Missouri Southern has recently earned three awards from the American Heart Association for its efforts to keep students, faculty and staff heart healthy.

On Oct. 31, Karl Schmidt of the American Heart Association presented the awards at a ceremony outside the Beimdiek Recreation Center. Southern took home the Fit Friendly Gold Company Award for the third year in a row.  

“We’re very proud to have won this award. It is very much a privilege to have received it based on our wellness programming that we do for our faculty and staff here on campus,” said Heather Arnold, director of aquatics and wellness.

MSSU also received the Worksite Innovation Award.  This was Southern’s first time to receive this award, which was based on the uniqueness of programs offered by an organization.  

“That [the Worksite Innovation Award] is one that is a very exclusive award.  I believe the special events director of The American Heart Association has said that in an 11-state region, only 13 companies have won that award, so it’s very prestigious and we’re very excited to have had that opportunity,” Arnold said.

The third award presented to MSSU was the traveling trophy for the Four States Heart Walk. The walk was held on campus Sept. 29, and the trophy was won based on donations raised. The Respiratory Care Team was the top fundraiser, followed by the Radiology Department and Sigma Tau Delta.  

“This is the second year the Heart Walk has been going on … and has both years been on MSSU’s campus.  We hope to make that an annual event that takes place here. It includes all the Four State area so to be able to win that honor is really great.  The radiology students and department, and the respiratory therapy department played a huge role in that,” Arnold said.

The Fit Friendly Gold Company Award and the Worksite Innovation Award are being kept in the Recreational Office in the Billingsly Student Center.  The traveling trophy is being kept in the Respiratory Therapy office.

“Anyone that’s interested in getting involved with American Heart Association or the Heart Walk that is put on each year, I encourage them to give me a call.  I am on the 4-States Heart Walk committee so I would encourage them to let me know if they’re interested in being on the committee, getting a team going or giving donations. We would love to have individuals or groups, either one, to come out, help us, and really make this a big event for Southern to have each year,” said Arnold.

For more information, contact Heather Arnold by email at [email protected] or by phone at 417-625-9533.