Office of University Communications 

Onstot recognized for 25 years of dedication to advancing education

SPRINGFIELD – Greg Onstot, former vice president of university advancement at Missouri State University, will be recognized for his contributions to education at the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI Conference on Jan. 14, 2008, in Denver, Colo. Onstot, who retired in March after 25 years at Missouri State, will be presented with the Virginia Carter Smith Recognition Award.

CASE is an international organization of professionals in educational fund-raising, alumni relations and communications. There are eight CASE districts in North America. District VI includes about 300 colleges and universities in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

The Virginia Carter Smith Recognition Award is presented to a senior advancement professional with exceptional service to CASE who has ended or will be ending their careers within the last or next 12 months. He or she must have at least 15 years of successful participation in institutional advancement and be employed by a CASE VI member institution at the time of retirement.

“Missouri State University is very proud that Greg Onstot has been recognized by his peers as an exemplary advocate for education,” said Missouri State President Michael T. Nietzel. “Greg was instrumental in building the Missouri State Foundation to its current level and his leadership has helped the alumni and development areas of the university flourish during his tenure.”

Onstot came to Missouri State in March of 1982 as its first director of development and alumni relations. He served in that position for two years before being appointed vice president for university advancement in May of 1984. Onstot supervised the areas of development and alumni relations, university relations, intercollegiate athletics, Hammons Student Center/Plaster Sports Complex and the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Onstot also served as the executive director of the Missouri State University Foundation. The Foundation, established in 1981, is the fund-raising arm of the university.

In the last fiscal year Onstot served as vice president (July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006), the Foundation set a record by receiving $11.8 million from 34,800 gifts. During the year, the Foundation also received the largest gift commitment in its history – $30 million from John Q. Hammons for JQH Arena. During that same year, the endowment grew $5.8 million – from $41 million to $46.8 million. Through additional gifts and a robust return on investment, the endowment topped $51 million before 2006 came to an end. The endowment currently totals more than $56 million.

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