Last week we announced this year’s inductees into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame: Maxine Clark, Ann Covington, Hal Donaldson, Langston Hughes and Judith Rowland. I am excited about this class.

Introducing the honorees

Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop®, is one of the true innovators in the retail industry. In June 2013, Clark stepped down from her chief executive role to apply her entrepreneurial skills to her passion for improving K-12 public education and to invest in and mentor women and minority entrepreneurs.

Ann Covington served as the first female judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals in 1987, the first female judge on the Missouri Supreme Court in 1989 and the first female chief justice in 1993. As a former member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, Covington has also been active in higher education.

Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, has committed his life to providing people in need with much-needed supplies and resources like warm meals, groceries, medical and dental screenings, job opportunities and business training. Under Donaldson’s leadership, Convoy of Hope has distributed nearly $700 million worth of food and supplies to more than 80 million people across the globe.

Langston Hughes was a prolific writer of poetry, fiction, drama, libretto, journalism, screenplays and more. His success made him the first African American to make his living solely as a writer. Born in Joplin when rigid racial restrictions dominated Missouri, Hughes was proud of his connection to the state.

Judith Rowland is the U.S. policy and advocacy manager at Global Citizen, a social platform that works to solve world problems through education, outreach and engagement. Among her many accomplishments, Rowland helped secure over 100 co-sponsors on the 2014 Water for the World Act and, in conjunction with partners from across the sector, played an instrumental role in seeing the bill pass through both legislative chambers and be signed into law.

You can find additional information about this year’s nominees in last week’s press release.

This year’s induction ceremony and banquet will occur at 6 p.m. on April 7 at the White River Conference Center. Tickets are $40 and tables are $750. I encourage all members of the university community to purchase tickets online and attend this event.

Additionally, if you have suggestions for future inductees into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame, please submit a nomination online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!