alumni magazine
Northwest Spring 2012
Volume 45 Issue 2
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The magazine for Northwest Missouri State University alumni and friends
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Teaching excellence Dr. Carol Spradling, associate professor of computer science and information systems, is Northwest’s recipient of the 2012 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. Students regard her highly for her patience, care and the extra instruction she provides outside of the classroom.
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Hitting the high notes The career of Kara Shay Weston Thomson ’92 has progressed from singing in church basements to performing with the New York City Opera. Throughout this journey, she remains ever-grateful for the support of her family and friends that has allowed her to live her dream and to become, as The New York Times describes her, “a compelling American soprano.”
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Man with a mission Not only does Chaplain, Lt. Col. Rives Duncan ’93 (master’s) instill the importance of living a life of integrity, service and excellence to cadets in the U.S. Air Force, but he also strives to achieve these values in his own life.
In every issue
Editor Mitzi Craft Lutz ’91, ’09 mitzi@nwmissouri.edu
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Dear Friends
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View Point
Designer Melinda Kelsey mkelsey@nwmissouri.edu
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Northwest News
10 Advancing Northwest 16 Cover Story 36 Alumni Connections 42 Bearcat Sports 45 Class Notes
Photographer Darren Whitley whitley@nwmissouri.edu
Editorial Assistants Claudia Beacom ’05 Teresa Carter ’91 Phillip Dowden Teresa Gustafson ’97, ’05 Mark Hornickel ’01 Polly Parsons Howard ’00, ’09 Mike Johnson ’85 Brittany Keithley ’11 Amanda Kinzel Laurie Drummond Long ’92 Mallory Murray Scott Nielson ’01 Lori McLemore Steiner ’85 Steve Sutton ’71 Brenda Untiedt ’00, ’09 Photography Assistant Taylor Allan
The Northwest Alumni Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of University Relations, the Office of University Advancement, Northwest Missouri State University and the Northwest Foundation Inc., 800 University Dr., Maryville, MO 64468-6001. The mission of the Northwest Alumni Magazine is to foster connections between alumni, friends and Northwest Missouri State University. The University strives to inform readers of the accomplishments of Northwest’s alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students and to positively position the University in the hearts of its many constituents to increase public and private support. Northwest Missouri State University is an equal-opportunity, coeducational university and does not discriminate based on race, sex, disability, age, national origin or religion.
Printed in the USA.
Spring 2012
Northwest Alumni Magazine