SEMO schedules banquet for merit award winners

Six alumni and a faculty member at Southeast Missouri State University will receive Merit Awards on Oct. 28 at the Show Me Center.

The alumni award winners are Dr. Theresa Bert of Bradenton, Fla., senior research scientist of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Dr. Addison Lee Lawrence of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Port Aransas, Texas, professor of wildlife at Texas A & M University; Dr. John Miller Lawrence of Lutz, Fla., professor of biology at University of South Florida; Dennis M. Payne of Creve Coeur, Mo., president and chief executive officer of SBC directory operations; Dr. Steven Schwab of Augusta, Ga., chairman of the department of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia; and C. John Wilder of Dallas, Texas, chief executive officer of TXU Corp.

* Bert graduated in 1972 with degrees in biology and mathematics.

* Dr. Addison Lawrence graduated in 1956 with majors in biology, chemistry and mathematics.

* Dr. John Lawrence graduated in 1958 with a degree in biology.

* Payne graduated in 1974 with a degree in business administration.

* Schwab graduated in 1975 with a bachelor of science degree in biology.

* Wilder graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

This year's recipient of the Faculty Merit Award is Dr. Ed Leoni of Cape Girardeau, professor of health, human performance and recreation at Southeast.

The school's alumni association will present the awards at the Copper Dome Society/Merit Award Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Merit awards are presented by Southeast to honor distinguished alumni. The awards have been given since 1958.

The Faculty Merit Award is presented for excellence and distinction in teaching.

Leoni, a member of the Southeast faculty for 25 years, chaired the school's mascot committee which led the successful effort to scrap the Indian nickname and replace it with Redhawks.

Leoni helped develop the department of health and leisure which has grown from four faculty members and 60 majors to 12 faculty members and 350 majors.

He has developed and directed numerous presentations, programs, keynotes and workshops focused on healthy lifestyles, substance abuse and health promotion.