Dedicated students, distinguished colleagues and dear friends,

Happy Friday!

This was a special week for us here on campus and I want to share the experience with you. Last year when our longtime administrative assistant, Connie, retired after 44 years of service, and when Dr. Barbara Hale passed away after teaching for nearly half a century, I wondered about all the dedicated faculty, staff, students and administrators of the past 150 years who have come and gone without lasting recognition. How many Connies and Dr. Hales have served in the last 150 years with distinguished service to the university and our students? Who were the trailblazers of our university and how do we memorialize the remarkable individuals who have shaped our university’s rich history?

I was struck by the realization that we lacked a central place to honor the students, faculty and staff who made a significant difference during their time here in Rolla, and reflected on the sad realization that many of our new Miners might never know the impact of those who came before them. You see, the importance of honoring our history cannot be overstated. Our past shapes our present and guides our future. By acknowledging and celebrating those who have made extraordinary contributions to our university, we not only pay tribute to their achievements, but also inspire current and future generations of Miners.

To this end, and as a testament to the spirit of innovation, perseverance and excellence that has defined this university, we began our Miner Wall of Fame project last year when I asked our historian, Dr. Larry Gragg, to identify 150 of the most impactful people throughout our history. And this week, as we celebrated our Founders Day, we unveiled our Miner Wall of Fame, honoring 76 of the 150 that will be highlighted as we continue our search to identify others. We chose Founders Day to unveil the wall as a symbol of the interconnectedness of our past, present and future.

The Wall of Fame serves multiple purposes. First, it honors those who have come before us, ensuring their legacies continue to inspire future generations of students, faculty and staff. Second, it serves as a reminder of our university’s core values and the heights we can achieve together. And finally, it strengthens our sense of community and shared history, connecting past, present and future Miners.

As we unveiled the display, we reflected on the achievements of those we honored and considered how we, too, can leave a positive mark on S&T and the world beyond. I hope this wall inspires all of us to strive for excellence, embrace innovation and uphold the distinct values that have made our university great for over 150 years.

I invite all of you to explore the stories of our dedicated trailblazers of yesteryear, find inspiration in them and perhaps imagine your own place in S&T’s legacy. To our alumni of early years: we welcome your nominations for the Wall of Fame.

Warmly,

-Mo.

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Read previous Friday morning messages.

Check out the latest news from S&T:

• Missouri S&T orchestra to perform Nov. 10
• The Kummer Center for STEM Education to host annual STEM Day event
• Missouri S&T choirs to perform fall concert

Mohammad Dehghani, PhD
Chancellor
mo@mst.edu | 573-341-4116

206 Parker Hall, 300 West 13th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-0910
chancellor.mst.edu