Bear Service Team is a student-led organization at Missouri State focused on connecting students with meaningful service, education about community issues, and meeting new people.  Open to all MSU students, Bear Service Team plans a wide variety of service opportunities throughout the year.

To join or learn more about Bear Service Team, email BearServiceTeam@live.missouristate.edu.

Executive Board includes: Co-President, Emily Freitas; Co-President, Conner Ewens; Vice President, Sydney Lorenz; Vice President, Grace Hall.

Below, the BST Executive Board shares more about how Bear Service Team is connecting students with the Public Affairs Mission.

 

Community Engagement is important Missouri State students

Emily says

Community engagement is important for students because it gives them experience and perspective that will aid them in the future to be active advocates of positive change. Through community engagement, students like myself get the opportunity to see firsthand not only the needs that may be present in the places they live, but it also gives students the chance to see what they can personally do to help fulfill these needs. By actively working with others in the community, students are able to use their talents and abilities to help others while expanding their own world views.

Grace says

As a student, service is important to me because I’m able to learn more about the Springfield community and the problems that its citizens face. When I’m on campus, it’s easy to feel like the entire world revolves around homework and exams, but volunteering grounds me and reminds me of much more important issues. The goal of many college students is to create a positive impact on the world in some way, and learning more about community and collaboration better equips us to enact positive change as adults.

Connor says

Community engagement is important to me because, as a person who is not originally from Springfield, it has helped me to better know the community around me beyond my life on campus.

Bear Service Team connects students to MSU’s Public Affairs Mission

Emily says

Bear Service Team connects students with the Public Affairs Mission by giving them the resources they need to put the university’s Mission into action. Through community volunteer work with one of the numerous nonprofit organizations in the Springfield area, students are able to actively engage in the community in new ways. By volunteering for these various organizations, students are also able to observe firsthand the many ethical leaders in the city that work hard to make life better for those that live here. They are also able to practice cultural competence while working for and with people that may have different perspectives, experiences, cultures, and worldviews. All of these pieces together allow students to engage fully in the Public Affairs Mission while working to make the community a better place for everyone.

Grace says

Bear Service Team helps connect student to the Public Affairs Mission by providing them with opportunities to better understand problem-solving and engagement at a community level. By meeting and working with local community members to create positive change, students gain the experience and confidence to lead their own initiatives in making our community a safer, healthier, and more prosperous space.

Connor says

Community engagement is important to me because, as a person who is not originally from Springfield, it has helped me to better know the community around me beyond my life on campus.

What is your favorite thing about Bear Service Team?

Emily says

What I love most about Bear Service Team is not only the connections I get to make with other college students through weekly volunteering, but I also enjoy being able to get out into the community to help others. Springfield has many wonderful people and awesome organizations that work to satisfy a variety of needs in the community, and I love that Bear Service Team has given me the resources and opportunities to help these people and organizations achieve their goals.

Grace says

My favorite thing about Bear Service Team is having the opportunity to make friends while serving. I have met so many amazing people at BST-promoted service events, from fellow students to community members that differ greatly in age and life experience from me. Getting to learn from and work with new people every week is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling!

Connor says

Community engagement is important to me because, as a person who is not originally from Springfield, it has helped me to better know the community around me beyond my life on campus.