Hey Bears Welcome Back
Welcome Back Bears! We are so excited for this new school year and all the great opportunities we have coming up!
About Us
We wanted to take a quick minute and introduce our support team here in the Center for Community Engagement.
The CCE has three main points of contact:
Director Alex Johnson(center):alexjohnson@missouristate.edu
Graduate Assistant Hollie Bickel(left):Bickel614@live.missouristate.edu
Graduate Assistant Angela Smith(right): as433s@missouristate.edu
Hey My name is Alex Johnson I am the Director of the Center for Community Engagement.
In my spare time, I enjoy all things outdoors, including fishing, wake boarding, boating, biking, and hiking. I am always excited to serve as a resource as students contribute their knowledge and experiences to the community to create positive social change as active citizens.Favorite color: Maroon, of course
Hey guys! My name is Angela Smith and I am one of the Graduate Assistants in the CCE.
My role is to help coordinate volunteer programs and oversee the Bear pantry. I was an Americorps member prior to this and have loved working within the pantry to help support students faculty and staff. I am grateful to have the opportunity to help give back to students, non profits and community as they are both important to me. Having the ability to help students connect is so important. I am looking forward to this school year and interacting with each of you!
Hello everyone! My name is Hollie Bickel and I am one of the graduate assistants in the CCE this year!
My role is to mainly coordinate Bear Breaks. Bear Breaks are immersion trips that students can sign up for on the CCE website. They are an awesome way to get involved in community service while exploring a cool town outside of Springfield. I chose to work at the CCE because I have always had a passion for community service. I’ve volunteered at many organizations in the Springfield and St. Louis area and I am really excited to help others get connected to service organizations while being a student at MSU!
Volunteer Opportunities:
Bear Service Days
West Central Garden will be hosting a service Day September 16th 2023 from 12-4.
Any and all are welcome.
Bear Service Days will be September 30th from 9am-1pm, we will be meeting at the PSU(131)
From there we will be driving to location, sign up via QR
The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Fall semester blood drive at MSU is coming.
CBCO will be on campus ready for donors Tuesday, August 29, Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31, 2023, in the PSU Ballroom East. We are so excited to invite MSU students, alumni, faculty, and staff to serve our community by saving lives of those in need in our local hospitals. With the help of the SAC, SGA, Gamma Sigma Sigma, and YOU, we hope to see 150 BEARS to come to the three-day blood drive to “stick out a paw and donate!” Each donor will receive their choice of an approved custom MSU Bear blood donor t-shirt (while supplies last) or our zoo-themed shirt celebrating our partners at the Dickerson Park Zoo’s 100th birthday. (see poster for details) Donors will also receive two free tickets to the Dickerson Park Zoo and will have the chance to win other prizes sponsored by the Student Activities Council. Free pizza for all donors.
You can help us reach more donors!
- Make an appointment or walk in to donate!
- Share the digital poster and website www.cbco.org/mostate on your personal or group social media.
- Invite a buddy to come with you to donate.
- Share a photo of yourself or a buddy donating.
- Stop by the SAC Blood Drive table in the PSU Monday, August 21st, from 11 am – 2 pm and again on Tuesday, August 29th, from 11 am – 2 pm to make an appointment and hear about the drawing for donors.
Appointments are helpful, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments can also be made by scanning the QR code on any poster or sign on campus.
Care to Learn
Care to Learn is a Springfield-based non-profit organization that partners with schools and community members across Missouri to provide immediate funding to meet the critical health, hunger, and hygiene needs of students so that they can be successful in school.
We have a big fundraising event – School Soiree 2023 – planned for September 14, and we’d love the help of MSU student organizations to make the event a success.
We’re looking for volunteers for the following:
- 8-20 volunteers to help with unloading two box trucks on 9/13/23 from Noon to 2pm at White River Conference Center
- 8-12 volunteers to help with set-up and assembly on 9/13/23 from 4-6pm at White River Conference Center
- 8-12 volunteers on 9/14/23 from 10am to Noon to assemble and set up outdoor equipment
- 8-20 volunteers on 9/14/23 from 8-11pm to tear down and load trucks.
Any group interested in volunteering can reach out to me directly via email (erica@caretolearn.org) or phone (417) 862-7771.
Us at the CCE are looking forward to a new year and having the opportunity to meet you!