The six will be honored at a commencement luncheon at 12:15 p.m. May 17 in the Student Recreation Center and will be recognized during spring commencement exercises at 2 p.m. May 17 in the Show Me Center.

Alumni to receive the award are Scott Carlton of Northville, Mich.; Trent Ball of Cape Girardeau; Scott Spindler of Belleville, Ill.; Kimberly A. Bowie of Tucson, Ariz.; Dr. Yvette Patmore Fobian of Wildwood, Mo.; and David Welker of Festus, Mo.

The Young Alumni Merit Award 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:

Harrison College of Business

Scott Carlton of Northville, Mich., general manager for Microsoft Corporation, has been selected as the 2003 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the Harrison College of Business.

Carlton received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in computer science, from Southeast in 1988. He has been with Microsoft since graduating with a master of business administration (MBA) degree, majoring in finance, from the University of Arkansas in 1993. After being with the company only six years, Carlton had created Microsoft’s Consulting Services Practice in the Tennessee region, and managed the Consulting Services Practice in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He is one of the youngest people to oversee one of Microsoft’s 18 U.S. sales districts. Carlton also earned the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer designation.

College of Education

Trent Ball of Cape Girardeau, assistant dean of students at Southeast, has been selected as the 2003 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Education.

Ball received a master of arts degree, majoring in psychological counseling, from Southeast in 1994. In 1989, he completed a bachelor of science degree, majoring in criminal justice, from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. Ball has excelled in his career at Southeast Missouri State University. He began his career at Southeast in 1995 as the academic advisor for Southeast’s TRIO Program. Over the past eight years, he has served in several areas at Southeast, including Project Upward Bound, Student Support Services and the Office of Minority Student Programs. Ball has achieved national recognition for his accomplishments, which include writing and receiving funding for grants in excess of $8 million.

College of Health and Human Services

Scott Spindler of Belleville, Ill., systems safety manager for the U.S. Air Force, has been selected as the 2003 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Health and Human Services.

Spindler, a native of Trimble, Mo., received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in criminal justice and law enforcement, from Southeast in 1988. At Southeast, he was a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program and a resident advisor. Since graduating from Southeast, Spindler has been very successful in his career with the United States Air Force. He has received several awards including the Air Force Flight Safety plaque, the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal for his meritorious service from May 1999 to April 2002.

College of Liberal Arts

Kimberly A. Bowie of Tucson, Ariz., associate director of development for the Arizona Theatre Company, has been selected as the 2003 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Liberal Arts. She is the daughter of the Rev. Walter Bowie Jr. and Dr. Geraldine Bowie.

Bowie received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in mass communication, from Southeast in 1989. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, receiving a master’s degree in higher education administration. She has succeeded professionally, holding several positions at the University of Arizona including assistant director of residence life and assistant director of training and recruitment. She was director of development and administration at Arizona International College, the former liberal arts branch of the University of Arizona. Bowie was honored by Virginia Tech University with the renaming of the annual National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek Woman of the Year Award to the Kimberly A. Bowie Greek Woman of the Year Award in 1999.

College of Science and Mathematics

Dr. Yvette Patmore Fobian of Wildwood, Mo., senior research scientist for Pharmacia Corp., has been selected as the 2003 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the College of Science and Mathematics.

Fobian received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in chemistry, from Southeast in 1989. She was a governor’s scholar and a regis merit scholar at Southeast, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. After completing her undergraduate degree, Fobian continued her studies at Washington University, receiving a master of science degree in 1993 and a doctoral degree in 1996. She has been successful in her career, serving first as a contract research chemist for Monsanto, and now as a senior research scientist for Pharmacia Corp. Fobian has published numerous patents on a variety of health-related issues, including Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

School of Polytechnic Studies

David Welker of Festus, Mo., manager of manufacturing for Little Tikes Play Systems, has been selected as the 2003 Young Alumni Merit Award winner from the School of Polytechnic Studies.

Welker, a native of Perryville, Mo., received a bachelor of science degree, majoring in industrial technology, from Southeast in 1988. He has received the president’s award and several other certificates of appreciation from Southeast over the years. After graduating from Southeast, Welker worked at Southwest Mobile Systems Division for seven years as an engineer before acquiring his position at Little Tikes Play Systems.