Homecoming 2022

THE STANDARD

HOMECOMING 2022

Standard staff

Advertising staff

Patrick Cunningham advertising designer

Editorial staff

Lillian Durr editor-in-chief

Casey Loving editor

Makayla Malachowski editor

Jenna Murray editor

Desiree Nixon editor

Makayla Strickland editor

William Bohlen copy editor

Eli Slover copy editor

Gianna Kelley copy editor

Noorunissa Samreen copy editor

Reporters and visual artists

Allie Free reporter

Allyson Endsley graphic designer

Alo Lovelace photographer

Bradie Johnson reporter

Courtney Skornia reporter

Dorottya Faa illustrator

Eliot Gudreau reporter

Em Blackstone reporter

Jade Morrow sports reporter

Jen Crooks photographer

Lili Hayes reporter

Alyssa Farrar reporter

Maddy Rice reporter

Maura Curran reporter

McKenzie Lewis reporter

Nicole Walker sports reporter

Patrick Walden photographer

Robin Garner reporter Shane Sansom reporter

Sloane Galindo photographer

Tyler Cotten sports reporter

Zac Coffey photographer

Professional staff

Jack Dimond faculty adviser

Why do we celebrate Homecoming?

While some may see Homecoming as nothing more than a football game, The Stan dard staff is keenly aware that Homecoming is not only a celebration of MSU athletics, but all Bears, both current and past.

After all, Homecoming is an annual tra dition that celebrates alumni returning to campus, and also provides plenty of oppor tunities to get involved for current students.

ON THE COVER

A photo of the Homecoming crown and tiara sitting in front of the John Q. Hammons Fountain.

HOMECOMING

is published by The Standard, Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by the students on The Standard staff.

With Homecoming falling just days before Halloween this year, the celebrations will also be following the theme “A Haunted Homecoming.” This year’s celebrations seem certain to provide something for all those celebrating Homecoming, from a spooky spin on a campus classic event (see page 7) to alumni events for former bears of all ages (see page 8 and 9).

Homecoming week officially begins Oct. 23, with the parade, royalty coronation and game taking place on Oct. 29. I hope this publication serves you well in learning all about Homecoming week and the many sights and sounds it will bring to campus this year!

-Lillian Durr, editor-in-chief

Cover photo by Lillian Durr

“A HAUNTED HOMECOMING”

Homecoming 2022 embraces the Halloween spirit

JENNA MURRAY

Missouri State University’s Homecoming 2022 celebrations are scheduled for Oct. 23-29. Last year’s theme was Celebrating 100 Years of Homecoming. This year, MSU is celebrating 101 years with a “Haunted Homecoming.”

“This theme was chosen because Homecoming this year happened to line up with Halloween week, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tie it into Homecoming,” said Homecoming Co-Chair Mary Margaret Wilkinson. “We also loved the amount of creativity we could foresee from organizations competing in the week-long festivities.”

According to Wilkinson, the

Homecoming committee has the responsibility of deliberating on ideas for the theme, and then the co-chairs are given the final say. The theme works its way into all the events that happen during Homecoming week.

“The purpose of a theme is to get the whole MSU community excited and all on the same page in regard to Homecoming,” Wilkinson said. “It allows people and the events through-

out the week to have a sense of unity.”

Although the Homecoming football game is not directly affected by the theme, the theme acts as an overarching idea for the participants of Homecoming week as they plan their celebrations. During the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 29, the floats will be graded based on various criteria, including their relation to the theme of Haunted Homecoming. Oth-

er Homecoming events, like Maroon and Fright Night on Oct. 28, will incorporate the spooky spirit of the Halloween season.

“I am super excited about this year’s theme because of how much diversity we will see in the events throughout the week,” Wilkinson said. “It brings out the creative side of students on campus and overall is just a super fun concept!”

Submitted by Student Government Association Homecoming Committee

Student Homecoming 2022

HOMECOMING CELEBRATION Annual festivities bring life to campus

EM BLACKSTONE Reporter D@EmBlackstone

Sunday, Oct. 23

Chalk N’ Rock

When: 2 p.m. Where: North Mall

PSU Window Decorating When: 2 p.m. Where: Plaster Student Union North Patio

Monday, Oct. 24 King and Queen Voting available online

When: 12:01 a.m.

MO State Live When: 7:00 p.m. Hammons Student Center

Tuesday, Oct. 25

Rockstar When: 7:00 p.m.

Where: Hammons Student Center

Wednesday, Oct. 26 Field Day When: 4:00 p.m.

Where: Foster Recreation Center

File photo/THE STANDARD

Thursday, Oct. 27

Can We Build It

When: 6:30 p.m. Where: Trottier/Bear Head Plaza

Friday, Oct. 28

King and Queen Voting ends When: 5:00 p.m.

Maroon and Fright Night When: 4:00 p.m. Where: PSU North Mall

Saturday, Oct. 29

Homecoming Parade

When: 9:00 a.m.

Where: John Q. Hammons Parkway

Homecoming Tailgate

When: 11:00 a.m.

Where: Trottier/Bear Head Plaza

Football Game and Coronation

When: 2:00 p.m.

Where: Robert W. Plaster Stadium

Missouri State University’s Homecoming week 2022 will take place from Oct. 23-29. There will be exclusive events taking place throughout the week, including the class of 1972’s 50th reunion on Oct. 28, a Golden Bears reunion for those who attended MSU 50 or more years ago on Oct. 29 and the BearFest Village Alumni tailgate also on Oct. 29. Some events are open to the entire MSU community.

Band of Bears Homecoming Parade

Homecoming weekend events will be kicked off with the annual parade beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. The parade will move through John Q. Hammons Parkway and will include bands, floats and other entries. To view the full map of the parade route and other homecoming events visit alumni.missouristate. edu/Homecoming/parade.

Breakfast with Boomer

This family-oriented breakfast will take place following the parade at 10 a.m. at the Foster Recreation Center. Included in the event are hands-on activities provided by the Discovery Center, a free digital family photo with Boomer, a complimentary day pass to Foster Recreation Center and a free children’s day pass to the Discovery Center. Adult tickets are $15, tickets for children 5+ years old are $10 and children 5 and younger are able to attend for free. Find more information and how to register visit maroonation.missouristate.edu.

MSU Homecoming football

The Homecoming football game will begin at 2 p.m. at the Robert W. Plaster Stadium. The MSU football bears will be facing off against Western Illinois University. You can purchase tickets through the Missouri State Tix website. Students receive free admission to MSU football games. Coronation of Homecoming royalty candidates takes place at the Homecoming football game.

Onward Upward Celebration

After the Homecoming celebrations, an Onward, Upward celebration will also take place on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. The celebration, held at Great Southern Bank Arena, will be hosted by John Goodman and will include performances from KC FLO, Tori Kelly, the MSU grand chorus, MSU pride band and color guard and other guests.

Illustration by Allyson Endsley Q@allysonendsley

Campus organizations embrace Homecoming festivities

File photo/THE STANDARD

Freudenberger Hall Council President

“Our events are going to consist of the same people doing everything,” said Graves. “We have a pretty big council, but there will be a lot of repetition.”

Incentives within organizations could help with participation. Graves said that their council encourages participation through incentives within the council.

MADDY RICE Reporter

Homecoming brings week-long events for campus organizations to participate in. Any campus group is allowed to participate as long as it is recognized as an organization by Missouri State. Fraternity and Sorority Life are heavily involved every year, along with some of the resident halls, but how can smaller campus organizations get involved in homecoming events? Missouri State is working to

make Homecoming inclusive for smaller organizations. One way this is being done is through the inclusion of three Homecoming court candidates that are not involved in Fraternity and Sorority Life. Missouri State is also allowing non-Missouri State affiliated organizations to participate in the parade.

Residence halls also compete against each other in their own category. Lexi Graves, Freudenberger Hall Council President, says that Freddy house is planning on participating in every event this year.

“We have our own competitions throughout the year, and this is a big way to get points,” said Graves. “We open our events to everyone in the halls to participate, to be more inclusive and to get lots of help!”

If you are not in a student organization, you can still get involved by being on the Homecoming committee. Anyone who is a student can apply to be on the committee. Bigger events such as Rockstar and MO State Live are open for all students to attend, while the parade is open for both students and the Springfield community.

“We open our events to everyone in the halls to participate, to be more inclusive and to get lots of help!”

-Lexi Graves

Maroon and Fright Night

A spooky spin on an old classic

LILIANA HAYES Reporter

The annual Maroon and White Night offers a chance for organizations to take a break from the head-to-head nature of Homecoming. This year, the event is celebrating the tradition with a ghoulish twist in honor of the theme: “Haunted Homecoming.”

Maroon and Fright Night will be held on Oct. 28 from 4-7 p.m. at the Plaster Student Union North Mall. The event will feature a pumpkin carving contest in place of the usual chili cook-off. Organizations will work within their teams to wow a panel of judges with their unique designs.

After being judged with five factors in mind — including accuracy and correlation to the theme — the first-place team will be awarded $50.

The Homecoming Committee is also holding an event during Maroon and Fright Night to celebrate the entire Missouri State community: Organization Trick or Treat.

Organization Trick or Treat allows any organization on campus to reserve and decorate a table, promote

their group and hand out treats to the event-goers. The organization that has the most festive table and the best costumes will also win $50.

D@lilidarleenMaroon and Fright Night is open to the public, so mark your calendars!

To stay updated on the event, check the official Homecoming Instagram:

@mostatehoco

Illustration by Dorottya Faa Q@disaaky

Created by Narakor Chanchittakarn from Noun Project

Homecoming 2022 Alumni Events

Friday, Oct. 28

Class of 1972 50th Reunion

When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Plaster Student Union Ballroom $35 per person

Saturday, Oct. 29

Band of Bears Homecoming Parade

When: 9:00 a.m.

Where: John Q. Hammons Parkway Free

Breakfast with Boomer

When: 10:00 a.m.

Where: Foster Recreation Center

$15 for Adults, $10 for Children

Golden Bears Reunion

When: 10:30 a.m.

Where: Plaster Student Union Ballroom

Free, Reservations Requested

BearFest Village: Alumni Tailgate

When: 11:00 a.m.

Where: Trottier/Bear Head Plaza Free

Golden Bears Reunion

brings alumni back home

Submitted by Alumni Relations Alumni from the 1950s gather at a past Golden Bears Reunion in the PSU Ballroom. The Golden Bears Reunion welcomes MSU alumni who graduated 50 or more years before the reunion.

MAKAYLA MALACHOWSKI Editor

D@MMal2024

The Golden Bears reunion will be held Oct. 29 at the Plaster Student Union to celebrate the classes of 1972 and earlier.

The reunion will be hosted by the Golden Bears Club, which was founded in 1978. Golden Bears are invited to an annual luncheon during Homecoming week to celebrate all alumni who graduated or at tended Missouri State University 50 or more years ago.

At the luncheon, participants will hear from Uni versity President Clif Smart about updates that have happened on campus since they graduated. There will also be a special presentation by University Dean Thomas Peters about the history of the university and Springfield.

Michaela Bennett, assistant director of college and constituency engagement, said the reunion is

special because anyone who has graduated 50 or more years ago will see bigger changes than some of the newer alumni.

“It really gives them a chance to come together, visit with classmates and rekindle memories,” Bennett said. “It gives them a chance to see some familiar faces.”

Mary Tearney is on the Missouri State University Foundation Board of Trustees. Tearney became a Golden Bear in 2008 and has been attending the re union every year since then.

Tearney, whose family are also university alumni, graduated in 1958 from the College of Education and taught for 34 years. She said the reunion is a won derful opportunity for senior alums to come together during homecoming week.

“We get to see old friends and meet new friends,” Tearney said. “We also get to hear an update of the events and happenings on campus from President Smart.

Tearney said the alumni al ways enjoy watching the cam pus grow and change. Since graduating, she said the alumni like to see how the dorms and academic buildings have been remodeled.

The celebration doesn’t stop at the reunion luncheon. Tearney said some of the alumni will go on to celebrate in the alumni tent later during Homecoming week end, and they also attend the football game.

The reunion is not only spe cial for those who plan to attend, but it is special for all alumni — current and future. Tearney encourages anyone who is about to become alumni to stay in volved with the university after graduating as she said it will become very important in their adult life.

The Golden Bears Reunion is free and open to alumni who have graduated in 1972 or ear lier. To attend, the university has asked that participants make a reservation by Friday, Oct. 21. Participants can register at ma roonation.missouristate.edu.

Submitted by Alumni Relations

Alumni from the class of 1966 gather at a past Golden Bears Reunion in the PSU ballroom. This year’s reunion will welcome the class of 1972 into the group. Along with the Golden Bears Reunion, the university will also host a reunion for the class of 1972 during Homecoming weekend.

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A lasting legacy

Former MSU professor returns to campus 32 years after retirement

LILLIAN DURR Editor-in-Chief D@lillian_durr

Dr. Howard Petefish, 95, former Missouri State University professor and alum began working at the university, then Southwest Mis souri State College, in 1952. Before teaching at the university, Petefish attended MSU as an undergraduate student. After two years, he transferred to Northwestern University to com plete his bachelor’s degree.

While it has been seven decades since he was first hired, he worked at the university alongside people whose names current students will likely still recognize.

Petefish was hired by former MSU president Roy Ellis, whose name Ellis Hall now bears.

“At that time the president was in charge of most everything, of hiring and firing and ev erything else, so I recall that when I applied sitting in his office, he asked about my creden tials,” said Petefish. “He said that he would hire me and that I would have a nice increase in salary … that sounded really good. I didn’t hesitate at all to accept being hired.”

Once at the university, Petefish’s office was located in Siceluff Hall, then called The Science Building.

“At that time (Harry Siceluff was) a dean,” Petefish said. “He was a friend and we both enjoyed a new thing called high fidelity, where you can get speakers that had a more realistic sound … I helped him design a hi-fi system with state of the art speakers, and we would spend time Sunday afternoons listening to the speakers.”

This was certainly not the only time that Petefish took a hands-on approach to his love for science. He said as a physics professor one of his priorities was to show physics in action.

“Almost every lecture, which was three times a week — Monday, Wednesday and Fri day, with labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays — I would wheel in a cart with pieces of equipment I would use to demonstrate some process.”

Petefish recalled one especially memorable experiment in which students stood on a free

ly rotating platform about a foot off the ground to display the conservation of angular momen tum.

“Students stand on it, take a weight of some sort in each hand, somebody gives them a spin,” said Petefish. “If they extended their arms they slow down. If they bend their arms they speed up.”

It was lessons like this that Petefish’s stu dents carried with them as they pursued careers in science. Petefish said he has heard from some of those students since their time at MSU, in cluding some who went on to work as engineers at NASA.

“Several of them in fact visited the college, some of them were kind enough to stop by and look me up and tell me that I was instrumental in their being hired by NASA,” said Petefish. “(You) always appreciate it as a teacher when you see that students valued their time and re spected you for helping them in their careers.”

It was his connections to his students and colleagues alike that Petefish found most mem orable of his time at MSU.

“I think most of the teachers they had here had a personal interest in the students –– that was probably not true for larger schools,” Pe tefish said. “It felt more like a large family than a small school … I think that’s probably why a lot of people kept in touch with classmates after they graduated and kept in touch with teachers.”

Howard Petefish’s time at the university left a lasting impression on his family as well, with his children attending Greenwood Laboratory School and MSU.

“He would go to Siceluff Hall and I would go across the way to Greenwood,” his son Ja son Petefish said. “Everyday after school I would walk across the walk to Siceluff Hall and I’d hang out and wait for dad to be done working … I would play in the gardens and in the bushes out here. To me, it felt like a park area.”

Howard, Jason and Jason’s wife Theresa DeFord Petefish returned to the MSU campus in September to see the changing landscape of the university. While many buildings have been added since his retirement, Petefish noted sev

1. Theresa, Jason and Howard Petefish pose in front of Siceluff Hall during their visit to the MSU campus this September.

2. Howard Petefish poses in front of Siceluff Hall, where his office was housed before it moved to the newly built Temple Hall. While Petefish’s of fice was in Siceluff Hall it was called The Science Build ing, a name which can still be seen in the stone over the front columns of Siceluff Hall. Siceluff Hall was named for Har ry Siceluff, who worked at MSU as a professor alongside Petefish.

eral familiar buildings including the Plaster Stu dent Union, Hill Hall — once the home of Green wood Laboratory School — and Siceluff Hall.

“I still remember where his office is,” said Jason. “Third floor, just left of the center stair case.”

Photos by Lillian Durr Q@moment.of.wondurr

What does it take to be a

HOMECOMING CANDIDATE?

Homecoming King candidate

TAD MONNIG

p.m.

To be a candidate for homecoming, students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, be a full-time student and must be graduating by May 2023.

KELLEY

“Everyone applying to be on Homecoming royalty court will get a 15-minute interview with five university staff members. The judges will individually score each interviewee and I will tally all of the scores,” said Minnis.

Students can follow Monnig’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @tad4king.

Participating in Homecoming events is a great way to show your pride and appreciation for Missouri State University. Thanks to the Homecoming committee’s preparation and work, there are many events to choose from throughout October. By embracing the spooky season, this year’s “Haunted Homecoming” will surely be one to remember.

Homecoming court is one of the many tra ditions MSU embraces during Homecoming season. The finalists get judged using a scoring system. 30% of the score comes from partici pating in the week’s events, 30% comes from an interview section and the final 40% is de termined by a student vote.

According to 2022 Royalty Coordinator Drew Minnis, anyone can be a Homecoming court candidate if they have a minimum 3.0 GPA, is a full-time student and are graduating in May 2023 or later.

“Candidates are encouraged to read through the Royalty Packet before applying to be on the Homecoming court,” Minnis said. “The only real step to becoming a court candidate is applying and interviewing.”

The top five applicants for both the King and Queen positions are chosen for the official Homecoming royalty court. They then will run a campaign, participate in the week’s events, and most of all, show off their MSU pride.

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I’m a senior at MSU, but this is my second year here. My major is political science and my minor is in global studies.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m from Pacific, Missouri.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: I’m representing Model United Nations.

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I’m involved in Student Government Association -– I’m the head of diversity and inclusion there. I also work at the Center for Community Engagement as a bonner leader.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies, outside of school?

A: I love advocacy. I’m big into politics — if you couldn’t tell — but I also like to play a lot of board games with friends and family. My favorite board game would probably be “Coup.”

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: I want to get a doctorate in political science and interna tional affairs. I’m really passionate about addressing food insecurity, as it’s something I experienced a lot as a child.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: Don’t let other organizations and other people’s crazy amount of involvement discour age you from getting involved as well. It’s rather cliché to say, but getting involved on campus can truly enlighten your world.

I think we can all say that whenever we got to the university, we wanted to get involved in organizations. But once we learned a little more and we understood more of the university’s mission, like the Public Affairs three pillars, I think we all realized that it’s deeper than just graduating.

Sponsored event:

Bear Head

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Homecoming Queen candidate

MADELINE MERRILL

Sponsored event: Field Day Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. at the Foster Recreation Center

COURTNEY SKORNIA Reporter

D@SkorniaCourtney

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I am studying cellular molecular biology and minoring in chemistry and Spanish. I’m a junior.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from St. Charles, Missouri.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: Sigma Sigma Sigma

Students can follow Merrill’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @maddie4queen

Students can follow Gambriel’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @ethan4king

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I am in Student Government Association where I am the chief of interpersonal violence prevention. I was also a SOAR leader. I’m in the premedical society and Gamma Phi Alpha where I was president last year.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of school?

A: I like to walk my dog, I am really involved in my sorority and I love to dance and perform during MO State Live. I often volunteer at the Red Cross and at Cox Hospital.

Q: What are your plans for post-graduation?

A: After graduation, I plan to get my master’s here through the accelerated master’s program, probably through the cellular molecular biology department. After that, I plan to go to medical school.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: I would encourage students to make new connections by going to all of the events. It’s really a unique time because you get to meet so many current and past students and form connections.

Homecoming King candidate

ETHAN GAMBRIEL

Sponsored event: Band of Bears Homecoming Parade, Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. at John Q. Hammons Parkway

SHANE SANSOM Reporter

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I am a senior with a double major in speech and theater with an emphasis on communication.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Willard, Missouri.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

D@shane_sansomA: I am involved in Student Government Association, Missouri State Dance Company and the Student Speech Associa tion of Missouri.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of school?

A: I like dancing and playing board games.

Q: What are your plans for post-graduation?

A: I plan to look for a job in education while seeing where things take me.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: Don’t forget to take a breath. The week is long and difficult, but remember to take care of yourself.

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Homecoming Queen candidate

TIA LATIMER

Sponsored event: Maroon and Fright Night, Oct. 28, 4 p.m. at the Plaster Student Union North Mall

Students can follow Latimer’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @tia4queen.

ELIOT GUDREAU Reporter D@gudreau

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I am a senior studying communication studies.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from St. Louis, Missouri.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: I am a part of Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority Inc. and National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I am involved in the

Association of Black Collegians; Occupy Campus Ministry; Bears Leadership, Empower ment, Achievement and Diversity organization; The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and participated in the Participatory Action Research Counterspace.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies, outside of school?

A: I love arts and crafts and with that I have my own candle company (@prettylittlecandlco on Instagram). I also work at Springfield Dream Center Academy as a 2nd and 3rd grade after school teacher.

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: I plan to become a high school access coordinator. I wish to help students navigate avenues and find resources that aren’t always accessible within their reach. My goal is to empower them to become the best versions of themselves and to be the kind of role model I would have liked to have while growing up.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: Have fun! Homecoming week is an experience like no other, this is the time to get involved, meet new people and alumni. College days go by so fast and sooner than you know, it’ll be your last homecoming as a MSU student.

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Homecoming King candidate

SEAN MURPHY

Sponsored event: Field Day Oct. 26, 4 p.m. at the Foster Recreation Center

Homecoming Queen candidate

KATIE CHANDLER

Sponsored event: Can We Build It Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. at Bear Head Plaza

Students can follow Murphy’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @sean.4.king.

volleyball team and Student Government Association.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies, outside of school?

Christian counseling.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

Students can follow Chandler’s candidate campaign on Insta gram, @katieforqueen.

@MoonaBlu

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I am a junior this year, and my major is psychology. I also have a minor in sociology.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from St. Louis, Missouri.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: Theta Chi Fraternity.

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I am also involved in student mobilization, the men’s

A: I love to hang out with people. I’m a big extrovert. I enjoy reaching out to new people, especially new classes in the fraternities and making relationships with them. My friends and I like to do things impulsively because we’re all very busy, so we all decide to hang out at the last minute. I also really love playing volleyball.

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: I’m going to go to a seminary school and get my degree in counseling and biblical studies. I am going to do

A: Do not let the preparation take away from the fun and experience. I know there’s so much going into it behind the scenes, both from us and the people who are helping put it on, but all of that is supposed to get you excited, not stress you out. Don’t let all of the preparation take away from how exciting it’s supposed to be.

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I’m a senior double major studying socio-political communication and public relations.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m from a little town called Garden City, Kansas, about eight hours from here, close to Colorado.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: I’ll be representing Sartorial Magazine. I currently serve as the director of events on our exec board.

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I also serve as the senior class president of the Student Government Association, along with being an Inclusive Excellence Leader and a SOAR Leader this past summer.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies, outside of school?

A: I’m always out with my friends taking pictures of them with my Dispo App to make little collages! I also love staying in and watching “Phineas and Ferb” or “Psych!”

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: After graduation, I want to go into consulting and help

companies build the dream teams they need to do fantastic work.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: My piece of advice is don’t let homecoming intimidate you! Homecoming is for everyone, regardless of what you’re involved in. Have fun and get involved, even if it’s not at every event!

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

ALYSSA FARRAR Reporter

Homecoming King candidate

SPENCER VREELAND

Sponsored event: Maroon and Fright Night, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. at the Plaster Student Union North Mall

Desiree Nixon Editor

@DesireeNixon17

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I am a junior double majoring in philosophy and public relations.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Joplin, Missouri.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: I am representing my fraternity, Sigma Chi, for Homecoming.

Students can follow Vreeland’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @vreeland4king.

to quit?

can help!

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I am involved with the Student Government Association as the director of university affairs. I am also a part of University Ambassador, Peer Leader and Order of Omega.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of school?

A: Outside of school, you can find me trying local coffee shops around Springfield. I also hang out with friends and explore the local nature trails.

Q: What are your plans for post-graduation?

A: After graduation, I hope to work as a marketing strategist for local businesses. Hopefully, this will allow me to experience new businesses on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: Coming into college, I never expected Homecoming to be so much bigger and better. Be able to go to every event and see all the amazing things that Missouri State University is doing!

Write on!

The Department of English welcomes back alumni and student bears!

Scan here to see what you can become!

1-417-836-5107.

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Homecoming Queen candidate

HALEY HOLDEN

Sponsored event: Kickoff Oct. 23, 2-5 p.m. in front of the Plaster Student Union

Homecoming King candidate

THAD BAILEY

Students can follow Holden’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @votehaley4queen.

CURRAN

Question: What is your year and major at Missou ri State?

Answer: I am currently a senior studying sports and entertainment management.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from a small town just south of Kansas City called Harrisonville.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: I am representing Alpha Chi Omega and the Entertainment Management Association.

Q: What other organiza tions are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I am also involved in Children’s Miracle Network, Salt Company and Student Mobilization.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies outside of school?

A: My hobbies include playing LOTS of pickleball, spending time with my family and working as a culture intern for Paddio!

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: Post-graduation, I plan to move to Orlando, Florida, to help with a church plant and work in

the sports/event planning industry.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: My one piece of advice would be you’re only in college once, so do what you love, be as involved as you can and do it with a smile.

Students can follow Bailey’s candidate campaign on Instagram, @thad4king.

CASEY LOVING Editor

D@CaseyMLoving

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I’m a junior and I’m a communication studies major (with) minors in leadership marketing and business analytics.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I’m from St. Peters, Missouri, right outside of St. Louis.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: I’m a member of Delta Chi fraternity, so I’m representing them.

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: Student Government Association. I’m the director of outreach and development for them.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies outside of school?

A: I love being outside and doing different things, whether that’s different sports — I played basketball, baseball and ultimate frisbee growing up — or just being outside hiking, fishing, camping, different things like that.

Q: What are your plans post-graduation?

A: I’ll probably end up working in sales or businesses

in some way, hopefully moving out-of-state somewhere.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: Any way you can get involved, definitely do that. Go to the different events, go to the game, go to the parade and support. All those things are important for bringing the school together.

Q: Is there an event you love that you’re not hosting?

A: I’m doing MO State Live, and I think that’s always really fun. It’s cool just to see the different creative ideas that people come up with.

Sponsored event: Kickoff Oct. 23, 2-5 p.m. in front of the Plaster Student Union

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o

Homecoming Queen candidate

JULIA JURGENSMEYER

Sponsored event: Band of Bears Homecoming Parade Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. at John Q. Hammons Parkway

MCKENZIE LEWIS Reporter

D@kenzlew1s

Question: What is your year and major at Missouri State?

Answer: I am a nursing major and I’m in my senior year.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Platte City, Missouri, which is a small town about 30 minutes from Kansas City.

Q: What organization are you representing as a candidate?

A: Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Q: What other organizations are you involved in at Missouri State?

A: I am involved in Student Mobilization, a Christian campus ministry, and I’m also in the United States Air Force, which isn’t a campus organization but is a huge part of my life.

Q: What are some of your hobbies outside of school?

A: I love crafting and DIY projects. I have refinished a desk and built shelving for my room from scratch. I also love working out, and I try to go to CrossFit three times a week.

Q: What are your plans for post-graduation?

A: My current plans after graduation are to move back to Kansas City and be a nurse in an intensive care unit. I hope to work for two years and then get my masters in nurse anesthesiology.

Q: Give us one piece of advice for students experiencing their first MSU Homecoming.

A: I would encourage all new students to put themselves out there and try to get involved in the traditions that take place during the Homecoming week. It’s never too late!

Photo by Alo Lovelace Q@a.lo_o