Mount Ayr Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 14, 2008

Six distinguised members of the Northwest Missouri State university family, including one from Ringgold county, will be honored during the alumni awards banquet on Friday, Sept. 12.

Among the honorees is Joan JACKSON, a retired school librarian, from Redding, who will be recognized with the Alumni Association's 2008 Turret Service Award.

A 1965 Northwest graduate, JACKSON played an integral role in establishing the association's Southern Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter, serving as its first president.

She is also a member of the Bearcat Booster Club and the National Northwest Alumni Association board of directors.

JACKSON leads the Kids Against Hunger project at her church and is an active supporter of the Ringgold County Group Home.

The annual event, sponsored by the Northwest Alumni Association, will begin with a 6 p.m. social in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom, which will be followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. and the awards presentation at 8 p.m.

For more information about the Alumni Awards Banquet, or to purchase tickets, call the Office of the University Advancement at 660.562.1248, or e-mail alumni@nwmissouri.edu. To register on-line, go to www.nwmissouri.edu/alumni/events/awards/registration.htm.

September 22, 2008

The Southern Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter of the Northwest Missouri State University Alumni Association is the 2007-2008 Chapter of the Year.

Karleen STEPHENS, a 1977 and 2000 Northwest alumna who serves as the chapter’s secretary, accepted the award Sept. 12 at the annual Northwest Alumni Awards Banquet in Maryville.

The Chapter of the Year award is determined by chapter performance during the past year. Selection, by a committee of the Northwest Alumni Association’s national board members, is made after reviewing each chapter’s annual reports and examining the achievement of criteria stated in the association’s Qualities of Excellence program.

"The Southern Iowa Chapter succeeds well in the alumni association's mission to establish and maintain connections with the Northwest family," said Steve SUTTON, director of alumni relations. "While friend-raising is what the Northwest Alumni Association is all about, the Southern Iowa Chapter hosted a number of very successful events such as wine tasting, marching in community parades, volunteering for the Special Olympics and a birthday celebration for the chapter."

In addition to the chapter award, Joan JACKSON, pictured above, a 1965 Northwest alumna who is a past president and social chair for the Southern Iowa Chapter, was awarded the Turret Service Award during the awards banquet, presented by Tim SULLIVAN, president of the Northwest Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The distinguished Turret Award acknowledges a Northwest graduate for his or her significant contributions of time and talents on behalf of the University and the Alumni Association. JACKSON, a retired librarian from Redding, Iowa, played an integral part in establishing the Southern Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter. She is a member of the Bearcat Booster Club and the Northwest Alumni Association’s national Board of Directors.

For more information about the Northwest Alumni Association or the Southern Iowa Alumni and Friends Chapter, contact SUTTON at ssutton@nwmissouri.edu or (660) 562-1248 or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/alumni.

The Northwest Alumni Association fosters lifelong relationships through initiatives and opportunities that advance the University and its alumni, future alumni and friends.

News Release, Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker