At this spring’s Commencement ceremonies, which take place May 8, we’ll hear from student speakers. Each ceremony — 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. — will include reflections from a member of the 2026 graduating class.

“Students are at the heart of everything we do, especially our Commencement celebrations,” says Provost Clarenda Phillips. “I am overjoyed that students’ voices will be central on this special day.”

Meet the Commencement Speakers

Madelynn Jared

• From Rogersville, Mo.
• Speaking at the 9 a.m. ceremony, which celebrates graduates from the College of Business, the Darr College of Agriculture and interdisciplinary academic programs.
• Earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing (marketing management track) and an undergraduate certificate in food and beverage operations.

As a student at Logan-Rogersville High School, Madelynn Jared knew she loved business, but she initially planned to pursue a different major at Missouri State University. Yet, as her first semester approached, she felt drawn to the College of Business (COB), where she chose to major in marketing with a focus on marketing management. On the path to graduation, she also earned an undergraduate certificate in food and beverage operations, a credential that helps ground her interest in the culinary world and gives her résumé a unique point of differentiation.

With her friend and fellow COB graduate Isaac Moon, Jared led efforts to revitalize Mo State’s chapter of the business leadership organization DECA. “We’ve grown so much,” she says. “We have incredible members, with more and more students competing — and placing — each year.”

Jared’s other top experiences include a semester spent studying in Florence, Italy, and her time with the MSU Tennis Club, a group she calls “my family on campus.”

Now, as she looks forward to completing her Master of Business Administration through Mo State’s accelerated master’s track, she says, “I have a drive that pushes me every single day. I’ve learned to say ‘yes’ to things. Seeing where I started and how I’ve grown, I know that if I keep putting my mind, heart and soul toward my goals, good things will happen.”

More From Madelynn

• Peak Maroon: “Fall on campus! There are days when it’s the perfect blend — beautiful fall color everywhere and 70 degrees.”
• Advice for incoming Bears: “Whenever I’m developing my to-do list, I narrow it down to six items, and I order them. So instead of doing 10 things at once and getting each one 10% done, I focus 100% on my line items. I go down my list, and once I’ve completed everything on that list, I make a new one.”

Lana Janson

• From Durbanville, South Africa.
• Speaking at the 1 p.m. ceremony, which celebrates graduates from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and the McQueary College of Health and Human Services.
• Earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics, an undergraduate certificate in biomedical physics and an undergraduate certificate in computational science.

When Lana Janson arrived at Missouri State University, she knew she was in the right place. She’d begun her college career at a different institution, where she was part of the swim team. But her first college didn’t feel like home, and it didn’t offer her preferred major — physics. She considered transferring, and Mo State’s welcoming energy won her over.

Coming into the physics program as a sophomore, she worried she’d be behind. Dr. Robert Mayanovic, head of the department of physics, astronomy and materials science, helped her chart a three-year plan that gave her confidence in her path to graduation. He also invited her into his research group, which focuses on drug delivery systems for cancer treatments.

“When I started, we were synthesizing the cancer drug delivery system, and now we’re collaborating with the biology department to actually test it,” she says.

Another of her favorite experiences was winning a Missouri Valley Conference championship with the women’s swim team in 2024. “I led off the first conference relay of the meet,” she says. “I was so nervous, but the senior girls — the ones we all looked up to — had my back. We not only won that relay; we broke records.”

Next, Janson plans to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical engineering or quantum engineering. “I’m the type of person that, once I set my mind to something, I have to keep at it,” she says. “Studying in America was always my dream, and here I am.”

More From Lana

• Peak Maroon: “I love when it starts snowing. Campus gets very ‘winter wonderland.’ We don’t get snow in South Africa, so it feels like I’m stepping into a different world.”
• Advice for incoming Bears: “I made a point to meet people in my classes, starting the first day. We’d always end up studying together, which is a big help in a field like physics.”

Maddux Radosevic

• From Kansas City, Mo.
• Speaking at the 5 p.m. ceremony, which celebrates graduates from the College of Education and the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.
• Earning a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a minor in communication.

When Maddux Radosevic was a senior at Kansas City’s Rockhurst High School, he considered colleges across the country — from California to Maine. Missouri State University offered everything he was looking for: the chance to pursue his dream of becoming a sports broadcaster, a welcoming campus and vibrant choral programs. “All those things came together, and Missouri State was undoubtedly the best choice I could make,” he says.

Throughout college, he’s enjoyed “opportunities I didn’t even know would be possible,” he says. Many of them involve The Standard, where he’s served as a reporter and sports editor. Some of his favorite experiences include announcing baseball games on platforms such as ESPN+, producing episodes of The Standard’s podcast “The Growl,” and reporting from the Bears’ sideline during the 2025 Xbox Bowl.

Mo State’s choral ensembles have also played a big role in his life. Every experience he’s had with Chorale and Men’s Chorus has created “a lifelong memory,” he says.

Next, he looks forward to completing his Master of Arts in Communication through Mo State’s accelerated master’s track. Ultimately, he hopes you’ll hear him as the play-by-play announcer for his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs.

“Every spot on this campus has meaning for me,” he says. “I have at least one distinct memory from pretty much every building, so every time I walk by it, I smile thinking about what this place has meant to me.”

More From Maddux

• Peak Maroon: “I love to walk around campus — and go for runs as well. There’s nothing like going out in the early evening, walking by the fountain and enjoying everything this campus has to offer.”
• Advice for incoming Bears: “For me, it’s all about mentality. The biggest growth I’ve experienced is learning how to battle through adversity. I’ve found that seeking out challenging experiences builds character over the long run. Now, I see myself searching for things that are difficult because I know those things will help me grow.”