Kurt Warner comes to Southeast's Show Me Center

Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner is coming to the Show Me Center to speak about making all things possible. He will also talk about the emotional experience of winning a Super Bowl while spreading Christian values to the audience.

"He's going to speak about following your dreams and what it takes to reach your goals, and he will include some faith-based components," Joanna Shaver, coordinator of campus programming in the Office of Campus Life and Event Services, said. "I think students will relate to him, and I think they're going to enjoy what he has to say."

Warner visited the Show Me Center in 2007 as part of a collaboration with the Heartland Promise Keepers at Southeast Missouri State University. Other guest speakers included former Southeast men's basketball coach Scott Edgar and Don Ford, president of Kanakuk Ministries.

"The Heartland Promise Keepers are an organization pointed towards and purchased by the students at Southeast Missouri State University," Show Me Center director David Ross said. "They're Christian based and want to spread their faith to as many people as they can. Their motivational speech shared the same Christian elements, but had sent out a different message to the audience.

"You're coming into a certain job world with a tough economy and you have to have faith in yourself and work hard. I believe that this will be a whole lot of Kurt's message when he speaks. He's gone through rejection, he's been in the background, and it was hard for him."

Warner retired from the NFL in 2010. He played for the St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and the Arizona Cardinals and earned most valuable player awards in 1999 and 2001. He helped lead the Rams to a 13-3 regular-season record and to a win in Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans during the 1999-2000 season.

He also led the Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII where his team lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009. He is now a broadcaster and commentator on the NFL Network and Fox Sports and travels around the nation speaking to students about achieving success.

Since retiring from the NFL, he and his wife Brenda Warner have started the First Things First Foundation.

"We're always pleased to have a previous Super Bowl winner come speak at our university," Ross said. "He's very personable and I think he will give us a strong response, and I also believe that his message will be great for everyone of all ages."

Warner will speak at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Show Me Center. Tickets are required for entry and are free for Southeast faculty, staff and students with a valid Southeast ID. Anyone without a valid Southeast ID can purchase their tickets for $ 10 at the University Center room 202, the Center for Student Involvement in the UC room 204 or the Show Me Center box office.