Graduation 2024

GRADUATION 2024

Standard staff

Advertising staff

Paris Wilken advertising designer

Makayla Malachowski advertising assistant

Editorial staff

Lillian Durr editor-in-chief

Casey Loving editor

Jenna Murray editor

Makayla Malachowski editor

William P. Bohlen editor

Cassidy Hale copy editor

Liliana Hayes copy editor

Madalyn Tuning copy editor

Isabel Gamble copy editor

Mavis Parks social media coordinator

Reporters and visual artists

Allie Free reporter

Arden Dickson photographer

Ashley Purvis reporter

Ava Gorton reporter

Cecilia Thomas graphic designer

Charles Sargent photographer

Cooper Sago illustrator

Graduation is nearly here! Quite possibly, a special section for The Standard has never hit so close to home. While I have treasured my time as editor-in-chief for the past two years, it is time for me to graduate, alongside the terrific students you’ll find featured in this issue! Alongside graduating editors Makayla Malachowski, Jenna Murray and Casey Loving, I am happy to celebrate our wonderful class of 2024 and learn more about their next steps!

Along with features on graduating students, in this issue you’ll find information on upcoming events for graduates (see pg. 18), advice for next steps (see pgs. 14 and 16), information on upcoming commencement ceremonies (see pgs. 13 and 17) and a feature from The Standard on President Clif Smart, who is experiencing his own transition into a new phase of life alongside the class of 2024 (see pg. 6). I hope you find this paper insightful, celebratory and helpful in all it contains!

As this is my final letter from the editor before I graduate, I also want to take a moment to thank the delightful Standard staff. For the past four years that I have worked at The Standard I have been surrounded by amazing reporters, visual artists, editors and most particularly friends. But this year most of all, I count myself incredibly lucky to have worked with such a talented and dedicated staff.

And most of all, thank you to all of you reading for keeping student journalism alive with your support.

-Lillian Durr, editor-in-chief

Cooper Sams reporter

Dorottya Faa illustrator

Em Blackstone reporter

Gabby Marler reporter

Garrett Sims reporter

Jayden Pettus reporter

Joanna Petinaris reporter

Khotso Moore photographer

Liliana Hayes reporter

Liz Garcia photographer

Maddie Sherman photographer

Madelyn Stamper reporter

Madison Reece visual staff

Mary Schwanke graphic designer

Mason Ray reporter

Matthew Huff photographer

Mavis Parks reporter

Morgan Shearhart photographer

Robin Garner reporter

Sam Barnette reporter

Shane Samson reporter

Spencer Justice photographer

Zac Cox reporter

Professional staff

Jack Dimond faculty adviser

Cover design by Lillian Durr

A photo of graduates walking at the fall 2023 commencement dressed in maroon caps and gowns. Placed on the photo are the words “Graduation 2024” and The Standard’s logo.

GRADUATION 2024

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.

ZOE RICO-BEAUBIEN Missouri State’s theater extraordinaire

LIZ GARCIA Reporter

Q@liz.vanessa__

Sitting in the Plaster Student Union, Zoe Rico-Beaubien banters easily and laughs. Her warmth is palpable — Rico-Beaubien’s collaborators are used to this feeling.

Arden Dickson, fellow Missouri State University student and playwright of the original play, “gay sorority girls that ruin everything,” worked alongside Rico-Beaubien on the production which she directed and co-produced with Dickson for Rico-Beaubien’s senior project.

“From the beginning, I was eager to put my show in her hands,” said Dickson. “I knew she connected with it. Throughout our first meeting, she kept restating how much she believed in the show. She cares very deeply, and I admire that.”

Rico-Beaubien’s collaborators see her as a natural force, a loving self-starter who has become a notable pioneer in the Theatre and Dance Department at MSU, pulling her peers with her to the top.

Rico-Beaubien hails from Grapevine, Texas, a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. In the state where everything is bigger, so are the odds. According to Rico-Beaubien, her sophomore year of high school, she spontaneously auditioned for her high school theater program thinking she was moving to Colorado.

“I was like, ‘No one will even remember if I audition,’ and then I got in. And then, my parents were like, ‘Actually we’re not moving anymore,’” said Rico-Beaubien.

Unknowingly, it turned out to be a life-changing decision. While in high school, she founded her own theater company.

“I formed a production company when I was 16 with my friend who was 18,” said Rico-Beaubien. “He was the writer/director; I was the artistic director/producer, basically. We did two original shows for sold out, paying audiences. We made over $7,000 in profit, which just went into the next show. One of them had an original score, which was really really cool.”

It was through this venture that Rico-Beaubien found MSU.

At the Texas Thespians State Festival, she met an MSU Theatre and Dance Department representative, whose daughter coincidentally was a cellist in one of the

original shows Rico-Beaubien produced. This connection sparked an interest in the university. One trip to MSU later, she was introduced to Dr. Kyle A. Thomas, coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Theatre Program. Upon their meeting, he quickly recognized the Theatre and Dance Department needed someone with the natural talent Rico-Beaubien possesses.

“After talking with her about her interests in theatre management, administration and producing, I knew she would be an incredible addition to the Department of Theatre & Dance, and I began to do all I could to interest her in attending,” said Thomas.

Rico-Beaubien’s effortless tenacity quickly skyrocketed her into success, as she became Associate Artistic Director for Laboratory Theatre Company her sophomore year. Now, she is LTC’s Company Manager, has participated in a number of MSU Main Stage productions and directed and co-produced a student-original play for their senior project. Graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre with an emphasis in Directing and Producing, Rico-Beaubien has been a force to reckon with in the Theatre & Dance Department.

Constantly involved with various creative projects, Rico-Beaubien is no stranger to collaboration. Strengthening the teams she works with, she prioritizes making space for important conversations to promote inclusivity and safety in the theater industry.

“I think it’s something that’s coming to light in the industry as this new generation is like, ‘Hey, we need to respect people’s pronouns,’ ‘Consent is still an important thing that still applies.’ Like, even if you’re not actually kissing someone on stage, you still need to have that conversation of, ‘We’re going to be in close physical contact,” said Rico-Beaubien.

Her mindful navigation of these conversations particularly eased the sensitive environment during MSU’s main stage production of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” which Rico-Beaubien was assistant director for. The play presents an array of topical yet difficult issues such as antisemitism, abuse and sexism.

“(The play) approaches these issues in a way that demands extreme sensitivity to casting and direction,” said Director Kurt Heinlein. “I leaned heavily on Zoe to help

us (and me) steer that process.” With topics rising to prominence in theater, the production process became a learning experience for everyone. Cast members

Submitted by Zoe Rico-Beaubien

Following graduation, Zoe Rico-Beaubien plans to return to her home state of Texas to intern at ZACH Theatre in Austin.

even thanked Rico-Beaubien for creating such comfortable opportunities to perform theater in. Her guidance and keen comprehension of these issues influenced the making of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” considerably.

These types of practices are present in every project Rico-Beaubien is a part of. As director and co-producer of Dickson’s play, “gay sorority girls that ruin everything,” she implemented a variety of routines to make the show process more comfortable. Dickson felt the sincerity Rico-Beaubien weaves into her productions first-hand.

“From our early conversations, it was clear to me that Zoe had a vision not only for the show, but for the energy of the rehearsal space,” said Dickson. “We opened every rehearsal with a check-in, a warm-up and the chance to communicate directly with the artistic team. Zoe ended every rehearsal with a list of diligent reminders: drink water, get rest and take care.”

Originally, Rico-Beaubien intended to produce “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer for her senior project, but casting conflicts derailed the plan. At one point, she even considered re-writing the entire show, which proved to be more difficult than anticipated. Upon reading Dickson’s script, however, the rawness and authenticity immediately spoke to her.

“I read Arden’s script, and I remember reading it and being like, ‘This is how people actually talk,’ for one,” said Rico-Beaubien. “These are issues that are actually happening, but it’s presented in a way where it’s not condescending to the audience, it’s not over their heads. It’s something very relatable and real, and I really loved that.”

“gay sorority girls that ruin everything” follows Cassie, the college-aged protagonist, as she tries to end homophobia alongside her imaginary drag queen, Anita Dollar — played by local drag performer, Iris Spring. Much like “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot,” this production tackles a variety of contemporary issues, including homophobia, transphobia, sexuality and identity.

“I think a big part of it is just having more exposure to it makes you more comfortable, in a way,” said Rico-Beaubien. “So, if you see queer artists that are representing queer characters, you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, cool, I like this character. I like XYZ trait.’ It’s not about them being queer, necessarily, so that’s part of it. Also, those stories do need to be told, even if they’re uncomfortable sometimes. That’s the point. You know, maybe you squirm a little bit in your seat when someone says something. But at the end of the day, you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, I get it. I get what they’re trying to say.’”

Dickson’s play was also quickly taken

“from page to stage” in only 25 hours, with just a two week rehearsal schedule. With her expertise in technical theater, Rico-Beaubien contributed beyond her directing and co-producing responsibilities, devising the set design, lighting and sound to fully bring the show to life. Rico-Beaubien’s resourceful pool of talents mixed with her genuine pursuit for inclusivity and representation shone through in her culminating project for the Theatre and Dance Department.

“Zoe has initiative, and it comes from the right place. She is dedicated to changing this art form for the better,” said Dickson.

Rico-Beaubien’s time as the company manager for the LTC has also been essential to the functioning of the organization.

According to Thomas, her contributions — building documents and contracts, forming relationships with local venues and connecting with local charities — have been “instrumental in ensuring the continued success of the LTC well into the future.” A dedicated member since LTC’s inception, Rico-Beaubien has guaranteed the well-being of the organization.

“Very little of what we get done as a company would get done without her,” said Skylar Desuk, LTC’s associate artistic director who has served on the executive board alongside Rico-Beaubien for nearly four years.

Her determination pushes her organization and collaborators to the finish line. LTC has taught Rico-Beaubien to make her own opportunities, not just wait for them to come around.

“You can do a lot more than you think,” Rico-Beaubien said. “Don’t wait for somebody to give you the green light on wanting to do your dream project, just try and do it. And if it doesn’t work, okay, try it again.”

With a long list of accomplishments up her sleeve, she looks forward to interning at ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas, as a theater administrator this summer. The intern position works in tandem with the theater’s company manager and artistic director — the exact roles she is seeking out professionally.

Underneath the layers of an admirable, hard-working student simply lies Zoe Rico-Beaubien, a passionate artist forging opportunities for the new voices of the theater industry. States away from her hometown, she has made incredible feats in the Theatre and Dance Department, setting the bar high. Her drive, organization skills and strategic planning come together to make a powerful leader, but it is her love for people and theater that touch the hearts of everyone she meets.

“I know I’m the teacher, and I hope I’ve taught Zoe a few things along the way, but I’ve also learned from her,” said Heinlein.

CLIF SMART

Changing times, changing attitudes, changing roles

LILLIAN DURR Editor-in-Chief Q@lillian_durr_art

In 2007, when Clif Smart arrived at Missouri State University for his first day of work, it wasn’t as president. Having received a Juris Doctor degree in law from the University of Arkansas in 1986 and practiced law for 24 years, Smart was first hired as the university’s general counsel.

From a family made up of five generations of educators, Smart had an appreciation for and interest in public education, but said he thought his legal counsel at MSU would be his final professional role in education. According to Smart, when he was first hired at MSU, he had no expectation or plan to become university president.

“I am a lawyer by trade; I mean, I thought the general counsel job was probably my endof-my-career job,” Smart said. “Then the board hired a new president that just wasn’t a good fit … and he left in less than a year … there wasn’t a natural number two when the president departed, and the board asked me to fill in. I thought I would fill in for eight or 10 months, and they would do a search, and I would go back to the job that I knew how to do.”

After his time as interim president, however, Smart said the Board of Governors encouraged him to apply for the job. At the end of the search process, Smart was named the 11th university president, a job he would hold for the following 13 years.

“I use (the story of becoming president) sometimes, you know, to tell students it’s great to plan things out, but you have to be flexible and open to other opportunities,” Smart said. “(Being university president has) been a great kind of second career for me.”

During his time at Missouri State, the university saw many major changes and accomplishments.

Smart said one of his fondest memories was watching the MSU Chorale perform at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Along

with performing for an in-person and televised audience of millions, the Chorale had multiple opportunities while in the nation’s capital.

“Senator Blunt had taken all the students in, giving them a personal tour the day before of the capital, and they had sung at a restaurant that night,” said Smart. “The following day they did a concert at one of the big cathedrals in Washington, D.C. That whole weekend was an amazing weekend.”

Along with his trip to Washington, Smart remarked on his other travel experiences as president, including his first trip to China since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Seeing the response of our partner universities over there who want to continue to work with us and expand and start new programs and reaffirm things or restart things

and parents and students in China desperately wanting to be in America and a part of the university, that is an example of the travel experience that has been tremendously impactful,” Smart said.

But what Smart believes to be MSU’s biggest accomplishment during his presidency happened a bit closer to home. In the 2018 edition of the “Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education,” Missouri State earned the doctoral/professional universities classification.

“I think that in terms of long-term achievements, that’s something that is going to be important for decades,” said Smart. “Moving the university from a master’s level university to a doctoral university is probably the most significant thing that we’ve accomplished in our time here that will be lasting

Photo by Lillian Durr Q@lillian_durr_art

Photo by Spencer Justice Q@spence_shots

President Clif Smart sits in his office in Carrington Hall. Smart announced his impending retirement in September through a video released by the university.

and then will serve as a basis to move up yet again into potentially a PhD granting university.”

Smart also noted the physical development of the Missouri State campus, including the building and renovations of the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center, Heitz House, Blunt Hall and John Goodman Amphitheatre.

“I think probably the second biggest thing we’ve done is upgraded our facilities,” said Smart. “They’re going to serve students better. Different level laboratories, different level classroom space, just different kinds of gathering spaces, that really will help our faculty and our students teach and learn better.”

But along with the university’s successes, Smart said that his time as president also gave him opportunities to improve and learn.

“I’ve made a bad hire on a vice president level person and just let it linger for too long and it would have been better for him and for us if we had made it change sooner,” said Smart. “You learn how to do that right … You get better at the job the longer you do it, and personnel things are sometimes hard, and so I’ve gotten better at managing the personnel side of things.”

The university’s advancement and growth won’t stop when he retires in June though, and according to Smart, he’s excited to see the university’s next steps.

“I’ve always been a proponent of you’ve

got to be at the front end of change as opposed to the back, and I hope we’ll continue that after I’m gone, and I have confidence that we will,” Smart said.

It is a willingness to change which Smart said is his advice for the university moving forward.

“I think the university always needs to continue to be open for change and to continue to evolve,” Smart said. “Sometimes we all like things the way they are, and we like the idea of a university that was 400 years ago or 40 years ago, and we think somehow we’re downgrading things if we move away from that. I think that’s the wrong approach. I think we have to be open to how we continue to educate and engage people in our community as the world changes.”

Smart noted that going forward, the university will learn how to advance education alongside changes in technology.

“What do we do with artificial intelligence and how do we better prepare our students to utilize it in an effective and ethical way?” Smart said. “How do we get that into the curriculum, because when you graduate it’s going to be out there. You’re going to be expected to use it, so we have to embrace that. I think there’s a lot of work that will go into that.”

Additionally, Smart said in coming years the university will be better able implement online classes and make education available

for students outside of Springfield.

“Students are different now than they were even pre and post pandemic, and so, how do we change what we do to engage them, and inspire them, and motivate them, and help them to start successful careers,” Smart said.

These changes are not reserved for the university, however. Smart will also be experiencing changes as he moves into retirement.

According to Smart, he hopes to spend more time on philanthropic and community work, as well as with his family, including his wife Gail Smart, their children and grandchildren.

Even after retirement, however, Smart will be a part of the MSU community. The new advancement center, located at the corner of National Avenue and Bear Boulevard, will bear his name when completed. Smart has expressed intent to support Missouri State athletics as a fan and donor, and as a member of the Springfield Board of Public Utilities and Board Chair for the Missouri Partnership, he will be active and visible in the Springfield and state-wide landscape.

“I think there are a lot of good things coming, and I’ll be a cheerleader on the sidelines and as we watch and see as we watch and see what developments,” Smart said.

File photos/THE STANDARD

Photo by Lillian Durr

Q@lillian_durr_art

DYLAN COTHRAN Global studies student learns through travel and cultural appreciation

Graduating senior Dylan Cothran has visited a total of 20 countries. While at MSU, he has also worked at the Office of Education Abroad, where he will continue working as a graduate assistant during his graduate studies.

In the depths of the Robert W. Plaster Student Union lays the Office of Education Abroad. There you can often find Missouri State senior Dylan Cothran hard at work.

Ever since he was young, Cothran had an infatuation with travel. When he was just

16, Cothran traveled to Germany alone to visit a friend; so far, he has visited a total of 20 countries in his travels. Along with a love of travel, Cothran has always been enamored with languages, specifically Spanish, which he started learning in kindergarten.

When it came time to graduate high school and transition to college, Cothran initially decided upon a major in global

get back to Springfield and it’s like, what do I do now?”

Cothran said many people returning from similar trips abroad experience the same feelings. For him, integrating what he learned on his travels into his life back home and sharing his experiences with others is what allowed him to move past those hard times and grow.

Cothran now looks to impart the lessons he learned onto those looking to embark on similar trips abroad. Of the many different beliefs and lifestyles he experienced on his travels, Cothran said, “You need to learn to appreciate and respect them, not just acknowledge them.”

studies and a minor in Spanish. Later, in his sophomore year, he decided to commit to a double major in Spanish as well.

For Cothran, the jump from high school to college was very much a positive one. Cothran said that he wasn’t very active in his high school days and “College was a great opportunity for me to get more involved.”

During his freshman year, Cothran started playing intramural volleyball and joined the Spanish Club, which helped him transition into college life.

With his love of Spanish, Cothran had dreamed of studying in Spain even before he came to MSU. In his junior year he pursued that dream, spending four months in Madrid.

“I have got so many memories, pictures, experiences from then that I’ll never forget,” Cothran said.

After he studied for four months in Spain, Cothran spent an additional two months backpacking across Europe. On that journey, Cothran traveled to Andorra, the Czech Republic and other locations adding up to 17 countries in total.

Cothran looks back on his experiences in Europe as some of the best of his life.

“The second I got there, I never felt homesick,” he said. “I just wanted to be there; I just wanted to stay.”

When he eventually returned to the states, Cothran said he went through intense reverse culture shock.

“At first it was very rough,” he said. “I

Cothran also emphasized the importance of having a goal before you go on your trip. He had set out two main goals before his trip: to travel and to increase his proficiency in Spanish.

“Because I came with those goals in mind, I was able to have a more fulfilling experience,” he said.

While Cothran has nearly written the final chapter on his four year program at MSU, he plans to continue for two more years as a graduate student. Initially, Cothran even thought about continuing his graduate studies in South America. However, he ultimately decided to continue at MSU as a graduate assistant with the Office of Education Abroad.

As for what he plans to do after he finishes his graduate program, Cothran said, “The honest answer is that I don’t know.”

Cothran said that he loves the opportunities being at MSU gives him and that he doesn’t feel quite ready for life after college. He did, however, say that he certainly plans to return to Spain someday. Cothran aims to one day work there remotely, and said that he “would love to live there for a while.”

His travel plans don’t end in Europe, though. This summer, Cothran will be backpacking through South America. He also plans on one day backpacking through Southeast Asia, and he intends to always keep traveling and would love to see the whole world.

Cothran said that travel is invaluable for young people, and that it widens your horizons in a way that nothing else can. He believes that every culture and place you experience affects you in its own way.

“The earlier that you open yourself to these new experiences, the more you will be able to develop a more unique identity,” he said.

Cothran believes too many people today don’t value travel as they should and that it’s a shame to have only experienced one country in your lifetime.

“There are 195 countries in the world, and we just live in one of them,” Cothran said.

COOPER SAMS Reporter

Photo by Arden Dickson Q@ardengracephoto

Lily DeSpain

Swimmer leads way to Valley conference titles and beyond

JAYDEN PETTUS Reporter D@PettusJayden

Ever since she was young, Lily DeSpain has been a swimmer.

After a childhood incident in her family’s pool involving her father, sister and a waterlogged work phone, DeSpain’s father declared that all four of his daughters would learn to swim. All these years later, DeSpain is completing a successful swimming career and looking ahead to the future while reflecting on her past.

As a teenager, DeSpain attended Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and graduated in just three years. She was a dual sport athlete — earning letters in swimming as well as track and field — was named to the All-Northwest Arkansas prep swim team in all three years of her pre-collegiate career and won two team state Division I-II titles in 2018 and 2019.

When DeSpain completed her time at Haas Hall Academy, she decided to join her two older sisters, who were already enrolled at the United States Naval Academy. While at the academy, DeSpain said she learned many important life lessons that she will carry with her.

“It was very challenging,” she said. “It taught me a lot about myself and a lot about how other people function. It also gave me some good leadership skills.”

Those leadership skills have made a big impact on the way DeSpain lives her life. She recently graduated from Missouri State University’s leadership institute and says she tries to use the skills she’s learned every day.

“I think leadership is a way that we can cultivate positive environments, and I think it is a way that we can leave more than just the points you score,” DeSpain said. “I think everyone is capable of being a leader.”

After two years at the Naval Academy, DeSpain said she realized that she wanted to focus on becoming a doctor, which is ultimately what led to her transferring to MSU prior to her junior year with two

In her two years at Missouri State, Lily DeSpain has made a big impact on both the swim team and the community. She has been a champion of the Missouri Valley Conference, but also a champion for leadership.

years of NCAA eligibility left.

“With the Navy, even though it is wonderful and phenomenal, the prioritization is not on becoming a physician, but to become a war-fighter,” DeSpain said. “I have the utmost respect for that ideology, but I realized that I just wanted to take my life in a different path.”

DeSpain took no time getting to work after transferring. In her first year at MSU, she placed first in four individual swimming events and top-five in 13 individual swimming events on her way to winning the 400-meter individual medley (4:17.90) and 800 freestyle relay (7:17.61) at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

Additionally, she placed in the top 10 for both the 200-meter butterfly and the

500-meter freestyle at the MVC Championships and was named to the All-MVC First Team and All-MVC Scholar-Athlete Team.

In her second and final year as a Bear, DeSpain continued her domination. With multiple first place finishes during the regular season, she left the 2024 MVC Championships with a number of gold medals. DeSpain earned gold in the 800-meter freestyle relay, 500-meter freestyle, 200-meter butterfly, 400-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter individual medley — in which she shattered the previous MVC record of 4:18:52 by nearly four seconds with a 4:14:92 time.

In her senior year, she was also named MVC Swimmer of the Week twice and earned a spot on the All-MVC First Team

“I think leadership is a way that we can cultivate positive environments, and I think it is a way that we can leave more than just the points you score. I think everyone is capable of being a leader.”

-Lily DeSpain

and All-MVC Scholar-Athlete Team for the second year in a row. An academic and athletic standout, DeSpain was named the MVC Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

Despite all these accomplishments, DeSpain remains humble and believes that it’s not the accolades that make a legacy.

“Looking back, it’s not actually the legacy of how many gold medals or records or anything. It’s the impact you have made on all of your teammates,” DeSpain said. “Something that I have tried to instill is that regardless of how tired you feel, you always have that extra gear to kick in at the end of every race and come home strong … my focus has been on instilling a good team environment.”

DeSpain says she has her teammates to thank for her success in her two years at MSU.

“These seasons were a lot of fun, but while I had personal success, I think it is really due to how wonderful this team is,” she said. “I can’t really take any credit for anything I did during either of my seasons here.”

With her swimming career in the rearview mirror, DeSpain is planning on continuing her education at the University of Arkansas to obtain a doctorate of medicine and become a physician.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

ELLIOT BARBER Creating safe spaces, support and visibility in college and beyond

Beginning at MSU in the fall of 2020, Barber has spent the past four years working with the Multicultural Resource Center. They have served many roles, including multicultural specialist.

Students like Elliot Barber find this purpose, in part, through helping others along their paths.

College is a time to find yourself.

In many ways, this function is just as primary as gaining an education. For many, it’s the first time away from home and from family, an exposure to a litany of individuals with varying beliefs and identities without the full burden of the outside world.

Ideally, college is a time when students can begin to find themselves and their purpose.

Barber began at Missouri State in the fall of 2020. This May, they will graduate with a communication major and a minor in disability studies. Throughout their time at MSU, Barber has worn many hats — including multicultural specialist at the Multicultural Resource Center, access and equity peer minister for Ekklesia and president of Bears Better Together.

In all of these roles, Barber strives to make MSU a better, more accepting place.

“I think I’m just trying to be what I have

needed,” they said. “There’s some support I did not get, but there’s also some support I did get, and so I’m trying to be that for other people. That’s where I’m really proud of what I get to do here.”

Barber began working at the Multicultural Resource Center soon after they began their first semester at MSU. They have taken on many roles at the MRC, including launching an intersectional book club, running the transitions closet and most recently, assisting students in legal name changes.

“It’s a whole process,” Barber said. “It’s really difficult, and it costs a lot of money, which is hard when you’re a student.”

It’s a cause that speaks to Barber personally. As a transgender, non-binary student who legally changed their name in August of 2022, they know both the importance of and the hurdles behind the process.

“Some of the people who I’m helping with their name changes I’ve known since freshman or sophomore year, and I’ve seen their journey of figuring themselves out and telling their family and living their truth,” Barber said. “I remember going through that, so it’s amazing that I get to help other people do that.”

Before coming to MSU and working for the MRC, Barber took a gap year. After graduating high school, they attended a summer conference for aspiring college-aged activists with the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, D.C. Barber was then referred to a trans leadership program with the Missouri ACLU that they got involved with during their gap year.

“I was the youngest person in that, but it was about 10 to 12 trans people from around the state,” they said. “I just learned a lot through that. I did not think I was a leader, I did not think I was capable of doing some of that stuff, but they really pushed me to see that sometimes you just have to step up.”

Barber said they have worked at the MRC longer than any other current employee. Over this period of time, they’ve noticed a number of positive changes: larger staff, more funding and a better, more visible location. These changes have gone a long way toward making the MRC’s — and Barber’s — goals a reality.

“(The MRC) is a safe place … to help students connect to each other and learn from each other’s experiences,” Barber said. “It’s been really exciting to see that improvement because I think that as much as the university says it wants to support cultural competence and diversity, you really have to put your money where your mouth is, and you really have to show up for that. That’s what that space is.”

For two years, Barber has worked in the MRC under Dr. Nina Barudzic, director of multicultural programs. Barudzic called this time working with Barber “exceptional,” praising their commitment and servant leadership.

“Their consistent dedication to our office’s objectives mirrors that of a seasoned professional,” Barudzic said. “Despite being an undergraduate student, Elliot consistently surpassed expectations, making substantial contributions to the depth of our programming, especially within our interfaith initiatives. Moreover, their innovative mindset motivated me to expand our department’s offerings.”

Barber continued their interfaith work across campus, notably serving as a peer minister with Ekklesia. Here, members are taught to deconstruct what they’ve been

Photos by Lillian Durr Q@lillian_durr_art

taught to build back what they believe.

“What I was taught about Christianity was not very accepting, and so I, as a teenager, figured out I was one of the people that it was not accepting of, in many ways,” Barber said. “I started to realize there are a lot of Christians out there who don’t see things that way, and there are a lot of different ways you can connect with God and with your faith.”

Ekklesia, like Bears Better Together, stresses the importance of interfaith dialogue. Though many of the members are Christian, Barber said the organization is home to students of various beliefs. Barber themselves completed a conversion to Judaism this past December.

“The whole point is to get to what has meaning for you, and what can make you be the best version of yourself,” Barber said. “All religions are different, but I think that we have some really big commonalities that sometimes we forget about. We have the same ideas about wanting to do right in the world, wanting to work for justice, wanting to love people.”

After continuing to work with the MRC through the summer, Barber will begin graduate school in the fall. They will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science.

As a disabled person, Barber hopes to

become a public librarian and help give more support to the disabled community. The programs and events they’ve worked on as an involved member of MSU have only fed this passion for the public library field.

“A big part of I think public librarianship is providing a lot of support for disabled people,” they said. “I’ll probably also always be doing activism and things related to that, because there’s a lot of struggles with awareness of issues that we deal with, because there’s this lack of visibility sometimes.”

Barudzic is confident Barber will thrive in a graduate school setting after seeing their work in the MRC. She said she hopes to see Barber write a book in the future.

“The MRC is a more beautiful space because of Elliot,” Barudzic said. “We will miss them tremendously, but their legacy will continue, and the work they have done will continue.”

What does that legacy look like? Ideally, it will be seeing others rise to take Barber’s place and continue making MSU a more diverse, welcoming campus in turn.

“I think a lot of leadership is seeing the good in other people and like helping them to get there,” Barber said.

Along with their work at the MRC, Barber has served as access and equity peer minister for Ekklesia and president of Bears Better Together.

MICHAEL PECK From Youth FA Cup to NCAA Tournament, Soccer Bears defender builds career paths

WILLIAM P. BOHLEN Sports Editor D@wpbohlen

In 2020, at a construction site in southern England, as the winter winds made Michael Peck’s hands and feet go numb, he decided he wanted something different.

By the time he turned 18, Peck had already gained several years of experience playing soccer with the Plymouth Argyle Football Club. He had signed at age 11, when the club was playing in the English Football League Two — the fourth rung of the English football ladder.

Among his notable moments with their youth league, Peck scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 2017-18 Youth FA Cup against Manchester City, an organization which sat at the top of the highest rung of that English ladder, the Premier League.

“We played City, I think in the third round; probably had about ten percent possession and managed to take it all the way into extra time and I think I must have been like eighth or ninth (out of the penalty-takers) and luckily the guy before me just missed,” Peck said. “That was a good moment.”

Once the COVID-19 pandemic started, however, Peck was released from the team. He started working in construction but quickly realized he belonged somewhere else.

“I started thinking about getting my degree and what the options were … I thought about all the scholarships that I’d heard about in America,” Peck said. “I got a few different offers, and once Missouri State came in, it was sort of like a no-brainer. One of my closest friends was already on the team, and I thought, ‘Why not try it and see how it goes?’”

Peck played his first game for the Missouri State Bears as a freshman defender on Aug. 29, 2021. The second game of the regular season, Peck was a starter for the Bears as they faced the Rockhurst University Hawks on the pitch. Missouri State won that game 4-0, and Peck played all 90 minutes.

For the rest of the season — the last of former head coach Jon Leamy’s storied career — the Bears went 17-2, with Peck starting six total

games and logging minutes in 18 games, including the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. He had a total of 678 minutes by the end of the year.

The successes on the pitch that year cemented Peck as a starter for the next season, when Michael Seabolt was promoted into the head coaching position.

Peck started all 18 games the Bears played that season, more than doubling his minutes from 2021, playing 1,429 minutes in 2022 as the team went 12-2-4. That year, he also played in his second MVC Championship and helped the Bears lift their third consecutive conference trophy.

Winning those back-to-back trophies was the first thing Peck said came to his mind when thinking about his best memories playing for Missouri State.

“It’s such a short season, but it goes so fast and there’s so many games piled in, so when you’ve put like 90 minutes 18 times and you finally get the trophy in the end, it does feel good,” Peck said.

The minutes on the pitch continued to grow for Peck in the 2023 season; he started all 19 games, only coming out of three of those games. He totaled 1,671 minutes in 2023.

Though the Soccer Bears fell in the MVC Tournament to Valley newcomers Western Michigan, they made the bid in the NCAA Tournament and played two games, before falling to Stanford on Nov. 19.

In spite of those losses, Peck is only looking forward to helping the team go even farther in the fall of 2024. Though he is graduating this May, Peck still has a year of eligibility left he plans to use while he pursues a master’s degree in economics.

While helping hold opponents to an average of less than six shots per game and adding up 3,778 minutes of play, Peck also made the MSU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll every semester he has been a Bear. He was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team in 2023.

Peck said the academic emphasis is massive on the team. He also added that his being a morning person has helped him balance the amount

of work being a full-time student and a leading defender of a top-tier college soccer program involves.

“We do a lot in the study hall and other stuff to keep our grades up and do our best in the classroom,” Peck said. “I think that most of our players — pretty much all of them — are good with attendance and everything like that. It’s been enjoyable just to be in a classroom and meet some new people and get some decent grades along the way.”

“It’s been interesting trying to balance them both and it’s kind of like a full-time job,” Peck said. “You do plenty of hours each day, but I wouldn’t change it; it’s been good.”

Men’s soccer defender Michael Peck played almost every minute of the last two soccer seasons at Missouri State. He logged 1,429 minutes in 2022 and 1,671 minutes in 2023. Though he graduates this year, Peck has one more year of NCAA eligibility. He’ll play for the Bears in the fall as one of the most experienced defenders on the team.

Of the doors that have been opened to him through his degree and his athletic experience, Peck said he feels good about his options, whether it’s professional soccer — anywhere in the world — or applying his economics degree as a financial manager or planner. At this point, he’s just looking forward to his last year playing for the Bears.

“Last year was quite a transition in the style of football that we tried to play, and I feel like by the end of it, we were sort of getting the hang of it really well and playing some really good football,” Peck said. “Now, we’re trying to blend a bit of what we had in 2022 with what we had in 2023 — mixing up the physicality with the nice passing football — so it should be an interesting year. We’ve done a lot of work this spring to prepare ourselves for the fall. I’m looking

forward to seeing how it all comes together.”

With next season left to play and his master’s degree ahead of him, Peck said that he is unsure what lies on the horizon, but re-emphasized that he’s got options and is anticipating where that’ll be.

“I’m not sure yet to be honest. I don’t know whether that’s scary or that’s exciting. It’s a bit of both, I guess,” Peck said. “I know having the degree behind me is gonna give me a good stead whether I want to carry on playing — or try to carry on playing out here or back home — or whether I want to just get a job, but I’m excited. There’s a lot going on, so it’s gonna be interesting.”

Photo by MSU Creative Services

According to the Missouri State University website, doors to both Hammons Student Center and Great Southern Bank Arena will open 90 minutes prior to each commencement ceremony. Graduates are instructed to check in at the east entrance of the Hammons Student Center no later than 45 minutes before their ceremony and should come dressed in their corresponding regalia. The MSU Bookstore will also be offering regalia for purchase at the Hammons Student Center prior to the ceremonies for students who have not yet purchased their cap, gown, and tassel. Graduates who have not received their name card at the Grad Fair will also be able to pick it up at Hammons Student Center.

Alumni Association enables MSU involvement after graduation

ALLIE FREE Reporter

D@free_allie

Graduation is upon us, and many upcoming graduates will soon be searching for ways to continue participating in their lifelong community of Bears as alumni. Especially alongside the recent announcement of a new advancement center to be built in retiring Missouri State University President Clif Smart’s name, many traditional and new opportunities are opening up to graduating Bears.

According to Arianna Gardner, the assistant director of student and young alumni engagement at the MSU Alumni Association, there are plenty of options for graduates to be a Bear throughout the rest of their lives. Gardner said she considers the term “young alumni” to apply to those who have graduated from the university within the last decade.

“I want (young alumni) to know that just because they graduate doesn’t mean that they can’t come back or come to events or hang out with us and really get involved,” Gardner said. “I know when I was a young alumni, I didn’t know that plenty of things were happening on campus that I could still be a part of. There’s always a home at Missouri State.”

Gardner has particular on-campus events that she said she believes would be especially beneficial for young alumni, including alumni-focused opportunities during Homecoming in the fall and other small get-togethers throughout the year.

MSUAA memberships are free and automatic upon graduation, and each alum will receive a monthly newsletter, called Missouri State Monthly. Descendants of alumni receive benefits too – out-of-state tuition will be waived for children and grandchildren of alumni through the Continue The Tradition Program.

Gardner said she’s also in the process of creating a “young alumni council” for young alumni to provide more input on what events they’d like to see in the community, such as job fairs for recent alumni. As the Career Center currently provides résumé and job-searching support for alumni even when they’re no longer taking classes at the university, Gardner said she

sees this as an expansion of some of those current efforts.

Alumni also have the opportunity to participate in philanthropic efforts with their peers. Starting on April 25, the MSUAA will recommence the week-long Bears in Action event program, which Gardner coordinates. Penny drives, hygiene product drives, food drives and other events will all benefit the communities surrounding each chapter.

The MSUAA has chapters primarily based in Missouri – in Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis, Lebanon and a mid-Missouri chapter – but alumni can keep up with upcoming events and opportunities through social media anywhere, Gardner said. MSU alumni also hold gatherings in major cities outside of Missouri – like Chicago – and the MSUAA holds periodic world travel events for alumni at affordable prices – like the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, Italy and Japan.

Alongside these regional chapters, the MSUAA also has “affinity groups” centered around demographic areas, like the Black Alumni Network, the Latino Alumni Network, the Golden Bears for alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago and the GrandBears for alumni who graduated more than 70 years ago or who are over 90 years old.

The MSUAA also coordinates the annual Grad Bash event for graduating seniors, which will take place this year at Plaster Stadium on May 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. with free food, one free beer for attendees over 21 with an ID, Andy’s Frozen Custard, a DJ, outdoor games, inflatables and photo opportunities. Attendants must register on the Alumni Association’s website in advance to attend, but attendance is free.

As with many other universities, alumni can also give back to the university and their future fellow alumni by contributing financially. Donations can always be made outright to the university, but other smaller options also give back to the community. Custom license plates can be bought for $25 on an online giving form to MSU, which will also require a $15 check to the License Bureau for a personalized plate fee.

Through direct annual contributions to MSU — of at least $50 — alumni can also

become “Very Important Bears” or VIBs. Each VIB receives 20% discounts on select items at the Missouri State Bookstore and Great Southern Bank Arena Team Store, three annual editions of the Missouri State Magazine, an MSU holiday ornament, retained access to the Duane G. Meyer Library and its privileges, retained access to the Foster Family Recreation Center with an additional subscription, retained access to the Hammons Student Center with a daily usage fee and exclusive address la-

bels.

“I think a good alumnus not only gives back financially, but gives back their time and shows their pride,” Gardner said. “They’d be really proud of Missouri State, and where they come from – someone who can be relatable and help students – and who is excited about the future of Missouri State.”

Illustration by Mary Schwanke

POST-GRAD PLANS

they teach. Take some time to learn from those instructors and see if they have any advice as you begin your search.

Preparing for the workforce after graduation

Some people are lucky enough to have friends or family in the field they plan to pursue. If this is true for you, consider reaching out to those people to learn more about their experience getting started in the field.

It’s important to maintain good relationships with your instructors, employers and other professionals so you may consult them for letters of recommendation or references later.

Have patience

If you’re graduating this May, you might be stressed about what happens after graduation. For some, this future includes going to graduate school or taking a year off, but for others, it might look like finding the perfect career for them. If this applies to you, here are some tips to help ease your mind as you look for your next job.

Do some research

There are many career paths you can take, regardless of the field you plan to enter. Before you start applying for jobs, consider your strengths and weaknesses, your professional interests and potential jobs in your field that would suit you best.

The Missouri State University Career Center has resources available for students who are embarking on their job searches. This includes job search engines, websites for occupational and industry research, and websites sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

For career counseling, those interested can call the MSU Career Center at 417-836-5636 or stop by the center’s offices in Carrington 309 and Glass 117. Appointments and assessments are free for MSU students and alumni.

Start looking before you graduate

If you’re serious about your job search, it’s better to get started sooner rather than later. You can use job search websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter to help you find jobs that are available. Ensure that you have all the materials necessary to submit an application, including résumés, cover letters, letters of recommendation and transcripts.

Look to faculty and professionals around you

Many instructors are professionals in the field

If you ask anyone applying for jobs right now, you’ll probably hear that some people have to apply to several jobs to get an interview. This can certainly be frustrating, but the right job will find you.

If you’ve consistently been applying to jobs and not hearing back, look at the application you submitted and the job you applied for. According to Indeed, there are a few reasons you may not be getting interviews, including lack of qualifications or being too qualified, grammatical and spelling errors in your résumés or simply you may not be the right fit for the company you applied to.

Prepare for your interview

If you land an interview, make sure you prepare for it accordingly. Making a good impression on those who are interviewing you will give you a better chance of getting the job.

To best prepare for your interview, Handshake suggests researching the company you’re interviewing with, dressing appropriately, arriving early and considering the questions you may be asked. Be sure to highlight your relevant experience and skills.

If you’re in need of some clothing for your interview, visit MSU’s Transitions Closet, located in the Multicultural Resource Center at the Plaster Student Union.

Keep developing your skills

Once you find the right job for you, you must continue strengthening your skills and working on your weaknesses. Some places you can do this include workshops, online courses, doing your own research about your chosen career, asking for feedback from peers or finding a mentor.

Developing your skills will not only help you gain valuable experience at your new job, but also allow you to apply those skills when you are ready to move on to the next job someday.

Illustration by Dorottya Faa Q@disaaky

Friday, May 10; Great Southern Bank Arena

9 a.m.

Featured Speaker: Brian Mahaffey McQueary College of Health and Human Services College of Natural and Applied Sciences

1 p.m.

Featured Speaker: Margie Vandeven Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities College of Education

5 p.m.

Featured Speaker: David Trottier Darr College of Agriculture College of Business Interdisciplinary Academic Programs

Grad Bash 2024

Thursday, May 9

2-5 p.m.

Plaster Stadium

GRAD BASH: One last hurrah!

JENNA MURRAY Editor D@Jenna_Murray5

With less than a month to go until the next round of seniors walk across the stage and officially become alums of Missouri State University, emotions are running high. Whether you’re unbelievably excited or petrified, or even a little bit of both, graduation marks an incredible accomplishment and deserves to be rewarded.

Hosted by the MSU Alumni Association and the class of 2024 Grad Bash 2024 includes ...

Free food and drink

Andy’s Frozen Custard

Games and Inflatables

Music by DJ Platinum

On Thursday, May 9, the day before spring commencement, seniors can socialize and celebrate their accomplishments at Grad Bash. Grad Bash, hosted by the MSU Alumni Association, will take place at Plaster Stadium from 2-5 p.m.

Arianna Gardner, assistant director of student and young alumni engagement, described Grad Bash as “one big party to celebrate our graduating seniors.” There will be inflatables, outdoor games, multiple photo opportunities and more.

DJ Platinum, who has performed at many MSU events, will be providing the tunes at Grad Bash.

“He does a really great job, he’s really upbeat and he’s willing to step in,” Gardner said. “He’s got really good taste in music, and the students seem to really love what he does.”

There will be free food and Andy’s Frozen Custard served at the event. For the attendees who are 21 years or older, free beer will also be available.

Gardner recommends that all graduating seniors attend Grad Bash to take some time to celebrate their accomplishments.

“Showing up to Grad Bash is a way to celebrate yourself,” Gardner said. “You can invite your family and friends and they can help celebrate you, too. It’s a chance to really get to know your classmates. These are the people you’ll see 10 years from now at your reunion, so you want to make those memories together one last time before you graduate.”

Graduating seniors have the option to donate $20.24, in commemoration of their graduation year, to the campus area of their choosing. Senior class gifts can be made to a specific department, organization, college or other MSU-related place or group.

“The senior class gift is an initiative for us to teach seniors about philanthropy and what it means to be a Bear and to leave your mark on the campus as many others did before them,” Gardner said.

Students who complete a senior class gift will receive a graduation cord to wear at commencement and a light-up mug. Unique to this year’s event, the first 50 students who make their senior class gift at Grad Bash will receive a free t-shirt.

At the end of Grad Bash, graduating seniors will all get together to take one big class photo, just like many did at the welcome week event known as Bear Bash.

“When you first get here as a freshman,

you go to Bear Bash, and that’s where you go to all the welcoming activities,” Gardner said. “You have a lot of fun, you meet new people and you get to see what campus life is about and you take your class photo. When Grad Bash hits, that’s your end cap experience. Students do the same thing over again with the same people they started with. It’s a sentimental thing, too.”

Grad Bash marks the transition from a student to an alum and the beginning of a new chapter of life.

“An alum, to me, means that you take pride in your time at Missouri State, you take pride in being a bear, you give back to Missouri State and you give back to your community,” Gardner said.

Although students are not required to register for the event ahead of time, it is preferred. The link to register for Grad Bash can be found on the Missouri State Alumni Association website.

Photo by MSU Creative Services

Grad Bash is an annual event hosted by the MSU Alumni Association to celebrate the year’s graduating class. The celebration is held at Plaster Stadium and includes food, drinks, music and entertainment for graduates.

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