Trying out your future career is always a good idea. Many students get a taste of what they could be doing through internships, shadowing or practicums.  

PLN 572, or the planning practicum, is one way planning students get to experience their career. During the semester, one lucky town gets planning assistance from the students in the class. The spring 2018 class worked with Billings, Missouri. 

The visioning plan from this class won the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association 2018 Outstanding Student Project. 

Students who worked on the project include:  

• Kelsey Carson 
• Bailey DeJonge 
• Nick Erwin 
• Scott Godbey 
• Zeke Hall 
• Jake Hawkins 
• James “Brad” Kelley 
• Andrew Menke 
• Ben Mohler 
• Adam Olinger 
• Amber Ryan 
• Maliyah Shelton 
• Christopher Watson 
• J. Wesley Welch 
• Brad Williams 

Dr. Krista Evans, assistant professor of geography and planning, teaches the course.  

“We did not know at the time that we would receive the award, so it is pretty exciting,” Evans said. “As far as we know, this is the first time Missouri State planning students have won this award.”  

“We are extremely proud to have the exceptional work that Dr. Evans’s class did for the city of Billings recognized,” said Dr. Toby Dogwiler, department head of GGP. “It is a great example of our students and faculty fulfilling the public affairs mission of Missouri State through our innovative curricula.”