Stanberry native receives scholarship

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Northwest Missouri State University student Sierra Jones, Stanberry, has been named one of two students nationally to receive a 2016 Pi Omega Pi Scholarship.

Pi Omega Pi is a scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the field of business education. It was founded at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College — now Truman State University — in 1923 and currently has 22 active chapters across the United States.

Jones, a senior middle school education major, joined Pi Omega Pi in fall 2014 and last spring traveled to the organization’s biennial convention, where Northwest’s Beta chapter received top national honors.

In addition, Jones and several classmates gave a presentation about using the interactive game “Kahoot It!” as a teaching tool.

“Not only did she have the opportunity to present, but Sierra also had the opportunity to learn and better prepare herself for educating future students,” said Nancy Zeliff, Beta chapter sponsor and a professor in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Information Systems.

“She was able to learn from veteran teachers the best ways to connect and engage students,” Zeliff said. “During her time as a member of Pi Omega Pi, she has had the chance to grow and become a better teacher.”

Jones plans to complete her degree at Northwest this spring then seek a teaching job somewhere in the northwest Missouri region.