Homecoming 2016 offered fun activities for students, employees, alumni and their families, and the weather cooperated all weekend. On Friday of Homecoming weekend, the 34th annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet was held on campus, and eight were honored:
Jerry ’71 and Linda Myers
Herb ’35 and Peggy Iffert Award for Outstanding Service to the University
Jerry ’71 and Linda Myers
For Jerry ’71 and Linda Myers, it’s all about the Griffons. They have been faithful supporters of Missouri Western Athletics for more than four decades. You can always count on seeing them at both home and away games of several sports.
Jerry became sports information director for Missouri Western in 1973 and served in that role for six years. In fact, it was he who created the Griffon logo that is still in use today.
He stepped down from the Gold Coat board this past year after serving on it for 30 years (as president some of those years). He remains a longtime member of the Athletics Hall of Fame committee.
The couple owns and operates Jerry and Linda Myers Shelter Insurance in St. Joseph, Missouri. Son Jay ’89 and daughter Kelley (Myers) Schenk ’92 are both alums.
Shannon Swanson White ’06
GOLD Award
Armed with a graphic design degree from Missouri Western, Shannon Swanson White ’06 was hired as a 
graphic designer at Populous in Kansas City, Missouri. She wasn’t there very long when she was given the opportunity to help with signage for major events.
To date, she has been involved in nine Super Bowls, five NCAA Division I Final Fours, an MLB All-Star Game and a Democratic National Convention. She also helped with signage when Kauffman Stadium was renovated in 2009.
White fondly remembers her college career and considers some of her professors friends to this day. She wasn’t sure what to major in, so she took a graphic design class as an elective and found her career path.
“I’m very humbled and excited that I was chosen for this award.”
Jeff Mittie ’89
Distinguished Alumni Award
When Kansas State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jeff Mittie ’89 was hired in that role at Missouri Western in 1992, he was hired for just one year while Athletic Director Ed Harris searched for a permanent coach. Mittie was just 25 years old.
In the first year, the team made it to the Sweet 16 in the national postseason tournament, and he was got the job. Before he left Missouri Western in 1995, he had compiled a 76-17 record and a Division II Final Four appearance, his team finishing third in the nation.
Mittie, one of the winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I with accolades too numerous to mention, played both baseball and basketball as a student all four years.
He and his wife, Dr. Shanna Mittie, have two daughters and one son.
Wayne Chatham ’90
Distinguished Alumni Award
Wayne Chatham ’90 is the vice chairman of Card Compliant, in Kansas City, Missouri, a company that provides regulatory compliance solutions for prepaid card programs. Chatham also co-founded and 
previously worked as an executive for Stored Value Solutions, the company that started magnetic-stripe Gift Cards, and worked as an executive for National Processing Company and Discover Card.
Chatham earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management, playing basketball on a scholarship.
During his sophomore year of college, his father was killed in a car accident, and he credits two coaches – Gary Filbert and Roy Tewell – and Athletic Director Charlie Burri for helping him through that tough period.
He and his wife, Nanette, who Wayne met during his sophomore year at MWSU, have a son and a daughter.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award, and I am proud to be a Griffon for life.”
Ellen Sommer ’93
Distinguished Alumni Award
On the day Ellen Sommer ’93 was born, a piano tuner was working in her parents’ home, which delayed the trip to the hospital. Ellen was born just 20 minutes after they arrived at the hospital. That, quite possibly, was a portent of her career as a renowned pianist.
Today, Sommer is a full-time lecturer in piano in the School of Music at the University of Kansas. She performs extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America and Europe, and serves as a pianist for regional, national and international competitions and festivals. She is also a founding member of the Allegresse trio, and has collaborated on several recordings.
Along with her bachelor’s degree in music from Missouri Western, she earned a master’s from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. She taught at Missouri Western for 10 years and joined the KU faculty in 2008.
Sommer is the mother of one son.
Dr. Bob Bergland
Distinguished Faculty Award
Dr. Bob Bergland, professor of journalism and integrated media, became advisor for Missouri Western’s student newspaper, Griffon News, when he was hired in 1997.
When he began working on the student newspaper, “cutting” meant with a scissors and “pasting” was done with glue. “The field is continually evolving, and it forces me to learn new things,” he says. “It’s challenging, but I really enjoy it.”
He also directs the Master of Applied Arts in Digital Media program and has guided many student research projects. Some of those students presented the results of their research at international conferences, as he has coordinated several study away trips overseas.
Dr. Bergland earned a Bachelor of Arts in Writing from Millikin University, and Master of Arts in English/Rhetoric and a Ph.D in English/Rhetoric and Composition. In the spring semester of 2005, he was a Fulbright Scholar and taught at Luts’k Liberal Arts University in Ukraine.
He and his wife, Tammy, have two sons.
Howard McCauley
Honorary Alumni Award
Howard McCauley served the Office of Admissions for more than three decades before retiring this year.
When McCauley began guiding Admissions in 1985, there were approximately 3,900 students, he had two full-time and two part-time employees working for him. Under his tenure, enrollment grew to just under 6,000.
From his earliest days as director of Admissions, McCauley stressed customer service. He noted that, at the time, public universities did not focus on customer service, and Howard knew that if they did, it could help grow Missouri Western’s enrollment.
McCauley earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education and a Master’s in School Administration from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State).
“It’s been a privilege to represent Missouri Western State University,” he said. “Alumni should be very proud to be a Griffon.”
He and his wife, Beth, have two sons and one daughter.