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Family always comes first for Joe Klenofsky, a senior in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“Last summer I interned at the Boone County Courthouse, and one case stuck in my mind,” he says. “It was a child custody case, and the parents and their lawyers were arguing while the child was trapped in the room. I decided right then that I would never be that type of family lawyer. Family is too important to treat that way.” As an HES ambassador and a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron and Kappa Omicron Nu honorary societies, Klenofsky says the college’s family atmosphere provides a perfect opportunity to succeed and to help others succeed. A recent service project of Phi U was to decorate suitcases with buttons and stickers for use at the Rainbow House, a safe haven for abused children.
“Usually the kids arrive here with just a paper or plastic bag filled with their clothes and toys,” says Klenofsky, “The suitcases give them something more appropriate to put their belongings in. This is a difficult time for them — being taken from an abusive environment and put in an unfamiliar place — and we thought the suitcases would give them some much needed dignity.” Klenofsky also serves two hours each week in Student Services helping students choose a major. “I explain how the College of Human Environmental Sciences really focuses on the practical aspects of society, such as wellness, clothing and shelter,” he says. “ It’s a perfect program for students who want a career that will give something directly back to their community.” Scholarships are another important part of giving, says Klenofsky. He says his St. Louis family firmly believes that if a person doesn’t truly need something, they should pass it on to someone who really needs it. “I’m lucky to have financial support from my family,” he says. “But without scholarships, there are a number of incredible students here who wouldn’t be here and who wouldn’t be able to graduate and go back to contribute to their communities.” Klenofsky says that he hopes to contribute to Mizzou some day and provide other students with the opportunities that he has enjoyed. “This is a fantastic school,” he says, “and I want to do whatever I can to keep the chain going.” |
Klenofsky says his major in human development and family studies will provide the perfect background for a law degree, which he plans to pursue this fall.
Copyright
© 2006 Curators of the University of Missouri Questions? Comments? Send e-mail to HESDevelopment@missouri.edu. |