Thompsons selected as Northwest Family of the Year

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The Thompson family, which has had ties to Northwest for three generations, is the
University's Family of the Year for 2007. from left are Pat, Casey, Kerry, Krista and Steve.

The Thompson family of Maryville, whose members have attended Northwest for three generations, was recognized during halftime of the Saturday, Sept. 29, home football game as the University's 2007 Family of the Year.

Sponsored by food service and maintenance vendor Aramark, Family of the Year honors are bestowed each fall during the University's Family Weekend celebration. The award comes with a $750 scholarship and other prizes.

Nominated by youngest daughter Krista, a sophomore, the Thompsons have three children enrolled as students at Northwest: Krista's sister, Kerry, is working toward a master's degree in business administration, and their brother, Casey, will graduate in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in business management.

Parents Steve and Pat Thompson each have three degrees from Northwest and work as educators. Steve Thompson ('75, '90 and '95) is superintendent of Union Star R-II School District southeast of Maryville, and Pat Thompson ('73, '76 and '79), is an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction for Northwest's College of Education and Human Services.

In addition to instructing college courses, Pat Thompson has taught second-level students and fifth-level language arts at Horace Mann Laboratory School for more than 20 years. Her mother, Mary Rockwell, graduated from Northwest in 1949.

"We three kids practically grew up at Northwest," wrote Krista Thompson on her Family of the Year nomination form. "We began attending Horace Mann Lab School when we were 3 years old.

"… Our parents left it up to us where we wanted to attend college," she continued, "and all three of us chose Northwest. We have lived on campus so we could be more involved, and Kerry and I opted to join a social sorority -- the same one as our grandmother.

"… While I am sure there are many deserving families applying this year, I find it hard to think another family wears its Bearcat green more often or more proudly."

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone (660) 562-1704
Fax (660) 562-1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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