FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHEAST HONORS 2002 YOUNG ALUMNI MERIT AWARD WINNERS

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., May 24, 2002 - Six Southeast Missouri State University graduates have been selected as recipients of the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award. The awards were presented at spring commencement exercises May 11 in the Show Me Center.

Recipients of the award were Paul Lints of Sappington, Mo.; Shelly Dohogne of Scott City, Mo.; Douglas McDaniel of Jackson, Mo.; John Bry of Urbana, Ohio; Brian Joos of Sherwood, Ark.; and Anthony Jansen of Leopold, Mo.

The Young Alumni Merit Award, presented by Southeast's Alumni Association, is given annually to honor those alumni under the age of 36 who have brought distinction to the University through professional growth, service, and individual character. Each academic college at Southeast honors a distinguished young alumna or alumnus by presenting them with the Young Alumni Merit Award.

The recipients and the college presenting each award are as follows:

Donald L. Harrison College of Business

Paul Lints of Sappington, Mo., vice president and branch manager of Southern Commercial Bank in St. Louis, has been selected as the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the Donald L. Harrison College of Business.

Lints, a native of St. Louis, received a bachelor of science in business administration degree, majoring in finance, with a minor in economics in 1989. Since graduating from Southeast Missouri State University, Lints has succeeded professionally, holding vice president positions at Bank of America and Southern Commercial Bank in St. Louis. He was recognized as Top Producer for the Midwest Region and received the President's Performance Award from Bank of America. Lints also volunteers his time as a board member of the Down Syndrome Association and has participated in fund-raisers for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation.

"It was a great honor receiving the Young Alumni Merit Award for the Harrison College of Business," said Lints. "It meant a lot to be recognized for my accomplishments by the Alumni Association."

College of Education

Shelly Dohogne, of Scott City, Mo., a teacher at Scott County Central Elementary School in Sikeston, Mo., has been selected as the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Education.

Dohogne, a native of Benton, Mo., received a bachelor of science in education degree, majoring in early childhood education, in 1991. While at Southeast, Dohogne was active in the Student Missouri State Teachers Association and Kappa Delta Pi, an international education honor society.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Dohogne continued her studies at Southeast, receiving a master of arts in elementary education in 1999. In 2001, Dohogne earned the distinction of becoming one of only 78 teachers in Missouri, and only one other in this region, to receive national board certification. She also is the coordinator of an early childhood special education program covering seven districts, a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, the Community Teachers Association, and the Parents as Teachers Advisory Committee for the Scott County Central, Scott City, Chaffee, and Delta school districts.

"The teacher education program at Southeast is one of the best - I felt very prepared when I graduated," Dohogne said. "I was very surprised to receive the award, but it was a great honor," she said.

College of Health and Human Services

Doug McDaniel, of Jackson, Mo., a Missouri state highway patrolman, has been selected as the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Health and Human Services.

McDaniel, a native of Crystal City, Mo., received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in criminal justice, in 1992. While at Southeast, McDaniel was active in the Criminal Justice Association, and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

After graduating from Southeast, McDaniel attended the Southeast Missouri Law Enforcement Academy and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy. He has been successful in his career, serving first as a patrolman, and now as a Missouri state trooper. McDaniel also teaches annual courses for new recruits and spouses at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy, and substitute teaches for the Cape Girardeau County and Scott City school systems. He has received numerous awards during his career, including the 1997 Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year. McDaniel is a member of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees, participating in volunteer activities including the Toybox Program and Volunteer Santa.

"I was honored that Southeast followed my career even after I graduated, and felt my accomplishments were deserving of this award," said McDaniel.

College of Liberal Arts

John Bry, of Urbana, Ohio, executive director of Main St. Urbana-Champaign County, has been selected as the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Liberal Arts.

Bry, a native of Auburn, Ind., received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in historic preservation, in 1995. While at Southeast, Bry was a member of the Historic Preservation Association.

Since graduating from Southeast, Bry has attained success professionally. He has achieved national recognition for his accomplishments, which include successfully leading several main street revitalization programs, writing and receiving funding for grants in excess of $2 million, placing numerous structures on the National Register of Historic Places, and organizing state and national preservation groups. He has also purchased and is in the process of restoring a historic 1888 hotel.

Bry has received numerous awards for his work with the Illinois and Ohio Main Street Programs. He is a member of many Main Street and historic preservation organizations, and has spoken and advised on the subject to a number of communities and professional conferences across the country. He also volunteers for several organizations, including cancer fund-raisers and those promoting literacy and children's causes, fitness, and historic preservation.

"This award is an acknowledgment that historic preservation is valuable to communities," said Bry. "I'm proud to be in a field where I can have a positive influence on a community for a long time."

College of Science and Mathematics

Brian Joos, of Sherwood, Ark., a major in the U.S. Air Force, has been selected as the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Science and Mathematics.

Joos, a native of Baltimore, Md., received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in physics, in 1988. While at Southeast, Joos was active in Student Government, Theta Xi fraternity, Air Force ROTC, Arnold Air Society, and his residence hall council.

Since graduating, Joos has excelled in his career in the U.S. Air Force, where he is currently a flight examiner. Joos has received the humanitarian service medal for his work in Somolia and Haiti, and has traveled to 54 countries while serving his country. He will complete his master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in June 2002.

"It is a great honor to be recognized by the school and fellow alumni," said Joos. "I hope that I can be an inspiration to other young graduates and students to pursue their dreams using the knowledge and experiences gained while attending Southeast."

College of Polytechnic Studies

Tony Jansen, of Leopold, Mo., assistant general manager at TG Missouri Corp. in Perryville, Mo., has been selected as the 2002 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Polytechnic Studies.

Jansen, a native of Leopold, Mo., received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in industrial technology, in 1992. While at Southeast, Jansen was active in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Phi Eta Sigma national honor society, Organization of Commuter Students, and Emerging Leaders, a student leadership program.

Jansen has been successful since graduating from Southeast, leading a successful Toyota production system improvement team at TG Missouri before being promoted to his current position. He was chosen as TG Missouri Employee of the Month in April 1993 and as St. Isidore Knights of Columbus Knight of the Year in 1990. Jansen also holds firefighter I & II certifications.

"I'm the third in my family to graduate from Southeast's industrial technology program. My two brothers also earned their degrees here," said Jansen. "I was shocked when I learned I was chosen to receive this award, but it was a wonderful honor," he said. "It was good to return to Southeast and see all the improvements the University has made," Jansen added.