41st Missouri Valley College Women's Hall of Famer to be inducted April 24

Carla Fricke

The 41st inductee into the Valley Women's Hall of Fame, the 2009 Outstanding Senior Woman, and Valley Women Scholarship recipient will be recognized.

Carla Fricke, retired public school educator, MVC education instructor, and MVC alumna, will be inducted into the Valley Women's Hall of Fame.

Graduating from MVC in 1965, Fricke took her first job at Malta Bend School District teaching fifth grade. She taught for over 30 years until her retirement from Marshall Public Schools in 1998. In 2000 when she taught one class at MVC, it quickly turned into something more as she is still employed there today.

"Valley has allowed me to continue to teach students what I have learned from 30 years of teaching in the public schools," Fricke said. "It has also been a great place to get involved with the students through different organizations and through fundraisers for scholarships and charity causes."

That involvement and her excellence in education is why Fricke is the 2009 inductee into Valley Women's Hall of Fame.

"Carla is generous with her time, a good teacher, and is always pleasant and friendly. Carla is a Missouri Valley College alumna who supports her alma mater," an anonymous source wrote about Fricke in a nomination form.

Today Fricke and her husband, Spencer, an MVC alumnus and education instructor, are co-directors of the Learning Center, which is an academic support center on campus.

Fricke said she is proud to be a Valley Women's Hall of Famer.

"Being named to the Valley Women's Hall of Fame is an honor that I hope to be able to measure up to considering the exceptional women who have been named in the past," Fricke said. "When I look back at the many individuals at Valley who went out of their way, or made special arrangements to help me finish my undergraduate degree, I know it would have never been achieved without their special guidance and caring--I think that's what makes the Valley family so close and so special. Over the years, there have been many changes at MVC, but the one constant is the desire of the faculty and staff to make MVC the best College it can be."

Fricke is also active in the Marshall community. She is a member of the First Christian Church and the Chancel Bell Choir, and she also serves as technology chairman for the church. She also belongs to PEO, Valley Women, and volunteers for cancer drives, diabetes campaigns, food drives, and clothing collections.

The Valley Women will also present Katharina Scheller with the 2009 Outstanding Senior Woman Award. She has participated in women's volleyball and was the Top Academic Scholar recipient for her major in Spring 2009. Scheller, a mathematics major from Villingen, Germany, will graduate May 9. The Outstanding Senior Woman is decided on the basis of scholarship, leadership, character, and service, and is voted on by MVC faculty, staff, and Valley Women members.

An MVC junior woman will be awarded the Valley Women scholarship at the event. The Valley Women, an organization made up of community patrons along with faculty, staff and alumnae, began awarding the scholarship in 2003. Money for the scholarship comes from private donations and fund-raisers.

The Valley Women's Tea is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.