Advisors from Lathrop, New Bloomfield and Doniphan recognized at annual rootEd Missouri conference
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – More than 150 rootEd Missouri career advisors and leaders gathered last week for the annual statewide conference at the University of Central Missouri. The program included an awards ceremony recognizing advisors for outstanding career guidance for rural students and a slate of employer visits designed to strengthen connections between educators and Missouri’s workforce.
rootEd Missouri places advisors in rural high schools to work one-on-one with students to define and realize their career goals, whether through a college degree, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, or military service. By partnering with communities, states, and employers, rootEd advisors help close workforce gaps and support rural communities.
Founded in 2018, the initiative has supported over 50,000 students to date and will be in 180 rural schools across Missouri in the upcoming academic year, nearly half of the rural schools in the state. rootEd Missouri is a public-private partnership between the national nonprofit rootEd Alliance, Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Ozarks Technical Community College, and local school districts.
2026 rootEd Missouri Award Recipients
At the 2026 rootEd Missouri Awards Celebration, three advisors were recognized for their exceptional commitment to helping rural students explore and realize their plans for after high school graduation.
Susan Rupert, rootEd advisor at Lathrop High School, was named the 2026 rootEd Missouri Advisor of the Year, the program’s highest annual honor recognizing exceptional dedication to students and leadership among peers. Rupert, who has served as a rootEd advisor since 2022, was honored for her unwavering commitment to ensuring every student receives personalized guidance and support as they prepare for life after high school. Beyond her work with students, she is recognized as a collaborative leader who generously shares ideas, resources and best practices with fellow advisors.
One student who benefited from Rupert’s support is Owen Chance, class of 2026. With Rupert’s guidance, Chance enrolled in a regional vocational program for high schoolers to learn to be pipe fitters and is now a member of the pipe fitter’s union. He said, if not for working with Rupert, “I probably would’ve ended up going to a school I didn’t want to be at.”
Two additional advisors were recognized for their outstanding contributions to Missouri’s rural students:
- 2026 rootEd Missouri Innovation Award: Kirsten Wanner, New Bloomfield High School – Wanner was honored for demonstrating creativity and innovation in engaging students and strengthening their career planning experience. Wanner was recognized for using grant funding to create a business learning opportunity for students while expanding access to career readiness resources that help prepare them for success after high school. She continually embraces new ideas and approaches, finding innovative ways to keep students engaged, inspired and actively planning for their futures.
- 2026 rootEd Missouri 110% Award: Angie Fowler, Doniphan High School – Fowler was recognized for consistently going above and beyond in serving students, families, schools and the community. Fowler was honored for supporting every student and championing all pathways with equal enthusiasm, and her use of data to ensure each student receives personalized guidance and support, exemplifying the mission of the rootEd Missouri Career Advising Initiative.
Partnering with Employers
As a new element of this year’s annual conference, rootEd advisors visited 10 employers across healthcare, agriculture, public safety, aviation and the military, as well as relevant postsecondary institutions, to better understand Missouri’s workforce needs and the education, training and skills required for in-demand careers. By strengthening relationships with employers and gaining firsthand industry insight, advisors are better equipped to connect students with career exploration, work-based learning opportunities and pathways to high-demand careers.
One stop for advisors on the healthcare track was The Pediatric Place, where they learned about career pathways including occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA therapy, feeding therapy and mental health, as well as the education, training, and day-to-day responsibilities associated with each role.
Brittany Hendrick, marketing manager at The Pediatric Place, said she wishes more people realized the opportunities already existing in rural places where they live. “I really wish that people knew they did not have to go to the city to have a good paying job,” she said. “There are opportunities out there. You just have to look.” Education publication Open Campus joined for a selection of the tours, publishing a feature “Rural career opportunities exist. How advisers in Missouri are proving it to their students,” highlighting how rootEd Missouri advisors are helping students connect with career opportunities close to home.
Reporter Emily Lytle shared, “Some of my favorite moments were watching the gears turn in these advisers’ heads as they listened to managers share what high school students should know about their jobs… the advisers nodded their heads and appeared to think about what this would mean for their students as they plan life post-graduation.”
In partnership with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, rootEd Missouri has connected students with more than 700 Missouri businesses through career exploration, workplace experiences and job opportunities.
rootEd Missouri’s Impact for Rural Students
The awards ceremony included remarks from student speaker Carter Breshears, a 2026 graduate of La Monte High School. He said, “At the beginning of my senior year, if you had asked me what I wanted to do after high school, I honestly wouldn’t have had an answer. I grew up in a small town, and I figured I’d just figure it out later. That’s where my rootEd advisor Carrie Pummill came in – she helped me explore what was actually a good fit for me.” This fall, Carter will be attending State Fair Community College to study HVAC while continuing an internship with Premier Heating and Cooling.
Carter closed with a heartfelt message: “To all of the rootEd advisors in this room, I want you to know that your work matters more than you probably realize.”
Carter’s experience reflects rootEd’s broader impact: nearly 70% of rootEd students feel that their future will be stronger because of their advisor. At the schools it serves, rootEd has led to 29% more students pursuing college and career training, and 54% fewer students pursuing low-skill, low wage jobs.
Kari Hanks, Director of rootEd Missouri, reflected on the conference and advisors’ role: “This conference celebrates and supports this incredible group of career advisers, who are doing the important work helping rural students navigate and realize in-demand career pathways for their lives after high school,
including opportunities close to home. I couldn’t be prouder of this team and the impact they’re making for rural students and communities across Missouri.”
About rootEd Alliance
Founded in 2018, rootEd Alliance is a national nonprofit that helps rural high school students achieve career success and strengthens America’s skilled workforce. rootEd places dedicated career advisors in rural high schools to support students in defining and realizing their career goals, whether through a college degree, workforce credentials, apprenticeships, or military service, while partnering with communities, states, and employers to close talent gaps and drive rural economic prosperity.
To date, rootEd advisors have supported nearly 90,000 students across 280 rural high schools in six states, including Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Alaska, Illinois and Idaho, and has partnered with more than 1,500 employers nationally. At the schools it serves, rootEd has led to nearly 30% more students pursuing college and career training. rootEd Alliance is made possible by a group of philanthropists, convened by BDT & MSD Partners.