Newsmakers: Jan. 22-28, 2018

Education
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools ranked first in its division and in the top 20 nationwide in Stepping Up: The Nation’s Top K-12 Education Foundations 2017. The study identified the 200 largest education foundations.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine ranked Drury University No. 153 out of 300 schools in its 2018 Best College Values. The list measures admission rates, returning sophomores, student-faculty ratio and four-year graduation rates.

Health Care
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued its Show-Me 5 Award to the Cox South and Cox Branson hospitals. The CoxHealth facilities are among 13 selected statewide based on maternity care practices after birth that support successful breastfeeding.

Law
Super Lawyers named four Lathrop Gage LLP attorneys in Springfield as 2017 Missouri and Kansas Super Attorneys: Frank Evans III, in business litigation; Dan Nelson, in creditor debtor rights; Lee Poppen, in construction litigation; and Randell Wallace, in real estate. Joshua Christensen, a Lathrop Gage attorney in Springfield, received Super Lawyers’ Rising Star award for civil litigation, in defense.

Military
Maj. Gen. Christopher Hughes awarded the U.S. Army Soldier’s Medal to Capt. Aaron Eidem, a 20-year army veteran who died Feb. 18, 2016, after being struck by a vehicle while assisting a stranded motorist on Interstate 44. An assistant professor of military science at Missouri State University, Eidem previously received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, serving abroad in Germany and Iraq.

Municipal
The National League of Cities elected Branson Mayor Karen Best to its board of directors and to its legislative action committee. She joins 49 elected officials nationwide, helping set policy for cities, towns and villages.

Nonprofit
Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri named Mandy Long chief development officer, a new position for the organization. She previously worked as development director for The Salvation Army in Springfield.

Care to Learn elected attorney Stephanie Stenger-Montgomery of Springfield Land LP as board president. The board also re-elected Matt Miller of Miller Commerce LLC as vice president and appointed Julie Brown of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown PC as a board member.