Date: November 27, 2012
Contact: Dr. Dianne Kay Slattery, Associate Professor Technology and Construction Management, MSU
(417) 836-5292
DianneSlattery@MissouriState.edu

SPRINGFIELD — On November 10, 2012, the Department of Technology and Construction Management (TCM), part of the Missouri State University College of Business, hosted its first annual MSU Merit Badge University (MBU) in coordination with the Ozark Trails Council of Boy Scouts of America. Approximately 166 boy scouts ages 11-17 from south-central and southwestern Missouri attended and earned one of the 11 merit badges offered at the daylong event. The merit badge instructors and badges included Charles Hill and Micah Gray, GHN Architects/Engineers (Architecture); Dr. Jerry Chin and Dr. Ken Vollmar, (Computers); Dr. Richard Gebken, (Electricity); Dr. Martin Jones, (Electronics); David Pennington, Asst. Fire Chief, City of Springfield (Emergency Preparedness); Dr. Kerry Slattery, (Energy); Dr. Matthew Pierson, (Engineering); Dr. Rita Hawkins (Environmental Science); Courtney Pham and Roger Wallenburg (Personal Management); Dr. Shawn Strong and Dr. Neal Callahan (Robotics); and Jack Dill, City of Springfield Public Works (Surveying).

MSU Technology and Construction Management students and members of the MSU co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega assisted throughout the day. The MBU also included activities for the 75 parents and guardians in attendance, such as a walking MSU campus tour and an information session featuring presentations by the Office of Admissions, Financial Aid and the COB.

The MBU was coordinated by David Joswick and Dr. Dianne Slattery MSU TCM faculty members, along with Ann Pfeiffer and Michael Widman of the Ozark Trails Council. Ann Pfeiffer of the Ozark Trail Council stated that the event “was a huge success for the scout participants. It was great to see how amazed they were by the technology around them and to be able to provide them with an avenue to earn some very unique merit badges.” One veteran Scout leader commented, “Hands down, it was the most effective and well done Merit Badge University I have attended at any institution.” The second annual MSU MBU is currently being planned for fall 2013.