FOCUS St. Louis recently announced that the University of Missouri–St. Louis will receive two What’s Right with the Region! awards. The nonprofit recognizes 20 organizations, individuals and initiatives in five categories for their outstanding work and positive impact on the St. Louis region. UMSL fared particularly well as the only institution to receive multiple awards.

The Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center at UMSL will be honored for Creating Quality Educational Opportunities. The Des Lee Collaborative Vision at UMSL will be recognized for Fostering Regional Cooperation.

“We are honored that FOCUS St. Louis chose to recognize both the Des Lee Collaborative Vision and Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center,” UMSL Chancellor Tom George said. “They represent the tremendous impact UMSL has on the region’s culture, economy and education, as well as our mission to create invaluable lasting relationships with the community we serve.”

UMSL established the World Ecology Center in 1990. Through partnerships with the Missouri Botanical Garden and Saint Louis Zoo, the center has become the premier institution for graduate studies in ecology and biodiversity with its graduates working all over the world.

UMSL partnered with philanthropist E. Desmond Lee to create the DLCV in 1996. The collaborative includes 37 endowed professorships – 31 at UMSL and six spread across Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University and Webster University in Webster Groves, Mo. – that have direct ties to more than 100 civic, cultural, business, educational and government organizations in greater St. Louis.

The What’s Right with the Region! awards will be presented May 13 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis.

More information:
http://www.umsl.edu/~deslee
http://www.umsl.edu/~biology/hwec/
http://www.focus-stl.org