A scholarship presented annually by the Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association will be named for the late Mike Boulware, civic leader and former chapter president.
The announcement was made by scholarship chair Susan Krumm during the chapter's 26th anniversary celebration Thursday at Serenity Valley Winery in Millersburg.
"Mike truly represented the capstone values of his alma mater," Krumm said. Those values are respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.
"His respect for everyone he encountered was exemplary and in turn he was a highly respected man. He received the prestigious J.H. Atkinson Award from the Callaway Chamber of Commerce for his unique contributions to this community," she added.
Boulware also received the Mizzou chapter's Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2006.
"His sense of responsibility led him to countless leadership positions throughout his life," Krumm said. "Mike served on the Callaway Mizzou Alumni Board as treasurer and president, and for most of our 26 years on the scholarship committee. He served on many boards, particularly for nonprofit organizations.
"Discovery is one of the pillars, and Mike was clearly a lifelong learner. He had a knack for asking the important questions in meetings or following presentations. How many ways did Mike show excellence? In his 47-year tenure at the Callaway Bank, in his community and church involvement, and certainly in his roles as husband, father, grandfather and friend. It is with deep respect and love that we have named our scholarship after our friend Mike," she said.
Members of Mike Boulware's family were in attendance, including his wife, Brenda; children, Troy and Christy Boulware, Stephen Boulware and Jody and Cory Miller; and grandchildren, Corynne and Cade Miller.
Marta Cunningham is the first recipient of the $1,000 Mike Boulware Memorial Scholarship. Marta is a home schooled student who is active in 4-H and volunteers in the community. She is also an accomplished pianist and horsewoman.
The chapter also presented a $1,000 capstone scholarship, renewable for four years, to John Teel, a senior at Fulton High School. Krumm said Teel's leadership skills stood out to the selection committee. Boys State, National Honor Society president and chairmanship of many Student Council events are among his accomplishments.
Two Fulton High School graduates received funds to continue their education at Mizzou. David Fague received the $2,000 Pinet Memorial Scholarship and Kelly Gillespie received the $2,000 Forward Callaway Scholarship. Both scholarships are privately funded by a Mizzou alum who lives in Florida but has maintained close ties to Callaway, where he grew up.
Fague is continuing his studies in Biological Engineering and Computational Neuroscience. Gillespie, who is a junior studying Hospitality Management. She is participating in Mizzou study abroad trips this summer in Italy and Spain and is already in Europe. Her mother, Tammy Gillespie, accepted her award.
The chapter has been presenting scholarships to local students since 1997. During that time, nearly 60 students have been recipients.
The Callaway County Alumni Chapter is one of only a few chapters nationally to achieve Capstone status -- the highest level of achievement in the Mizzou Alumni Association's Chapter Recognition Program -- every year since the award was established. This distinction allows the chapter to earn scholarships for local students, as well as funds for chapter activities.
Marching Mizzou Director Dr. Amy M. Knopps was the featured speaker for the event. Beth Howard Snyder, co-founder and owner of 1canoe2 and president of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, received the Outstanding Alumnus Award. Stacey Bonderer, Fulton Public Schools Teacher of the Year, received the Education Award, and Josh Humphreys, a research biologist for Boehringer Ingelheim in Kingdom City, received the Agriculture Award.
Chapter officers for 2022-23 were elected at the event. They are Michelle Atkinson, president; Kate Geppert, vice president; Madison Books, secretary; and Bruce Robertson, treasurer. Outgoing officers are Gary Cunningham, president; Michelle Atkinson, vice president; Kate Geppert, secretary; and Bruce Robertson, treasurer.
Directors at large are Teri Arms, Brooke Bartlett, Mike Basnett, Mary Ann Beahon, Mike Conner, Tim Conner, Joe Holt, Marty Kehoe, Susan Krumm, Kelly Neudecker, Ken Niemeyer and Bob Pauley.
For more information on the alumni chapter's activities, visit the chapter's Facebook page, Mizzou Alumni- Callaway County.
The Boulware family with Marta Cunningham, recipient of the newly named Mike Boulware Memorial Scholarship, left to right: Stephen Boulware, Corynne Miller, Jody Boulware Miller, Brenda Boulware, Cory Miller, Cade Miller, Troy Boulware and Christy Boulware. CONTRIBUTED
Scholarship recipients David Fague, Marta Cunningham and John Teel. CONTRIBUTED