The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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  • Betsy Banks

    BETSY BANKS

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September 27, 2011

NOTABLE: Betsy Banks

From staff reports news@joplinglobe.com

BETSY BANKS, a 1991 graduate of Missouri Southern State University, has been named the recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Alumni Award.

Banks received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Missouri Southern, then worked as a park ranger at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska and as a field scientist for the Army Corps of Engineers in South Carolina. She received a master’s in forest ecology, specializing in groundwater hydrology, at Clemson University.

In 1996, Banks conceived the idea of using the Internet to make a difference for homeless pets. Within a month, Petfinder.com was launched, with pets from 13 shelters listed. Visitors to the site could search from the comfort of their homes for pets to adopt.

Today, more than 13,500 shelters and rescue groups post their pets on the site, and Petfinder has been responsible for finding homes for more than 17 million pets. The site has 5 million unique visitors each month and facilitates more than 2 million adoptions annually. It’s the most viewed site on the Web in the pets and animals category.

Banks, who lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., serves on the board of Petfinder.com. In 2010, she was named by Woman’s Day magazine as one of 50 “Women Who Are Changing the World.”

Do you know someone who deserves mention in “Notable”? Send an email to aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com or call 417-627-7281.

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Notable people
  • JO MUELLER NOTABLE: Jo Mueller

    JO MUELLER, director of Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin, recently was named the Spotlight Award recipient by the Missouri Division of Tourism. The award recognizes significant contributions in promoting tourism in Missouri.

    October 18, 2011 1 Photo

  • ANGELA N. PIERCE NOTABLE: Angela N. Pierce

    ANGELA N. PIERCE is one of eight doctoral students selected to receive the Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship at the University of Kansas as they begin the 2011-12 academic year.

    October 6, 2011 1 Photo

  • JACKIE WESTERVELT NOTABLE: Jackie Westervelt

    JACKIE WESTERVELT, of rural Columbus, Kan., founded The Twister Sisters Women’s Outreach & Disaster Relief after the May 22 tornado to help women and children during times of natural disaster or devastating personal circumstance.

    October 5, 2011 1 Photo

  • Samantha Evans and Jeremy Thomas NOTABLE: Samantha Evan and Jeremy Thomas

    SAMANTHA EVANS, of Blue Eye, and JEREMY THOMAS, of Florissant, were crowned homecoming queen and king at Missouri Southern State University over the weekend.

    October 3, 2011 1 Photo

  • EMORY MELTON NOTABLE: Emory Melton

    EMORY MELTON, a former state senator from Cassville, was recently named a recipient of The Missourian Award.

    September 28, 2011 1 Photo

  • BETSY BANKS NOTABLE: Betsy Banks


    BETSY BANKS, a 1991 graduate of Missouri Southern State University, has been named the recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Alumni Award.

    September 27, 2011 1 Photo

  • NOTABLE: Larry Hickey

    LARRY HICKEY, a former Joplin mayor, will receive the Lion-Hearted Award from the Alumni Association at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.

    September 26, 2011

  • CHLOE HADLEY NOTABLE: Chloe Hadley

    CHLOE HADLEY is president of the senior class at Joplin High School.
    “She’s a great, great kid,” said Assistant Principal Gregory Boyd. “She did countless things this summer to help with recovery and get ready for school.”

    September 13, 2011 1 Photo

  • Bob Bell NOTABLE: Bob Bell

    BOB BELL, of Joplin, recently was honored with an appointment to the Missouri Judo Inc. board of directors and promotions board.

    September 7, 2011 1 Photo

  • TRAVIS SCOTT NOTABLE: Travis Scott

    TRAVIS SCOTT recently was named the recipient of the Pittsburg Community Schools Distinguished Alumnus Award.

    September 6, 2011 1 Photo