Ozarks Technical Community College graduate Noah Duwe is a recipient of the prestigious Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship for the 2022-2023 school year. Duwe will use the $5,000 annual grant to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at Missouri State University. Managed by the Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation, the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship provides merit-based scholarships to emerging leaders who are outstanding students. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years.
A 2020 Mt. Vernon High School graduate, Duwe used his A+ scholarship to enroll at OTC the following fall and received his Associate of Arts transfer degree in May of 2022. During his two years at OTC, Duwe was an Honors Program member.
“To me, leadership is about learning alongside the people you lead,” Duwe said. “I believe it’s best to lead by example. No one wants to follow a dictator.”
In the spring of 2022, he had the opportunity to act in a short film shot in the Ozarks called “Reveille,” about an encounter between American and German soldiers during World War II. Duwe worked on the technical staff at Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre in the summer of 2022, building sets and working with lighting and sound. Duwe plans to pursue a career in television and film acting.
“Noah is an extremely talented student with a passion for the film and stage,” said Todd Yerby, OTC Honors Program director. “I am thrilled Noah received this award. He is an excellent representative for OTC and our community as he pursues his educational and professional goals.”
Fellow 2022 OTC graduate and Honors Program member Stevi Kay Berry also received a Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship for the upcoming school year. She will transfer to Missouri State University in the fall.