Megan Rapp, MA museum studies 2005, received Missouri Ambassador of the Year award.

Megan Rapp’s efforts to promote Hannibal, Mo., as well as the entire state as a tourist destination were recognized with the Missouri 2011 Ambassador of the Year award. Rapp, assistant director and group sales manager of the Hannibal Convention & Visitors Bureau received the award at the Governor’s Conference for Tourism held in Jefferson City, Mo.

“Being honored by my tourism colleagues was enormously gratifying,” Rapp, MA museum studies 2005, said. “Having my efforts to promote all of Missouri, not just the city of Hannibal, as a tourism destination recognized by others gives me even more assurance that my promotional work is paying off.”

Rapp said UMSL helped her prepare for her current position.

“While completing my master’s degree in history with museum studies certification at UMSL, I worked for Jay Rounds, the head of museum studies, on new exhibits for the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal,” said Rapp, who credits her years of research on that project and classes for helping shape a distinctive background that makes her “uniquely qualified” for her job.

Rapp has been with HCVB since January 2009. She is a certified travel industry specialist through Purdue University in Indianapolis, Ind. She is married with two children.