Missouri State News                                            

Degrees given to 2,295 graduates during spring commencement
Jan Horton and Patti Penny receive honorary doctorates
Missouri State University conferred 2,295 degrees to students this spring during commencement ceremonies on May 15 at JQH Arena. A total of 1,757 baccalaureate degrees, 495 master’s degrees, 13 specialist degrees and 30 doctorate degrees were conferred. US Senator Claire McCaskill (pictured) spoke at the 5 p.m. ceremony. Read more...

Scholarship honors public affairs commitment
Missouri State University recently recognized four undergraduate students for their commitment to the university’s statewide mission in public affairs. Each student was awarded a Pepsi-Cola Public Affairs Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Read more...

Calling all Kansas City area alumni
Save the date! Join us on Saturday, June 20th for Missouri State University Family Fun Day — an afternoon of food, games and fun for all ages. Don’t miss this great chance to connect with Missouri State alumni and their families living in the Kansas City area. Watch for more details at www.alumni.missouristate.edu.

Art students win Society of Illustrators competition
Two students from the Missouri State University art and design department recently won the most prestigious award in their field, The Society of Illustrators Scholarship competition. Read more...

Tent Theatre announces summer schedule
The department of theatre and dance at Missouri State University enters the 47th season of Tent Theatre this summer with performances of “Altar Boyz” June 10-13 and 15-20; “The Miss Firecracker Contest” June 24-27 and June 29-July 3; and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” July 8-11 and 13-19. All performances begin at 8:15 p.m. Read more...

Board of Governors confirms 2009 Wall of Fame induction class
Six former Missouri State University faculty and staff members will be recognized for their combined 171 years of full-time dedicated service with plaques on the university’s Wall of Fame located in Plaster Student Union. Read more...

Electronic arts graduate places first in media competition
Missouri State University electronic arts graduate Sidney McGregor, Joplin, won first place for Long Form Documentary at the 2009 Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read more...

Concert Chorale’s Austria tour includes travel opportunity for alumni and friends
The Missouri State University Concert Chorale led by Dr. Guy B. Webb will tour Austria in May 2010. Join a Companion Tour for alumni, friends & family members that will run as a parallel tour approximately, May 16-25, 2010. The tour will begin in Salzburg, include the beautiful Lake District, the spectacular Austrian Alps, weave through Corinthia, briefly venture into Italy and Slovenia, and visit in the cities of Graz and Eisenstadt before concluding in grand old Vienna. Tour travelers will be able to attend spectacular concerts by the Missouri State Concert Chorale in great venues throughout the trip. Contact Dr. Webb at guywebb@missouristate.edu for complete itinerary and details.

Gamma Sigma Alpha recognized for academics
The Missouri State University chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha was recognized by their headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana for their high GPA in the 2008 spring and fall semesters. Read more...

Students place third in international competition
Construction management students from Missouri State University’s department of technology and construction management recently placed third in the annual American Concrete Institute (ACI) international concrete construction competition. Read more...

Beartones place third in international competition
The Beartones, an a cappella group from Missouri State University, won third place at the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) on April 18 at the International Finals at the Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Read more...

IDEA Exposition showcases talent, opportunity, collaboration of community
Community invited to participate June 2-5
The IDEA (Innovation Design Entrepreneurship Art) Commons of Missouri State University will be participating in the IDEA Exposition June 2-5. The series of events will be presented by the Urban Districts Alliance in downtown Springfield. IDEA Commons is Missouri State University’s vision and commitment to create a new type of urban research park that is a blend of residential, retail, commercial and entertainment facilities, and it is supported by university programs, according to Allen Kunkel, associate vice president of economic development. Read more…

Check your calendar and save the date…Missouri State alumni and friends are invited to the following events. We hope to see you as we travel across Missouri or when we visit a city near you!

• May 29 – New York, N.Y. Alumni Gathering
• June 20 – Greater Kansas City Area Missouri State Family Fun Day
• June 29 – Lebanon, Mo. Golf Tournament and Dinner
• July 23 – Washington DC Nationals Baseball Game RESCHEDULED from May 3
• July 23 – Houston, Texas Alumni Reception
• July 25 – Dallas, Texas Alumni Reception
• October 15 – Rolla, Mo. Alumni Event
• October 30-31 – Homecoming 2009

View the details of the above events.

Questions about these events? Contact alumni@missouristate.edu.

Athletics News                                       

Baseball Bears top Southern Illinois for ninth straight win
The Missouri State baseball team used a three-run third to go ahead of Southern Illinois for good Thursday at Eck Stadium in Wichita, Kansas, going on to grab its ninth straight win by an 8-4 final in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Read more…

Baseball Bears gain outright MVC Title with sweep of Sycamores
The Missouri State baseball team held the Missouri Valley Conference’s top offense to one run at Hammons Field in defeating 26th-ranked Indiana State 6-1 to finish the MVC season alone atop the league standings. Read more…

Bradley squeaks out 3-2 win in eight to end Bears' season
Bradley’s Jacqueline Vitale drove in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Braves to a 3-2 win over the Missouri State Bears in the opening round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Softball Championship. Read more…

Bears’ Golfers earn conference honors, men place fourth at MVC Championship
The Missouri State men’s golf team completed its 2008-09 season with a fourth place finish at the 2009 State Farm MVC Championship. The Bears moved up one spot in the final round of competition posting 304 as a team. Read more…

Bears place fifth in conference play, Dolan named MVC Newcomer of the Year
The Missouri State women’s golf team completed its 2008-09 season with a fifth place finish at the MVC Championship. Competing on Lake Panorama National Resort a par 72, 6,081-yard course in Panora, Iowa, the 10-team field battled strong winds in the final round. Read more…

Bears finish fourth at MVC Outdoor Meet, Ernest wins two titles
The Missouri State track and field team wrapped up the State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships at Marks Field in Terre Haute, Indiana. Read more…