KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffHeartland's Best

Heartland's Best

KFVS12 recently honored nearly 100 of the Heartland’s Best students at a banquet ceremony and videotaping of the area high school valedictorians.

Click here to see the list of the 2009 Heartland's Best Valedictorians

Click the video link above the logo to watch all valedictorian greetings

Did you offer comments in our special Heartland's Best PSA's?
Click here to see all five announcements
(these PSA's are separate from the normal greetings)

The ceremony was held in the University Center Ballroom on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Corporate sponsors for this year’s Heartland’s Best are:

• Southeast Missouri State University
• Southeast Missouri Hospital
• Southeast Coalition for Roadway Safety
• The Law Offices of Burns, Taylor, Heckemeyer, and Green

All Heartland valedictorians and their parents were invited to the ceremony. Students who attended the event videotaped greetings that will be featured in special announcements scheduled to air throughout the summer on KFVS12 and The Heartland's CW.

Valedictorians from four states were treated to lunch with featured speakers Mike Shain and Mary-Ann Maloney of KFVS12’s Heartland News, and Dr. Ken Dobbins, President of Southeast Missouri State University.  KFVS12's Director of Marketing, Paul Keener, served as master of ceremonies. 

"I always look forward to the Heartland’s Best Banquet," stated Shain. "It’s truly inspiring to meet and honor young people from all over the Heartland who've worked so hard."

"Of all the public service events we sponsor each year, this is one of my favorites," said  Keener. "It involves positive young people who've worked hard to be the best of their class. We hope, that by honoring their efforts, we'll help inspire other Heartland students."

Also honored at this year’s banquet were 12 of the Heartland’s Best Teachers along with their principals. 

"The response from the teachers portion of our Heartland’s Best campaign continued to be overwhelming," continued Keener. "We feel like teachers are the unsung heroes of these students’ success. By honoring the efforts of area teachers, our Heartland’s Best program has gone full circle in stressing the importance of education as well as highlighting positive aspects of the system."

Click here to see the Heartland's Best Teachers for 2009.

This is the 24th anniversary of the Heartland's Best campaign on KFVS12.

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