Alumnus Scott Schaefer survives and thrives after taking on the popular family business
Sarah Lashly, Staff Writer
March 22, 2018
Filed under Alumni Stories
After graduating in 1998, alumnus Scott Schaefer expressed interest in managing Schaefer AutoBody, founded by his father Steve Schaefer in 1985, and began the process of taking over the business in 2010. “Since grade school, I was always around the body shop. My brother and I worked in the shop...
Former Principal Bill Byrd reflects on West’s 50th anniversary
Gabe Davis, Staff Writer
March 15, 2018
Filed under Alumni Stories
Pathfinder: How did you become a principal at Parkway West? Byrd: I was teaching social studies at Hickman High School, Columbia, Mo. In 1969, when I interviewed for an assistant principal's position at West Senior, I was hired. For the next 15 years I held that position until appointed principal ...
Derrick Richardson gives back to the community as Fire Captain
Sarah Lashly, Staff Writer
February 27, 2018
Filed under Alumni Stories
Serving his community as a firefighter after graduating in 1990, alumnus Derrick Richardson was promoted to Fire Captain in Alton, Ill. He has been a firefighter since 1997 and was promoted after only nine years of being on the force. “Fire captain is a tested position. I tested and got promoted to en...
Alumna Rebecca Sheppard Lintner makes a difference through projects in Uganda
Sarah Lashly, Staff Writer
February 9, 2018
Filed under Alumni Stories, showcase
[Courtesy of Rebecca Lintner] Rebecca Lintner poses with her two-year-old friend Mark, also called Markaroni, who is the son of a single mother who started the first women’s empowerment group for HIV positive women....
Dr. Bill Nelson works to give hope to the word ‘cancer’
Sarah Lashly, Staff Writer
January 15, 2018
Filed under Alumni Stories
Alumnus Dr. Bill Nelson has been a Professor of Oncology, Urology, Pharmacology, Medicine, Pathology and Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine since 1992 and specializes in the research and treatment of prostate cancer. “Hopkins took a risk on me as a student. I remained at Johns Hopkins for residency and fellowship training as p...
Mark Reardon excels through journalism
Sarah Lashly, Staff Writer
December 18, 2017
Filed under Alumni Stories
Alumnus Mark Reardon started in radio at the age of 15 and studied journalism on his own after graduating in 1983. “My first jobs in radio were music radio gigs. I was a disc jockey at a rock station, but when I started my education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, [my] focus on journalism began,”...
Alumna Grace Miller carves her path into triathlon success
Chris Bass, Staff Writer
December 7, 2017
Filed under Alumni Stories
After graduating in 2016, Grace Miller originally had the mindset to attend the University of Missouri, major in English Studies and stay relatively close to her family. Instead, she created a completely different path for herself and her future, moving to Naperville, IL. to attend North Central Colle...
Susan Dean finds her passion through education
Sarah Lashly, Staff Writer
November 2, 2017
Filed under Alumni Stories
After graduating in 1981, alumnus Susan Dean was not sure what she wanted to pursue in college. Her basketball coach, Steve Baxter, helped her find her way to teaching. “I ran into him at Mizzou second semester sophomore year [after changing majors five or six times.] He talked with me about teaching...
An alumna’s homecoming
Sydney Kinzy, Photo Editor
November 2, 2017
Filed under Alumni Stories, showcase
As Taylor Rose heads down the hall to get the keys to her new classroom, she walks past her old locker. When she arrives at her classroom, the alumna is pleasantly surprised–it was the same classroom in which she studied English during her senior year. Rose will be teaching English at the high school she ...
Stefanie Elsperman uses spiritual blog and group to inspire others
Sabrina Bohn, Features Editor
October 27, 2017
Filed under Alumni Stories
Stefanie Elsperman, a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, did not have the typical high school experience. Instead of a standard four year high school program, she graduated a semester early to pursue her modeling career. “When I was modeling in high school it was like ‘oh I don’t...
