Date: October 30, 2009
Contact: Dr. Herb Lunday, Dean
Office of Student Services
417-255-7255

    WEST PLAINS, Mo.– A $40,000 grant through United Thank Offering (UTO), a foundation of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA), will help Missouri State University-West Plains establish a single parent educational resource center at All Saints’ Episcopal Church’s former rectory at 105 S. Curry St. in West Plains.
    Known as Project REWARD (Reaching for Education With Absolute Resolve and Dedication), the center will provide supportive assistance for low-income, single parents who show motivation and potential for college success but are faced with obstacles beyond their control, university officials said.
    “Single parents often carry burdens and face challenges that many of us know little about,” said Dr. Herb Lunday, dean of student services and co-principal investigator of the grant.  “Some are struggling to make it through life.  Some, we believe, sometimes struggle to make it through the day.  Interestingly, they often do not speak up for themselves; they simply strive to do the best they can.  I’m especially honored to work at a university that truly cares about all of our students.  Project REWARD is certainly a major testament to that caring.”
    According to statistics from the university, 166 single parents, almost 80 percent of whom were single mothers, were enrolled during the fall 2008 semester at Missouri State-West Plains.  These students represented more than 10 percent of the college population age 18 and over, but they also faced some of the biggest challenges, including child care issues, transportation barriers, lack of information about resources and services available to them, multiple personal responsibilities, lack of mentors who would support and encourage their academic success, feelings of fear, inadequacy and hopelessness, and financial constraints.
    Project REWARD will serve as a “clearinghouse” of information and resources designed to specifically meet the needs of these students.  Through the center, the university will provide such services as academic advisement, tutoring, emergency grants and referrals to career counseling, medical services, legal services and personal counseling.  In addition, the university will provide child care assistance fund grants to qualified students.
    Members of the Missouri State University Board of Governors Executive Committee recently approved a lease agreement with All Saints’ Episcopal Church for the property at 105 S. Curry St. with a rental fee of $1 payable at any time during the one-year lease, which began on Aug. 15, 2009, and will end at midnight on Aug. 14, 2010.  The university will have the right to extend the agreement for up to two years at the same lease fee, according to the terms of the agreement.
    The center will be staffed by a part-time project director, with the assistance of a part-time student assistant, who will report to the Dean of Student Services.  The project also will receive assistance from an advisory board whose members represent key areas of the community that can provide vital elements of support to the students.  Members include Dr. Lunday; Dr. Craig Klein, Dean of Academic Affairs and co-principal investigator of the grant; Financial Aid Coordinator Donna Bassham; students Chris Collins and Tarah White; the Rev. Michael Kyle of All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Dr. Renee Moore, Associate Professor of Child and Family Development and School-Age Program Coordinator of The Learning Tree Day Care Center in West Plains; All Saints’ vestry member Shawn Marhefka; and Toby Atkinson of Ozark Action, Inc., in West Plains.
    “I’m deeply gratified that the Episcopal Church and our local All Saints’ Parish can partner together with Missouri State-West Plains for a much needed and worthy service to our single-parent community in helping them achieve their college educational goals,” said Dr. Klein.
    In addition to the UTO grant, the Philanthropic Women for Education (PWE) recently awarded the program funds with which to purchase a refrigerator.  Other furnishings will come from older items surplussed by the university, officials said.
    Organizers said they are hopeful that additional funds for the program will come from a number of private foundations and philanthropic organizations, federal and state grants, private donations and the university’s Annual Fund.  Estimated annual cost of the program is just over $81,000.
    Area businesses, organizations or residents who would like more information or to be a part of this effort can contact Lunday at 417-255-7255 or via e-mail at HerbLunday@MissouriState.edu.  Formal opening of the center is planned for the beginning of the Spring 2010 Semester.


    THE FORMER RECTORY of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in West Plains will soon serve a new purpose as home to Missouri State University-West Plains’ Project REWARD (Reaching for Education With Absolute Resolve and Dedication) center.  The center will provide supportive assistance for low-income, single parents who show motivation and potential for college success but are faced with obstacles beyond their control.  Through the center, these students can receive a variety of resources and information from the university and the community, including academic advisement, tutoring, emergency grants and child care assistance, to assist with their success in college.  Serving on the center’s advisory board are, front row from left, Tarah White, West Plains, a single-parent student; and Dr. Renee Moore, Associate Professor of Child and Family Development.  Back row:  Dr. Craig Klein, Dean of Academic Affairs; the Rev. Michael Kyle of All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Chris Collins, West Plains, a single-parent student; and Dr. Herb Lunday, Dean of Student Services.  Other board members include Missouri State-West Plains Financial Aid Coordinator Donna Bassham; Shawn Marhefka, All Saints’ vestry member; and Toby Atkinson of Ozark Action, Inc., in West Plains.  (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)