April 2023, The 20 Under 40 Issue

Celebration of Service: Columbia College Leaders and Groups Honored at 2023 MLK Awards

Leaders who foster diversity. Teams who demonstrate equity and inclusion. People who devote their days to the ideals of public service. Columbia College honored four individuals or groups during its fourth Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards on Tuesday, Jan. 24, inside Dorsey Gymnasium.

The annual event recognizes and acknowledges staff, faculty, and CC community members who follow in the footsteps of Dr. King.

“We are delighted to celebrate our colleagues who make a difference in our community every day,” says Alejandra Gudino, director for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Columbia College. “These people represent the best of who we are, and we can all learn from their powerful examples. The passion they pour into their continual acts of service is nothing short of inspiring.”

This year’s event was dedicated to Rev. Dr. C.W. Dawson Jr., a fourth-generation preacher in Columbia who grew up during the height of the Civil Rights movement. The following recipients were honored with 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Awards:

• Carmela Thornton
  individual award-winner
• Jared Clark
  individual award-winner
• Girls Who Game
  group award-winner
• Office of the Registrar
  group award-winner

The Missouri Symphony Announces New Youth Ensemble

The Missouri Symphony and Missouri Symphony Conservatory are pleased to announce the Vianello Players, a new prestigious youth ensemble named in honor of Missouri Symphony co-founders Hugo and Lucy Vianello to celebrate the Vianellos’ contributions in educating young musicians across mid-Missouri.

“I am so excited to start our newest conservatory ensemble, the Vianello Players,” stated music director Wilbur Lin. “Conservatory students who qualify for this group will receive unique opportunities and sit in leadership positions in the Missouri Youth Symphony, leading the orchestra and passing on their knowledge and passion for music to their younger colleagues.”

As the Conservatory continues to grow following the pandemic, its two main orchestras combined into one (titled the Missouri Youth Symphony), and the addition of the Vianello Players will give ample opportunities to the Conservatory’s most advanced players. The Vianello Players will make their debut performance in 2023 at the spring Conservatory Concert on April 30th at the Missouri Theater.

Former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt to Lead State Historical Society of Missouri

The State Historical Society of Missouri board of trustees has elected recently retired U.S. Senator Roy Blunt of Springfield as president of the State Historical Society for a three-year term.

The former senior U.S. Senator from Missouri has served as a trustee of the Society since 2005. Blunt’s term as president follows that of Virginia Laas, a professor emerita of history at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Laas will continue to serve as a trustee of the Society. Blunt begins his presidency as the State Historical Society of Missouri celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding by the Missouri Press Association in 1898 and its establishment as a trustee of the state a year later.

The State Historical Society collects, preserves, and shares with the public materials related to all aspects and periods of Missouri history. It has research centers in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Kansas City, Rolla, St. Louis, and Springfield. Its vast holdings include newspapers, manuscripts, rare books, maps, oral histories, photographs, editorial cartoons, and an extensive art collection of important artworks related to the state’s history and westward expansion.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia, Burrell Partner to Provide Mental Health Services for Kids

A mid-Missouri agency that provides space for kids and teens during out-of-school hours has entered into a partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health to provide on-site services for the youth and families they serve.

Through this new agreement, behavioral health professionals will provide individual and group services to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia locations. These services include connecting youth and their families to appropriate community services.

“Through this collaborative partnership we are building and nurturing young peoples social and emotional skills to prepare them to be positive and contributing members of our community,” said Abigail Anderson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia. “By integrating Burrell’s services at our five locations, it helps level the playing field for our youth, especially those who may not have had resources to access behavioral health care.”

Safe and positive environments where social and emotional skill development is a priority for Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia. This new service supports that goal.

Weichert, Realtors® – First Tier Recognized as a Top Performing Weichert® Affiliate in the Country

Weichert, Realtors® – First Tier has been named to the prestigious Premier Client Group (PCG) by Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., earning the distinction as one of the top-producing companies in the national franchise system in 2022. The Weichert® affiliate is one of only 31 companies – out of over 250 from the Weichert national franchise system – named to this elite group of real estate brokerages.

PCG members are identified based on outstanding sales performance in 2022. Weichert, Realtors® – First Tier ranked fifth on this year’s list of the system’s top producers.

“We are proud to honor Weichert, Realtors® – First Tier as one of our system’s top-performing companies,” said Bill Scavone, president of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. and Weichert, Realtors®. “Their team’s dedicated customer-first philosophy and ability to find innovative solutions for their clients have been instrumental to their continued success.”

Weichert, Realtors® – First Tier, and other PCG members demonstrate the success that can be achieved when integrating the innovative technology, tools, management systems, marketing strategies, and training programs that Weichert provides with their own expertise and resources. CBT