The DEWEY Award will allow HLGU to implement innovative strategies aimed at increasing the number of teacher candidates in its Education Preparation Program (EPP) and strengthening the support systems for current candidates. These initiatives will directly impact teacher shortages in rural Northeast Missouri by focusing on recruiting students from local high schools and community colleges, as well as supporting current teacher candidates during their critical student teaching semester.

Key Activities Supported by the DEWEY Grant Include:

• Providing tuition assistance to 10 HLGU teacher candidates during their student teaching semester, alleviating financial burdens and enabling them to focus on their educational experience.
• Hosting recruitment events aimed at high school juniors and seniors interested in the teaching profession.
• Offering classroom observation opportunities to Hannibal Career and Technical Center (HCTC) and area community colleges.
• Enhancing HLGU鈥檚 Adventure University, a full-day STEAAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Athletics, and Math) event, which provides hands-on teaching opportunities for current teacher candidates while engaging local elementary students.
• Creating a targeted social media campaign to promote HLGU鈥檚 education program and attract prospective teacher candidates, particularly from rural areas.

鈥淲e are thrilled to receive the DEWEY Award and are excited about the opportunities this funding provides to support the future of education in our region,鈥� said Dr. Melanie Smith, Project Lead at HLGU and Chair of the Education Division. 鈥淭his grant will enable us to make a significant impact on both the recruitment and retention of teacher candidates, particularly in areas where they are needed most.鈥�

The DEWEY Award aligns with HLGU鈥檚 commitment to addressing the critical teacher shortage in rural Missouri and its dedication to preparing educators who will serve in under-resourced areas. By investing in future teachers, HLGU is helping to ensure that all students have access to quality education, regardless of where they live.

For more information on the DEWEY Award and HLGU鈥檚 teacher education programs, please contact Dr. Melanie Smith at melanie.smith@hlg.edu or call the HLGU Education Division at 573-629-3110.

After competing for several hours, the top two teams, one from Hannibal Career and Technical Center (HCTC) and another from Macon Tech, went head to head with critical thinking questions. Team #2 from HCTC took home the grand prize which included a traveling trophy and a $500 scholarship to HLGU for each student. The winning team from HCTC consisted of Jaelyn Chandler, Rylea Wiebold, and Jenna McVeigh from Palmyra High School and Logan Gosney from Monroe City High School led by Lisa Carroll. Dr. Virginia Wolgemuth, Director of the Craigmiles School of Nursing at HLGU says, 鈥淎ll the students who participated were energetic, passionate, and eager to win.鈥�

Along with competing, students had time to visit with representatives from sponsors and other businesses during a career fair. Students also heard a passionate message from Karmon Kindhart, VP of Nursing at Hannibal Regional Healthcare System. Students were encouraged that the future work they will do as nurses will be important work and have a lasting impact on the people they come in contact with. Along the lines of Nurse Kindhart鈥檚 keynote, Dr. Robert Matz, President of HLGU, says, 鈥淣urses are everyday heroes. We鈥檙e proud to train them at HLGU and appreciate that so many of our graduates continue to use their knowledge for service in our communities.鈥�

The event was made possible with generous donations from sponsors. Baptist Homes Healthcare Ministries and Hannibal Regional Healthcare System were Platinum sponsors who funded student scholarships and the main stage presentations. Mark Twain Behavioral Health and Blessing Health System were Gold sponsors who provided lunch and the practical skills competition rooms. Luther Manor and Quincy Medical Group were Silver sponsors who helped cover transportation costs for the schools. The HLGU High School Nursing competition was a widely supported community event. Dr. Wolgemuth stated, 鈥淭he event went well for the 1^st annual, and we鈥檙e looking forward to growing the event and seeing more students participate in future years.鈥�

David Nekrutman is the Executive Director for Projects, a ministry dedicated to creating resources that 聽empowers Christians to discover the Hebraic roots of their faith as well as provide humanitarian aid to single Ethiopian mothers and Christian Arab families living in Israel. In April of 2023, he launched creating the first ever Bible curriculum that fuses critical thinking and Hebraic understanding for the home-school high school community.

For his contribution in advancing the relationship between Jews and Christians, Israel鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of World Religions has recognized David Nekrutman as a Goodwill Ambassador of Jewish-Christian Relations for the State of Israel. Besides graduating from Oral Roberts University in 2018 with a Masters in Biblical Literature and authoring , David Nekrutman was recently selected for The Chosen Season 4鈥檚 Jewish Advisory Board.

Learn more about Free Society at /academics/academic-departments/business/free-society/

Dr. Melanie Smith, an education professor at 番茄社区 University, has published a chapter in the Handbook of Research on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Education in the Context of a Virtual Age.

Her chapter, titled “A Conceptual Framework for Understanding How Early Career Literacy Teachers Curate a Lesson Plan in a Digital Age,” focuses on the challenges that early career literacy teachers face when planning small group reading lessons, particularly in the primary grades.

According to Dr. Smith, early career teachers often struggle with knowing how to meet the diverse needs of their developing readers. To alleviate this challenge, they seek support from their social environment鈥攊ncluding online sources鈥攊n today’s digital age. However, due to their lack of experience, they may not always know how to determine quality when curating lessons from various sources.

Dr. Smith’s chapter aligns with Sawyer et al.’s critical curation theory, which supports the idea that early career literacy teachers need support in determining quality when curating lessons from various sources. Her conceptual framework enhances knowledge of the curation process for early career literacy teachers and highlights possible sources that they may utilize when planning small guided reading group instruction in the primary grades. Furthermore, the chapter highlights how these teachers select sources from the internet and use a research-based literacy framework to discern quality in their selection.

The Handbook of Research on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Education in the Context of a Virtual Age is a comprehensive resource for educators seeking to navigate the challenges of teaching in the digital age. The book includes contributions from leading scholars in the field and covers topics such as online learning, blended teaching models, and teacher preparation for virtual instruction.

Dr. Smith’s chapter makes an important contribution to the book by highlighting the challenges that early career literacy teachers face in the digital age and proposing a framework for addressing those challenges. Her research will be of interest to educators, researchers, and policymakers seeking to improve teacher preparation and support in the digital age.

The Handbook of Research on Advancing Teaching and Teacher Education in the Context of a Virtual Age is available from , a leading publisher of scholarly books and journals.

番茄社区 University students and faculty had art pieces featured into the prestigious 28th Annual Mary S. Oakley and Lee Lindsay Artist Showcase at the Quincy Art Center in Quincy, Illinois.

HLGU students Faith Barrowclough, Amanda Finnerty, Emily Woodhurst, and Zach Woodhurst each had art featured in the show last weekend. HLGU Marketing Coordinator and Graphic Design Instructor Todd Damotte also had a piece featured.

“It was an honor for all of these students to have artwork accepted into their very first art show,” said HLGU Assistant Art Professor and Art Department Chair Tammy Emerson. “I am so proud, as they are not only wonderful artists, but amazing people in Christ as well.”

Faith Barrowclough’s acrylic piece is called In the Grove. Amanda Finnerty submitted a piece called New Life, drawn in pencil. Emily Woodhurst had two pieces: a colored pencil piece titled Myths and Legends and a mixed media piece called Spies. Zach Woodhurst featured a graphite and charcoal piece called Capturing a Moonlit Sunflower. Finally, Mr. Damotte’s mixed media piece is called Tree of Life.

These six pieces were among only 100 selected works of art from the local area to be featured in this show.

The art will be on display at the Quincy Art Center at 1515 Jersey St. in Quincy, IL until Saturday, January 7. The Art Center exhibits are free and open to the public Wednesday鈥擲aturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Dr. Albee recently celebrated her 19^th year of service to 番茄社区 University. Over her time with HLGU, Dr. Albee has served as the Division of Education Chair, Director of Assessment, Director of Teacher Education, and Distinguished Professor of Education.

鈥淎s a distinguished professor of education, a fixture in the HLGU and Hannibal communities, and one of the finest Christian women I know, I could not be more excited about Dr. Albee鈥檚 willingness to accept the Vice President of Academic Administration role in this transitional period,鈥� Dr. Matz said.

Dr. Albee earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education from Missouri Western State University, her master鈥檚 degree in professional studies in education (Gifted Education) from Iowa State University, and her Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in higher order literacy (diagnosing and remediating reading problems) and urban and policy studies in higher education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She began teaching at HLGU in the fall of 2003.

Dr. Albee was awarded HLGU鈥檚 Outstanding Faculty Member award in 2003, Mortar Board Society at Northwest Missouri State University, Parkway Distinguished Professor from HLGU in 2009 and 2018, and Distinguished Professor of Education from HLGU in 2020. She is only the second HLGU professor to receive the distinguished professor title. This title is awarded to HLGU professors who have achieved excellence and made significant contributions in their field. HLGU highlights this placement as, 鈥渁n honor bestowed on a person by the University President and Trustees,鈥� not one that is applied for as other rank advancements are.

She has co-authored a Reading Diagnosis and Correction textbook, published numerous articles, served in consulting roles for area school districts, has been invited to speak in several areas of literacy, and actively participates in several professional organizations to remain current in the field of education.

She is a member of the International Literacy Association, and Professors of Literacy and Teacher Education, and she holds Missouri Teaching Certification in Elementary Education and K-12 Math.

鈥淚 am both humbled and honored to serve the Lord, my highly esteemed HLGU colleagues, Dr. Matz, and HLGU in a new capacity,鈥� Dr. Albee said. 鈥淩elying on the Lord鈥檚 wisdom and guidance, I am excited for this new opportunity.鈥�

Dr. Albee is married to Mark, pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, MO. They have three grown children: Tim, who is in corporate business partnerships and lives in Kansas City, MO; Christina Argo (with son-in-law Jordan and grandchildren Morgan, Logan, Emma, and Ephraim), who is a licensed professional counselor in Arkadelphia, AR; and Ben (with wife Abby), who is a computer network engineer in Columbia, MO.

She enjoys serving the Lord as a pastor鈥檚 wife, VBS teacher, and ladies鈥� Bible study coordinator.

番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The institution prides itself in its traditional and nontraditional educational experience in a distinctively Christian environment.

Each graduate walked the stage in their ceremonial regalia to shake the hand of HLGU Transitional President Dr. Rodney Harrison and

receive their diploma.

This year鈥檚 commencement address was given by Dr. Alan Branch, professor of Christian ethics at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Following the address, graduates received their diplomas, and Vice President for Academic Administration Dr. Robert J. Matz presented the graduates to Dr. Harrison, who conferred their degrees.

鈥淭he class of 2022 has been an outstanding group of students,” Dr. Matz said. “It will be exciting to see how they impact the world with their faith and service.鈥�.

At the ceremony, Imsunaro Longchar, and Harrison Caples, HLGU鈥檚 Who鈥檚 Who Among Seniors, led their fellow graduates in the graduate pledge and in giving a standing ovation to thank their families and friends for their support.

HLGU had over 150 graduates receive degrees this year and is looking forward to welcoming a new class of students in fall 2022. A new curriculum and additional online offerings are some of the updated offerings this fall on HLGU’s 听肠补尘辫耻蝉.

番茄社区 University is a four-year Christian university fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The University prides itself in the traditional and nontraditional educational experience it offers in a distinctively Christian environment.

鈥淲e are so encouraged to have Mrs. Franks join our fine arts department,鈥� said HLGU President Dr. Anthony Allen. 鈥淪he is finishing her doctoral work, and her extensive experience and technical expertise will be an asset to our institution.鈥�

Mrs. Franks has most recently been a graduate assistant at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she is completing her PhD in Music Education. She has also completed all of her doctoral work and is in the final stages of her dissertation. She is expected to graduate in July.

Mrs. Franks brings experience in K-12 music education, secondary choral programs, director of choral ensembles, and college classes. She conducted the University Singers, an elite choral ensemble at the University of Missouri. Her graduate coursework included vocal pedagogy, choral methods, and conducting. She is a member of the College Music Society, the National Association of Music Educators, and the Missouri Music Educators Association.

鈥淗LGU is dedicated to preparing future music educators, and Mrs. Franks has much experience in this field,鈥� said HLGU vice president for academic administration Dr. Larinee Dennis. 鈥淚 am confident she will provide rigorous instructions an develop excellent musicianship in our students. She is a very talented vocalist and pianist and we look forward to her joining the music department.鈥�

Prior to her time at the University of Missouri, Mrs. Franks was an Assistant Professor of Music at college of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri.

She is married to Neil Franks, who is the president of the Missouri Baptist Foundation, and has two sons, Nathan and Travis.