There were nine talented guys on stage in suit and tie, costumes and swimsuits, but only one of them would walk away as Mr. Missouri Western.

Alpha Gamma Delta sponsored Mr. MWSU in Potter Hall Theatre April 15.

This competition has four categories; talent, formal wear, swim-suit and costume dress.

All nine contestants were sponsored by different fraternities and sororities and each of them were given jars to go around campus to collect donations from students.

Phil Bluett, sponsored by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, collected the most money out of all the other contestants with a total of almost $200.

Ricky Winder was the big winner of the talent contest by rocking out some cool beats on his drum set.
“It was a good experience and I’m glad Alpha Sigma Alpha sponsored me,” Winder said. “The AGD girls did a great job hosting this event.” (Full Story)

 Missouri Western State University hosted its ninth annual student-athlete honors banquet. The banquet was held at the Fulkerson Center and an estimated 380 people were in attendance.

 The two big awards were male athlete of the year and female athlete of the year. Missouri Western football player Patrick St. Louis won the male athlete of the year for his stellar career on the field and in the classroom. St. Louis was the center for the football team this season. He has been a key contributor to the Griffons offensive line. Roger Allen and him have helped anchor the offensive line the last few seasons. He graduated high school from Belton high school in Belton, Mo. His major is physical education.

Missouri Western basketball player Jill Johnson was named women’s athlete of the year for achievements on the court and in the classroom. Johnson has been a major contributor to the women’s basketball program, including being a starter her junior year on the team that posted a 30-4 record. Johnson felt honored to win the award. (Full Story)

Some where along the line this semester it seems we have lost the campus’ driving rules. I have been noticing more violations and less campus police. 

A great deal of effort is given to parking violations, which do not kill or injure.  I don’t see very many tickets for moving violations being issued on campus. (Full Story)

English professor Michael Cadden was presented with the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching by Governor Matt Blunt in Jefferson City at a luncheon on April 9.

This particular award singles out effective teaching and advising, service to the university, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in playing a role in the success of students.

Dr. Cadden has exemplified all of these traits and more.

“Typically, this award is given to those who have received the Board of Governors’ Distinguished Faculty Award, The Jesse Lee Myers Excellence in Teaching Award and the Dr. James Victor Mehl Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award,” Cadden said.

Jennie McDonald, executive administrative associate of academic and student affairs, said candidates are chosen from those who have received these awards within the past three years (2005, 2006 and 2007). (Full Story)

Vanessa Magruder wakes up early every morning, showers, dresses and eats before she leaves her home for campus just like any other student at Western. Her morning stop on the way to school isn’t Burger King for a croissant, it’s Wilson Hall. Where she drops off her three-year-old son, Cole, at Y’s Kids World, a childcare center operated by the St. Joseph Family YMCA, located only minutes from her classes and job at Esry Student Health Center.

Magruder began her college career at Western in the fall of 2001. After attending classes for one year she transferred to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where she earned her associates degree.  (Full Story)

The great gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson once said “when the going gets weird, the weird go pro.” Well the going has definitely gotten weird. Take one moment and consider the state of sanity in our world.

It’s a crazy world. Chinese fortune cookies say:  “may you live in interesting times”, and brother, they are interesting. Some would say that we are at the height of civilization, and others the end. It is a crazy world and getting crazier. (Full Story)

At one point or another everyone has driven the circle of Downs Drive and seen the climbing structure located outside Wilson Hall. The jungle gym is not for the ARMY ROTC students to practice their warfare tactics. For 31 lucky parents, it is part of their child’s home away from home Monday through Friday from 6:00a.m-6:30p.m. But, for 14 not so lucky MWSU students it is a sore reminder that their child is playing in someone else’s backyard.

Y’s Kids World Early Learning Childhood Center has been providing childcare for the children of MWSU students, faculty and staff, YMCA employees and members of the community, since its opening in 1988. Students and faculty voiced the need that initially helped to get the center off the ground, said Dave Brown, Director of Counseling and Assistant Dean of Students who is also the liaison between Western and the St. Joseph Family YMCA. (Full Story)