On Nov. 15, BearFest Village once again came alive for Homecoming as maroon and white shirts, the Pride Band, families, alumni and friends filled Missouri State University with energy. 

 The celebration highlighted Missouri State’s first year in Conference USA. 

“Right in the middle of it all, the MCHHS Homecoming Tent marked its fourth year as a signature gathering spot,” said Dr. Mark Smith, dean of McQueary College of Health and Human Services.     

What began in 2022 as one more potential stop in the Homecoming lineup has grown into something more. It developed into a place where alumni, students, faculty and staff reconnected, told their stories and renewed their sense of shared purpose.  

Belonging in action and advancing the strategic plan  

Throughout the fall, MCHHS has emphasized “belonging in action,” focusing not just on talking about community but creating it. This commitment has taken shape through real, face-to-face experiences.  

The Homecoming tradition brought that commitment to life while supporting the university’s new strategic plan. The plan calls for increased participation in campus events, stronger alumni engagement and deeper connections between students and graduates.  

Over the course of the celebration, the MCHHS tent:  

• Created a welcoming, informal space where alumni, students, faculty and staff could reconnect outside the structure of meetings, classes and email.  
• Showcased the value of an MCHHS education through personal stories and real-world outcomes.  
• Strengthened college spirit and pride through a visible presence.  

In a time when higher education can feel weighed down by challenge and change, the tent offered a hopeful counter-story. It was a space where members of the MCHHS family showed up for one another regardless of roles, departments and generations.  

Looking ahead  

As this issue of the McQueary Minute published, Homecoming 2025 was already a memory. However, its importance continues to ripple forward in new connections, renewed relationships and a stronger sense of community.  

With four years of the MCHHS tent now behind us, the college continues to build a Homecoming tradition rooted in togetherness, belonging and Bear pride.  

Those who visited left with more than popcorn or a photo. They carried with them shared stories and memories that will continue to shape the MCHHS community long after Homecoming ended.

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