Take a moment to get to know Spencer Vreeland, Student Body President.
1. Tell us about yourself. My name is Spencer Vreeland, and I am from Joplin, Missouri. I am majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Philosophy. 
2. What have you been involved with on campus? On campus, I have been involved with my fraternity, Sigma Chi. I also have be a part of Hammons Hall Council, University Ambassadors, Greek Week Committee, and Order of Omega! Now, I am the Student Body President for Student Government Association!
3. How did you get involved in SGA? What have some of your triumphs been? I got involved with SGA my sophomore year. I didn’t know what SGA did or how to get involved. I was reached out to about the possibility of joining cabinet. I applied and received the position of Director of Public Affairs!
After that year, I reapplied and continued my role as the Director of University Affairs. SGA has been a major outlet for me to create meaningful relationships with other students and administrators.
During my time on cabinet, I was able to manage our annual event, Day at the Capitol, where we took students to Jefferson City to learn more about our legislative process. I have worked on many ideas including Leadership Certification for highly involved students, updating the representation of International students, and building better knowledge of our Public Affairs Mission.
4. What made you decide to run for Student Body President? Running for Student Body President was something I had never considered. It wasn’t until my junior year that I decided I wanted to dedicate my senior year being in this role.
After two years of being connected with SGA, I wanted to be able to contribute more of my time for an organization that has given me so much. I would not be where I am today without my Vice President, Elizabeth Simcoe, and previous Campaign Manager, Becca Falgout. The thought of running would not have been possible without these two.
5. What are your goals for your time as Student Body President? In my role as Student Body President, I only have a year to implement the initiatives of which our administration created. To highlight some of them, one of our goals is to create and supply a Commuter Lounge for students to go between classes.
I would also like to bring printing capabilities to the Plaster Student Union. I’m also working to bring more sustainability events to campus so students are aware of how to be more sustainable in their everyday lives. As well, creating a Student Success calendar so students can be aware of important deadlines in their academic journey!
6. How does a student get involved in SGA? A student can get involved with SGA in multiple ways! The most popular way is to become a Senator and attend Senate meetings. Senators are crucial to SGA’s success because they are able to vote, give feedback, and propose new ideas on what SGA is able to do. Just like the actual government, they work alongside Directors in the legislative branch to see how they can improve the student experience.
Another way to get involved is by being a Commissioner. Commissioners are a little different because they do not have to attend Senate meetings, but they meet with their Chief Officer in the executive branch to discuss behind the scenes changes.
7. Why should students get involved on campus? Being involved on campus is one of the most rewarding experiences someone can have. Students should try getting involved for multiple reasons. First, you have more freedom to do what you want outside of academics. We all have our academic major, but being involved gives you an outlet to do something entirely different by being aligned with your interest.
Missouri State offers a wide range of organizations from Student Government Association to Cereal Club! Being involved also gets you connected with the university. I have met some of my best friends by taking a step outside of my comfort zone and getting involved. Don’t be scared to try out new things, and do not feel pressured to stay if it’s not for you. In college, you have chances to try what you like and see what you enjoy!
8. What is your favorite Missouri State tradition? Why? My favorite Missouri State tradition has to be Fountain Day. If you haven’t been on our campus, it may sound a little confusing. Every spring semester, we host the annual event of turning on our fountain!
May not seem as exciting, but trust me, it is one of the favorite events of the year. Not only that, they also give out free merchandise, pass out free food, and be able to spend time with all the students on campus!
9. What advice do you have for our family members? For family members, it may seem difficult to let your student be out on their own for the first time. Being an only child, it was an extremely difficult time to leave the house. My biggest piece of advice to family members is to give them just enough space to branch out and discover themselves. That is definitely easier said than done, but I always suggest texting them to see how their day is going. Or maybe even try scheduling weekly phone calls to catch up.
Going to college is not a goodbye, but a see you later. As a family member, be their anchor during times of need. College can be very stressful for a variety of reasons so make sure that you are there for them. They miss you more than you know.
10. What advice do you have for our students? For students, going to college can be a daunting experience. Now that we are in the first couple months, you may have already experienced your first major assignment or maybe you missed an assignment accidentally. Either way, you are all doing great!
My best piece of advice is to not beat yourself up after every mistake. Treat college as a learning experience. Yes, we are here for academics but also do not forget to have fun either.
Get involved with an organization, go on a spontaneous coffee adventure with your friends, or try exploring the sights around Springfield! College is a huge milestone in your life, but it goes by quickly. Make sure to take the time to look around you and be in the moment. I know each of you has the capability to do amazing things, and I am excited for all of you to truly make your mark on our campus!