Each year, the University of Missouri Alliance of Alumni Associations and Extension awards the Presidential Citation Award for Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri and its four campuses. The Alliance selects one person from each campus and Extension, and the UM President selects recipients on behalf of the system.
The 2012 honorees were recognized on Friday, Nov. 30, at the annual Alliance Awards Dinner in Columbia.
Governor Jay Nixon – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri System
Since his election in 2008, Governor Nixon’s agenda has included a focus on putting college education within reach for middle-class students and increasing Missouri’s health care workers through education opportunities, such as Caring for Missourians. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Senator Tom Dempsey – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri System
Throughout his 11 years of public service in both the Senate and House, Sen. Dempsey has made a positive impact in the areas of education and economic development, and has been supportive of the university and higher education funding.
Speaker Tim Jones – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri System
Speaker of the House Tim Jones has consistently supported the university and higher education funding since being elected in 2006.
Stephen Owens – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri-Columbia
Stephen Owens demonstrated his commitment to the University of Missouri System by assuming the position of Interim President at a very unsettled time. He provided extraordinary leadership during the presidential search and transition and MU’s move from the Big 12 to the SEC, which set the course of the university for the future. Owens holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from MU.
Lajuana Counts – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri-Kansas City
A tireless volunteer for UMKC, Lajuana Counts balances her role as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri with many hours of service to her alma mater. Counts has served as president of the UMKC School of Law Alumni Association and currently serves on the board of the UMKC Law Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a law degree from UMKC.
Marianne Ward – Outstanding Service to the Missouri University of Science and Technology
Marianne Ward served as the Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations at Missouri S&T from 2007-2012. During her 21-year tenure at Missouri S&T, she served in many roles in the University Advancement division. Ward was instrumental in mobilizing student and alumni support of the university’s name change, and guided the alumni association through its recent strategic planning process.
Patrick Green – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri-St. Louis
As Mayor of the City of Normandy, home to the UMSL campus, Patrick Green has worked collaboratively with UMSL and the community on a number of projects, including the Great Streets Project for Natural Bridge Road. Mayor Green has also worked with UMSL to develop volunteer projects for students, and serves as a member of the UMSL Students of Service Community Advisory Board.
Sandy Stegall – Outstanding Service to the University of Missouri Extension
Sandy Stegall has been an advocate for University of Missouri Extension for 27 years, having worked in the areas of constituent relations, communications, information and marketing. Sandy played a major role in coordinating extension’s participation in the Alumni Alliance’s annual Legislative Day. Sandy officially retired in July 2011 but has continued to serve in the communications role part-time.
The Alliance is composed of representatives from each campus and University of Missouri Extension. The Alliance serves as a supportive and unified voice for the UM System in legislative advocacy, and facilitates the interchange of ideas and information between the UM System and the campus alumni associations and extension.
The four-campus University of Missouri System is one of the nation’s largest public research university systems with more than 75,000 students and nearly a half million alumni worldwide.
Editors note: In addition to this press release regarding all awardees, please find attached more specific information regarding Ms. Counts, Mr. Owens, Ms. Stegall and Ms. Ward for your information and use.
Reviewed 2012-12-12