Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog

Spring Break 2026 Information

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Important Dates

  • March 14 – March 22 (Spring Break): Blair-Shannon, Freddy, Wells, and Woods close at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14.
  • March 14 – March 21: Dining Centers will be closed.
  • March 22: Closed Residence Halls open at 8:00 a.m.; Blair-Shannon Dining Center opens at 10:00 a.m.

Staying On-Campus During Spring Break?

If you live in Hammons, Heitz, Hutchens, Kentwood, Monroe, Scholars, or Sunvilla, your building remains open during the break periods, you are able to come and go from your on-campus space as much as you please! If you will be staying on campus at any point, be sure to check out our Break Housing Resources webpage for any important information during that time. We encourage you to display an occupied sign on your door, and signs are available at your front desk.

Need Housing During Spring Break?

Do you live in Blair-Shannon, Freddy, Wells, or Woods, and need housing during break? A limited number of spaces are available on campus for $25/night. If you have this need, please visit our Break Housing webpage to submit a request.

Mail Service During Break

Please be aware that mail service to residence halls will look different during Spring Break.

Mail and packages will be processed during the break for the buildings that remain open (HA, HE, HU, KE, MO SC, SU). Scholars residents should visit the Hutchens House front desk on an individual basis for any mail or packages that may have been delivered.

Mail service to closed residence halls (BS, FR, WE, WO) will be suspended during break. There will be no access to mail during these times, as the reception desks are not staffed. If you are expecting an important piece of mail or packages, please make sure it is delivered before your residence hall closes or make other arrangements for delivery.

Normal mail delivery for all buildings will resume on Monday, March 23.

Room Checks

All student rooms will be checked at the beginning of break (Saturday, March 14) to ensure rooms are prepped to use energy efficient practices, review rooms for facility needs, etc. During this time, Residence Life staff members will be entering all student rooms.

We wish you a safe and restful Spring Break! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services 
417-836-5536 / ResidenceLife@MissouriState.edu

Success Stories: February 2026

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Regional Business Conference   

Our MSU campus will be hosting the MACURH Regional Business Conference, February 26 – March 1. Our conference staff is made up of 11 student leaders, one graduate assistant, and three full-time staff advisors. While the entire conference team is has worked hard to make this conference come to life, we spoke to Sam Rudoy, RBC Conference Chair, to learn more about the conference preparation experience. Sam is a senior pursuing her Bacheolor’s in socio-political communication with a minor in non-profit leadership. Sam lives on-campus in Monroe apartments and holds many leadership positions in organizations across campus. She is the National Communications Coordinator for the Residence Hall Association and a Mentor for the Bears Mentoring Bears program.

When asked what the most challenging part of planning the conference was, she stated, “ensuring the completion of tasks that weren’t mine – with fourteen other awesome people working in fourteen different areas, it was hard to keep track of everything at times!” Sam has expressed that she is very excited to new and returning attendees at the conference, and she hopes they take away how meaningful it is to make connections. The conference theme for this year is Roadmap to Growth, which symbolizes the “focus on one’s leadership journey rather than the destination.” Sam said, “We want to take delegates on their own road trip, if you will, and help them create their own roadmaps to growth in their leadership roles. The meaning behind our ‘Roadmap to Growth’ theme is that while we all have individual paths, they’ve all intersected and led us to RBC. We want to celebrate that!” Thank you Sam and the Conference team for making this conference a possibility! 

Sam Rudoy – Conference Chair, Gabriella Coambes – Finance Chair, Matt Koczan – Safety/Accessibility, and Transportation Chair, Benjamin Crawford and Kenzie Mullins – Marketing and Spirit Chairs, Maggie Murphy – Dining Chair, Zoe Stevens – Housing Chair, Peyton Griffith – Volunteer Coordinator, Triona Leach – Sponsorship Chair, Sadie Hugelman – Philanthropy Chair, Sarah Desmond – Technology Chair, Winston Laughlin – Registration Chair, Toni Braddish – Advisor, Andrew Thompson – Advisor, Reagan Mulungi Mwenyi – Advisor 

 

Kai Jones

Kai Jones is a sophomore majoring in vocal music education. Kai is a Resident Assistant in Kentwood Hall and has lived on campus for two years. Aside from being an RA, Kai is also a member of the Missouri Choral Directors Association. Kai said, “living on campus makes it very easy to get in touch with friends that also live on campus because they are just a short walk away.” We want to brag on Kai for going above and beyond in their duties as an RA. When Kai was visiting Hammons House, the fire alarm went off. There was one RA who was unable to clear their own floor, and Kai stepped in to help make sure that all of the necessary procedures were followed and the floor was clear of residents. Thank you for being an amazing Student Leader! 

 

Kierstin Howard

Kierstin Howard, Assistant Coordinator for Leadership Development and Programming, has worked at MSU for 4.5 years, starting as a Desk Assistant, serving as an RA, and now as a graduate assistant! Her favorite part of working at MSU has been the people, Kierstin stated. “This is my 5th year at Missouri State, and I truly consider it home. The people are the reason I’ve stayed and grown here, and I aim to return some of that kindness and support to students who may need it as I did.” She has mentored both RHA and NRHH student leaders to successfully host educational and social programs. Most recently, Kierstin helped a student leader execute the restructured version of Silver Bells, a large-scale banquet that is put on to recognize the hard work of student leaders like RA’s, Hall Councils, and Desk Assistants. The event was well received, and all our student leaders left feeling fulfilled in the work they do. It was said that “all of this wouldn’t be possible without the personal steps taken at the advisory level, which Kierstin is a large part of!” 

When talking with Kierstin about this, she stated, “in terms of Silver Bells specifically, Zoe Stevens – RHA’s Leadership Development Coordinator, was the brains behind Silver Bells’ restructuring. I just had the opportunity to listen and translate the reasoning to other staff members. Really, the students do all the hard work!” Thank you, Kierstin, for being a champion for student success! 

 

Be a Good neighbor t-shirts

Inspired by Missouri Good Neighbor Week, the motto for Residence Life going into the 2026-2027 academic year, was to “Be a Good Neighbor.” Residence Life staff were encouraged to focus on our opportunities to be a good neighbor to our coworkers and residents and intentionally engage in our community as we began the spring semester. In acknowledgment of our theme, we provided staff members with a “neighBEAR” shirt to wear on BearWear Friday’s, as a way to help us keep positive community connections top of mind.  

MACURH Regional Business Conference 2026

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Welcome to the 2026 Regional Business Conference

Missouri State University will be hosting the MACURH 2026 Regional Business Conference from February 26 – March 1. This years theme is Roadmap to Growth; everyone has their own path to leadership, but somehow, we all intersect. Delegates will be encouraged to think about their desired leadership destinations and the stops they’ve made along the way, with a focus on reflecting on their personal journey.

Housing

Delegations will be housed at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Springfield (2009 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65804). Hotel rooms will either have one king or queen bed plus a sofa bed or, two queen beds plus a sofa bed. Linens and bedding will be provided by the hotel.

Check-in

Check-In for RBC 2026 will begin at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 26 in the hotel where volunteers and signage will direct you. Each delegation should send one advisor and their NCC (or equivalent) to retrieve keys and other conference materials for their delegation.

Parking

Parking at the hotel is free. Missouri State University will be offering shuttle service to and from the hotel and the conference site. If your delegation is interested in parking on campus, you will be able to register your vehicle for a parking pass when completing registration. Parking at Missouri State University for the conference will be $6.50 and will be added to your registration fee. Signage will be placed around campus to direct you to Lot 54 for conference parking.

Have questions? Reach out to Sam at Ma_RBC@Nacurh.org

About Springfield

We can’t wait to welcome you to Springfield. Located in the heart of the Ozarks, Springfield is a city alive with outdoor and cultural experiences; with more than 90 unique parks and trailways, local plays or Broadway shows, sculptures, murals, and homegrown local flavors, there’s always something to do around town.

To help guide your visit, we have compiled some information on our favorite local coffee & breakfast places, restaurants, and attractions. Please take some time to check out what Springfield has to offer during your stay with us. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make your stay in our hometown more comfortable.

 

Success Stories: January 2026

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Our January success stories blog features Rob Easley, our Custodian Specialist/Team Lead in Hammons House. Rob has worked at MSU for 12 years, 8 of which he has worked for Residence Life. When asked what his favorite part of working for Res Life has been, he stated, “I’ve always loved being involved with higher education; surrounded by people who value questioning and learning.” Rob has done a wonderful job making connections with residents within his building and has even taken time to diligently ensure the safety of our residents. It was said in a Boomer Bravo that “I also told Rob once that there was some ice by the handicap parking spots that almost caused me to fall, and he went outside and broke up the ice for me so it wouldn’t happen again.” Thank you, Rob, for being a champion for student success! 

This month, we would also like to brag about our Resident Assistants! They work hard year-round to support their residents while also being full-time students and promoting academic success. Coming into the spring semester, our RAs boast a 3.55 cumulative GPA! We are so proud of the wonderful team of RAs we have. Keep up the great work! 

Many of our staff LOVE the theater and will be helping with various upcoming productions! From March 13-29, three of our Residence Life staff members will be a part of Springfield Little Theater’s production of Sweeney Todd. Elian Mackey, Hammons House Hall Director, and Valarie Bush, Wells House Receptionist, will both be in the Ensemble. Madeline Shaffer, Wells House Hall Director, will help make sure the production runs smoothly, working on the stage crew. Marian Bennion, Kentwood Assistant Hall Director, will also be showcasing her singing abilities with a solo performance for the Annual MSU concerto/aria contest. Marian is the first vocalist to win in 6 years. Her performance will be held at Jaunita K. Hammons Hall on February 17th at 7:30PM and is free to attend! Congratulations to all our staff and their exciting adventures! 

In our University Staff Awards Ceremony this month, many of our Residence Life staff members were recognized for their years of service. Michael Williams, Facilities and Operations, was recognized for five years of service. Diana Graham – Facilities and Operations, Margaret Osler – Business Services, and Tyler Norcross – Facilities and Operations were recognized for 10 years of service. Jon Jay – Facilities and Operations, and Devin Schehrer – Education and Development, were recognized for 15 years of service. Brent Bingham – Facilities and Operations, and Angela Strider – Business Services, were recognized for an amazing 20 years of service!

Success Stories: December 2025

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The Silver Bells Awards Banquet is chance to recognize outstanding Residence Life student staff for their accomplishments and dedication to student success. This year we presented over 100 awards to our amazing Resident Assistants, Desk Assistants, and student leaders!

The RA Programming Genius Award is presented to Resident Assistants that go above and beyond when planning programs.

Award winners: Paloma Thorp-Bernal, Drew Henry, Emilee Dees, Elise Ferris, Emma Dunwoody, Jakob Homman, Sadie Hugelman, Thao Tran

The Hall Council Event Architect Award is presented to Hall Council members that go above and beyond in setting up, tearing down, and planning events.

Award winners: Kendal Imsland, Grace Smith, Asher Pendleton, Maggie Murphy, Sarah Desmond, Oliver Kemper, Alex Kittinger, Alison Villemure 

The RHA/NRHH GA Member Award is presented to an outstanding general assembly member that have shown commitment to student success.

Award winners: Sadie Hugelman (RHA), Alyssa Graves (NRHH)

The RA Community Builder Award is presented to Resident Assistants that does amazing job building community within their floor and/or building.

Award winners: Emma Bougher, Aliya Rowe, Cooper Irby, Katelyn Sisk, Madi Tunny, Mansa Aryal, Jesus Olivas. Ty Perry, Cade Smith

The Hall Council Community Builder Award is presented to Hall Council members that go above and beyond to create community among their executive board and all residents within the building.

Award winners: Jorga Lageschulte, Emily Powell, Dezeray Coleman, Parker Kline, Lily Kimbrell, Maya Horn, Ike Estep, Carlos Escobar, Bryce Wolff

The RHA/NRHH Exec Member Award is presented to an outstanding executive board member that have shown commitment to student success.

Award winners: Gabriella Coambes – RHA, Maggie Murphy – NRHH

The RA On-call Aficionado Award is presented to a Resident Assistant that is always helpful and efficient on-call.

Award winners: Will Bevel, Brayden Kriete, Megan Onstott, BreeAna Ross, Brody Light, Addison Purdome, Clara Smith, Addie Hunt

The Hall Council Strategic Thinker Award is presented to a Hall Council member that does an exceptional job at finding solutions to problems.

Award winners: Charlie Wright, Heritage Hrehor, Sonora Haake, Bud Wood, Abby Stefka, Allie German, Elle Cormaney, Oliver Ruble

The Desk Assistant Award is presented to outstanding Desk Assistants that have shown commitment to student success.

Award winners: Jaxxon Hanschu, Nakira Jaco, RJ Taylor, Kandalyn Johnson, Lucian Nordin, Lucy Keeven, Srujana Bysani, Nya Belgrave, Kobe Hendrix, Ellie Ludwig, Tariro Mautsa

The RA Resource Encyclopedia Award is presented to Resident Assistants that always know what resources to connect residents to.

Award winners: Nick Beese, Julia Rosseto, Payton Rodgers, Erin Ashford, Kai Jones, Izzy Lambert, Lexi Bucker, Payton Parsons, Shawn Dahozy

The Hall Council Innovation Award is presented to Hall Council members that always have the most creative ideas.

Award winners: Payton Kauffman, Tetiana Jones, Lilly Johnson, Linzie Griffith, Peyton Griffith, Mary Brown, Ava Stock, Asyl Ablai 

The RHA/NRHH Advisors Choice Award is presented to an outstanding member by the organizations full-time staff advisor.

Award winners: Sam Rudoy – RHA, Zoe Stevens – NRHH

The RA Hallway Hyper Genius Award is presented to Resident Assistants that always go above and beyond with bulletin boards and door decorations.

Award winners: Erin Ihrig, Abby Dendish, Ethan Beattie, Karlie Kemper, Zoe Malega, Penny Herrera, Alexa Durwachter, Lydia Hines

The Hall Council Visual Impact Award is presented to Hall Council members who always ho above and beyond creating decorations for events.

Award winners: Cathrine Doll, Morgan Swennes, Andi Caravella, Kate Hoevelman, Brandie Elliot, Kallie Clevenger, Naomi Mack, Drew Chisam, Markeiaja Wilson

The RHA President Bronze Pins are awarded by the RHA president to outstanding students or staff members who have made significant contributions to our campus community.

Award winners: Alyssa Graves – Resident Assistant, Kallen Jones – Graphic Designer

We would be amiss if we didn’t mention the accomplishments of Shane Allgeier, Web Programmer. Shane was presented with the UMR-ACUHO Support Staff Award for his amazing contributions to Residence Life. We appreciate you Shane!