For two years, Mandy Henley has been the publishing assistant for the Southeast Press. An alumni twice over earning both her bachelor and master of arts degrees in English, she is nearing a decade at Southeast, and is now is responsible for the same office in which she previously interned.
Dr. Arrick Jackson, associate professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology, said it’s important to have confidence in yourself and to seek new challenges always. Considering his impressive résumé, it would benefit students to heed his advice.
Candice Haas, a marketing management major from Millstadt, Ill., sells advertising spots to companies all over the world at her paid internship with the YELLOWPAGES.COM division of AT&T. “You sometimes hear about those ‘internships’ that basically entail filing, copying, faxing and doing the paper shuffle–not this internship! I learned about the sales process, how to approach different situations, how to create contracts and how to close the deal.” Best of all, this could turn into permanent employment at the end of the summer.
Summer in the high desert as the sun begins to set behind the Sangre de Cristo mountains, atmosphere cooling as the color fades from bright yellow to orange to gold to red, the audience applauds the entrance of the conductor, he spreads his arms and then a…one…a two…a three…the orchestra begins the perennial favorite “Carmen”. This was the scene in the summer of 2006 at the John Crosby Opera house, an outdoor amphitheater on the outskirts of Santa Fe, N.M., where Stephen Fister, a Southeast Missouri State University performing arts senior, was behind the scenes as a scenic artist apprentice.
Southeast senior Majhon Phillips is a very busy student. Aside from her double major in music performance and German, she also enjoys writing, traveling and dancing in her spare time.
Despite the number of life-changing events coming up for Kristi Murray, she continues to aspire. She won the prestigious Newhouse Award from Binghamton University for the best-submitted portfolio from an incoming student for poetry.
Southeast senior Justin Moore of Cape Girardeau, Mo., is a busy man with big plans. He is currently taking a “break” from his triple major in vocal music performance, vocal music education, and German to study abroad for the summer at the Friedrich-Schiller Universitaet in Jena, Germany, and privately with a vocal instructor who received her degrees from two of the most prestigious Conservatories of Music in Germany.
Joshua Powers, a native of Sikeston, Mo., is majoring in secondary education and graduated from Sikeston Senior High school in 2005. Joshua has had the opportunity to attend both the Sikeston and Cape Girardeau campuses of Southeast.
Steve Nation, an elementary education major at Southeast Missouri State University, recently inspired two different classes in two separate schools to connect through letter writing.
If you work hard, you might work with inspiring individuals. But if you work hard enough, you will be an inspiring individual. For Tiffanne Ryan of Oklahoma City, Okla., her discipline and fervor for life have resulted in an internship with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Paralympic division.
Cadet one of only 37 nation-wide chosen for training at Air Force Research Laboratory
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Southeast senior Joshua Bohnert, a computer science major and Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) cadet, has been chosen to attend the Advanced Course in Engineering on Cyber Security (ACE-CS), a prestigious training program at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome Labs, N.Y., this summer.
University life can be hectic enough with class schedules, organization meetings and homework, but take on the responsibility of Student Government president and you’ve got yourself quite a busy day. And that’s just the way Southeast Missouri State University’s Student Government President Adam Hanna likes it.
Not every college student can claim an internship with Disney World, but when Southeast senior Katherine Perriguey of St. Clair, Mo., attended the informational meeting last spring on campus, she discovered that dreams really can come true. Katherine will graduate with a major in hospitality management and a minor in management.
Michael Simelton is a truly gifted and active person. In spite of the myriad of activities with which he is associated, Michael remains faithful to his priorities as a student. “...Stay focused and keep your eye on the prize,” he asserts. “Remember that life is what you make it, and never give up. You might fall sometimes, but everyone does. Find a mentor to help guide you. Remember you can always learn something from someone.”
Amanda, a communication major with emphasis in radio from Ste. Genevieve, Mo., interned recently with Motor Racing Network, a nationally syndicated radio network in Daytona Beach, Fla. Find out more about her exciting experiences.
See how a senior Management Information Systems (MIS) major from St. Louis soon discovered that his internship at Cocoa Processing Company Limited (Cocoa), a chocolate factory in Ghana, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As an intern for Senator Bond’s office in Cape Girardeau, Natalie put classroom theory to work in the field. Read more about her valuable internship experience.
Through an internship with Pfizer Inc., Pam will be assisting with research on genetic amplification of the bovine gene. This research is aimed at obtaining a protein from the gene that will allow researchers to test a drug designed to combat hypertension.
As a student at the Kennett Higher Education Center, David Bradshaw has had first-hand experience with distance learning. Not only is he pleased to be pursuing a degree in education, but he met Sheryl Crow along the way.
A short drive, small classes and a lot of attention -- a few of the reasons why Tyler Buchheit decided to double major in German and agribusiness through the Perryville Higher Education Center.
Sherry Curtright of Gobler, Mo., is a non-traditional student at the Kennett Area Higher Education Center (KAHEC). After waiting 20 years to return to college, Sherry is pursuing an information systems technology degree with a medical option.
Shonta Green,a non-traditional student, is double majoring in information technology and computer electronics in his second year at the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC).
Tonya Wilson of Portageville, Mo., is an elementary education major with a concentration in social studies. As a non-traditional student, Wilson is not only concerned with her grades and academic performance, but also with her family responsibilities. The convenience and comfort of the Crisp Bootheel Higher Education Center were enormous factors in her choosing to return to college.
Nadia Georgieva casually throws around phrases like quantum optics and semiconductor lasers while she talks. Although it may sound like something from the latest sci-fi flick, she’s actually talking about her summer internship with the National Science Foundation’s Institute for Quantum Optics.
Angie Cockrell and Julie Titter have lived their field of dreams. They spent several months at the baseball diamond. And when the campaign came to a close, they were both batting 1000 en route to their future careers as certified athletic trainers.
Nicole Tilton completed her student teaching at the Monash Primary School, located in the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Australia. This is a small school whose student population of just 100 is representative of an amazing 15 different nationalities.
When I came to Southeast, I didn't have a major or any idea what I wanted to do with my life. I was always really involved and focused in high school, so it was hard for me to feel so lost. In the spring of my freshman year, I applied for a job in the admissions office to make a little money and meet new people. I want to share with you how this experience has shaped my future.
From timid freshman to expert community advisor, Matthew Kearney has had eye-opening experiences living in the Southeast residence hall community. He came to Southeast three years ago from Carbondale, Ill., and was shocked on move-in day.
An elementary education major and a relentless runner, Karen makes the most of her time at Southeast. As president of The Council for Exceptional Children, Karen works with students with special needs through volunteer opportunities, such as Special Olympics and The Boys & Girls Club.
Brian Whitehead just graduated from Southeast with a degree in Environmental Science and is now working on a Master’s Degree in Biology. At Southeast, Brian was involved in a number of organizations on campus and ran cross-country and track, all while maintaining his Governor’s Scholarship for the entire four years. But he says one of his best experiences was getting involved in Student Government.
Coming 300 miles from Chilhowee, Mo., population 350, to Cape Girardeau, population 40,000, was a big adjustment for Candice Coffey. A senior at Southeast, Candice is a pre-med major and aspires to be a neurosurgeon. Candice says her best Southeast experience has been making new friends.
Heather McCutchen, a senior from O’Fallon, Mo., says getting involved on campus directly resulted in her great experience here at Southeast. With over 150 student organizations to get involved in, Heather says she had a hard time choosing what not to do rather than what to do.
Whether it’s “zipping around” on his scooter or singing Christmas carols in the halls of Grauel Building at the end of finals week, English graduate student and Cape Girardeau native Dustin Michael never has a dull moment. For instance, he just spent the summer in Italy with the Rotary Exchange program and recounts touring an Italian newspaper, attending a prime-time reporter’s presentation and practicing travel writing.
Southeast senior Amanda Thornberry always has had a passion for art, and never had a question about the major she would choose. A graphic arts major from Clarkton, Mo., Amanda recently received the chance to show just how talented she is when she was selected to help paint the magnificent downtown mural in historic Cape Girardeau, and assist a prominent photography studio as part of an internship.
If you find yourself roaming the halls of Southeast Missouri Hospital, you’ll need to watch for Ashley Thurston-Holloway darting from patient bed to patient bed. She is in her third year of BSN nursing program at Southeast, and loves every minute.
No one likes to hear the crack of a homerun or the swish of a three-point basket more than Mark Kraemer, a senior from Imperial, Mo. This past summer, Mark completed a 12-week internship with Rawlings Sporting Goods, one of the leading manufacturers in baseball, basketball, softball and football products. During this internship, Mark had the opportunity to not only become familiar with the production of various sporting equipment, but also he had a chance to rub elbows with the president and several vice presidents of the company.
Not every student can add an internship with Disney’s Wide World of Sports to their resume. In fact, Southeast senior Andi Malick was one of only seven students from around the country chosen for a three-month summer internship program with the sports complex in Orlando.
Robyn Mainor has always surrounded herself with history. As a child, she traveled the United States with her family to almost every state, visiting numerous museums and other historic sites, and her passion for history and culture have taken her to her perfect major at Southeast. A historic preservation major from Cape Girardeau, Robyn is a member of several committees both inside and outside of the University. Her interests also prompted her to get a minor in art history as well.
A confident young woman strides into your office for a job interview. You flip once more through her resume, which was hauled in several days ago by a moving crew. Your desk creaks ominously under its weight. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Ms. Alman, you say, extending your hand. “Tell me about your experiences with NASA.”
Southeast senior Mitchell Sharp says the best thing he learned in college came from Professor of Health, Human Performance and Recreation Edward Leoni — Life is about the journey and not the destination. The path of Sharp’s journey thus far has stretched from his hometown of Sikeston, Mo., to the campus of Southeast and the office of Dr. Sarah Hardin, professor of Recreation; from there, it goes blazing all around the country, across the scorching sands of Utah and through roaring Appalachian rivers.
Spring is probably one of the best times of the year for Emma Franklin, who is pursuing a degree in horticulture at Southeast. Originally from Poplar Bluff, Mo., Emma loves to spend time walking the streets of historic downtown Cape Girardeau and admiring the serene beauty of the buildings and riverfront.
For Jason Stoff, the definition of art can encompass many different forms. Whether Jason is passing the time creating his latest masterpiece or strumming tunes on his guitar, it is art that dominates the majority of his time at Southeast.
If you find yourself having a computer problem, then Dustin Nelson is the guy to solve it. A native of Cape Girardeau, Dustin will graduate from Southeast with a degree in applied computer science and information systems. But Dustin’s time is not all spent routing and re-routing computer programs and information circuits.
Keep your eyes open the next time you decide to explore the Missouri countryside. Chances are you will find Raun Oberman hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching or camping alongside you. Raun, a senior with a major in biology and a minor in environmental studies, is originally from Fredericktown, Mo. Wildlife is his area of emphasis, and he loves to explore Cape Girardeau’s beautiful outdoor environment.
Southeast senior Danielle Anderson, of University City, Mo., has a packed schedule. Not only will she be graduating with a degree in technical graphics, but she also just became a mom to her new son, Michael. Danielle has loved her experience attending Southeast.
“I tell students to take advantage of every opportunity that arises. Make every moment count. What may seem insignificant to one person can mean the world to another person. Build relationships that will last a lifetime. Spending time with people is one of the best investments a person can make.”
Southeast senior Scott Lane of Jackson, Mo., credits his experience as a finance major in the business administration program with helping him to become a more outgoing, outspoken person.
Kenndis Joy is an active, involved undergraduate at Southeast who embodies the idea of the well-rounded, liberal arts student. She comes from a family of seven in Jennings, Mo., and will be among the first generation in her family to receive a college degree.
Life hardly slows down for Dane Huxel, a Washington, Mo., native majoring in manufacturing engineering technology. Since his arrival at Southeast Missouri State University, Dane has been an active student leader.
Creeping along the express paths at 20 miles an hour, Southeast shuttle bus riders might be surprised to learn their driver is Grant Sneed — hard core, pedal to the metal, steel-nerved street racer. During the school year, Sneed spends his time driving a shuttle or doing class work for his criminal justice degree. His summer pastimes are tweaking his cars and cramming dust down the throats of other drivers at the Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis.
You could say Southeast senior, Tim Capps, is on fire—and it’s not from the blazin’ hot wing sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings where he likes to hang out for mid-week wing specials. Tim’s amazing accomplishments at Southeast have ignited his success.
You could say that siblings Matt and Katie Buhr have nursing “in their blood.” The St. Louis natives, both of whom are currently in the nursing program at Southeast Missouri State University, were exposed to the profession early on, growing up in a home where both parents were nurses.
It’s lucky Sean Gallagher is a nut for “good ol’ American sports.” He plans to live his “field of dreams” this summer when he participates in an internship at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Joey was ecstatic when he learned he was going to be working for Raytheon Missile Systems in Louisville, Ky., last summer. He was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, one few people have had the chance to experience.
Vanessa Baudler, a senior nursing major at Southeast, knows the importance of reaching for the stars. As an active leader on campus as commander of the Southeast Air Force ROTC, she will be helping to prepare other students for the skies as well.
Our hero, Mike Glazer, has made one of his impossible dreams a reality. In the spring of 2005, Mike donned his helmet and armor and set out to represent the United States on a national roller hockey team in Argentina.
Life couldn’t be more exciting for Southeast student Mary Stinson. Mary is finishing the final three hours of her program in mass communication with an emphasis in video production by completing an internship with Country Music Television (CMT) in Nashville, Tenn.
Jackie Cornett of Gideon, Mo., says her experience at the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center (CBEC) in Malden, Mo., has not only given her a quality education, but may very well have saved her life.
With misty eyes, Bonita Jackson tells how the biggest influence in her life is her father. With only a second-grade education, he has owned a successful business for more than 55 years and provided for his family without assistance. His daughter plans to follow his example and go even further by graduating from college with a major in business administration.
Amanda Summers, an elementary education major, began her college education the summer of 2004. Her hometown is Poplar Bluff and after relocating a few times with her husband, Brent, she’s back in Poplar Bluff. Even though she has been closer to other institutions, her college of choice is Southeast Missouri State University.
A mother of two daughters ages 22 and 24, all three women attend classes at the Sikeston Higher Education Center (SAHEC). At the age of 44, Ethel will begin her sophomore year this fall working towards a degree in business administration.
Today as a SAHEC student, Keith Yancy has plans to get a master’s degree in psychology and then become a licensed counselor. He has met the challenge of uncertainty and emerged with great expectations of himself and his future career.
Melanie Bishop lived in Washington, Mo., until 1990, working for a Fortune 500 company. She knew her work offered only lateral movement, with no hope of advancement, but she at least felt assured to have her job. Then, suddenly, everything she relied on was taken away when the company downsized and she had to start anew. The loss of her job, she says, caused her to realize she needed to get the one thing no one could take away from her -- an education.
Life is fast and furious for Southeast student and Chicago, Ill., native, Shnithia (Pepper) Newton. Shnithia, known best as “Pepper” by her close friends and co-workers, is currently completing a 180-hour internship for three ClearChannel radio stations in Chicago as part of her degree requirements.
“My time at Southeast has helped me set my priorities straight. It has helped me realize that time management and studying strategies are two of the most important factors in order to have a successful educational experience.”
When high school seniors imagine going off to college, many think about moving to another city or even another state. But for Southeast student, Takuro Yamada, his vision was to travel across continents. Takuro is originally from Saitama, Japan, and will graduate in December with a degree in health management and athletic training.
If you were to ask Southeast senior Matt Kruzynski what a typical day was like at his summer internship, you might hear him say, “I saw a triple play happen on the field at Busch Stadium, witnessed a pitching duel between Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens and St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Mark Mulder, and then gave an updated list of baseball stats to Mike Shannon.”
Southeast is the right place for Racheal Culberson. An integrated marketing communications major and a Spanish minor, Racheal is an energetic person who is passionate about helping others.
He never dreamed he’d ever be getting a school picture taken for the Bernie High School Cotton Boll yearbook some 26 years after donning a blue graduation gown. But Jeff Rodgers is back at his alma mater as a teacher and coach, and his wife Waynetta is just down the hall.
Nathan Mendenhall of Fort Smith, Ark., who is pursuing a master of science degree in criminal justice, will begin the internship Jan. 9 with the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda’s Witnesses and Victims Support Section. He will join about 50 other interns from around the world.
Samantha Wages, a nursing major from New Madrid, Mo., is fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse by attending classes at the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC). She completed the LPN program with Sikeston Public Schools and recently passed her state board exams.
Amanda Williams is a woman with a quest for knowledge that she has been working toward for quite some time. A teacher at DAEOC/Headstart in Wyatt, Mo. for over 20 years, Williams has been taking classes through Southeast at the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC) for several years, and has not lost her zeal for education.
Life is in sixth gear for Southeast Missouri State University graduate student Erin Webb. Erin, originally from Farmington, Mo., is working a full-time job in St. Louis as the regional admissions counselor for Southeast in the St. Louis and St. Charles, Mo., area in addition to taking classes in Southeast’s Master's in Higher Education Administration program.
If you witnessed the Homecoming Parade at Southeast Missouri State University this year, most likely you saw Southeast graduate student and St. Louis, Mo., native, Julie McCausland hard at work. Julie, who received her bachelor’s degree in psychology in May 2004 at Southeast, is currently enrolled in the University’s Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration program.
When Lori Mueller, a graduate student in Southeast Missouri State University’s Higher Education Administration program, began working at Southeast in 1998, she soon realized her desire to build a career in higher education administration. Lori, a St. Louis native, intends to graduate with her master’s in spring 2007.
Janiece Payne, a Sikeston Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC) student and a new mother, is the picture of dedication. Janiece is so dedicated that, even while she was facing one of the most difficult times of her life, she stayed focused on her goal of completing her education at SAHEC, where she is majoring in mathematics, and ultimately earning her doctoral degree. Currently Janiece, who lives in East Prairie, Mo., is a sophomore at SAHEC.
Athletics and academics go hand-in-hand for Southeast graduate student Katy Pacelli. Katy, a Columbia, Miss., native, will graduate in the spring with a Master’s in Higher Education Administration. While at Southeast, she has worked as a graduate assistant in the Athletic Advising office.
As a second-generation Southeast Missouri State University student, Rachel Padgett is making the most of her college experience. A native of Belleville, Ill., and a transfer from the University of Missouri, Rachel is pursuing a degree in secondary education. As an active student at Southeast, Rachel is a member of the Student Government, Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Alpha Theta and Rho Lambda.
Considering a career in education? If so, you might consider following in the footsteps of Amy Daller. Amy, a sophomore, from Hermann, Mo., has always loved working with children. Amy began babysitting when she was in the sixth grade and continues to baby-sit to this day for a summer job. Amy’s obvious love for children has turned into her future career as she majors in early childhood education at Southeast Missouri State University.
Some people might say Brooke Privett, who is pursuing a bachelor of music in instrumental performance for the trumpet, has a biased opinion of Southeast Missouri State University. Brooke’s father was on the Board of Regents for nine years and her brother is a Southeast graduate. During her families’ involvement around campus, she said she had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and fell in love with the beauty of Southeast. Because of this, attending Southeast was an obvious decision.
A native of Jackson, Mo., Robert Cawthorn is keeping busy this summer with an internship in the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at Southeast, where he is working to create a superconductor.
Andrea Branum is majoring in construction management at Southeast Missouri State University. She says most people ask her what her major is, but rarely ask what she plans to do with her degree. “I plan to help people. My dream is to work for a non-profit organization such as Habitat for Humanity so more Americans can be a part of the “American Dream,” Andrea explained. Andrea said she would like to give people a place to come home to at night where they feel safe and warm with their families.
Sports are a major part of Sally Smith’s life. As a senior physical education major at Southeast, Sally will be traveling to Belfast, Northern Ireland, this fall to do part of her student teaching. She hopes this will help her to fulfill her dream of contract teaching around the world. Sally explains contract teaching as “teaching in different countries for one to two years at a time.”
When Matt Hickey started attending Southeast, he didn’t waste any time getting involved on campus. His freshman year, Matt was recognized with the Student Life and Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership for a first-year student. Now a junior, Matt is an integral part of the Southeast student body. He serves as the president for Student Activities Council and is a representative on Student Government. In addition, Matt is a Presidential Ambassador, a member of Rowdy Crowd and a Community Advisor in Towers North.
Sarah Politowicz, a senior elementary education major, is an extremely involved student. Since coming to Southeast four years ago, Sarah has been a part of 15 student organizations and has held numerous executive positions, including former president of Student Activities Council (S.A.C.) and student facilitator of Emerging Leaders.
Jackson resident Jeremie Nothdurft understands hard work. Jeremie is an agribusiness major who has lived and worked on the family farm in southeast Missouri his entire lifetime. And unlike many other persons his age, he has no plans to leave.
Everyone knows that college life is stressful with papers, exams and endless assignments. However, Breana Lee experienced a new level of stress this spring when a tornado ripped through her family’s home and hometown of Caruthersville, Mo.
Three Southeast Pre-Med Students Accepted to Prestigious Medical School Program
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Andrew Jackson, of Piedmont, Mo., and two of his classmates, Tara O’Conner, of Ingleside, Texas, and Andrew Valleroy, of Hillsboro, Mo., were all recently accepted to the University of Missouri-Columbia Medical School’s Bryant Scholars Program. All three are sophomores majoring in biology with a biomedical sciences, or pre-med option.
When Kelly Wogtech came to Southeast four years ago, she was undecided on her major. “Choosing a major was one of the biggest challenges I faced at Southeast because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” she said.
Nicole Rodriguez is ready to head out into the real world. Originally from Washington, Mo., Rodriguez found the MBA program at Southeast both convenient and affordable. She said the success she found at Southeast truly set her apart from the crowd.
Sara Schmidt, a general education major at Southeast Missouri State University, has rare opportunities to demonstrate her talent for writing young adult fiction.
Daylight savings time, cooler weather and the changing of leaves are all obvious signs the fall season is upon us. For sports fans, the only sign of fall that matters is the beginning of football season. This football season, Tony Lessel, a native of St. Louis, Mo., will be completing his internship with the Detroit Lions of the NFL.
Dawn Stricklin, an anthropology major at Southeast Missouri State University, has been nationally recognized for her hard work and dedication to anthropology.
