Spring - University of Central Missouri

Engelbrecht inspired Kinkade to go to
college and break out from a future that
seemed inevitable in farming or factory
work. Only three of her classmates went to
college after high school, Kinkade notes.
“I don’t think Mrs. E. realizes the impact
she had on so many of us farm kids. I was
driven, but I didn’t see [academic awards]
as a path to a career. I couldn’t see beyond
high school.”
Mrs. E. had that foresight. She helped
Kinkade apply for and earn a college
scholarship. “I didn’t really see a path to
that,” says Kinkade. “Mrs. E. saw something
in me that I don’t think I could see.”
Kinkade says Mrs. E. helped her realize the
power people have in influencing others.
“It’s a huge power. I try to live my life
mindful of that power,” she says, tearing
up as she looked toward a fourth woman
who organized the reunion, Celeste
Burks, another UCM graduate. Kinkade
recommended the 2005 alumna be hired as
her successor at Kansas City Ameristar and
became Burks’ mentor in the process.
So continues the influence of Mrs. E., who
has lived in Eugene, MO, just south of
Russellville, since 1959, one year after her
graduation from UCM. She retired after
spending 30 of her 37 years teaching at
Russellville High School.
Teaching the classics and requiring her
students to read pivotal authors were
natural for Engelbrecht. That’s what she
was taught by Erna Raithel, who taught
English when she attended and graduated
from Russellville High School. Kinkade
notes that Miss Raithel, a 1945 Central
Missouri alumna, was her mother’s English
teacher as well as the town’s historian. She
taught language arts for 31 years, mostly
in Jefferson City, before she retired in 1985.
She died in 2008.
Engelbrecht inspired
Kinkade to go to
college and break out
from a future that
seemed inevitable in
farming or factory work.
Mercer remembers she
was tough, never giving
away easy grades.
CyNthIa MERCER, CENtER IN PINK, LEd thE aMERIStaR tEaM SERVING aS SPOKESwOMaN fOR
thE KaNSaS CIty SuSaN G. KOMEN RaCE fOR thE CuRE.
“I couldn’t have been who I was without
her,” says Mrs. E. “There is always someone
who influences somebody.”
Kinkade and Mercer took Mrs. E.’s drama
class, had lead roles in plays and worked on
the yearbook and school newspaper. That’s
about the extent of their similarities as
students. Mercer was more sports-oriented,
and Kinkade, who described herself as
“painfully uncoordinated,” focused more
on academics, band and choir.
Kinkade won numerous speech awards
and a trip to Washington, D.C., in an
essay contest. “I remember I hated speech
and [Mrs. E.] was like, ‘You can do this,’”
she says. Now part of her job involves
preparing others to speak in public.
Mercer remembers Engelbrecht was tough,
never giving away easy grades. She recalls
her excitement after earning a B+ on a
report she wrote on George Bernard Shaw.
“Truly, I think Mrs. E. just held me to a
higher standard,” she says. “I think she was
tough in a caring and compassionate way.
She inspired you to reach your potential.”
Mercer carried over her experiences with
Mrs. E. to her corporate life, specifically, to
a leadership class she taught at Ameristar.
One exercise involved writing your “Life’s
Board of Directors” and sharing that with
the people on your list. Mrs. E. was on
Mercer’s.
“I taught the class and decided to take
my own advice,” she says. She wrote to
Engelbrecht. That letter started a penpal
relationship between the two, which
solidified into the reunion in Kansas City.
Engelbrecht was thrilled to see her former
students. Mercer was in town for another
purpose; she was spokeswoman for the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Mercer is in her second cancer-free year
and, as spokeswoman, gave interviews
on television about her battle with breast
cancer. She addressed a crowd of 27,000
participants to kick off the race. Ameristar
had some 370 team members, including
workers and their family members,
participate in the race.
“It’s a huge honor. Thank goodness I had
good training,” Mercer says, grabbing Mrs.
E.’s hand. Mercer notes that early detection
saved her life. “You can definitely fight it
and win if you learn about it early enough.
I was very fortunate I worked throughout
my battle and maintained as much
normalcy as possible.”
Engelbrecht says Kinkade and Mercer
haven’t changed much; they still have
the bubbling, energetic and enthusiastic
personalities she remembers. She didn’t
have much trouble recognizing them.
“They’re who they were pretty much…
very much, in fact,” Mrs. E. says. “I am so
proud of them. I just rejoice at their success
as I do for all of my students.”
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