.jpg)
Suzie Berry - Chairman of the Board
Suzie Berry works as secretary at Cabool High School. She has been married to Sam for 40 years, and they have two grown daughters, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
.jpg)
Dan Sheehan - Vice Chairman
Dan graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a B.S. in construction management. He has stayed home with his four children since 2001. Dan and family moved to Missouri in 2009. He is currently the scout master for Troop 64 in Willow Springs. He substitute teaches in the Willow Springs school district. He works with the girl scouts, and has been involved in the STARS Foundation since 2011.
Andrea Williams - Information TechnologyAndrea is a 1994 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University), with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. She married her high school sweetheart, John, in 1996, and they were blessed with four children: three boys, and a girl. Andrea's love of music began at an early age. She began piano lessons in first grade, and now plays the piano, violin, viola, and ukulele. That love of music has spread to her children, who have learned to play instruments and also participate in STARS theatre productions. She is currently homeschooling the children and stays busy running them to and from their many activities. In addition, she and John are licensed foster parents. In her "spare time", she enjoys scrapbooking, photography, crochet, sewing, counted cross-stitch, and reading.
Sherry Miller - Committee Advisor
Sherry was born and raised in Cabool, Missouri, graduating from Cabool High School in 1987. She attended the University of Missouri - Columbia, graduating in May, 1990, with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree. From there she went on to pass the C.P.A. exam, and work in the field of public accounting until 1995, at which time she moved back to the Cabool area and began work as the Vice President of Finance for Willow Health Care, Inc., a not-for-profit healthcare company headquartered in Willow Springs, MO. Sherry is married to Brad Miller, and they have two children: Logan (who is currently learning to play the drums and the saxophone) and Lauren (who is taking piano lessons). Sherry has played the piano since the first grade and enjoys playing at her local church each Sunday. Her love for music has been lifelong.
Vanetta Sponsler - Thank You Committee
Vanetta was born January 26, 1956. She grew up in a rural area working farm chores and attending a one room school for eight years. She graduated from Cabool High School in 1956, and attended SMS College (now Missouri State University). After two years of college, she was married to Bulas Sponsler in 1958.
They moved to Cabool, Missouri, in April, 1959. Bulas started working at the Cabool State Bank and Vanetta began substituting at Cabool Schools. She worked as a substitute teacher for eleven years, and after finishing her teaching degree, taught in the Cabool Schools for twenty-five years. Bulas and Vanetta lived and worked on a farm, raising Simmental cattle, as they also worked at the bank and school jobs.
She has had many hobbies through the years such as sewing, gardening, collecting Night Before Christmas books, and enjoying grandchildren. The Sponsler family owned The Cranberry Merchant for twenty-five years of which Vanetta was part of working the business, buying, floral design, and alterations of the clothing for seventeen years.
Vanetta is now retired and tired. She is now enjoying her friends for lunch and serving on some boards, such as The STARS Foundation. She has been a member of the Christian Church since 1959.
Louise Crosbie - Historian
Louise developed an appreciation of music at a young age. She dreamed about playing the harp her childhood piano teacher had in her music room. Her father was a violinist in high school and college orchestra. Her youngest daughter of three children played the organ in the local church.
She was born in Omaha, Nebraska; moved to Mankato, Minnesota, as a senior; then attended Makato State Teachers College, receiving her B.S. degree in Elementary Education. Her Early Childhood degree was earned in Northwestern, Orange City, Iowa. She taught for 38 years, which included the states of California, Iowa, and Missouri. This included pre-school - third grades and the Parents as Teachers program.
Louise is now retired, living on a farm with her husband. Together they volunteered for twelve years at the S.O.S. Thrift Store and Food Pantry. She is president of the Brethren ladies church group and secretary of the Texas County Retired Teachers group. She is a child's advocate, a supporter and promoter of music, and a follower of Jesus.
A native of Willow Springs, Missouri, music has been a part of Katie’s life since she was a baby. At home with a mother who played the piano, Katie’s first performance was an enthusiastic duet version of “Jingle Bells” at age two. Since then, she’s gotten a lot more polished but is still just as enthusiastic! Katie spent years taking piano lessons and performing in Willow Springs and the surrounding communities. She has played the piano in several jazz bands and continues to play at Pomona Christian Church in Pomona, Missouri. Katie’s beloved piano teacher, Joy Lower, gave her a solid foundation of technical knowledge plus passion for her craft.
Katie graduated from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, with degrees in English Literature and Writing. She is a freelance writer and mother of two young daughters. Katie also manages Silvermist Labrador Retrievers, a successful venture that keeps her family very busy but up to their ears in puppy love. She and her husband, Erik, have been married for 12 years. Katie was introduced to STARS through her children when Sophie began ballet at age 3 and Sydney, 8, started music theory class with the goal of learning to play the drums.
Katie graduated from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, with degrees in English Literature and Writing. She is a freelance writer and mother of two young daughters. Katie also manages Silvermist Labrador Retrievers, a successful venture that keeps her family very busy but up to their ears in puppy love. She and her husband, Erik, have been married for 12 years. Katie was introduced to STARS through her children when Sophie began ballet at age 3 and Sydney, 8, started music theory class with the goal of learning to play the drums.
Joyce Jones - Historian
Being a native of Missouri, and family still living in the area where she was raised until she became 12 years old, is the reason Joyce and her husband decided to live in the country at retirement time - 26 years later. Her family went on vacation to California in 1946. Her parents returned to their home place in 1952. Long vacation! Joyce's formal education was in Central California. Both she and her husband taught several years in the Los Angeles schools.
Joyce's musical interest began while she was attending elementary school at Mountain Grove in the 5th grade. Carrying her violin case home each night on the bus felt so right. She continued playing in the orchestra in high school, and added the flute so she could be in the marching and concert band. She was the student director, but she never got first chair on either instrument! She could never out play the boys (her friends) to earn that position.
Now Joyce enjoys encouraging young people to continue with music in their lives!
Cindy has lived in Elk Creek Missouri since 2013. She moved from Great Falls, Montana with her husband, Rob and daughter, Cheyenne. After 21years in the Air Force, with a career in Health Service Management, she retired. Cindy is a 2010 graduate of Park University, Missouri with a B.S. in Computer Science and Management, Computer Information Systems. She is proud to be a member of the STARS Foundation, but mostly for being part of making a positive difference in young lives.
.jpg)
Cindy Westlund Bobe - Fundraising Committee
Cindy Westlund Bobe was born in Germany and raised in a military family. She graduated high school in New Jersey, and moved to Houston, Missouri, in 1999.
Cindy has two children, and has owned GiGi’s Nail Salon in Houston for six years. Her children participate in the STARS Foundation’s theatre productions. She is very involved in her community and in non-profit organizations.
Cindy is very excited about serving on the STARS Board of Directors.
Matt Peterson - Director's Assistant
Matt was raised in Houston, Texas. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Houston, Texas, in 1990. He then spent two years in Spain as a missionary and learned to read, write, and speak fluently in the southern part of Spain.
It is in Spain that Matt really learned different cultures and fell in love with learning about other cultures. He graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in History with a Spanish minor. Shortly after graduating, he moved with his family to Missouri. He got his teaching certification from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, and began teaching Spanish at Cabool High School. He has also taught 6th grade math and world history. This will be Matt’s 10th year teaching. He recently received his Master's degree in Educational Administration and loves the teaching profession.
Matt was married to his beautiful wife Rebecca on August 25, 1995. She is a concert pianist and very talented with music. They have been blessed with seven wonderful children. They are the proud parents of six daughters: Tessa, Madison, Hannah, Kyleigh, Abigayle, and Elleigh and one son, Weston.
Matt is currently employed as Spanish teacher at Houston High School. He is involved with family and church. He loves being in the community and serving on boards. He also enjoys every aspect of sports and recreation; especially coaching High School football. He too is learning to play the Cello at the STARS Foundation.
