Business Notebook: Culver's launches campaign to benefit, thank farm families

* The Culver's chain of restaurants on Monday launched its "Thank You, Farmers" campaign, showcasing its partnership with family farms. As part of the campaign, participating Culver's restaurants will pledge their support to farm families through "percent of sales" nights, a Scoopie token, guest donation program and event sponsorships. All of the efforts will benefit local chapters of the National FFA Organization.

Culver's also will introduce nationwide efforts including an online donation campaign on the Culvers.com homepage and a Facebook promotion that will launch July 15. The Facebook promotion will allow fans to write a brief thank-you note to a farmer and each thank-you note will result in a $1 donation made to the National FFA Foundation on behalf of Culver's, up to $50,000.

Culver's is headquartered in Prairie Du Sac, Wisc., and its Cape Girardeau franchise is at 295 N. Kingshighway.

Southeast students recognized

Kelly Darby

* Five Southeast Missouri State University students brought home six national awards from the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The Zeta Alpha Lambda Chapter from Southeast sent 13 students to compete in 25 individual events and two team events. Five of the students brought home six national awards: Justin Bader, an accounting major from Jackson, earned first place in sports management and marketing; Stephanie Bechard, an accounting major from Freeburg, Ill., earned eighth place in accounting analysis and decision making; Josh James, a marketing major from Jackson, earned third place in management concepts; Emily Kraenzle, an accounting major from Ste. Genevieve, Mo., earned ninth place in computer applications; and Matt Reishman, a computer-information systems major from Ballwin, Mo., earned third place in computer concepts and ninth place in networking concepts.

U.S. Bank now open at Southeast

* U.S. Bank opened a new on-campus branch at Southeast Missouri State University. The full-service branch is a convenient banking option for the more than 12,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff of the university. The branch, located in the bookstore in the University Center, will provide full financial services from checking accounts, savings, loans, mortgages, investments and more to students, faculty and staff on campus. The branch is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the regular academic year and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer session. There also are two ATMs located on campus, one at the branch and one at Towers Housing Complex.

SoutheastHEALTH receives grant

* SoutheastHEALTH received a one-year Community Action grant from the American Heart Association to improve heart health in Ripley County. The Community Action grant initiative is designed to help achieve the American Heart Association's mission: To build healthier lives, free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. SoutheastHEALTH is one of 29 Community Action grant recipients, chosen from 172 applicants across an 11-state region served by the American Heart Association's Midwest Affiliate. SoutheastHEALTH received $3,500 in funding to support the Heart Attack Response Program for Ripley County, which will provide heart attack awareness, emergency response and hands-only CPR education to residents of Ripley County. For more information, contact Mark Bliss at 986-6607 or email mbliss@sehealth.org.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Darby named new member leader

Kelly Darby

* Kelly Darby, a financial representative with Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, was the new member leader in the Missouri East Region for June 2013. Darby, of Jackson, has been with Modern Woodmen since November 2010. Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial is a fraternal life insurance society headquartered in Rock Island, Ill. For more information, contact Darby at 986-1781 or call the regional office at 701-0163.