The Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association will present Dane Huxel of St. Charles, Missouri, with a Distinguished Young Alumni Service Award at the Copper Dome Society/Merit Recognition Dinner Oct. 25 during the Universitys Homecoming celebration. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Show Me Center.
The award honors alumni under the age of 37 for their outstanding service to and support of the University. Huxel graduated from Southeast in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in manufacturing engineering technology, mechanical/manufacturing systems option.
Huxel opened his own State Farm Agency in January 2013 in South St. Louis County, where he enjoys living out the State Farm mission of helping clients manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. He is committed to helping his clients develop their personal insurance and retirement plans.
The desire to own his own business surfaced after four years of employment with AT&T Advertising Solutions. In 2010, he began exploring self-employment when State Farm Agent Matt Tobben presented an opportunity to begin training to operate his own State Farm Agency.
A Washington, Missouri, native, Huxel is an entrepreneur at heart. Throughout high school, he ran his own business, Danes Lawn Care, that with the support of family and friends, he continued to run throughout college.
At Southeast, he served as Student Government president, which offered him the opportunity to serve as a member of the Retirement Ceremony Committee of the Universitys former mascot, the Indians. He also was active in the committee to design and name Southeasts Rowdy the Redhawk mascot.
He made several trips to Jefferson City, Missouri, as Student Government president to discuss student issues and funding for the River Campus with state lawmakers. He was involved in a student fee initiative to build the Student Aquatic Center adjacent to the Student Recreation Center and to fund athletics, the former Speakers Series, and the Redhawk sign on the pedestrian bridge over New Madrid Street.
At Southeast, Huxel also was a bass drummer in the Golden Eagles Marching Band during his freshman and sophomore years and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity his freshman year and the Roller Hockey Club for four years. He also was an active member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, launched Club Tech, participated in Presidential Ambassadors and was employed in the Office of Residence Life.
Huxel is married to his college sweetheart, Sarah Martin Huxel, and they are the parents of four children, Eli, Olivia, Clay and Felix.