Advancing Northwest

NORTHWEST TO CELEBRATE OPENING OF AG LEARNING CENTER, COMPLETION OF CAMPAIGN

Northwest will celebrate the opening of its Agricultural Learning Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 30 – a day that also will mark the end of the University’s successful Forever Green comprehensive campaign. The public is invited to the Agricultural Learning Center ribboncutting at 9 a.m. July 30 at the R.T. Wright Farm, located north of the Northwest campus at 22893 U.S. Highway 71 in Maryville. The event will include a short program and tours of the facility. “The grand opening of the Agricultural Learning Center is the perfect exclamation point as we conclude the Forever Green campaign,” Mitzi Craft Marchant ’91, ’09, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation, said. “The ALC has been a dream for many years, and to see it come to fruition is truly something to celebrate.” The $11.4 million, 29,000-squarefoot multipurpose facility will enhance the School of Agricultural Sciences, under the direction of Dr. Rod Barr ’87, ’95, ’09. With laboratory, kitchen and exposition space as well as classrooms and offices, the new building will position the School to advance its curriculum while meeting the needs of enrollment and program growth. The facility also will allow for research and scholarly activities centered on crop, soil and livestock resources as well as space for processing agricultural products. It will include space for public and private functions such as producer and agricultural industry meetings, workshops, shows and career development events. Launched in 2014, the Forever Green campaign is an initiative of the Northwest Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation responsible for developing and stewarding philanthropic resources for the benefit The University and students. The campaign, which is just the second in the University’s history, sought to raise $45 million for academic excellence, scholarships, student life and other donor-directed gifts. Upon going public with the campaign in 2019, donors had already provided nearly $43 million. As the campaign ends this summer, donors have provided more than $54 million. In addition to the Agricultural Learning Center, the Hughes Fieldhouse opened in October 2018 as another key component of the campaign and the single largest publicprivate partnership in Northwest’s history. The 137,250 square-foot facility features a 90-yard practice turf, 300-meter indoor competition track and meeting rooms. Further, the campaign is helping the Northwest Foundation dramatically increase scholarship awards to students. The Forever Green campaign aimed to raise $10.5 million for scholarships and, to date, has secured more than $13.1 million in scholarship support. Additionally, it is adding support to University faculty with initiatives such as the Dennis C. Dau Endowed Professorship in Instrumental Music. UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT, NORTHWEST FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES

Northwest and the Northwest Foundation announced in March the appointment of Mitzi Craft Marchant ’91, ’09, to the position of vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation. Marchant joined Northwest in 1999 and has a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in higher education leadership. During her time at the institution she has filled the roles of vice president of university relations, chief public relations officer, director of advancement communication, director of information and marketing, and communication assistant. She also served as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Communication and Mass Media, teaching courses in public relations. Most recently, she was Northwest’s director of donor engagement as well as director of corporate and foundation relations. “The Foundation could not be happier to have Mitzi assume the VP position,” Dr. Bob Burrell ’70, the president of the Northwest Foundation, said. “The Forever Green campaign is experiencing great success, and Mitzi has been a driving force in our efforts. I know she has the full support of the Foundation and the University Advancement team as she takes on her new role. We look forward to great things ahead for the Foundation and for Northwest.”

Additionally, Jill Brown has joined the Office of University Advancement and the Northwest Foundation as director of corporate relations and major gift officer. She is responsible for strategically strengthening Northwest’s relationship with existing corporate partners and seeking financial support from new partners as well as working with alumni and friends who desire to financially support the University. Brown joined Northwest in 2017 and most recently served as director of partnerships and placement, overseeing Career Services and playing an instrumental role in furthering profession-based learning opportunities. An alumna of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she has more than 15 years of higher education and corporate relations experience.

Mitzi Marchant Jill Brown

GIVING OF ALUMNI, CERNER EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZES LEGACIES, OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

Opportunities Ken Scribner ’87 and Owen Straub ’86 had at Northwest paved the way for successful careers with Cerner Corporation, a leading supplier of health information technology services, devices and hardware. Now their families are giving back to the University in hopes of creating similar opportunities for future students. Ken and his wife, Jeanette, gave $25,000 to establish the Ken and Jeanette Scribner Family Scholarship Fund and create a $1,000 annual scholarship. The fund will award scholarships to first-generation students with a technology-related major and pays tribute to the foundational experiences Northwest provided Ken, who is a member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors, as well as his son, Garrett Scribner ’18, and Garrett’s fiancé, Madison Olberding ’18. Similarly, Owen, a former member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors, and his wife, Liz, established the Straub Family Foundation Scholarship Fund through a $25,000 gift. That scholarship also will be awarded to students with technology-related majors while paying tribute to a legacy of Straub family members who have benefitted from opportunities Northwest provided them. Both of Owen’s parents, Robert ’57 and Virginia Buzzard ’57 Straub, as well as his sister, Ilse Straub ’87, are Northwest alumni. Ken completed his degree in computer science and began his Cerner career within a month of graduating. His work with Northwest’s computer science department and the University’s VAX operating system proved to be a boon in securing work with Cerner. “It was hands-on training that I probably wouldn’t have gotten at other schools,” Ken said. “I came out with that experience and then my first job involved doing system administration on the same operating system.” Owen also started his career with Cerner upon graduating from Northwest, seeing the company as a viable and intriguing innovator in the health care information industry. Learning the COBOL programming language at Northwest allowed him to jump into the work, and he quickly became a team leader. Cerner has grown from just more than 100 employees when Ken, vice president and information technology executive, and Owen, a retired vice president for engineering, started working there to more than 30,000 today. Innovations in technology have enabled the company’s

Top: Owen Straub with his wife, Liz, and stepdaughter, Morgan Garrison Bottom: Ken and Jeanette Scribner with their son, Garrett, and his fiancé, Madison Olberding.

growth, providing opportunities for both men to grow with it and take on new roles. “It turned out there was a lot of opportunity out there for the automation of healthcare,” Owen said. “I happened to be in a good place at a good time and have a good background at Northwest to be able to have those skills that allowed me to continue to build my skills and then learn other things along the way.”

Iowa couple provides support of Ag Learning Center, establishes scholarship for ag majors from rural high schools

Don and Jody Athen did not earn their college degrees at Northwest, but their bond with the institution has inspired them to support the University’s focus on student success and help advance the careers of graduates interested in agriculture. The couple has given $100,000 toward Northwest’s Agricultural Learning Center in addition to a $25,000 gift to establish the Don and Jody Athen Scholarship. The Hamburg, Iowa, couple built a connection with Northwest through AgriVision Equipment Group, the agriculture supply company they formed in 2014 with four other family-owned dealerships. Athen Implement had been supporting farmers in southwest Iowa since 1941. “I’ve spent my whole life in the farm equipment business and working with farmers from Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas, and we feel that the Ag Learning Center – as technology has changed so drastically and it’s going to continue to grow exponentially over the next few years – is a good return on investment for our family staying in the business, and I think it’s mutually beneficial to us and the college,” Don said. “We’ve been really impressed with everybody at Northwest Missouri State, and they’re such great people. We feel a connection to them.” The Don and Jody Athen Scholarship is available to full-time Northwest students who are majoring in an agriculture field and hail from counties in southwest Iowa or northwest Missouri. Priority will be awarded to students who exhibit academic excellence and financial need in addition to education at a rural high school. “It’s important that rural students don’t get left behind,” Don said. “We want them to remain on the farm and support farmers in various businesses. We also want to recruit high-quality students from the area that want to stay in rural areas because those counties are where we do the majority of our business. We want opportunities for kids from smaller schools and rural schools to advance.”

EXPERIENCES, FARM UPBRINGING INSPIRE COUPLE TO SUPPORT AG CENTER The upbringings of Dana and Sue Johnson ’72 Hockensmith on their family farms laid a foundation that has inspired them to support the Agricultural Learning Center at Northwest. Although the Hockensmiths were not involved with the agriculture program as students at Northwest, their interest in the field stems from growing up and working on their family farms. When Dana and Sue learned of Northwest’s plans for the Agricultural Learning Center, they understood the need. “It is so important for us to nurture our land for our students, to be able to respect what they learn through agriculture,” Sue said. “I think there are many farm values that are necessary in life. We learned through growing up on the farm, and we think that this will attract and retain students. I also believe that this is a way that we can enhance the stature of Northwest because this is going to give the University a competitive difference over so many universities around us.” Having grown up on farms in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa, Dana and Sue Hockensmith developed an appreciation for education and hard work. Sue was the oldest of five children on her family’s dairy farm in Lewis, Iowa, and Dana grew up on a farm near Pickering, Missouri. Dana attended Northwest for two years before transferring to the University of Missouri-Columbia to finish his bachelor’s degree and attend law school, while Sue graduated from Northwest with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. After completing her degree, Sue dedicated herself to being a mother to her children – Philip, Angela and Laura – and volunteering in the schools and communities where the Hockensmith family lived. She also enjoyed serving children with intellectual developmental disabilities. In 1977, the Hockensmiths founded Pony Bird Inc., a nonprofit organization in Jefferson County, Missouri, that provides homes and care for non-ambulatory individuals with severe mental and physical disabilities. In 1989, Sue and Dana became more deeply involved in childcare because of Sue’s interests in education, and they continue to own and operate Lakeside Children’s Academy, which was built in 1992 in St. Louis County.

Construction of the Agricultural Learning Center at the R.T. Wright Farm is nearly complete, and a ribbon-cutting is scheduled for July 30.

CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE ADDS SUPPORT TO AG LEARNING CENTER, SPONSORS AGRONOMY LAB

A widely recognized agriculture company committed to preserving food sources and helping agricultural communities thrive has added its support to Northwest’s Agricultural Learning Center, providing $250,000 toward the project. Because of Corteva Agriscience’s support, the new facility opening this summer will feature The Corteva Agriscience Agronomy Laboratory, which will offer plant science-based teaching and research activities to introduce students to new areas of plant science. The space will provide student researchers with opportunities to try climate-controlled plant growth experiments, plant tissue culture, metabolic assays, and genetic and transcriptomic analysis. “The relationships we have built through the years with so many generous people at Corteva Agriscience have been incredibly rewarding – for both students as well as faculty,” said Mitzi Craft Marchant ’91, ’09, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the Northwest Foundation. “We are excited to continue that relationship, knowing our entire community will benefit from the Agricultural Learning Center. To have the Corteva Agriscience name associated with this facility is quite an honor.” Corteva Agriscience provides farmers throughout the world with resources to maximize yield and profitability, including recognized agriculture brands and crop protection products such as Pioneer and Brevant brand seeds and Granular digital solutions. The company works with stakeholders throughout the food system to enrich the lives of those who produce and consume. Corteva Agriscience, which was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, became an independent public company in 2019. “Innovation and education are essential to develop sustainable ag solutions, which meet the needs of farmers and society for the future,” Nikki Hall, an area sales leader for Corteva Agriscience, said. “We are excited and honored to join with Northwest to create a learning laboratory that will inspire students today to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

“We believe our formative years at Northwest shaped our personal and professional lives. Jan majored in education. I was first a radio announcer and then served in the military. Giving back to where we met and began our lives together was the logical choice, providing opportunities for the next generation of Bearcats.”

Dell Epperson ’75

LASTING

LEGACIES

The pull of the Northwest family rings true for Dell ’75 and Janet Kelley ’75 Epperson. Nineteen members of the Kelley family call themselves Bearcats, and that legacy has inspired the couple to support the University through their monetary gifts. In addition to a recent gift that made the Eppersons members of Northwest’s Homesteader Society, a group of more than 50 public and private donors providing gifts of $25,000 or greater toward the Agricultural Learning Center, the Eppersons have named the University as the beneficiary in their wills. “My wife and I are strong supporters of Northwest Missouri State and, in particular, the agricultural programs, which are applicable to every walk of life,” Dell said, noting Jan’s mother, Shirley Alden Kelley ’52 still owns 240 acres north of Maryville, which Jan’s late father, Bobby Kelley ’53, purchased after retiring from a career in education. Today the farm is managed by Jan’s brother, Keith Kelley ’84, and nephew, Sam Kelley ’16. “We have a vested interest in continuing to support everything related to agriculture with Northwest. It’s a family affair.” Dell graduated with a degree in speech with a broadcasting emphasis but made his career with the U.S. Navy. After 30 years, he retired in 2012 as a captain in the Surface Warfare Office. Janet graduated with a degree in elementary education and sustained her teaching career while moving with Dell throughout his military career, which included living in eight states. She retired in 2015 as a sixth-grade instructor after Dell’s final tour in Hawaii. Today, they reside in Columbia, Missouri, and Dell is a member of the Northwest Foundation Board of Directors.

One of easiest planned gifts to create and implement is a bequest in your will or living trust. It allows you to give any percentage of your estate as a charitable gift when a current gift of real estate or cash might not otherwise be feasible. CONSIDER THESE ADVANTAGES:

n It’s simple to set up. n You maintain control of your assets. n It provides a gift to Northwest in an amount you believe is appropriate, and you can still provide for your loved ones. n It provides an estate tax deduction. n It provides for a cause you deem worthy at Northwest. n It includes membership in the Northwest Foundation’s

James H. Lemon Heritage Society. n It leaves a lasting legacy at Northwest.

Contact the Office of University Advancement at 660.562.1248 or advance@nwmissouri.edu to learn about the many advantages of providing an estate provision.

SCHOLARSHIP HONORS MEMORY OF EDUCATION STUDENT’S HARD WORK, FUN-LOVING PERSONALITY

The mother of a Northwest student killed in 2018 has established a scholarship in her daughter’s memory to assist future students pursuing degrees in the field she loved. Brenda McCoy recently established the Morgan McCoy Memorial Scholarship in memory of her daughter with monetary gifts she received after Morgan’s passing. Morgan was a 19-year-old sophomore elementary education major at Northwest when she died Jan. 7, 2018, as a result of injuries she suffered when a vehicle crashed into a Maryville bar that she was inside. The scholarship will assist students demonstrating a love for teaching and potential success as an elementary classroom teacher. Recipients of the scholarship will be full-time Northwest students with a declared major in elementary education or early childhood education, must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and demonstrate financial need. “Morgan was a tremendous person and student, and this scholarship reflects her in memory and spirit,” Dr. Tim Wall ’01, the dean of Northwest’s School of Education, said. “We are appreciative of the generous support for education majors like Morgan, knowing that these resources will spark the flame of learning for those students who match Morgan’s love of teaching.” The $750 scholarship is awarded annually, with Sarah Wilson, a senior early childhood education major from St. Joseph, Missouri, becoming its first recipient last fall. “This scholarship has helped me tremendously to continue in my early education degree at Northwest,” Wilson said. “I am so grateful that I was chosen to receive it. Morgan had a huge impact on so many people, and I think it is amazing to see her legacy carried on through this scholarship.” A single parent, Brenda recognized the important role financial assistance played in Morgan’s ability to pursue a college degree. As a high school student, Morgan

Morgan McCoy

began working as soon as she could. Once at Northwest, she quickly landed a student employment role in Everett W. Brown Education Hall while maintaining her parttime jobs in Kansas City and her hometown of Liberty, Missouri. “I think, in anything, if you don’t work for it, you don’t truly value it,” Brenda said. “I think that’s why she valued her time (at Northwest). She had to work for it.” As a student employee in the School of Education’s field experience office, Morgan assisted professional staff with student teacher placements, communication and other needs. In addition to being an active member of Sigma Kappa sorority, McCoy was excited for her career prospects as she gained experience through her elementary education major and early childhood minor.

NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS

As a tribute to family heritage and their mother’s emphasis on education, three sisters have created a scholarship for Northwest women aspiring to work in the business field. The Doris Walker Appleman Endowed Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship, will be awarded for the first time for the 2021-22 academic year to an entering freshman female. Mary Ann Andersen, Shirley Kohlwes and Jan Corriston were inspired to establish the scholarship because of the Walker family’s deep connection to the University and the passion their mother, Doris Walker Appleman, had for learning. “She couldn’t go to college because of finances,” Corriston said. “She was certainly capable of attending college, so if there is a woman who wants to go on to school in business, particularly if she’s the first person in her family to go, that would be fabulous because that would really honor Mother.”

When finances during the Great Depression prevented her from receiving an education at Northwest she enhanced her business interest by working as a secretary at Nodaway Valley Bank in Maryville. After rearing a family and a move in 1947 to Colorado Springs, Colorado, she developed her clerical and administrative skills and learned about investing with the help of friends. Appleman built a reputation as a hard worker, finding employment with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

“She was very efficient and accurate and proud of her work,” Corriston said. “But she always was sorry that she didn’t have a college degree. She never stopped learning, however, and could be found reading business journals up to the time of her death at age 93.”

To read more of these stories, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/ alumni/magazine/