Faculty members, reporter receive honors

The Southeast Missourian's arts and leisure editor on Wednesday became the first local resident recognized by the College of Liberal Arts at Southeast Missouri State University who is not a university employee.

Sam Blackwell received the honorary title of "Champion of the Arts," recognizing his work reporting on cultural events at the university and throughout the area. He has worked for the Southeast Missourian a total of 15 years.

Dr. Martin M. Jones, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, presented the award. "Much larger and more affluent communities can envy us for having such an astute arts critic and advocate as Sam Blackwell," Jones said.

Last year, Blackwell became the first recipient of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's Friends of the Arts Award. His latest award came at the College of Liberal Arts' annual recognition reception to recognize graduating seniors, outstanding student achievement and outstanding teaching.

The faculty recipients for outstanding achievement for 2003 are: professor Wayne Hoover, psychology, outstanding teaching; professor Jeff Noonan, music, outstanding creative activity; and professor Michael Hogan, English, outstanding service.

Hoover has taught psychology for 30 years and was recently honored by students, colleagues and friends, who contributed to endow a student scholarship in his name.

Noonan, who teaches guitar and lute, has established the Southeast Guitar Ensemble, performed extensively in the region and directed a number of musical performances.

Dr. Hogan, who came to Southeast in 1965, directs the English Teaching Assistant Program, which trains writing teachers in a graduate program that is nationally recognized for its excellence.