Humphreys contribute additional $1 million to MSSU scholarship

The David and Debra Humphreys Excellence Award will officially continue to be funded into the next decade.

With the Humphreys seated close by, Missouri Southern University President Dr. Dean Van Galen revealed the philanthropic couple would continue contributing to their scholarship program with an additional $1 million donation.

“There is really no greater satisfaction than watching young people thrive and grow and be successful and watch what they can do for our community,” Debra Humphreys said to NewsTalk KZRG. “When we meet with these students 1-on-1 individually it just makes my heart so full to know them and meet them and to be able to help them on their journeys. It’s an incredible feeling and we are so grateful for it.”

Since it began in 2017, the David and Debra Humphreys Excellence Awards have been awarded to more than 100 MSSU students through the initial $1 million contribution, which has awarded $775,000 to date. The additional contribution essentially assures the scholarship will continue for several more years.

“Every year we go and meet the local students who are participating in the program,” Humphreys said. “Their energy, drive and perseverance is incredible. The energy they give back, not only to Missouri Southern, but also the community is fantastic.”

Upon its inception, 66 of the Humphreys’ scholarship awardees have graduated from Missouri Southern and 90 percent of them are living and working within a 50-mile radius of Joplin.

“We’ve seen how successful the program has been in enabling students to fulfill their dreams and passions,” Debra Humphreys said to NewsTalk KZRG. “We know that 90 percent of the students who have completed the program and graduated have returned and enhanced the local community. That’s a great return rate. We feel like we’ve seen Missouri Southern do such a good job with the program in providing the support the kids need to get through the program and achieve their goals.”