Name: Caleb McMurtrey
Major: Computer Information Systems
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Willard, MO
Why REAL Bears: Caleb joined the organization because he had heard about the organization from Stephanie Matthews, the former R.E.A.L. Bears staff sponsor. He wanted to develop his leadership skills and more specifically his networking skills. He thought REAL Bears would provide him with opportunities to improve upon those skills as well as how to better equip himself for the workforce.
Name: Miranda O’Connell
Year: Freshman
Major: Exercise & Movement Science
Hometown: Moscow, Idaho
Why I chose REAL Bears: Miranda wanted to get more involved with Missouri State, and she thought REAL Bears was a different and unique way to do so. Not only does REAL Bears work with students, it also works with alumni, and with that you get to see all different layers of the University and you get to meet people you wouldn’t meet any other way. It really shows how important alumni are to our campus, and she wanted be a part of that.
Name: Seth Durham
Year: 2018
Major: Cell & Molecular Biology
Hometown: Belleville, Il
Why you chose REAL Bears: Seth chose REAL Bears because he saw an excellent way to involved on our campus. He thought the variety of opportunities to grow leadership skills, meet new people, and learn from successful alumni is what makes REAL Bears an extraordinary organization.
Name: Monique Fahy
Year: Freshman
Major: Elementary Education with an emphasis in Math
Hometown: New Madrid, MO
Why you chose REAL Bears: Monique’s roommate Ryan joined at the beginning of the semester and told her about the organization. She thought it was great to keep alumni in contact with Missouri State and network with people who have previously been a student at the same
University. Monique believes in our mission completely; this organization will help her gain important leadership skills while also providing a close group within the membership
Name: Becca Raney
Year: Sophomore
Major: Communication, Minor in Leadership
Hometown: Harrison, AR
Why you chose REAL Bears: Becca chose REAL Bears for many reasons. Her minor is leadership and she wanted to join an organization that would allow her leadership skills to grow;obviously something with “leader” in the title was a good fit. Becca also chose REAL Bears for the alumni aspect. Networking is very important to her so this gave her a great opportunity to do that. When she came to the informational night for REAL Bears, everyone was so kind and friendly and fun and she knew this organization would be a great fit for her!
Name: Jhansi Kesireddy (not pictured)
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Major: Computer Science
Why you chose R.E.A.L Bears: As a freshman, Jhansi always wanted to get into something that improved her leadership skills, something that develops her as a person, and something that enhances her American accent. While going through the organizations, I found R.E.A.L Bears to be something that is gonna fill all her blanks. Also, she really loves to listen to our alumni who uplift her in all possible different ways.
