MSSU honors programs expands to the west,another triumph for Leon

For those who have been waiting breathlessly for The Turner Report to feature good news about the wonderful academic programs fostered by the president at Missouri Southern State University, the wait is over.

Sadly, for those of us who have grown accustomed to missteps and ineptitude out of the current MSSU administration, the president who is responsible for the good news is no longer in Joplin, but serving as interim president of the University of Colorado-Pueblo.

The Pueblo Chieftain reported Sunday that Dr.Julio Leon has introduced the honors program, at one time a crowned jewel of Missouri Southern academics to his new university:

In just five months on the job, Leon will have achieved that goal when 25 high school seniors officially enroll in the honors program on Monday. The high-achieving high school students and their parents will sign letters-of-intent at the inaugural induction ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday in the Occhiato University Center ballroom.


Patricia Kluthe, former honors program director at Missouri Southern State University, will share her experiences with the honors program during a luncheon afterward.

Leon said he wanted to start an honors program to attract more of the best students from the region and to enhance the prestige of the university.

He said he believes an honors program will continue the momentum the university has gained the past few years in increasing the enrollment, adding new sports and academic programs and new facilities on campus.