1980s
David Slater ’82 received an award for outstanding service from the Missouri Municipal League. He is currently serving his sixth two-year term as mayor of Pleasant Valley, Missouri. He is also serving his fourth one-year term as chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus, representing 84 communities in Jackson, Clay, Platte and Cass counties. He is past president of the Missouri Western Alumni Association and continues to serve on the board.

1990s
Sherry Heckman ’93, fourth-grade teacher at North Andrew School District (Rosendale, Missouri), was nominated for Regional Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for 24 years, including special education in the Polo (Missouri) School District and North Andrew before teaching fourth-grade. She earned a master’s in education from Northwest Missouri State University.

Jim ’95 and Lora (Van Emmerik) ’95 Tenpenny: Jim works for the U.S. Army Inspector General at the Pentagon and was recently selected for promotion to Colonel. Lora was hired by the Federal Investigative Services in Arlington, Virginia.

Mary Elizabeth Schmitz ’99 and Jeffrey Alan Porter were married April 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. Mary Elizabeth earned a Doctorate of Pharmacy from University of Missouri-Kansas City and is a clinical pharmacist manager at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri.

Greg Gildersleeve ’93 was recently the subject of a feature article on the Grantham Blog. Gildersleeve is a member of the English faculty at Grantham University and the author of two books.

2000s
Nicole (Lindsey) Collier ’03 is the assistant women’s basketball coach at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

LaShaundra Randolph ’03 is the project coordinator in the Campus Life and Leadership Office at Metropolitan Community College – Penn Valley. She will focus on campus-wide retention initiatives and co-advise the Student Government Association. (Her supervisor is fellow Griffon, Shelby Coxon ’99!)

Angela (Till) Hinojosa ’05 began working at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated with an associate of applied science degree in health information technology. “I just want to thank my instructors, especially my advisor, Marsha Dolan, during my time at MWSU. They not only gave me the education that I needed to graduate, but life lessons that gave me the tools to be successful.” PHOTO

Sarah (Jones) Mollus ’07 and her husband, Trent, announce the birth of a daughter, Rylan Marie, born May 16, 2016. PHOTO

2010s
Billy ’11 and Lanna ’11 (Stubbs) Burnich announce the birth of a son, Callen Anthony, born Sept. 11, 2016.

Meagean (McCloud) Weldon ’11 and her husband, Ben, announce the birth of a son, Oliver Scott, born May 23, 2016. PHOTO

Lindsey Stubbs ’14 and Jake Edwards ’15 were married Sept. 17, 2016. The two had met when they were both student workers in the Office of Admissions. The couple resides in Parkville, Missouri.

Cagney McDonald ’15 was hired as an audit associate with Anders CPAs + Advisors, a company that provides full-service accounting, tax and audit services.

Taylor Bryant ’16 and Heaven Stewart were married Aug. 27, 2016. Heaven is a Missouri Western student. Taylor’s parents, Jim ’07 and Elaine ’04 Bryant; and Heaven’s parents, Corey and Stephanie ’97 Stewart; all are Missouri Western employees. 

In Memory
We remember those who have passed away. If you want to include someone in this listing, please call (816) 271-5651, mail the information to Diane Holtz, Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, or email holtz@missouriwestern.edu.

Mirium H. Arnold ’46, Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 26, 2016.
Karen (Sisk) Baskins ’94, Wathena, Kansas, Aug. 2, 2016.
Dr. David Benz, Longwood, Florida, July 17, 2016. Dr. Benz was a music professor and director of choral studies at Missouri Western. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann ’81.
David Bird ’92, Falls City, Nebraska, Sept. 28, 2016.
Ann Conway ’73, St. Joseph, Missouri, Oct. 7, 2016.
April Jean Eiman ’96, Savannah, Missouri, Sept. 7, 2016.
Achsah Mickey Heckel, Nevada, Missouri, Aug. 12, 2016. Heckel was a longtime chemistry professor at Missouri Western, retiring in 1987.
Beulah (Smith) Hoover ’50, Rushville, Missouri, Oct. 31, 2014.
William J. Hurley, St. Joseph, Missouri, Aug. 25, 2016. Hurley was a former member of Missouri Western’s Board of Regents.
Crystal Justus ’86, St. Joseph, Missouri, Oct. 4, 2016.
Oscar Kirschner ’55, Chicago, Nov. 27, 2015.
Jennifer (Murphy) Pyatt ’82, St. Joseph, Missouri, Oct. 11, 2016.
Thomas Robertson ’53, St. Joseph, Missouri, Aug. 8, 2016.
Shannon K. Smither ’06, Weston, Missouri, Sept. 4, 2016.
James B. Stoneburner, Jr. ’98, Maysville, Missouri, Aug. 24, 2016.
Blaine J. Yarrington ’37, Lafayette, California, Jan. 15, 2016. Yarrington received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983, its inaugural year.