Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable winter break.
We’re starting the new year off with a well-deserved Staff Awards Luncheon tomorrow, Jan. 8. We’re celebrating a new era and taking a moment to look back on the eras that make up our history. We also celebrate Missouri State University 120th birthday in 2025, so this event will serve as nice kick off for that. Here are the details for the appreciation lunch:
- Hammons Student Center
- Doors open for seating at 11 a.m.
- Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m.
- Program begins at noon
We’ll honor employees who’ve met a five-year milestone anniversary. If it’s your fifth anniversary, you’ll receive a framed service award certificate. Beyond five years, you’ll receive a new certificate you can insert into your existing frame.
We’ll also announce the recipients of our Staff Excellence in University Service and Staff Excellence in Community Engagement awards. I appreciate these employees who go the extra mile on campus and in the community.
A big thank you to the Staff Appreciation Planning Committee members. They begin working on this event months in advance to ensure it’s a great day.
- Keith Boaz, athletic and entertainment facilities
- Alyssa Collins, MSU-West Plains
- Laura Derrick, Staff Senate
- Patrick Hurn, human resources
- Emily Letterman, marketing and communications
- Scot Scobee, human resources
- Stephanie Smith, advancement
- Rhonda Wagner, president’s office
A new day for the arts
In case you missed it, on Dec. 9, we kicked off a new chapter for the arts on campus with the swing of a sledgehammer. The campus community came together for the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Performing Arts Complex demolition kick off inside the Art Annex. Many of us had the opportunity to take a sledgehammer to those old walls, and man, did that feel good.
Congratulations to Dean Shawn Wahl and the faculty and staff of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities! Thank you to Tim Reynolds and the the C.W. Titus Foundation for the eight-figure gift. It provides the backbone for our arts destination area on campus, where we’ll be building and remodeling to create an exceptional learning and performing environment for our students.
I hope to see you at the luncheon tomorrow.
Thanks for checking in. It’s a great day to be a Bear!
Biff