development today Scholarship Is Perfect Retirement Gift <strong>for</strong> Resch What kind <strong>of</strong> retirement gift do you give a faculty member who has devoted more than three decades <strong>of</strong> her life nurturing the talents <strong>of</strong> hundreds <strong>of</strong> students? For the CMSU Department <strong>of</strong> Music’s current <strong>and</strong> emeriti faculty, starting a scholarship seemed the best way to honor long-time friend <strong>and</strong> colleague, Rita Resch. She retired in May as pr<strong>of</strong>essor emerita <strong>of</strong> music. Mia Hynes, a music faculty member who donated to the scholarship, said the endowment was developed with gifts provided by past <strong>and</strong> present faculty members. Resch also made a matching gift. The fund was started through the CMSU Foundation “as a way to honor Resch’s service, <strong>and</strong> with hopes that the scholarship will be able to assist students in pursuit <strong>of</strong> vocal studies at the university,” Hynes said. She noted that many <strong>of</strong> Resch’s <strong>for</strong>mer students will soon have the opportunity to help the scholarship grow to the $10,000 required to set up an endowment. “We’re going to ask our <strong>alumni</strong> <strong>for</strong> gifts to further the endowment. The scholarship will be a joint partnership between current faculty, emeriti faculty, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Emerita Rita Resch is honored with scholarship. <strong>and</strong>, hopefully, now our <strong>alumni</strong>,” Hynes said. In starting the scholarship, the Department <strong>of</strong> Music recognized that Resch has been an inspiration through her commitment to the department. She came to CMSU in 1974 <strong>and</strong> taught singer’s diction, vocal literature, piano accompanying, <strong>and</strong> applied voice. In addition to being an outst<strong>and</strong>ing classroom teacher, she found time to participate in a number <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional activities that allowed her to share her knowledge <strong>and</strong> abilities with others <strong>and</strong> grow in her field. She was an adjudicator, vocal soloist, <strong>and</strong> piano accompanist at many music events on <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>f campus. She was active in several pr<strong>of</strong>essional organizations, including the National Association <strong>of</strong> Teachers <strong>of</strong> Singing, Music Teachers National Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, <strong>and</strong> Pi Kappa Lambda. Resch was also involved in scholarly endeavors, including serving as one <strong>of</strong> four co-authors <strong>of</strong> all three editions <strong>of</strong> Artsong in the United States: An Annotated Bibliography, the most recent edition published in 2001 by Scarecrow Press. — Jeff Murphy ’76 hs, ’80, ’95 Scholarships are a popular means to honor <strong>and</strong> appreciate an admired faculty or staff member. Currently, at least 95 endowments in the CMSU Foundation have been established by <strong>and</strong>/or carry the name <strong>of</strong> current <strong>and</strong> emeriti faculty <strong>and</strong> staff members. Wright Shares Passion <strong>for</strong> International Experiences Pr<strong>of</strong>essor emerita Audrey E. Wright has always been passionate about the value <strong>of</strong> international experiences. Today, she shares this passion with students through the A.E. Wright International Scholarship, an award recently presented <strong>for</strong> the first time. “This scholarship means a great deal to me,” Wright said. Thea Goding, a CMSU senior who received the scholarship, is studying this semester in Germany. “The scholarship has allowed me to take advantage <strong>of</strong> the amazing teaching opportunity I have in Europe by giving me extra support to cover additional expenses.” Described by her CMSU pr<strong>of</strong>essors as a “bright star” in the classroom with “great pr<strong>of</strong>essional promise,” Goding attended high school in Seward, NE, <strong>and</strong> came to CMSU to pursue a degree in elementary education. In preparation <strong>for</strong> her teaching career, she is involved in student teaching in a first grade classroom at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Heidelberg, Germany. The school is operated by the U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Defense-Europe. “I just love teaching overseas <strong>and</strong> working with the Department A scholarship named <strong>for</strong> Audrey E. Wright, pr<strong>of</strong>essor emerita, right, has made it possible <strong>for</strong> first recipient, Thea Goding, to student teach this fall in Germany <strong>and</strong> to experience opportunities that come from studying abroad. <strong>of</strong> Defense. Traveling on the weekends is a huge plus,” she said. The A.E. Wright International Scholarship is <strong>for</strong> an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing an early childhood or education degree. Recipients must be participants in a CMSU affiliated international experience. Wright made the scholarship possible by way <strong>of</strong> a gift through the <strong>Central</strong> <strong>Missouri</strong> State <strong>University</strong> Foundation. She currently resides in Rochedale, MA, after having served from 1988-2004 as a faculty member in CMSU’s Department <strong>of</strong> Curriculum <strong>and</strong> Instruction. Throughout her career, she worked with kindergarten <strong>and</strong> elementary students, <strong>and</strong> also took advantage <strong>of</strong> opportunities to travel, teach <strong>and</strong> study overseas. In establishing the scholarship, Wright noted that teachers especially need to have a “global” perspective if they are to prepare children effectively <strong>for</strong> the challenges <strong>of</strong> the 21st century. She believes that international experiences make educators better prepared to deal with the diverse complexities <strong>of</strong> the classroom. By leaving their com<strong>for</strong>t zones, teachers can become more open to questioning <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing society <strong>and</strong> the life experiences that children bring into the education environment. For future teachers like Goding, international experience has also exp<strong>and</strong>ed her options after graduation. As she put it, “I plan on getting a steady teaching job. I have no limitations as to where.” — Jeff Murphy ’76 hs, ’80, ’95 page 16 central today winter 2005
homecoming 2005 Thous<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> CMSU <strong>alumni</strong> returned to campus to remember the past <strong>and</strong> celebrate the future, the theme <strong>of</strong> Homecoming 2005. Crowned royalty were Anthony Arton <strong>of</strong> Warrensburg, sponsored by Theta Chi, <strong>and</strong> Jessica Walters <strong>of</strong> King City, sponsored by Sigma Sigma Sigma. Other sights include the Alumni Reunion B<strong>and</strong>, parade dignitaries such as Alumni Association board members <strong>and</strong> their families, the Distinguished Alumni dinner, members <strong>of</strong> the 1970 Pecan Bowl Team, Mo, <strong>and</strong> Mancow the Mule. winter 2005 central today page 17
Change language