Madison Romjue ’18 graduated in May and accepted a teaching job in special education this past fall in New Bern, North Carolina. When Hurricane Florence hit that area in September 2018, the schools in her district had a lot of damage, and several students lost their homes. So in October, Romjue asked the Missouri Western Department of Education if they would collect school supplies for her school district.

The response was overwhelming. Every type of school supply was donated, along with $250 in cash that was used to purchase children’s books. The women’s volleyball team filled three backpacks as donations came campuswide and from Missouri Western’s Northland location. Jackie Burns in the library organized donations of calendars, clips and more from library staff. Mindy Miller, owner of an education supply store that recently closed, donated approximately 200 teacher resource books and bulletin board supplies.

Dr. Susan Bashinski, professor of education, and Dr. Elizabeth Potts, assistant professor of education, organized the drive and shipped everything to Romjue.