The public school district Teacher

Paulo Ribeiro, '08, '09

Seven years ago, Paulo Ribeiro moved from Americana, Brazil to the United States in an effort to receive an American education.

He didn't know English.

Today, Ribeiro, who fluently speaks three languages including English, is a teacher for one of the best public school districts in Missouri, if not in the nation.

The Sheriff's

Deputy

Erika Adams, '08

Erika Adams didn't choose MBU lightly.

The mother of a 13-year-old son and full-time sheriff's deputy was looking for a place that would challenge her to pursue innovative excellence as a law enforcement officer. She needed a place where her professors would equip her not only with sound theoretical knowledge, but also with practical tools that would allow her to advance in a competitive career. That wasn't all.

The church

worship leader

Seth Carruthers, '09

Seth Carruthers is pursuing a calling.

"The real drive for me is the motivation to teach people what worship is and why we do it," explained Carruthers. "Sometimes, that means relearning what we thought was worship. I am really burdened with a desire to see the passion that can be pursued through authentic worship reignited, particularly in older generations."

Carruthers, who graduated last year with a bachelor's degree in church music, is the worship pastor at First Baptist Church of Affton, Mo. There he directs the 20 to 25 member choir, works with the church's instrumentalists and weekly leads congregational worship.

St. Louis Cardinals

Account Executive

Emalee Steiger, '06

Needless to say, being an account executive for the St. Louis Cardinals has its perks.

There's the privilege of sharing Busch Stadium's workout facilities with the guys on the team. Then there is the whole idea of having your office located inside the same facility that the likes of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina call their workplace. And, of course, there are the tickets.

Emmalee Steiger, who graduated cum laude from MBU in the spring of 2006, has been working for the St. Louis Cardinals ever since she completed her undergraduate degree. Steiger graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, a program that within the St. Louis region is only offered at MBU and one other institution. MBU is actually one of only three institutions in Missouri to offer the program. In addition, the MBU program has received national accreditation through the Sport Management Program Review Council.

The Human Services professional

Melissa Brown, '09

Melissa Brown completed four internships before she graduated from MBU in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services.
Brown attributes the practical nature of her academic program-like her internships-as a primary factor behind her now-budding profession.

Her academic discipline trains students to gain employment in a wide range of helping professions, from a career as a caseworker for a social welfare agency to a job in the mental health industry.

The business Accountant

Curtis Taylor '09

The leadership opportunities Curtis Taylor took advantage of while a business student at MBU turned out to pay great dividends shortly after he graduated this past spring.

Taylor, '09, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Simply put: He left MBU prepared to work.

"My experience at MBU made me confident," Taylor said. "I learned practical information, but I also learned how to translate the knowledge I gained in a real work environment."