Ginger Robinson’s love of culture and learning began during her time at Glendale High School. She became intrigued with the story of the retired warship U.S.S. Hope providing health care to those in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Twenty years later, Robinson, along with her husband, would be doing the same thing. 

Robinson obtained her degree, a Bachelor of Science in nursing, from the University of Missouri-Columbia in May 1981. Upon completion of her degree, she worked in various hospital-affiliated RN positions with St. Luke’s in Kansas City, Mo. Her family eventually relocated to Centennial, Colo.

Since March 1994, she has volunteered her services to Face the Challenge, an organization started by Robinson and her husband. Through the work of this organization, facial reconstructive surgery is provided to those in developing countries.

Robinson’s honors include the University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing Humanitarian Award 2009, Cambridge Who’s Who Executive of the Year: Humanitarian Outreach 2009, Great Women of the 21st Century 2006, International Biography Centre’s International Health Professional of the Year 2004, Two Thousand Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, Who’s Who in Executives and Distinguished Alumna of the Century, University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing 1999, Outstanding Young Woman of America 1987 and 1997, Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honorary 1980 and Mortar Board 1979.

Doug Pitt spent 12 years in the Springfield Public Schools system before completing his formal education at Southwest Missouri State University. Pitt began ServiceWorld Computer Center which has won many awards including being the 1999 Springfield Chamber of Commerce W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year and the Springfield Business Journal Philanthropic Business of the Year in 2010. Pitt was a nominee for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year in 2002.

Three years ago, he created Care to Learn from a desire to alleviate the embarrassment children face when they do not have basic necessities due to poverty. Care to Learn helps meet the hunger, health and hygiene need of students in Springfield and surrounding communities. Pitt’s philanthropic work extends far beyond the Ozarks. He serves as the Goodwill Ambassador to Tanzania and is on the board of directors for Worldserve International and Africa 6000, which supplies clean water to villages in Africa.

John “Bucky” Buckner began attending Springfield Public Schools in the fourth grade. Prior to his graduation from Parkview High School, he participated in debate, choir, track, Key Club and student council. He credits SPS with helping to shape him into the person he is today.

Buckner continued his education earning a medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School and was a surgical resident at the University of Oklahoma. To finance his post-secondary education, he joined the Air Force Reserve and was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He left active duty in 1993 and stayed in the Air Force Reserves until 2000. Feeling a call to duty after the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, he joined the Army Reserves in 2002 and has since gone on three tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

Buckner is one of the leading surgeons in southwest Missouri.