As a senior at Missouri State University, Jalin Anderson holds MSU Bears close to her heart. This was one of the things that influenced her Be a Bear contest design. She said, “With people of all ages, careers, and hobbies, being Bears is what unifies us as a community.”

Jalin has about six years of experience with graphic design. She competed in her design program in high school. After graduation, Jalin designed for the UPS Store and later freelanced during COVID. Today, she works part-time at the Office of Student Engagement as a graphic designer.

A history of artist

Jalin follows a community of artists, both local and global. She credits her greatest support to her high school design teacher, Brian Henson. “He saw my talents head on a pushed me to compete while encouraging me to always look for opportunity,” she said.

She said that Be a Bear is a motto she will always remember. Jalin first became intrigued with it on her MSU campus tour. While shopping at the Missouri State Bookstore, she was drawn to the Be A Bear shirt. She thought the graphic told the story of its theme.

“As Bears, we acknowledge that we are a part of a community,” Jalin said. Everyone is their own person with their own story, yet we all make a collective decision, to be Bears.” She used her maximalist design to showcase this concept.

Jalin plans to work her way up the ladder after graduation. To start, she wants to stay in the Springfield area and work for a design agency to build her clientele. She wants to then work for a small company and use her talents to help them expand into a large-scale business. She hopes to one day make an impact on a large organization like Nike, Target or Starbucks.

About the 2023 Be a Bear T-Shirt Contest

Jalin’s design won the 2023 Be a Bear T-shirt contest. Students, Alumni, and friends of MSU were able to vote on their favorite design in hope of seeing it come to life in the bookstore.

The shirt will be released for sale in the MSU Bookstore on March 17. You can also find them on March 22nd at MSU’s birthday and at Homecoming this fall.

Proceeds benefit the Be A Bear Scholarship Fund, which offers scholarships to potential Bears planning to attend Missouri State.