March in Review - Access and Success Blog

March was a month of growth, connection, and new beginnings for Access and Success and Bears Lead. From supporting students through midterms to focusing on wellness and welcoming our newest ambassadors, this month was all about support and success. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to!

March Programming Highlights

Cereal & Study: Fueling Success During Midterms

Midterms can be a stressful time, but Bears Lead helped students tackle their exams with a little extra support—and a lot of cereal! At our Cereal & Study event, students and ambassadors gathered in the library to study, collaborate, and prepare for their exams while enjoying a variety of cereals. This event provided not only a productive space for focused studying but also a chance to connect with fellow students and share encouragement during a challenging academic period.

First-Year Monthly Meeting: Focus Groups

For our first-year monthly meeting, students had the opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback through focus groups. Participants offered insights into their experiences as MSU students and members of Bears Lead, highlighting what’s working well and where improvements could be made. These discussions are vital for shaping the future of the program and ensuring it continues to meet the needs of our students. The feedback gathered will help enhance the overall experience for everyone involved in Bears Lead moving forward!

Second-Year Monthly Meeting: Wellness

For our second-year monthly meeting, we shifted our focus from academics to personal well-being. This session was all about wellness—students completed a wellness wheel activity to assess different aspects of their lives, from mental and physical health to social and emotional well-being. Additionally, students had the chance to create their own affirmation journals, filled with positive messages and reminders to help them stay motivated and balanced throughout the semester. Prioritizing wellness is key to success, and this meeting was a great reminder to take time for self-care.

MSU’s 120th Birthday Party

Bears Lead joined in the festivities for Missouri State University’s 120th birthday celebration on March 26th. The event featured a variety of activities, including remarks from President Williams, a performance by Bearmania, birthday cake and ice cream, face painting, balloon animals, yard games, a 360 Camera, and music from DJ Platinum. At the Bears Lead table, attendees had the chance to compete in “Beat Bears Lead,” challenging ambassadors and staff for prizes. It was a fun-filled celebration of community and school spirit!

Welcoming Our 2025-2026 Ambassadors!

One of the most exciting updates this month is that we’ve officially hired our new Bears Lead Ambassadors for the 2025-2026 school year! We’re thrilled to welcome this new group of student leaders who will play a vital role in supporting their peers, organizing events, and fostering community. Congratulations to our new ambassadors—we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make!

Ambassadors for Access and Success Programs - Bears Lead

Spotlighting Our Ambassadors

Meet the Bears Lead Ambassadors! Here’s what they love most about being part of this community.

First Year Team:

Ashley Jones – First Year, Psychology: I enjoy the inclusivity Bears Lead brings.
Courtney Catching – First Year, Nursing: I love the community that Bears Lead gives me!
Erin Seals – First Year, Elementary Education: I love the community I’ve found.
Katelynn Von Deck – First Year, Electrical Engineering: I love how supportive and willing to help the entire community is when it comes to school or life advice.
Kendalyn Johnson – First Year, Accounting: I love getting involved in activities and events and learning different things at the monthly meetings.
Maggie Murphy – First Year, Psychology: I love how friendly all the staff are. They’re always willing to help with compassion and kindness.
Monique Fiagan – First Year, Biology: I love the inclusivity and engaging meetings.
Ryanna Hatfield – First Year, Management and Leadership: I love Bears Lead because of all the connections and friends I have made!
Sterhlyng Adkins-Dutro – First Year, Management and Leadership: I love the opportunity to be a leader!
Thomas Sang – First Year, Finance: I love the inclusion and the chance to meet new people.

Second Year Team:

Angelina Sabillon – Second Year, Digital Film and Television Production: I love how caring the success coaches are!
Daniel Paige – Second Year, Secondary English Education: My favorite part about Bears Lead is having my support coach and being able to turn to her with anything I need.
Erin Ashford – Second Year, History Education: I love how much it helps new students during their transition to Missouri State while also helping current students learn valuable tools to help them throughout life!
Hailey Primeau – Second Year, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology: I love how welcoming the Bears Lead community is and all the wonderful events that they put together each year.
Jalyssa Keyton – Second Year, BMS: Cell and Molecular Biology: I love that Bears Lead gives me the opportunity to meet new people and work towards my academic goals.
Jasmine Woerner – Second Year, Marketing Management: The opportunity for learning and growth!
Katie Roth – Third Year, Accounting: Bears Lead has helped me grow so much throughout my college experience. Not only have they helped me learn how to be a good student, but also how to gain life skills for the future. It has also given me a sense of community because I have people who can help guide me when I’m struggling.
LeAnn Skidmore – Second Year, Creative Writing: I love how Bears Lead is a judgment-free space for first and second years to learn about and take advantage of the opportunities around them.
Mansa Aryal – Third Year, Computer Science: I love how Bears Lead helps students adjust to Missouri State University by providing mentorship and a sense of community.
Miranda Mendoza – Second Year, Criminology: The support and kindness I get from the whole team!
Taigen Mitchell – Third Year, Social Work: I love the many opportunities and resources that Bears Lead provides, along with its nurturing and welcoming atmosphere for students.

Giving Day

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to Access and Success and Bears Lead on Giving Day! Your generosity helps us continue our mission, and we are truly grateful for your support. A special shoutout to Alondra Longoria, our incredible graduate assistant, for her hard work in organizing this campaign and making it a success. We are currently finalizing the numbers and look forward to sharing the total amount raised in our next blog post – stay tuned!

Join the Access and Success Programs Community

Whether you are a campus or community partner, current or former Bears Lead student, or simply interested in learning more about Access and Success Programs, we invite you to join our community. Together, we are committed to empowering students, celebrating achievements, and creating pathways to success. Sign up for our blog for monthly updates on Access and Success Programs.

We’re Social!

For more frequent updates, success stories, and opportunities to get involved, stay connected with Bears Lead on social media.

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