Today is a special day for Missouri State University.

On March 17, we celebrate our university’s 121st birthday. Since opening our doors in 1905, Missouri State has grown into a vibrant institution that continues to transform lives through education, service and our public affairs mission.

Anniversaries like this are a great time to reflect on how far we’ve come and on the people who continue to make Missouri State such a special place.

This week also brings another tradition that reflects the strength of our Bear community: Giving Day.

Make an impact through giving

Each year, Giving Day brings together alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends who believe in our mission and want to invest in our future.

Giving Day across the Springfield and West Plains campuses is about much more than raising funds. It expands opportunities for our students and strengthens the programs that make Missouri State distinctive.

Support from donors helps provide scholarships, enhance academic programs and create experiences that prepare our students for successful careers and meaningful lives. It also helps advance our commitment to developing citizen scholars who embody our pillars of ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement.

These investments will help us move forward with our strategic plan as we work to expand access.

Just as important, Giving Day is a powerful reminder of the pride people feel for Missouri State. Bears everywhere come together to support the next generation of students and ensure our university continues to thrive.

I’m grateful to everyone who participates and carries forward this tradition of supporting the Bears.

Celebrating our birthday

Of course, no birthday is complete without a celebration.

When students return from spring break, we’ll host our annual Birthday Bears celebration on campus. It’s always a fun event for the campus community to gather, enjoy some cake and celebrate our university.

Traditions like this deepen the connection and pride that defines the Missouri State experience.

A busy week on campus

I want to thank everyone who helped make several recent events a success.

Admitted Student Day welcomed future Bears and their families to campus. Thank you to the faculty, staff and student ambassadors who helped showcase what makes Missouri State such a special place.

We celebrated a ribbon cutting for the Agricultural Innovation Center and Small Animal Education Center at the Darr Agricultural Center, an exciting step forward for agriculture education and industry partnerships at Missouri State.

And congratulations to our men’s and women’s basketball teams on outstanding seasons. The Lady Bears postseason run continues all the way to the big dance!

The team captured the Conference USA tournament championship last week with a victory over Louisiana Tech. With that win, the Lady Bears earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament and punched their ticket to March Madness.

It’s an exciting achievement for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. Congratulations to the entire program on representing Missouri State with determination, teamwork and Bear pride.

For those of you taking time off for spring break, I hope you enjoy relaxing, recharging and spending time with family and friends. If you’re traveling, please stay safe.

I look forward to seeing everyone back on campus soon as we finish the semester strong.

Thanks for checking in. It’s a great day to be a Bear!

Biff