Welcome, StuCos

There are more than a thousand special guests in Cape Girardeau today: 800 representatives of students councils from middle, junior and senior high school across Missouri plus 400 advisers. They are here for the annual convention of the Missouri Association of Student Councils.

The three-day convention opened Thursday night and gets into full swing today with a busy program that includes a keynote address by Josh Shipp, a nationally known motivational speaker. Sessions on leadership also are planned. Tonight, there will be a dinner at the Show Me Center and a dance and games at Southeast Missouri State University's Student Recreational Center. The convention will end Saturday with a presentation to Special Olympics, the group's charity.

Among the 800 students are tomorrow's teachers, business owners, politicians and, perhaps, a future governor or president. Their enthusiasm for and dedication to their roles as student leaders bodes well for the future of Missouri and our nation.

To make the convention possible, hundreds of area residents have opened their homes to out-of-town guests, and they deserve particular thanks for being willing to offer their hospitality.

And don't forget the adult advisers who so unselfishly offer guidance and assistance to the student leaders. Their role in shaping our leaders of tomorrow is an especially important one.

Finally, a word of thanks to the students and advisers at Central who worked so hard to arrange this convention. Cape Girardeau also was the host city in 1982, 1992 and 2002.

Welcome to Cape Girardeau, student council members. We're glad you're here.