Meet Our Newest Additions!
West Plains Downtown Revitalization is happy to introduce two West Plains High School students, McKrae Brewer and Maren Thompson, as our interns for the spring semester. Each of these young women bring a wide variety of skills and an abundance of enthusiasm for their town. We are honored that they have chosen to work with us and look forward to sharing the impact they will make.
One intern, McKrae Brewer, is very enthusiastic about the position. Brewer is a senior at West Plains High School. She plans to pursue a career in marketing and public relations after graduation, so this internship is “right up her alley.”
She is involved in National Honors Society—where she serves as vice president— Student Council, BETA Club, and is the 2025-2026 student board representative for West Plains R7 Schools. She is also a former team member of the Zizzer Softball program. Brewer works hard to give back to her peers and district.
She is passionate about her community and the culture of West Plains. Being born here and growing up on the square has given her a special heart for our town. She cannot wait to bring a fresh perspective to downtown and grow through this internship.
Intern Maren Thompson is also a senior at West Plains High School and is also enrolled at Southern Missouri Technical Institute in the Commercial and Advertising Arts program. She is actively involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, and BETA Club, and has served as a captain of the Lady Zizzer varsity soccer team.
Thompson is a three-time state and national BETA Champion in the pottery division. Born and raised in West Plains, she is passionate about giving back to her community and helping the downtown area continue to grow and thrive. She plans to pursue a career in graphic design and marketing.
After rescuing her cat, Cheeto, Thompson developed a special passion for helping animals in need. For her junior-year BETA project, she hand-made and sold ceramic ornaments, donating 100% of the proceeds to the local cat shelter. She is thrilled to gain hands-on experience and begin working with West Plains Downtown.
Thompson chose to work with West Plains Downtown because the area has made such an impact on her life. Maren spent much of her childhood downtown, visiting shops and eating at favorite restaurants. She hopes to spread the beauty and potential of downtown to a broader community.
As we welcome McKrae and Maren to the team, we are reminded of the incredible talent and dedication found in our local youth. Their passion for community and creativity will play an important role in shaping the future of West Plains Downtown. We can’t wait to see the ideas and energy they bring to our projects this spring!
