Sarah Hassan, R.E.A.L. Bears philanthropy chair, and Hailey Roush, R.E.A.L. Bears vice president, discuss plans to celebrate the University’s birthday.

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Missouri State will be celebrating its 110th birthday in March, and R.E.A.L. Bears has already started planning its signature Birthday Party event.  We are hoping to make the event even bigger and better this year.

March 17, more commonly known as St. Patrick’s Day, also happens to be Missouri State’s official birthday.  This was the first year Missouri State formally celebrated this important date in its history, and it was due, in large part, to the hard work of Taylor Juenger, then the president of R.E.A.L. Bears.  Taylor and her committee did an outstanding job planning the event and advertising it through social media posts and chalk advertisements on campus sidewalks.  The committee also organized the signing of a giant birthday card to help make students aware of this new event and tradition.

At the inaugural Birthday Party, which was held in the Plaster Student Union, attendees enjoyed eating cake and punch, as well as hitting a custom-made pinata.  The Homecoming King and Queen led a humorous presentation about Missouri State’s history, and MSU’s Brass and Sass played “Happy Birthday.”  Overall, it was a highly successful event, and it caught the attention of people all across campus.

There are even bigger plans brewing for the 2015 party.  Students, staff and alumni all fell in love with the idea of this event, and numerous organizations and departments asked if they could get involved.  As a result, a planning committee comprised of representatives from all across camps was formed.  The committee, which includes several R.E.A.L. Bears, is looking to expand the Birthday Party to a week-long celebration, not just a single-day event.  We plan to include community service, philanthropic and celebratory initiatives into this year’s festivities, and our goal is to try and get more campus-wide involvement.  Even though the majority of our ideas are still in the planning phase, we have a good feeling Missouri State’s 110th birthday is going to come in roaring.  Each year, we hope to continue improving and expanding this monumental event.  When March rolls around, keep your eyes peeled for details about a celebration that will have everyone talking.