For as long as there have been extension specialists serving Missouri there has been a hard working office assistant quietly completing tasks behind the scenes. These office assistants are the heart of our extension network, they are the face of extension in each county and without them, specialists and councils would be lost. Each year county support staff are selected by their peers and our MU Extension specialists to be recognized for their exceptional work. Winners and two finalists are selected from four categories; Senior, Junior, Rookie and Use of Technology. Along with certificates, cash prizes totaling up to $3,000 are provided each year. Unfortunately, we no longer have funds centrally to cover this for county clerical staff. We have started this fund to grow an endowment that will provide recognition funds for years in the future. Please consider a donation to help us raise $80,000 in the next four years to fully fund the clerical award endowment. The endowment will provide enough funding to continue providing award contributions for these valued council employees.