The Holt family
This is a family steeped in MSU history. All six siblings (oldest, Jean, passed away in 2012) attended, and Milford, Virginia, Lois and Stanley all married fellow Bears. They were each successful in their careers, and several of the Holts earned master’s and doctoral degrees from other institutions since MSU did not offer graduate programs at the time. They now live across the nation, in California, Georgia, Maine, Michigan and Missouri. In 1982, on their mother’s 80th birthday, they decided to establish the Floyd M. and Bertha E. Holt Scholarship at MSU in recognition of their parents.
- Virginia:
- We played tons of games together as kids. We played anagrams, a letters game, and slap, a numbers game. Those were Depression and World War II years, and we had to make our own cards from cardboard dividers in shredded wheat boxes.
- Lois:
- My two older brothers would always find fun ways to do things. They both ran track, and some mornings when we were late leaving home to walk to school, they put me between them, held my hands, and RAN. I could swear they ran so fast my feet didn’t touch the ground.
- Stanley:
- Because I was the youngest, I was the tag-along. Between my eldest sister Jean and me, there were 13 years. When I was in junior high my dad would take me to the track meets (at MSU) to watch my brothers run, so I got real familiar with the campus.
- Milford:
- On a Saturday in the spring of ’48, there was a track meet. I was co-captain of the track team that year. Two races were coming up, and the score was tied. I got first in the hurdles and Roland placed second, so our team didn’t have to run (a relay) because there was no way the other team could have caught up in points. We were automatically declared the winning
- Roland:
- Because I was a physical education major, I spent most of my time in McDonald Arena. It’s not as big as JQH is now, but back then, McDonald Arena was one of the best. There were temporary metal structures, Quonset huts, near McDonald. G.I.s were quartered there during World War II. When the war was over, soldiers came back to MSU and lived in those huts with their families.
- Virginia:
- Ron, who became my husband, and I were co-editors of the Ozarko yearbook in 1951. At the time we were dating different people. The Ozarko office used to be on the bottom floor of Carrington, and we were in a room with big windows. Students would walk up and tap on the windows and we’d let them in, rather than making them walk around to the doors. Once, we went back to see the Ozarko offices where we fell in love and at that time it was campus security!
- Stanley:
- They had one residence hall, for girls only … the boys couldn’t be in there. If you had a date, you had to sign in at the lobby desk. Then the person at the desk would call the room to get the girl to come down and meet you. Then you had to have her back by 11 p.m. because they locked the doors. On Friday and Saturday night, you got to stay out until 12 a.m.
- Milford:
- MSU had good, long-time senior faculty. They had high standards for the students.
- Lois:
- Many of the teachers with whom I later taught said their education courses didn’t help them much, and that was not the case with MSU. I was recognized as teacher of the year of one of the largest school systems in the U.S., and I know it was because I learned about teaching and writing at MSU.
- Roland:
- What do I admire most about my siblings? They all graduated college, they all made it. They all ended up at the top. That’s what we were taught. You try hard, and you work, and you can have a good life.
The Holden family
The Holdens were raised in a household with a strong emphasis on education and helping people. Each of them rose to prominence in their chosen fields. They are tight-knit, talking at least once a week and gathering as often as they can despite living in different cities or states. They have a fun streak: The brothers surprised Cindy by showing up at her 50th birthday party in San Antonio, dressed as a mariachi band.
- Bob:
- I am the oldest, Cindy is the youngest. We had a farm with cattle and hogs, and we were the workforce.
- Calvin:
- Growing up on a farm, you’re pretty close because you’re together all the time. Nobody will ever outwork or outthink my siblings. We worked 14 hours a day, 7 days a week on the farm, so we were prepared for the long days it takes to be a politician, judge, or the other jobs we have held.
- Steve:
- My favorite childhood memories are simple: Baling hay in the summer, then going to the creek to swim. On Saturday nights, the one TV channel we got showed a movie. Mom would pop popcorn; we would split a couple bottles of Coke.
- Cindy:
- They are 8, 10 and 14 years older than me. I remember if they were shooting hoops, I couldn’t play unless I could spell a word and say what it meant. That’s how they taught me vocabulary.
- Steve:
- We were raised on a farm eight miles outside Birch Tree, Missouri, a small town of only 400. So you’d think we’d be intimidated in New York, L.A., Dallas, but we’re not. Mom and Dad raised us to think we’re better than nobody — but nobody is better than us, either. All four of us are that way. We respect authority but are not intimidated by those who seem to have more wealth or power.
- Bob:
- Mom and Dad always wanted us to go to college.
- Cindy:
- Dad wanted to have a degree and was unable due to financial reasons.
- Steve:
- Bob picked MSU, and after that the rest of us never thought of going anywhere else.
- Cindy:
- We all lived in Freddy while we were there, and Bob and Steve were RAs.
- Bob:
- I lost the student body president election, but I was one of the first people to ask a woman to be MSU vice president.
- Steve:
- Dr. Alice Bartee (late political science professor) was one of the single most important people in my life. She was my advisor. I may have made it in life without her, but I am not sure I would have made it as well as I did.
- Calvin:
- Bartee was an amazing teacher. Another was Dr. David Heinlein (late political science professor). Those two helped me write well enough to practice law.
- Bob:
- Our second son is named John D. Holden. The D is in honor of both Heinlein and my wife Lori’s grandmother. Heinlein mentored me as a student; he advised me as a candidate. He was one of the brightest people I have ever met, and I still miss him every day.
- Cindy:
- Our MSU educations have certainly led to my brothers and I doing well in life.
- Steve:
- If there is any time in my life I would go back and do again, it would be MSU. I thought it was heaven.
- Calvin:
- When mom passed away about 10 years ago, Bob said: Let’s look at creating a scholarship at MSU, where we all went, and put it in Mom’s and Dad’s names (the Lee and Wanda Holden Scholarship in Public Affairs).
- Steve:
- We knew there were other farm kids out there like us who didn’t have the means to go to school.
- Cindy:
- If you have the determination and drive, and what’s holding you back is monetary resources, we wanted to help.
- Bob:
- The scholarship is so meaningful to all four of us. Thinking like a former governor, I want to help Missouri become a major economic influence in this global economy. We have to have a strong mental infrastructure, and that comes from higher education. Your level of education should not be dictated by how much money you have or don’t have.
The Newbold brothers
Almost every member of the Newbolds’ extended family attended or graduated from Missouri State, starting with Steve, Darrin and Kevin’s mom and dad (known as “Big Poppy”) and their dad’s two brothers. Steve and Darrin married Bears, as did some of the three brothers’ grown children. Any combination of sons, daughters, parents, nieces, nephews, siblings-in-law, grandparents, etc., may be on campus at any given time, going to Bears games, attending theatre productions or heading to class. In fact, while they were on campus for their photo and interview, Kevin’s daughter Meghan, a sophomore, dropped by for hugs and a bit of familial teasing.
- Steve:
- Our dad was probably the very first member of our family to go to college.
- Darrin:
- I always tell people, he and I had a lot in common. He graduated with honors in three years, and it was an “honor” for me to get out after four and a half (laughing)! He had all three of us before he even started college. He commuted, and Mom took a job while Dad got his degree. Neither of his parents ever even drove a car, so he was motivated.
- Steve:
- He insisted that his brothers, Uncle Al and Uncle Don, both get their degrees.
- Darrin:
- When we were young, Dad took a job with Arthur Andersen accounting firm in St. Louis. We three fought like cats and dogs but were very close — it was nice to have my best buds built right in when we moved. We moved to Aurora later when Dad started his own practice.
- Steve:
- Our cousin Gary played football for the Bears, and going to watch the games is one of my fondest memories as a little bitty guy. Mom and Dad are probably getting close — maybe my aunt as well — to going to the most Bears games in the history of the University.
- Kevin:
- As students, we were all on campus together for just one year.
- Steve:
- Other than intramurals and pick-up basketball, we didn’t see each other that much. I was at Temple Hall and football practice.
- Kevin:
- Darrin and I saw each other more, cause we lived together for a few years. I did pass by the football field several times during practice and heard Coach (Bill O’Neill) chewing them right out.
- Darrin:
- That was a given! Steve and I have nothing but great things to say about (coaches) Rich Johanningmeier and Bill O’Neill. We still stay in touch with those guys. We had some fantastic experiences attending Missouri State.
- Steve:
- Heading into medical school, I had classmates who graduated from Harvard, and Dartmouth, and USC. I was very pleased after the first test to realize I had been well-prepared by my undergraduate degree. My MSU education let me compete with anyone, and that was very gratifying.
- Darrin:
- Not to brag on my kids, but both of those girls got accepted into very competitive graduate programs. The foundation they got at good ol’ MSU got them into those schools. One is a physician’s assistant for a cardiovascular surgery group. The other just finished her master’s in dietetics and nutrition.
- Steve:
- The institution obviously is a big part of our family. I don’t miss very many Bears games. We have a lot of pre-game family activities.
- Darrin:
- Newbold family bleeds maroon. That goes without saying.
The Balasundaram brothers
Clement and Isaac Balasundaram came to Springfield from Bangalore, India, together in 2004. Their plan: study for MBAs at Missouri State. They both graduated in 2006, and Clement got a job at MSU in early 2007. Isaac became a staff member later that year. In addition to their official MSU jobs — both of which have to do with the finances of the University — they are advisors to the Indian Students Association.
- Clement:
- Missouri State had a tie with a school in India, so both of us took our prerequisites there so we could come here for our MBA together in 2004.
Before we got here, we didn’t know anything about Springfield or Missouri State except Brad Pitt and “The Simpsons.” I think our story is a little different, coming from a different country and starting from scratch. When my brother and I moved to Springfield, we thought, “What are we getting ourselves into?” Everything, (including) going to Wal-Mart for the first time, was a cultural experience.
- Isaac:
- Our hometown has about five million people, so there is always something going on.
- Clement:
- A major difference is that it is very quiet in Springfield.
- Isaac:
- Mom did all the cooking at home, so when we came here we had to learn how to cook.
- Clement:
- That was a cultural experience in itself.
- Isaac:
- We used to be students, then we started working here so we became staff, and now we also teach — so we’ve been students, staff, alumni and faculty. It’s pretty neat that we can play all those roles. We still participate in all of the Association of International Students’ events. We also go to Bears games — basketball for sure, we try to go to all the games!
- Isaac:
- With Clement being the older brother, he has a natural ability to lead. He’s the one taking charge, taking control. It just comes easier for him to be in the limelight and to take on a leadership role, and then I take over the details and specifics.
- Clement:
- We have very different personalities. I think he’s more organized; everything is black or white, it’s this way or that way, there is no in between. My personality is absolutely in between, though. … (Isaac) helps me see one thing or the other on certain issues and problems. That makes life a lot easier. That’s one of the strengths that I admire about him, for sure.
- Isaac:
- For the most part, our relationship has been pretty peaceful.
- Clement:
- We’ve had as much sibling rivalry as you would expect from two brothers. I think as we’ve grown up our relationship has become more peaceful.
- Isaac:
- I want to be flexible with all future plans and goals, because (as nonresidents) there are a lot of things that are out of our control, but we definitely like being in Missouri and on campus.
- Clement:
- We enjoy working for the school — the atmosphere, and the climate, and the people. You have a fulfilled feeling at the end of the day.
The Howard sisters
Alex Howard and Amari (Howard) Shields are just two years apart, so growing up in St. Louis they had the maximum amount of both bickering and bonding. Their relationship deepened when their mother passed away when Amari was 14 and Alex was 12, and they found strength in their family bonds. Amari chose Missouri State for college, and when Alex also came to campus they saw each other pretty much every day. They moved to Texas together following MSU graduation.
- Amari:
- Missouri State was one of the only schools that offered several of the majors I was considering. I loved the location, I loved the price and I loved the community. It’s such a compact campus — you can get anywhere in 10 minutes.
- Alex:
- It’s because of Amari that I came to MSU. I had originally wanted to go to school in New York, but it was really expensive. Amari mentioned Missouri State and I was really glad I made the decision to come to Springfield.
- Amari:
- She makes it sound like it was her own idea to come down to Springfield. She fought me tooth and nail on it! I was all about MSU; I was a SOAR leader. I was really excited when she enrolled. I was off-campus when Alex finally moved down to Springfield from St. Louis. I helped move her in to her first residence hall! It was great to have Alex on campus, so I could sneak in her room and take naps in-between classes.
- Alex:
- We are very close. She’s my best friend. And a big part of the closeness we have increased when we were at MSU together. Any time there was an event on campus we would go together. We went to football games and we were often in the Multicultural Resource Center. I lived in Hammons House, and we would always meet up for lunch. I always had a chicken pesto sandwich. Recently, we attended alumni events together in Houston.
- Amari:
- We are definitely best friends. We talk to each other every day.
- Alex:
- Growing up, we played Barbies and house; we were kind of opposites, though. She was really girly and I was a tomboy, so we made our games work together. We never had a rivalry but we bickered a lot when we were little.
- Amari:
- Our dad told us that we could have a allowance every week. But every time we argued, we lost a quarter. Needless to say, we never got an allowance. We could fight all day — but at the same time, we always stuck up for each other.
- Alex:
- When our mother passed away, we started to rely on each other. She’s always been protective of me since she’s my older sister, and she took on that motherly role. My sister is a very sincere and caring person. She would give you the shirt off her back. She has been the backbone of our family; she is the strongest person I know. My nephew has a rare blood disease and he takes chemo, and she’s been so strong through that whole situation. Everyone leans on her.
- Amari:
- I’m a big scaredy-cat and she’s incredibly adventurous. She has moved to Afghanistan, yet I was freaked out when we moved to Texas. She’s not afraid of anything and never has been.
The Jones sisters
Listening to A’dja and Brittany Jones talk, you can hear the ease and familiarity that comes with growing up with someone as the sisters pick up and finish each other’s thoughts mid-sentence. This may not be the last you hear of the Jones sisters: A’dja recently accepted a position on campus, and their 8-year-old sister wants to be a Bear.
- A’dja:
- We’re totally opposite for the majority of everything. I’m outgoing and social, kind of spontaneous.
- Brittany:
- I’m a lot more reserved.
- A’dja:
- She’s a thinker and a very good listener.
- Brittany:
- A’dja gets recognized everywhere. When we go out to eat, she has to have 10 conversations with 10 different people.
- A’dja:
- We both played basketball for our high school in Doniphan, Missouri. The team was actually really good and we went to state.
- Brittany:
- We got to play together a couple of times, but it was rare because we played the same position: center.
- A’dja:
- We always hated playing against each other because it got competitive. But playing basketball, that’s just what we did. We both played intramural basketball throughout college.
- A’dja:
- I remember being so excited to go to college, but I was worried about leaving Brittany. She has been my left arm. Always. So I was so excited when she decided to come to Missouri State.
- Brittany:
- Before classes started, A’dja walked me around campus to show me where all of the buildings are so I wouldn’t panic.
- A’dja:
- (laughs) We couldn’t have that.
- A’dja:
- We’re interested in a lot of the same things. We even got to take some classes together, which was so fun! One of my favorite memories is when we had a 12-page paper due and we sat in the library for hours and hours helping each other with research and topics.
- A’dja:
- As a SOAR leader, I loved working with students, and when I became a leadership consultant for Alpha Sigma Alpha (sorority) national headquarters, it really solidified my career path. I enjoy advising students and offering them different perspectives. History was my first passion, and now I have another: students. As a graduate assistant, I advised athletes at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Academic Achievement Center. Now I am a full-time academic advisor there.
- Brittany:
- Currently, I’m taking care of my little sister, Jayden, at home. Our mom and stepdad moved (to Springfield) last year, so it’s nice because we don’t have to miss holidays or anything anymore.
- A’dja:
- I got to be there for Jayden’s birthday at Incredible Pizza, which was great. She already has a wardrobe of BearWear and wants to be a Bear. She can’t wait to come.
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