Friends of the University Award to be presented Friday

Two married couples will be presented with the 2015 Friends of the University Award on Friday.

Stan and Debbie Crader of Jackson and Ken and Jeanine Dobbins were chosen as this year's recipients by the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

Stan Crader is president of Crader Distributing Co., and Debbie Crader is a registered nurse. Ken Dobbins is the president of Southeast Missouri State University.

Two of the Craders' sons attended Southeast, and Stan Crader is co-chairman of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation's "Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Success" capital campaign.

"Because of Stan's efforts as co-chair, the Southeast Missouri University Foundation's 'Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Success' comprehensive campaign, with its focus on financially supporting students, has reached a record level in the most ambitious fundraising campaign in university history," Ken Dobbins said in a news release.

More than $46 million has been raised in support of scholarships, programs and renovations benefiting students, according to the release.

The Crader Family Endowment for American Values, within the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, was established to increase knowledge and appreciation of the political, religious and economic heritage of the U.S. and the West. The endowment is named in honor of Stan and Debbie Crader and Stan's late father, Don, and Saundra Crader of Marble Hill, Missouri.

"Stan and Debbie also have supported a lecture series in the Department of History that has explored Patrick Henry's leadership, al-Qaida and Islam, George Washington's faith and early Christianity. Because of the Craders, our students have had the opportunity to hear renowned lecturers on Western Civilization and American values. This is a great example of how an endowed program serves hundreds of students in their experiential learning," Bill Holland, vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, said in the release.

Ken Dobbins has been president of Southeast since July 1999. Before that he was the university's executive vice president and vice president of finance and administration. During his time as president, the campus has seen major construction projects, from the River Campus, new student dormitories and the Seabaugh Polytechnnic Building to the major renovation projects at Academic Hall and Magill Hall of Science.

The most recent construction, a new academic and residence hall at the River Campus, has been named for Ken and Jeanine Dobbins.

The Dobbinses "have demonstrated their profound and heartfelt commitment to the students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Southeast Missouri State University since they arrived in Cape Girardeau in 1991," Doyle Privett, president of the university's board of regents and a foundation board member, said in the release. "They have led this university not only by their example and their passion for everyone associated with this institution, but also with their selfless generosity in supporting its mission."

The Friend of the University Award recognizes those who support and who are closely associated with the mission, purposes, plans and programs of the university. It is the highest honor bestowed by the foundation.

The awards will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus.

kwebster@semissourian.com

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