pressure to impose statewide mandates, catching heat for allowing local school boards to make the call on closures and for not closing high-risk businesses. Parson insisted that the rural/urban disparities in Missouri robbed a one-size-fits-all approach to coronavirus mitigation of its value. Galloway pushed back, focused on the economic fallout. She and other Democrats called for extension of the April 15 income tax filing deadline (which the White House ordered for federal tax returns on March 20). She said Parson should lock in SNAP and TANF benefits for needy Missouri families and relax the rules for collecting unemployment benefits. Galloway also called on Parson to open a COVID-19 command center to stimulate the flow of information to the public, and to coordinate the efforts of public health officials and local first responders. House Democrats had their own list, addressing medical provider reimbursements, money for nonprofits to feed hungry children, and funds for state workers who might lose time on the job. Their agenda included policy changes, ranging from new mandates on insurance companies to the suspension of new

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SNAP and Medicaid qualification guidelines to furloughs for nonviolent prison inmates. Despite Jon Carpenter's assertions, Republicans blasted the minority party for politicizing the pandemic. The suggestion Missouri was running behind rankled House Speaker Elijah Haahr. "I think we're actually far ahead of where other states are," Haahr told capitol reporters. Parson held daily press briefings to announce a string of executive orders for coronavirus relief. Public safety officials moved quickly to distribute multiple pallets of personal protective equipment to emergency responders. MO Healthnet (Missouri’s Medicaid system) waived work requirements for 90 days to ensure benefits. The Department of Social Services extended child care subsidies and waived food stamp restrictions. Parson expedited Missouri's application to the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster loan approval. He even postponed the April municipal elections until June. In Washington, as Republicans and Democrats sparred over what should be included in the pandemic response legislation, Missouri's congressional delegation focused on American dependence on goods from China, particularly medicines. Senator Josh Hawley cited 150 prescription drugs, including antibiotics, generics, and branded drugs, and said Americans have no market alternatives to Chinese suppliers. Hawley sent a very public letter to FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn asking for information about plans for potential shortages ( followed up by an equally public letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services about plans to help hospitals running out of supplies and staff capacity). Hawley also introduced the Medical Supply Chain Security Act, tweeting "If the Coronavirus crisis makes anything clear, it’s that we need to stop relying on China for our critical medical supply chains." And on the same day as Governor Parson's Springfield announcement, Hawley grilled private sector witnesses at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship about supply chain problems. Hawley's Missouri colleague, Senator Roy Blunt, introduced his own supply chain bill. The Commission on America’s Medical Security Act directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to assess the vulnerability of private and public sector agencies to shortages of critical medications, medical devices, and medical equipment, and to recommend action for domestic production and stockpiles of the same. "Protecting our nation’s medical supply chain is a public health and national security priority," Blunt said in a press release. "This bill establishes a commission that will assess weaknesses in the U.S. supply chain and put forward a comprehensive strategy to prevent shortages of vital, life-saving medical supplies."

Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com

MAY 2020

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William Woods University Celebrates 150 Years Once a school for female Civil War orphans, WWU now serves traditional and non-traditional students. BY JESSICA JAINCHILL

MAY 2020

illiam Woods University is a private academic institution. Th is doesn’t sound unusual until you learn that while a significant amount of private institutions have either shut down or relied on government subsidies at some point in their history, WWU has remained financially and operationally independent from the very beginning. As the college approaches the celebration of 150 years, one wonders how they have managed to stay independent and thrive at the same time for so long. John Fougere, WWU’s vice president of strategic communications, believes it is because of “a commitment to never stand still.”

History of WWU’s Progress WWU’s innovative characteristics show at their roots. The university began as a school for girls who had lost their parents in the Civil War, but as times changed, so did the mission of the school. “We kind of ran into a mission issue in the 1890s,” faculty member Shawn Hull, says. “There weren’t that many orphans to educate anymore from the Civil War, so we began taking in other students.” As the Civil War orphans grew up, the school steered themselves toward educating all young women and renamed themselves Daughters College in 1899. During this time period, the university’s soon-to-be namesake, William Woods, began getting involved.

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CELEBRATIONS

1870s William Woods University starts as a girls’ school for Civil War orphans.

1890s The university changes their name to Daughters College.

1900 Dr. William Woods takes on the college’s debt and the college renames itself William Woods University.

1968 The university becomes a four-year degree university for their female

Woods, a local doctor, took a keen interest in the school’s mission. A former orphan himself, he often funded students’ education and donated funds to the school. Shawn says: “Dr. Woods went onto the board of trustees. In 1900, he took on all of the college’s debt. In gratitude, the board of trustees voted to name the school after him.” Upon surviving into the 19th century, the college began to upgrade their curriculum. “We kind of had a blurred curriculum,” Shawn says. “We offered pretty much a high school curriculum with some college level courses [at the time].” But not content with this level of education, the college pushed for full degrees during the 1930s. Shawn explains, “We wanted to prove that our graduates were capable of doing a [full] degree.” The college succeeded, and by 1968, WWU was a four-year degree institution. By the 1990s, WWU was co-ed and offering degrees and courses to match the state’s other four-year institutions. But as far as education is concerned, WWU’s mindset continues to be innovative progress.

students.

WWU’s Modern Education

1990s William Woods University begins offering degrees to male students.

2020 The university celebrates 150 years as a school.

One element of WWU’s ongoing innovation is their online master’s degree program. Th is program is aimed at professionals who want to obtain a master’s degree while working in their current careers. Jeremiah Hunter, Columbia’s assistant police chief, went through WWU’s MBA program and says: “I knew a couple of people who had gone through it, and they told me it was very flexible with people who had full-time jobs and professional positions. Personally, I thought that was a 100% true.” John says: “A lot of people aren’t aware of what we have to offer here. It’s a quality education and a community where professors are very much committed to their students’ success. It’s a place for working people who still want to get their degree while working.”

Now, after 150 years of quality education, the university is ready for a capstone celebration.

The Celebration and the Future Reaching 150 years is hard for any university to do, but WWU isn’t just celebrating their past. “People will appreciate the fact that it’s not only very interesting to look back to your history, but also [to] look forward to the future,” John explains. “I think we have a great combination of that.” As the school reflects on their history, a part of that is remembering their students. One notable example is Helen Stephens. Helen was known as “the Fulton Flash” and proved it by winning two gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. WWU also looks to their future with a new building set to open for their successful equestrian science degree, a unique niche degree that only a few U.S. universities have. Though celebrating 150 years as a school is an exciting time for WWU, the university faculty have not slowed down, even though their institution is well-established with age. As the university passes this historic year, their members are facing the future with even more tenacity and optimism. “We’re always looking to the future. If you’re not looking to the future as a small, private university, you’re going to be in danger,” John says. With pleasure, he adds, “We’re very proud that our institution has reached a milestone. A lot of [universities] have not been able to match our longevity. We hope people will take time to appreciate what William Woods University has accomplished right now and just learn more about us.”

WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSIT Y 1 UNIVERSIT Y AVE., FULTON, MO 800-995-3159 WILLIAMWOODS.EDU

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Once Lost, Now Found Rotaract brings people together through service and socialization. BY JASMINE-KAY JOHNSON

ntil graduating college, school is typically a person’s primary channel for networking. Although networking looks different at every stage of schooling, from sports teams to university career fairs, there are plenty of chances to meet new people and take on new opportunities. But what about life after school is over? How do you build a network and stay involved in a community when the only people you see are your co-workers, friends, and family members? In Columbia, the answer is Rotaract. Rotaract is an offshoot of Rotary International, a service organization with a long-standing history and hundreds of clubs around the world. It was established with a focus on young people in search of connection and service. Rotaract clubs can be either community or university-based. Columbia’s Rotaract was established by the downtown branch of the Rotary Club of Columbia. “We're basically young adults trying to get through life and learn more about each other, the community, and looking really to give back,” says Erica Mui, Columbia’s Rotaract president.

FINDING A PURPOSE Within two years of moving to Columbia, Erica found herself distracted with work and facing loneliness, so she sought out ways to get involved in

“If we’re going to be doing some good together, it’s better doing it with people you enjoy being around. It’s good to be more than just a number. it’s important to have a face behind it, and a heart.” 80

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the community. “I was tired of just taking from the community. I really wanted to contribute,” she says. So Erica attended an initial meeting for the Rotary Club of Columbia. “It was just fascinating seeing the amount of order in the club, and also just the engagement,” Erica says. “It reminded me of a lot of the service organizations that I was a part of in college, and it was refreshing to see that.” While she saw the value in the club, she quickly noticed that the membership was largely made up of retirees or other adults who were already well established in both life and work. That’s when a personal connection stepped in and suggested that Erica visit Rotaract. Erica went to an outreach event at Logboat Brewing Co. that Rotaract was hosting that same night. “Serendipity, I like to call it,” she says. “I showed up and have been with them for the past three years now.” As the president of a growing club, Erica finds that many of her day-to-day responsibilities are related not only to networking, but building real relationships — especially with the other board members. Keeping this in mind, she made it a goal for everyone to get to know each other better. “If we’re going to be doing some good together, it’s better doing it with people you enjoy being around,” she says. “It’s good to be more than just a number. It’s important to have a face behind it, and a heart.”

ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE Erica’s generous nature helps her empathize with other newcomers who feel the same way she once did. “We get a lot of people who are new to Columbia, and once they see that we’re a service organization looking to give back and get involved, we usually get people that way,” she says. When Erica fi rst joined, Rotaract membership was limited to people between the ages of 18 and 30. However, Rotary recently decided that anyone, regardless of age, could join a Rotary or Rotaract club. Erica says this change has helped Rotaract because now members who have enjoyed their time with the group are no longer without a support system upon turning 31. For Columbia’s Rotaract, the average demographic is “20-somethings” from a variety of industries

Rotaract Club of Columbia Founded: 2001 Mission Statement: Our mission is to bring high-energy young professionals together in a fun environment to encourage community involvement and professional growth while developing the leadership skills of our members.

Board Members: Erica Mui president

Danny Poon president-elect

Morgan Morgan secretary

Adam Burger treasurer

Sandra Crowder sergeant of arms

Steven Stepanovic community service

Mackenzie Smith historian

Drew Anderson past president

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

A few Rotaract members volunteering at Mobility Worldwide to help make handcranked carts. Right to Left: Drew Anderson (past president, 2018-2019), Josh Beck (past president, 2017-2018), Erika Payne, Erin Twenter, Sandra Crowder (sergeant of arms, 2019-2020), Erica Mui (current president, 2019-2020), Colten Crowder, Caroline Fellows

and walks of life, including graduate students, teachers, financial institution workers, and more. “Our common thread is, really, we want to help the community and build each other,” Erica says.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY “Service above self” is Rotary International’s motto, but Rotaract and Erica have also adopted it. In the wake of COVID-19, some of Rotaract’s service landscape changed or fell into question. Rotaract’s larger conferences have already been cancelled, but Erica and the board have worked to implement strategies, such as Zoom videoconferencing and online training, that will allow the club to continue running and fulfi lling its purpose. One of the most pressing issues Erica and the Rotaract board members faced was the organization's major fundraiser: Craft Beer and Carts. This fundraiser, previously held at Logboat, supports Mobility Worldwide, an organization that provides hand-cranked carts to those with disabilities. Plans for the fundraiser are still up in the air as of this writing, but Rotaract’s consistent support of Mobility Worldwide remains the same. Although Rotaract has partnered with

the organization for several years, it was only last year that the fundraiser was revamped and raised over $10,000. As most of Mobility Worldwide’s donations come from people close to the organization, Rotaract’s fundraising plays a significant part in providing the organization with additional support. Erica says that Rotaract’s partnership with Mobility Worldwide is also special because it satisfies the club’s objective in serving both local and global communities. Rotaract also spends time working with the Boys & Girls Club and City of Refuge, and has put plans in motion to participate in Adopt A Family with True North.

ROTARACT CLUB OF COLUMBIA Regular meetings are held at: Northwestern Mutual 3610 Buttonwood Dr., Ste. 300 Service meetings are held at: PET of Columbia 1908 Heriford Rd. ROTARACTOFCOLUMBIA.ORG

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BUSINESS UPDATE

An Early College Option CPS and MACC partner on giving high school students a chance for a different type of college experience. BY DAVID MORRISON

olumbia Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman was part of the Columbia traveling party that made the Chamber of Commerce trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in spring 2018. The chamber regularly facilitates these trips to cities similar to Columbia so that civic leaders can see what ideas are in place in other communities like our own. To Peter, the most eye-opening part of the trip, by far, was Middle College. Ann Arbor Public Schools partnered with Washtenaw Community College on Middle College, a program through which juniors and seniors could concurrently be enrolled in high school and WCC and make progress toward

their high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time. “We said, ‘What an amazing opportunity for kids,’ to be able to graduate high school with their associate degree or industry-recognized credential, giving them lots of different options,” Peter says. “That became the hallmark project, the rallying cry from that trip: We should have something similar for our kids.” CPS found a capable partner in its own backyard: Moberly Area Community College. The two sides got to work on their own early college program shortly after, and the first class is slated to start this fall. Peter says that CPS hoped for around 50 students to enroll for the pilot year. They got 126.

“That tells us, in just our first year, that there is such an interest and excitement among our community,” Peter says. “This could be an absolute game-changer in terms of eliminating two years of college debt, increasing the chances a kid will graduate a four-year institution or be ready to go right into the workforce with their associate degree.” Students who were accepted into the program met a certain academic profile, fulfilling standards such as a minimum 2.75 high school grade-point average, a qualifying ACT score, and a record of at least 90% attendance. They will take classes at MACC and earn 10 to 12 credit hours per semester while still progressing toward their diplomas and main-

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taining their statuses as high school students. That means they can still participate in athletics, activities, and other functions that form the high school experience. “They get the best of both worlds,” says MACC President Dr. Jeff Lashley. “There will be a lot of wraparound services with us and Columbia Public Schools in terms of advising. We’re also focusing in on getting

first-generation college students involved. A lot of times, they’re not very aware of the access they would have to higher education. We get some of these students through the program, get CPS involved, and they come out here and earn a lot toward their associate degree. They find out college education is something accessible and affordable that they can pursue.”

CPS picks up the tab for the students’ tuition, books, and fees at MACC by taking the average daily attendance funds it receives from the state for each student and applying it toward MACC. The college classes the students will be taking are part of the CORE 42, a suite of courses whose credits are transferable to any public Missouri college or university.

“THAT BECAME THE HALLMARK PROJECT, THE RALLYING CRY FROM THAT TRIP: WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR OUR KIDS.” — Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman

MAY 2020

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“THESE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE PROGRAM DEBT-FREE.” —MACC President Dr. Jeff Lashley Students who earn their Associate of Arts degree through MACC essentially have their first two years of college taken care of before they even exit high school. Peter and Jeff both say the positive economic impact for families could be substantial. “These students are going to be able to do the program debt-free,” Jeff says. “What Early College will do is allow our dual-credit stu-

dents to get the kind of access where those who want to, who are motivated, and who work hard enough will be able to get their degree. That’s a big highlight for us.” CPS held three informational sessions about the Early College Program in January, at Hickman, Battle, and Rock Bridge high schools. What struck Peter, besides the full houses at each event, were the age demo-

BUSINESS UPDATE

graphics of the students whose parents were requesting more information. They were getting a number of queries from parents of eighth-graders. “They were thinking about their kids’ fouryear plan for high school and considering what this early college opportunity is going to mean for their kids,” Peter says. “I would imagine the program is just going to keep growing.” The success of the Early College Program could also have ripple effects on the future of CPS. Peter says that, with current population growth, the district is tentatively planning on purchasing land for a fifth high school in 2026, with the aim to open it by 2030. The ability to educate more high school upperclassmen through programs such as the Early College Program could alter that trajectory. “It’s very expensive to build a high school. Then it’s very expensive to perpetually operate it,” Peter says. “I’ve never seen such course catalogs in terms of what we offer in our high schools. To do that at another high school would be very expensive. This might give us an opportunity to rethink our long-term plans and maybe consider innovative ways to deliver a high school experience.” MACC has offered dual-credit courses to high school students for a while, Jeff says, but Early College takes the cooperation to another level. Jeff says that local partnerships with entities such as CPS, MU, Columbia College, and Stephens College help MACC expand its programs and offerings for students. CPS, in turn, relies on its local partnerships to give students a leg up in specialized fields such as biomedicine, contracting, engineering, architecture, robotics, programming, and culinary arts. The Columbia ecosystem is one in which students have a multitude of opportunities to thrive. “We have a long track record of great partnerships with CPS. It’s extremely valuable,” Jeff says. “At MACC, everything we think about is creating pathways for our students, ways for them to get to programs and higher education and into the workforce. Early College will speed that process up as well.”

COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS DRU NASH COORDINATOR OF ADVANCED LEARNING DNASH@CPSK 12.ORG 573-214-3800 EX T. 29451

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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

Annelle B. Whitt District Coordinator, MAC Program, Columbia Public Schools PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON JOB DESCRIPTION

I’m responsible for the Multicultural Achievement Program for Columbia Public Schools. This program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and support needed to achieve success academically, emotionally, and socially. It’s also designed to increase the number of underrepresented students in CPS’s most rigorous coursework. The program helps to ensure college and career readiness for students. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

After graduating from law school, I entered the insurance industry, where I spent 25 years. I started my career with an inland marine company as a claims branch manager. My intent after leaving the insurance industry was to be an executive coach; however, fate had other plans for me. I entered the education field after being a team lead for the CPS MAC Conference as a favor to a friend who was an administrator at the time. I have been the district coordinator of the MAC Program going on 10 years now. Everything I did in my career up to this point was to prepare me for what I am doing right now — this is truly my dream job. EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree from UCLA; JD from University of San Francisco School of Law and New College of California School of Law. »

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HOMETOWN

Deer Park in Long Island, New York. YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA

19 years. QUOTE YOU LIVE BY

“Stay in the moment.” FAVORITE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY

Mentoring students. Over the past year, I have been coaching and mentoring some of our elementary Mini-MACs. I have lunch with them every other week, and I help them set personal goals for themselves.

“Everything I did in my career up to this point was to prepare me for what I’m doing right now.”

FAVORITE HANGOUT SPOT IN COLUMBIA

If I’m truly honest, my favorite spot to hang out is in my bed watching movies with my husband. WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATION

I believe education is the great equalizer. When I was in elementary school, I had a hard time with reading and calculating numbers. As a result, I had to repeat the second grade. My second teacher in the second grade taught me that the way I learned was just fine. There was nothing wrong with me. She used to tell me, “It may take you a little longer to figure it out, but once you do, you understand it as good as anyone else.” Over 40 years later, I still remember how she made me feel. She made me feel capable. Even to this day, when I am dealing with difficult projects, I hear her voice. I want to be that voice inside our students’ heads, especially those students who may question their skill set. WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THE MAC SCHOLARS PROGRAM

I’ve seen the success students can have when they are believed in unconditionally. I know what the power of believing in a student and helping them develop and enhance their skill sets can have — helping students discover their strengths and their individual voices can change not only their lives, but also the lives of generations that follow. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD

I would be a professional dancer. I started taking dance lessons at the age of five. I also wanted to be a lawyer, which I felt was more practical, so I went to law school. In hindsight,

MAY 2020

I wish I would not have been so practical. I realize now that I could have done both. WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MAC SCHOLARS PROGRAM

YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL

Complete the book I am working on, “White Folks Have Sidewalks.” As an equity trainer, I get the same question all the time: How do we use these concepts? This book will hopefully answer that question. BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN EDUCATION

The commitment made by many educators is bigger than most realize. HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY

I want to be part of what makes Columbia a truly beloved community. I hope to make an impact by raising a community of students who are constantly building blocks of love, joy, understanding, empathy, forgiveness, and inclusion. HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE STUDENTS IN THE MAC SCHOLARS PROGRAM

It’s one of the best programs in the district that supports our underrepresented students in higher education. The MAC program expands our students’ skills in time management, self-advocacy, and goal setting while also expanding their personal brand, amplifying their leadership skills, and help them navigate the college application process.

I want our MAC scholars to have more than a dream for themselves. I want them to have a vision for their lives and know they can achieve more than what they believe they can.

THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING THE MAC PROGRAM

GREATEST WEAKNESS

Developing and implementing a curriculum that understands the social imperative of equity in education. There are thousands of tools available to educate our students. The challenge for education services is figuring out how to educate students to understand that they must do more than learn — they must be educated with equity in mind. A COLUMBIA EDUCATOR YOU ADMIRE

Carla London, because she’s real on every level. I have learned so much from her, like how to build relationships with students, parents, and faculty. One of the most important things I’ve learned from her is having grace under pressure — she is the most even-tempered and strong person I have ever had the pleasure of working with. FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT

I love decorating our home. I recently redecorated our living room and dining room. It was fun because I moved out of my comfort zone on some fabrics.

GREATEST STRENGTH

My commitment to the things and people I believe in. My lack of patience. WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN

Attend my son’s basketball games, watch old movies, and interior decorate. FAMILY

My husband, James, and I have six kids. We have three sons: Jason, Marcus, and Jimmy, and three daughters: Cherri, Michelle, and Terosie. FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN COLUMBIA AND A DISH/DRINK YOU’D RECOMMEND

Addison’s. The salmon is phenomenal. For a drink, green apple martini with green olives. Don’t knock it until you try it. ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF

After getting married and having kids, I taught myself to type when I was in college. MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU

I placed in beauty pageants in my teens and early 20s.

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MAY 2020

IN TH E

N E

O I

O T

G I

Eight of Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top high school seniors share their contributions to the community before starting a new chapter in their lives. BY T H E RAS IA BRAUT IG AM

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Tahsin Schwartz

Columbia Independent School SI LVE RBOX PHOTOG R A PH ER S

Emilia Irovic

Heritage Academy

ahsin Schwartz, a senior at Columbia Independent School, has a radiant passion for medicine. Outside of school, she volunteers at Goldschmidt Cancer Center and has shadowed local clinicians. Tahsin also participated in MU’s Mini Med School program, a one-week program that gives high school students hands-on medical experience. Last summer, she helped conduct research comparing the differences between two different types of grounding pads in Mohs dermatological procedures. Tahsin is the co-author of the study and the results are being published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery. Aside from health care, Tahsin has enjoyed being part of the yearbook club. She has been chief editor for three years and has earned leadership skills through her position. “Yearbook has been such a source of growth for me, not only by learning how to create a yearbook ladder, but also by working with a group and being inclusive,” she says. After graduation, Tahsin plans to pursue a career in medicine. Her anatomy and physiology class sparked a fascination with how the human body works and “how all of its systems are so synchronized,” she says. For the future, “I would love to cure a disease, or find a method of making health care more efficient,” she says, “but I also recognize that something as easy as holding a door for a stranger can be impactful. My goal in life is to help as many people as possible in any way that I can.”

milia Irovic, a senior at Heritage Academy, attributes her accomplished high school career to her faith in God. “I have spent my life and high school career working to become the person God wants me to be,” she says. “To me, that doesn’t mean I’m special or noteworthy — just me trying to be the best person I can be.” Her junior year, Emilia was named Servant Leader at Heritage Academy, an award reserved for one junior or senior every year that shows servant-leadership within the school and community. In addition to the leadership Emilia has demonstrated within her faith, she also shows leadership in her music career. Since 7th grade, Emilia has participated in the Missouri Symphony Society’s Young Artist Philharmonic and is now the principal flutist. Her flute teacher, Katie Frederickson, has given her advice that has helped guide Emilia throughout her high school career. Katie preaches “progression, not perfection,” Emilia says. “It has helped remind me that only God is the one who can get every note perfect, write every essay and receive 100%, and make every life choice and scenario just right. As long as I’m doing my best and working to improve — not perfect — everything, then that is enough.” Emilia is attending Hannibal LaGrange University in the fall and majoring in criminal justice. She has already earned three college credits in American Sign Language and hopes to continue working to be ASL-fluent while at Hannibal LaGrange. After her time in college, Emilia aspires to graduate debt free, work as a detective, and visit prison to share the Gospel.

WHAT HAVE YOU MISSED BY MOVING TO ONLINE CLASSES?

WHAT ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU ENJOYED WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING?

I miss seeing my friends and teachers. During this pandemic, I’ve realized that I have taken small things for granted, such as going out to eat with my friends and simple human interaction. You don’t realize how much a small hug from a friend or seeing a teacher smile can impact your day. This time is challenging us to find creative ways to communicate and still touch each other’s hearts.

MAY 2020

Since last summer, I had a plan to sketch a mural on each of my bedroom walls and paint them. Initially, it was supposed to be a summer project, but I had trouble getting the sketches started and the project carried over into my senior school year. I hadn’t gotten much progress up until now, but within this past week, I have two full sketches on two of my walls and a sketch plan for a third. I’m excited to finish it.

Sophie Kington

Olivia Williams

Sophie Kington is a senior at Hickman High School and is distinguished in academics, especially biology. Sophie has spent the past year interning at MU’s veterinary sciences laboratory under Dr. Teresa Lever. The experience has allowed her to gain both communication skills and practical skills, allowing her to work with co-workers and be in a professional lab. “I personally wouldn’t trade this for the world, and this opportunity has helped me change myself for the better,” she says of the experience. Sophie has also looked to her U.S. history teacher, Zach Rodeman, for guidance. “He is so passionate about his teaching and will bend over backwards to help his students shine,” Sophie says. “If he thinks that he has failed to teach a student, he takes it personally and strives to do better. His influence on my life has changed me for the better.” According to Heidi Barnhouse, Hickman’s gifted and talented specialist, she sees a similar character in Sophie. “Not only is she extremely bright, but she is a person of high moral character,” says Heidi. Sophie has also enjoyed her AP literature class. The course allowed her to read multiple novels and improve her writing skills. Practicing her writing paid off, as Sophie was accepted into MU’s Honors College after completing an essay about herself and what she has to offer. “The feeling of finding out that I had been selected out of 792 people is indescribable,” she says. Sophie is attending MU in the fall with a biology major and wants to later receive a master’s in microbiology. One day, Sophie hopes to work in another country helping others, even potentially with the Peace Corps.

A senior at Frederick Douglass High School, Olivia Williams is pursuing her passion for health care. During her time at Douglass, Olivia has enrolled in a Professions in Healthcare course, which has given her training to receive her certified nursing assistant license. Because of the course, Olivia will graduate in May not only with her high school diploma, but also her CNA, giving her a jumpstart in her career. In addition to her health care interest, Olivia also cares about helping young children. She was fundamental in the start of Douglass’s Bulldog Reading Program, a volunteer program that allows seniors to read to preschoolers in the building twice a week. “This program is my favorite because it gives me the chance to teach young children that reading is important and that reading can be fun,” she says. Olivia hasn’t always had the same ambitious attitude that she now possesses. She admits that she experienced a difficult school year when she was younger that left her with poor attendance and bad grades. Once she started attending Douglass, she started going to classes and completing all her work. Olivia learned that, “I have the power to control my future, and what happens in my life is not up to anybody else but me.” Olivia looks to her mom for support and admires her perseverance. “Anytime I needed something, even if she didn’t have it, she found a way for me to get it,” Olivia says. “She’s always there when I need her for anything. My mom is one of my biggest supporters. Even when I feel like I’m not doing my best, she always lets me know that she’s proud of me.” Olivia plans to attend Lincoln University in the fall to pursue nursing and one day become a nurse practitioner.

Hickman High School

WHAT HAVE YOU MISSED BY MOVING TO ONLINE CLASSES? My teachers! I ask a lot of questions in class when I don’t understand something, and the instant clarification really helps me. Class discussions also really helped me further my understanding of a topic and helped me look at it from a different angle. Most of my classes aren’t on Zoom or any video chats, so it’s hard to get that “classroom feel” again.

Frederick Douglass High School

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED? The best advice I have received would be to “always be on your best behavior because someone is always watching you”.

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Rachael Erickson

David Bihomora

A senior at Rock Bridge High School, Rachael Erickson has been a strong, positive leader inside and outside the high school’s walls. After the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Rachael took an interest in working to improve gun violence prevention laws. That year, she helped organize and spoke at Columbia’s March for Our Lives demonstration and is now the Missouri state director for the organization. She has also worked with Students Demand Action, another student advocacy group focused on ending gun violence in communities. “This policy advocacy is what I see myself doing for a long time, and I’m incredibly proud of the fact that I’ve been able to start that work now,” she says. “Obviously, it’s unlikely that any high schooler can significantly change policy on something as controversial as gun violence prevention, but our Missouri network has turned dozens of high schoolers into activists and registered significantly more to vote, both of which are important steps towards change.” Along with advocacy, Rachael values communication and hopes to one day be multilingual. She has a love for linguistics and etymology, something she was able to explore more in her Classical Roots class, which focused on the impacts of Greek and Latin on English. As for role models, Rachael’s dad is top on her list. “My dad grew up in a small town in Kansas, where education was never really valued,” she says. “He married young and had two kids and couldn’t go to college until his mid-20s. Then he took night classes and worked as a machinist during the week and eventually got a doctorate in American history.” After graduation, Rachael would like to follow in her dad’s footsteps, completing college and hopefully attending law school to continue her work with policymaking.

David Bihomora is an incredibly well-rounded senior at Christian Fellowship School. Not only has he maintained a 3.8 GPA throughout his four years, but he has also lettered in four sports: cross country, track, soccer, and basketball. He’s also participated in choir and ethics bowl, and he’s volunteered in a kindergarten classroom for the A+ program. David says that helping in the classroom has been his favorite school activity. “It’s really the joy I get knowing that I’ll hopefully get to make an impact on them by being the best role model I can be,” he says. David has shown this uplifting attitude not just in the kindergarten classroom, but through his personal life as well. “He’s been supportive of his family as they have adapted to American life as Rwandan refugees and supportive of his father, who is a cancer survivor,” says Sarah Hixon, Christian Fellowship School’s director of guidance and curriculum. David admires his father’s strength and determination, qualities that David himself also possesses. Despite being only 18, David has created his own clothing line, Blade. “In my sophomore year, I really had the drive to have some sort of creative outlet,” he says. “Eventually, I decided to create Blade, which represents the idea that with creativity and inspiration, we can cut through all differences and unite people,” he says. David plans to attend MU’s textile and apparel management program in the fall to continue working on his clothing line. With his continued determination, David would like to work on making Blade even more successful and travelling to experience other lifestyles.

Rock Bridge High School

WHAT ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU ENJOYED WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING? I started learning to bake bread, which is something I’ve always wanted to do but have never really taken the time to focus on! I started with a simple white loaf with a strong crust, and now I’m experimenting with faux sourdoughs to see if I can mimic sourdough’s taste without having to care for a starter!

MAY 2020

Christian Fellowship School

HOW WAS YOUR SENIOR YEAR IMPACTED BY COVID-19? It impacted my senior year greatly, seeing as my last track and field season was canceled. I joined track and field for Christian Fellowship back in seventh grade and fell in love with the friendships and memories I made in the sport, and to know I can’t get the last run kind of hurts. Also, from my freshman year on to junior year, we won a state championship in the MCSAA division, and we were hoping to four-peat for my last year there.

Heather Martin

Silas Glaude

Heather Martin is a well-rounded senior at Battle High School with a passion for challenging herself to continue learning. Heather is currently the student director of Columbia Aeronautics and Space Association, or CASA, and has spent the last two years organizing the largest student-led space simulation in the nation. She is also a participant in StellarXplorers, a national high school competition that challenges students with space system designing. Aside from her work with aeronautics and space, Heather also enjoys participating in marching band. “Marching band is an art form, which means that I can always keep growing and honing my craft,” she says. “There’s no one singular point at which the skills I’ve attained or experiences I’ve had are finally good enough. Because of this, I have the opportunity to work as hard as I want, to grow as far as I possibly can.” Heather also completed four years of coursework in Spanish, something that challenged her more than she originally thought it would. The first three courses she took were taught in English, but the final course was taught in Spanish, and Heather was also expected to speak only in Spanish while in the classroom. “That was really hard for someone like me who’s talkative, since I couldn't always find the Spanish words I wanted!” she says. “Besides Calc 3 and planning the CASA simulation, this is the hardest work I ever put into high school.” In the end, Heather chose to stick out the class and learned the rewards of perseverance. “I won't always be in situations where I feel comfortable and understand everything. I learned I shouldn't ever give up,” she says. After graduation, Heather plans to attend college for an engineeringrelated career field and dabble in everything from composing music to learning how to forge a sword.

A senior at Father Tolton Catholic High School, Silas Glaude has been sprinting his way through high school with an interest in both academics and athletics. Silas has participated in cross country and track throughout his time at Father Tolton and placed 20th at the 2019 Missouri state competition for cross country. The fall competition took place at Gans Creek Cross Country Course, located across the street from Father Tolton, which was even more special for Silas as he ran a personal and school record. Silas has a gratitude for cross country and perseverance it has given him. “I appreciate the sport for the fact that it doesn’t take a lot of natural talent to excel. The people that are on the podium are always there because of their grit, determination, and hard work,” he says. His dedication to achieving his goals also shines through in his academic life. Jill McIntosh, vice president of advancement at Father Tolton, commends Silas on both his rigorous course load and his perfect ACT score. “Silas doesn’t do anything halfway and does everything with an all-too-rare spirit of selflessness and humility,” she says. When asked to choose a favorite class, Silas can’t just pick one; he finds a positive aspect to every subject. “Courses like biology and history are engaging due to the information they provide about the world around me. I like math and physics because there is always a single, mathematically true answer. In literature and language, truth proves to be more convoluted and idiosyncratic.” Silas is currently deciding between attending Georgetown University or MU in the fall. He plans to attend law school after receiving his undergraduate degree and hopes to either be a lawyer or work for the government.

HOW WAS YOUR SENIOR YEAR IMPACTED BY COVID-19?

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE MISSED BY MOVING TO ONLINE CLASSES?

Battle High School

All of the annual marching band events were cancelled. At the cusp of the outbreak, my band arrived at Battle to perform our first spring concert. We were about to start when my band director announced that the Memorial Day parade was cancelled. That was my last chance to play mellophone with the band and to march with them.

Father Tolton Catholic High School

I miss the one-on-one guidance that comes with inclass instruction.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New on

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Photo by Keith Borgmeyer

MAY 2020

BATTLE MEDICAL BUILDING

MURIEL WILLIAMS BATTLE HIGH SCHOOL

the East Side? BY N I CO L E FLO O D

This month, we continue our series on SOMERSET VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

new business development in Columbia, piled high with things to do, places to eat, and shops to explore. This month we focus on areas east

ELIOT BATTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

of Highway 63, both north and south of I-70. COMOMAG.COM

A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERIES

BAT TLE M E D I C A L BU ILD IN G

Renderings provided by Simon Oswald Architecture.

Located just west of Battle High School and projected to open in December, the Battle Medical Building will bring outpatient care to Columbia’s northeast corner. The new 27,760-square-foot facility will contain 34 examination rooms and two treatment rooms. “We had a primary care expansion committee that was looking at primary care expansion and how we could care for more Missourians,” says Stephanie Cordray, MU Health Care’s interim executive director of ambulatory care. The committee knew there weren’t any other health care providers north of I-70 and knew that area would be growing, with Battle High School growing and road improvements being made. “Th is will be one of the best builds for a medical building,” Stephanie says. “I think it’s about taking health care into the community. It’s a multispecialty primary care clinic. We’re talking the full gamut, with everything from a retail pharmacy with a drive-thru to imaging and labs. Th is allows people to go and get what they need and get taken care of. “It co-locates so many different types of services. It’s intended to serve families, the young, the old. It’s a big investment in that the design is very supportive of an integrated clinic with the patient in mind,” she adds.

WHAT TO

DO 100

MAY 2020

B UR OAK B R EWI NG CO M PA N Y

E L EVAT E GYM N A ST I CS A N D FI TN E SS

Bur Oak Brewing offers craft beers perfect for people who share an appreciation of their craft and community. When you stop by the taproom, you’ll ﬁnd craft beers that pay homage to Mid-Missouri, such as MoMo Dark Ale, Old 63, Big Tree DIPA, and Boone County Brown. In addition to great beer, you can also ﬁnd fun games to play at their brewery, like ping pong, giant Jenga, cornhole, and big billiards. In terms of food, it’s BYOF (bring your own food), but they also have food trucks on site during certain days.

Elevate Gymnastics and Fitness is owned by Rodney Gust and Adrianne Perry, who also serve as head coaches for the gym. Their 9,000-square-foot facility strives to “elevate the competitive standard of gymnastics and health within our community while creating an inclusive and devoted environment where children and adults strive to learn, work, play, and grow — together.” They offer recreational and competitive gymnastics training, and it is also available for birthday parties and adult ﬁtness. Among their many other qualiﬁcations, Rodney coached two 2004 U.S. Olympic team members, and Adrianne is a 2017 Mizzou Hall of Fame inductee.

WHERE TO

SHOP H O N G KO N G M A R K E T Hong Kong Market specializes in Asian groceries. They carry a wide selection of Asian noodles, sauces, mixes, baked goods, candies, herbs and seasonings for soups, and a variety of kitchen items helpful for Asian-style cooking. If there are items not in the store, you can preorder them and make sure you receive the something special you’re looking for. A RT I C H O K E A N N I E ’ S Artichoke Annie’s Antique Mall is over 30,000 square feet of antiques, vintage clothing, and collectible items. They have more than 150 dealers and consigners, and they offer coffee and cookies to purchase and enjoy while you peruse their booths and displays from the past. The booths are always changing, so every trip to Artichoke Annie’s is a unique experience. M I D A M E R I CA H A R L EY- DAVI D S O N Mid America HarleyDavidson is a full-service Harley-Davidson dealership that serves riders in MidMissouri and loves to build relationships with their customers and community. Be sure to check them out on Facebook to ﬁnd out about local parties and riding adventures they have planned.

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E A S T S ID E

A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERIES

WHERE TO

EAT SURAH Surah Korean Cuisine BBQ and Sushi offers authentic Korean food in Columbia. Surah opened in August of 2019 and is a locally owned and family-owned restaurant. Whether you’re looking for bibimbap, bulgogi, or sushi, you’ll find delicious and extensive options of Korean and East Asian dishes on their menu. As it says on their Facebook page, Surah is truly “a place for a sitdown homemade meal that you would find across the Pacific.”

We recommend trying the grilled mac & cheese!

CO M O S M O K E & F I R E Como Smoke & Fire is a family-owned and -operated barbecue restaurant that offers a fun, friendly, unique dining experience and atmosphere that puts a local twist on barbecue. Come in and try their homemade sauces and fresh smoked meats to taste that Columbia barbecue style. Whether you start with pulled pork or fried pickles or go straight for some burnt ends and bacon cheddar ranch potato salad, you’ll enjoy their food and their welcoming vibe. G E O R G E ’ S PI Z Z A A N D ST E A K H O U S E From steak to gyros to spanakopita to pizza, George’s Pizza and Steak House offers a unique and tasty menu. Located off of Clark Lane, it has a laid-back feeling and some of the best homemade pizza in Columbia with reasonable prices. Whether you’re dining in or taking a pizza home after work, George’s is a convenient and tasty option on this side of town.

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MAY 2020

TH E B ROO K S The Brooks is a single-family residential development with nearly 500 lots. It’s located just north of Route WW across from Elk Park Drive, extending to Rolling Hills Road. Crockett Engineering provides all of the civil engineering and surveying for the development. “Mid-Missouri is in need of additional housing stock,” says Tim Crockett, partner at Crockett Engineering. “The Brooks is a development that provides additional opportunities for housing on the east side of Columbia.” The Brooks is a large subdivision that began selling lots on July 7, 2017. Phase one of the development has 82 lots and phase two has 398 lots, for a grand total of 480 lots. “It’s complete in phase one and has about 50 houses in it already, and we are currently building houses in phase two. It may include two or three more phases going forward, and those are not built yet,” says Quinn Bellmer, president and owner of JQB Construction Inc., developer of The Brooks. “It’s unique from other subdivisions in Columbia because the location is very convenient to north, south, and downtown. The land in particular is very good and some of the best I’ve ever seen in Co-

lumbia,” says Quinn. “It has a nice rolling effect, which is optimal for land development. Th is land has never been logged, either, so it has nice, mature trees.” One of the builders in The Brooks subdivision is Girard Homes; they’re building a custom home. Other builders are working on spec homes there. “The home we are building in The Brooks is a semi-custom home,” says Amanda Baker, new home specialist with Girard Homes. “We started off by helping our clients pick out the perfect lot to build on. Then they worked with our draftsman to make modifications to one of our floor plans to customize it exactly how they wanted. Next, we set them up with our inhouse design team to select all of the interior and exterior details of their home. Now, they’re able to watch it all come together as the construction progresses.” The Brooks welcomes you with a treelined entrance that takes you up on top of a hill surrounded by woodland. “Homeowners in this community can really enjoy the quiet countryside,” Amanda says. “The Brooks helps make every home feel more secluded and tranquil. Whether you are wanting a larger walkout custom home or a smaller single-level new home, The Brooks has you covered.”

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818 BROADWAY......................................................................................................................... 5 A-1 RENTAL.................................................................................................................................. 14 ACCOUNTING PLUS........................................................................................................... 107 ANTHONY JINSON PHOTOGRAPHY......................................................................... 45 BARRED OWL...........................................................................................................................48 BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES.......................................................... 97 BOONE COUNTY LUMBER COMPANY..................................................................... 18 BOONE HOSPITAL.................................................................................................................. 16 BROCKMEIER FINANCIAL SERVICES........................................................................72 CASEY BUCKMAN PHOTOGRAPHY..........................................................................40 CENTRAL MISSOURI AUTO BODY...............................................................................72 CHARITON VALLEY............................................................................................................... 66 CLASSIC BUILDINGS...............................................................................................................11 CLEAN AIR COLUMBIA....................................................................................................... 26 COLUMBIA BOARD OF REALTORS............................................................................ 63 COLUMBIA FARMERS MARKET................................................................................... 26 COMING HOME.........................................................................................................................15 COMMERCE BANK................................................................................................................ 82 CONVERGENCE FINANCIAL.............................................................................................. 2 CULVER'S..................................................................................................................................... 58 CUSTOM COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE.........................................................................103 DAVE GRIGGS FLOORING AMERICA.........................................................................33 DIAMOND SHINE CLEANING.........................................................................................64 G&D STEAKHOUSE.................................................................................................................52 GARRETT PAINTING..............................................................................................................52 HAWTHORN BANK............................................................................................................. 108 HEART OF MISSOURI CASA.............................................................................................22 INSIDE THE LINES.................................................................................................................. 63 J&S LAWN AND LANDSCAPE........................................................................................ 96 JOE MACHENS LINCOLN..................................................................................................... 3 KNORR MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS............................................................ 76 LEAN KITCHEN CO.............................................................................................................. 105 MACADOODLES..................................................................................................................... 82 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING CTR.......................................................48 MEDIACOM...................................................................................................................................4 MONARCH TITLE COMPANY........................................................................................... 10 MR. 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Cluttered Card Game Fiction Print Traveler Sparkyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Minimalist Board Game Nonf iction Digital Homebody Andyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Coffee

Tea

Shoes

Handbags

Photo by Keith Borgmeyer

Handwritten

Dianne Lynch President, Stephens College 1. A combination of the two. 106

MAY 2020

Spring

Typed Fall

Telepathy

Teleporting

At your Desk

In a Meeting

Impossible Burger

Veggie Burger

Tax Day is

the

July 15th Find all information

and you need resources

accountingplusinc.com When times are tough, it's important to have a supportive team behind you. Whether you need to file your taxes or want to set up a retirement plan, the experts at Accounting Plus are here for you. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still open for business and accepting new clients through virtual meetings and digital uploads. Set up a virtual tax appointment, upload your tax documents, or find out the latest tax and payroll law changes with Accounting Plus. 573-445-3805

300 St. James St., Suite 103 Columbia, MO 65201

“I would recommend a small business to Hawthorn Bank in a heartbeat.” “I only needed a small loan to get things up and running at Moon Yoga. Hawthorn Bank was eager to help and put things together quickly – which was huge for me and my business.” ”I now have this partnership with them that really feels like family.” – Amber Treece Moon Yoga Studio

Brandon Kalista Commercial Loan Officer (573) 449-3204

HawthornBank.com