Be a booster

There have been many people and experiences that have played an important role in my personal and professional development. For each of them, I am grateful.

One of these experiences has been my involvement with organized athletics throughout my lifetime -- in particular, those years that I played sports during high school and college. Sports have taught me the value of teamwork, setting goals, adapting to changing environments and persevering through adversity created by injuries and other uncontrollable circumstances.

That is why I enthusiastically agreed to serve on the Southeast Missouri State University Athletic Booster Board. It is also why I agreed to serve as president of that board this year. I believe in SEMO's athletics mission statement:

Southeast Missouri State University Athletics Department recognizes the University's responsibility for the advancement and transmission of knowledge and the preparation of leaders in all segments of society.

The Athletics Department supports the educational objectives, academic progress and general welfare of student-athletes.

It offers assistance and encouragement for student-athletes to maintain appropriate academic progress and to achieve their individual goals.

It provides an atmosphere which supports equitable opportunity for all students and staff, including women and minorities. The Athletics Department offers student-athletes opportunities to excel in their particular sport while embracing the NCAA's principles of sportsmanship and ethical conduct.

My agreement with this mission statement is one of the main reasons that I choose to be a SEMO athletics booster. Booster donations help provide scholarship assistance to our student-athletes and the necessary support to our many high-caliber coaches who have dedicated their lives to recruit and impact quality young men and women to represent Southeast Missouri State and prepare them to become future leaders.

I also choose to be a booster because I believe an effective athletics program not only strengthens Southeast Missouri State University, an important member of this community, but stimulates economic activity and entertainment value to this area. SEMO athletics is one of the most effective and far-reaching marketing tools for the university and this community with its 100-plus home athletic events each school year.

And, personally, it is fun to attend many of these athletic events and be a part of Redhawks Nation.

So I ask for your support during this year's 54th annual athletic booster club drive, which kicks off today.

If you are one of the 700-plus booster club members who currently support the athletics mission through season-ticket purchases, financial donations and ambassadorships, I say thank you. I ask for your continued and, I hope, increased support. And to those of you who are not currently boosters, I especially ask you to become a part of the booster club with a purchase of season tickets or a financial contribution.

Please contact Greg Brune at 651-2006 for additional information, or go to www.gosoutheast.com.

On behalf of the 329 hard-working student-athletes, the 37 dedicated coaches, the university, its students, its alumni and the entire booster club, we would appreciate your support. Please get in the game. You can make a difference. Thank you.

Rex Rust is co-president of Rust Communications and president of the Southeast Missouri State University Athletic Booster Board.