Dr. Sharon Kosek ’77 has a true passion for the arts and has turned that passion into extraordinary volunteerism. As a testament to her devotion, she recently received the 2018 Missouri State Award for Leadership in the Arts from the Missouri Arts Council, and in June, she will receive the YWCA Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award.
The St. Joseph native said, when she was in high school, she wanted to be a band director just like her director at Lafayette High School. When she arrived on campus and learned that Missouri Western didn’t offer that option at the time, she decided on a business major.
Sharon Kosek ’77
But changing her major didn’t dampen Kosek’s love or commitment to the arts. She has spent her life volunteering for the arts and currently, she serves as a founding member of the Missouri Western Arts Society, a St. Joseph Symphony Board member, St. Joseph Symphony Friends Board president, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art Board member, Allied Arts Council member, including a stint as the fund drive chair; Mount Mora Cemetery Restoration and Preservation Association, and Mount Mora representative for the St. Joseph Museums and more.
When Kosek came on campus to be interviewed for this article, she had just come from volunteering at a fundraiser for the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. After the interview, she was heading to do some work for Mount Mora Cemetery.
“The arts are my passion because of the wonderful experiences I had. They bring so much to someone’s life.”
She credits her love of the arts to her mother, who was a professional musician. “I just assumed everyone listened to music all the time at home.”
Because of her childhood experiences, Kosek says instilling the arts in children is where her real passion lies. In 2007, she helped found the St. Joseph Symphony’s Instrumental Infusion, where fifth-graders are introduced to musical instruments. She has also been involved over the years in the Trails West!® children’s arts tent and the Performing Arts Association’s annual children’s theatre.
“Every student is gifted in some way, and I want to help steer them to what they are good at.”
She especially appreciates that Instrument Infusion is now held at Missouri Western, and music education students have the opportunity to work with the elementary students.
Although Kosek has a master’s in business education from Northwest Missouri State University and a doctorate of education in educational leadership from University of Missouri-Columbia, Kosek says her heart belongs to Missouri Western. When she names the great arts programs across the community, the University’s are definitely on the list.
She also has a profound respect for Walter Cronkite and is ecstatic about Missouri Western’s Walter Cronkite Memorial that teaches about his journalism career.
And what does the future hold for Kosek? She says she’ll continue to volunteer, and promote and enjoy the arts.
“I like being busy and making a difference in St. Joseph,” Kosek says. “If you’re not trying to lift things up in St. Joseph, you should be. I’m looking to change lives to the positive. Arts does that.”