SEMO ANNOUNCES YOUNG ALUMNI MERIT AWARD WINNERS

Five Southeast Missouri State University graduates have been selected as recipients of the 1998 Young Alumni Merit Award. The awards will be presented at spring commencement May 16 in the Show Me Center.

The honorees are Tonya Schrader Buttry of Jackson, Cindy Gannon and Cord Polen of Cape Girardeau, Bonnie Rauls of St. Louis and Paula Hemminghaus Schwartz of St. Peters.

The Young Alumni Merit Award, presented by Southeast's Alumni Association, is given annually to those alumni under the age of 36 who have brought distinction to the university through professional growth, service and individual character.

Tonya Buttry

Buttry, who chairs Southeast Missouri Hospital's College of Nursing, has been selected as the 1998 recipient of the Young Alumni Merit Award from the university's College of Health and Human Services.

Buttry graduated from Southeast in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She earned a master of science degree with a major in nursing in 1990 from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Currently, Buttry is pursuing a doctoral degree in education with a specialty in curriculum and instruction at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

Buttry began her teaching career in 1985 when she was a clinical teaching associate for nursing students. In 1989, she began teaching medical-surgical and nursing fundamentals classes at Southeast Missouri State University. She has chaired the hospital's nursing college since 1995.

"The education I received at Southeast has been the guiding light for my whole career," Buttry said.

Cindy Gannon

Gannon, the university's head volleyball coach, has been selected as the College of Education's 1998 recipient of the Young Alumni Merit Award.

Gannon graduated from Southeast in 1985 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. She earned a master of arts degree in education in 1987, also from Southeast. Upon completing graduate school, Gannon became the assistant coach for women's softball and volleyball at Southeast.

"I am very grateful for the wonderful education I received from Southeast and am very honored I am able to continue recruiting student athletes to Southeast Missouri State," said Gannon.

Since becoming Southeast's head volleyball coach in 1989, Gannon has recorded 233 wins and earned three Ohio Valley Coach of the Year awards. Furthermore, her volleyball teams have been Ohio Valley Conference champions six of the last seven years and the team has made two NCAA tournament appearances.

Cord Polen

Polen, community bank president of Commerce Bank, has been selected as Southeast's Donald L. Harrison College of Business merit award winner.

Polen graduated from Southeast in 1983 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with an emphasis in economics and finance. After holding managerial and vice presidential positions in the banking industry, Polen graduated in 1990 from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Since 1992, Polen has been community bank president of Commerce Bank in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. He also is the assistant secretary to the board for Commerce Bank.

"The education I received at Southeast provided me with a good foundation and working knowledge of basic business practices," Polen said.

Bonnie Rauls

Rauls has been selected as Southeast's College of Science and Technology award winner.

Rauls is the director of sports medicine at the HealthSouth Corp. in St. Louis.

Rauls graduated from Southeast in 1985 with a bachelor of science degree and in 1987 completed a master of natural science degree, also at Southeast. While she was a graduate student, Rauls extensively researched the education required by athletic trainers. As a result, she presented her findings to the 1987 National Athletic Trainers Association Convention. Her research also was published in national journals.

Rauls joined the HealthSouth Corp. of St. Louis, in 1988. She also has been an adjunct professor of sports medicine for Missouri Baptist College in St. Louis since 1992.

Paula Schwartz

Schwartz, contract specialist for the Boeing Co. in St. Louis, has been selected as Southeast's College of Liberal Arts 1998 award recipient.

Schwartz graduated from Southeast in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in mass communication with an emphasis in public relations.

After graduating, Schwartz served as the Young Alumni chairman for five years.

Schwartz joined the McDonnell Douglas corporation in 1987. In 1994, she progressed to the position of senior contract administrator. In 1997, Schwartz became a contract specialist.