The Leadership Institute at MSU is a hands-on leadership development program designed to equip students with the skills, experience, and confidence to lead in different environments. This spring semester our Student Resource Center had the opportunity to host their first cohort of students within this program. Among this cohort was former RA Shawnewa Dahozy, current RA Sadie Hugelman, and incoming RA Erin Seals. As part of their experience within this program, they participated and attended three workshops centered around our public affairs mission and completed a series of projects/milestones connected to each workshop. After completion of this program the three student leaders attended a ceremony where they earned a certificate and medallion for the work they put into the program. During the ceremony, incoming RA Erin Seals had the opportunity of giving a speech where she talked about her growth: learning  how to actively analyze disparities, mobilize student leaders, and enhance advocacy skills. With her speech, she mentioned how the Leadership Institute and its leaders were a model for growth and development in helping students feel confident and prepared to lead within their leadership positions. Congratulations on your amazing work, we couldn’t be prouder! 

In late May, some of our student leaders got to attend the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) conference at Texas A&M University. During this conference, several of our team members were recognized for the outstanding contributions they put forth this year. Sam Rudoy was recognized as Conference Chair of the Year. Each year NACURH has 17 conference chairs, one for each of the conferences held across the 8 regions and one at the national level. This year Sam was one of two conference chairs selected to receive this award, based on her contributions as the conference chair for MACURH’s 2026 Regional Business conference. Additionally, Sierra Chitwood was recognized for completing an online advisor training module. This year NACURH offered these modules to advisors all across the country and they range from basic advising skills and attending conferences. Each module consists of videos, workbook activities, and connecting with advisors across the country. At NACURH Sierra was recognized for completing the conference attendance track. Thank you, Sam and Sierra, for your hard work! 

Our student employees play a vital role in maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all students, staff, and guests. Our Conference Assistants are among this dedicated group of student employees. During the summer season our Conference Assistants help provide housing for thousands of both youth and adult guests attending conferences on our campus. The work they put forth each summer is essential to delivering a positive and successful conference experience for every guest staying in our residence halls. Thank you to our Conference Assistants for the hard work and commitment you are preparing to give this conference season, we truly appreciate all that you do! 

Our RAs work hard all year to support our residents while also achieving academic success. This academic year they achieved a 3.62 cumulative GPA! Way to go RAs!

Our maintenance and facilities team are working hard this year to make improvements to our residential laundry facilities! New washers and dryers have been placed in several residence hall laundry rooms, and the process will continue through the 2026-27 year. We want to extend a huge thank you to our facilities and maintenance teams who helped plan, order, and install all of the machines to better serve our students!

The post Success Stories: May 2026 appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

Hall council members represent their building by creating a safe and welcoming environment for residents to engage in fun and interactive activities while also serving as a liaison of communication between their building and the Residence Hall Association. Because of all of their hard work dedication, our buildings have been able to host events such as, clothing swaps for residents, grocery store bingo where residents could participate in games  to win grocery items or laundry essentials, and each hall council has been able to host meeting with our dining facility team so residents could give feedback on changes they would like to see within the dining halls around campus. Because of their dedication to our buildings, we have invited fourteen members back to serve and lead on their hall council executive board next year with the incentive of a $1,000 yearly scholarship! 

The Student Talent and Recognition (STAR) awards is an award ceremony held annually to honor outstanding student leaders and student organizations that have been nominated by various faculty, staff, and student organizations around campus. This year we had a handful of Residence Life staff and student leaders nominated for awards! Our Residence Hall Association (RHA) won Sponsored Student Organization of the Year for the work they have put forth to benefit the greater good of our on-campus community. Alongside their win, RHA Advisor, Toni Braddish, also had the honor of accepting the Advisor of the Year award for the work she has put forth to not only help support her student leaders, but for the way she guided them to success!

In addition to winning these awards, Heritage Hrehor won the Resident of the Year award! Heritage is a freshman majoring in biomolecular biology. He serves as the Advocacy Chair for Hammons Hall Council, and additionally serves on the RHA Advocacy Committee as a General Assembly member. When asked what his experience has been like living on campus, Heritage stated, “Living on campus has been a great experience, it allows you to connect with other students, make new friends and be a part of the community. It also changes your perspective on other people, the more individuals you get to know around campus the closer everyone feels. It’s almost as though your next best friend is just greetings away!” In a conversation with Heritage he stated that welcome week was his favorite memory of living on campus and that it’s a must have experience for college students. When asked how recieving this award has impacted him he stated, “I’m very thankful to receive this award. Being nominated resident of the year makes it feel like all the connections made are noticed not just by me, but those around me. Just knowing that I made a difference in others’ lives as a resident gives me great hope for my future as an RA, where I’ll be setting up the next year of bears to be their best. So, in time I’d like to pay it forward and aid as many individuals as possible! Thank you so much for the award and it means the world to me! GO BEARSSS!!!” Thank you to our staff and student leaders for your amazing work! 

This spring semester all of our hall councils have been hard at work to plan their signature events. Each signature event raises awareness and provides an educational component for every resident that attends the event. The signature events include Woodstock, hosted by Woods Hall Council; an event that teaches residents about drug/alcohol awareness. Connection carnival, hosted by both the Holars and Hammons Hall council; an event that teaches residents about healthy relationships and sexual health. Mindfulness Masquerade, hosted by Apartments Hall Council; an event is geared towards teaching residents about mindfulness and mental health. RootBeer Kegger, hosted by Wells Hall Council; an event that helps to raise awareness of alcohol abuse. Block party, hosted by both Blair- Shannon and Freddy Hall Council; an event geared toward raising awareness about the importance of sustainability. Stop, Drop, and Dance, hosted by Heitz hall council; an event that taught residents about fire safety. Clue, hosted by Kentwood Hall Council; an event that taught residents about the history of Kentwood. Each of these events requires months of planning and many hours of execution. This work would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff, whose efforts ensure that our student leaders are able to host these events with ease. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication in making these events possible!

The post Success Stories: April 2026 appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

As you begin to prepare for finals, we want to share information about the move-out process and what steps you may need to take, as well as information regarding summer housing options.

Our buildings close at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026. 

All Resident Assistants (RAs) will be hosting closing floor meetings between April 16 and April 24. It’s important you attend because they will cover everything you need to know to check out and avoid being charged for damages / cleanliness. Also, ensure your forwarding address is updated for mail and package processing. Consider updating your delivery address with Amazon and other online retailers.

All residents have two different options to properly check-out:

Option #1 – Check out with an RA.

You will need to sign up for a day and time to be checked out by an RA. Please do this as soon as possible, but at least 24 hours before you plan on checking out. Information should be available for you on your floor and throughout your building. On the day you plan to depart, please remove your belongings, clean your space, and then meet with the RA you signed up with so they can inspect your room and take your keys and access card.

Option #2 – Express Checkout Process. 

On the day you are ready to depart, remove your belongings, clean your space, and then report to the front desk. Inform the desk you want to do an Express Checkout. You will then be provided an envelope to fill out. Follow the instructions on the envelope to return your keys and access card. Please note that your living space will still be inspected by a staff member after you are gone. Please note that you will not have the right to appeal any charges if you complete an Express Checkout.

Failure to properly check out using one of the two options above prior to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9 will result in various fees:

• Improper Checkout: $75
• Keys & Access Card Replacement: $95
• Packing Fee: $150 minimum (if necessary)
• Damages/Cleanliness: varies based on the condition of your room

Starting April 30, 2026 at 10:00 p.m., quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (23 hours a day) daily for the remainder of the semester.

If you are taking intersession classes and need to request housing beyond 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9: 

You will need to complete the Summer 2026 housing application and specify the dates you need housing. All students with a summer housing contract will move to Hutchens House (unless you currently live in Sunvilla or Monroe). You will be emailed your room assignment and move-in information prior to May 9.

You can find the housing application by going to the following:

• My.MissouriState.edu, Housing card, Housing Application link, Summer 2026.

We wish you good luck on your finals. Please let us know if you have any questions.

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

The post Spring 2026 Semester Closing Information appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

Amir is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering and is a current resident of Wells House. He currently serves as the Treasurer on the board of the Wells Hall Council. Amir stated, “I have loved my experience living on campus because

Mike is the evening supervisor at The Food Hall at Garst Dining Center. Mike has worked at MSU for a year and a half, and his favorite part of working at MSU has been the busy pace and his connection with his co-workers. Mike recently went above and beyond to help support our residence life team with their dining experience. “Mike is always helpful, yet this evening was especially gracious and went above and beyond to support colleagues in Residence Life. Mike not only helped get ticketed meals for employees in the moment but wrote names on the boxes to help keep their orders known, found a box to ease transport, and offered to help me carry the to go meals to Hutchens. This was exemplary service and very much appreciated, especially on a challenging evening. Thank you Mike!!!” Thank you Mike for being such an integral part of our team here at Missouri State! 

Gabriella is a sophomore double majoring in theatre and cybersecurity. Gabriella has lived on campus for two years, and is a current resident of Monroe Apartments. She serves as the Advocacy and Service Coordinator for Residence Hall Association, President for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, is a general member of the National Residence Hall Honorary, and a University Ambassador. We want to brag on Gabriella for their amazing work preparing and presenting “How to Submit the Perfect RPF” during winter RA training. When talking to Gabriella about her presentation she stated, “My presentation explained the process of how RA event items they order are bought, and how to improve their RPFs to increase the efficiency of buying those items and to increase the chances they get exactly what they wanted. This helped demystify how items are bought in the department and answer questions many RAs had.” Since her presentation, many of our RA’s and staff have expressed how thankful they are for the presentation and information she gave. Thank you Gabriella for being an amazing student leader! 

The post Success Stories: March 2026 appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

• 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

The post Spring Break 2026 Information appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

  

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 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, 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! 

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.  

The post Success Stories: February 2026 appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

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.

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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!

The post Success Stories: January 2026 appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

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!

The post Success Stories: December 2025 appeared first on Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services Blog.

Kenzie Mullins, a third year RA, won Resident Staff Member of the Year. When asked what her favorite part of being an RA was Kenzie stated, “I love getting to build relationships, support them through the ups and downs, and create a space where everyone feels they belong.” Additionally, when asked what this award meant to her, she stated. “Being an RA has been one of the most rewarding parts of my college experience. It’s challenged me, taught me, and given me so many memories that I’ll always carry with me.”  

Maggie Murphy, who serves as the Kentwood Hall Council Liaison and the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Service Chair, won a Top Ten educational session award. Maggie’s educational session was “Astronaut Application: Resumes on Leadership” where she taught attendees how to apply their residence life leadership skills on resumes. When asked why she chose this specific topic to teach about she stated, “I wanted this presentation to be helpful to anybody and allow students to feel like what they do has a real-world meaning.” Additionally, when asked why she liked being a student leader here at MSU she stated, “I love being able to be a role model for students, especially younger students, by being a student leader at MSU.”  

Benjamin Crawford was awarded a Molly Moo initiative Pin for providing meaningful insights in boardroom spaces, and our delegates secured the Spirit Award for being the most spirited at the conference. Thank you all for being wonderful student leaders and representing our university with pride! 

Also in October, eight full-time and graduate staff attended the UMR Conference hosted in La Vista, Nebraska. While there, they made connections with staff members from many other universities and attended professional development sessions. Two of our staff members, Caitlyn and Morgan, shared insight into their experience at UMR. Caitlyn stated, “My favorite part of UMR was the bonding time I got with the other Hall Staff members that went to the conference as well as making new connections with other housing professionals across the region.” When asked about their take-aways from the conference, Morgan stated, “Over the past two years, I’ve been exploring how my voice fits within the University and higher education as a whole. This year, I felt a renewed confidence in the strength and application of that perspective. The conference served as a powerful affirmation—especially through the keynote, which deeply resonated with me as a career-driven woman. I was inspired by the diversity of session topics, ranging from law to organizational behavior to cultural intelligence, and by the presenters’ varied, often non-traditional backgrounds.” When asked why they think it’s important for our staff to attend these conferences, Morgan stated, “Attending conferences like UMR is essential for broadening perspectives and challenging our ways of thinking. UMR stands out for the variety and depth of its sessions, offering participants the chance to leave with fresh insights and actionable goals.” Caitlyn also chimed in to say, “it is important for us to attend these conferences to keep us up-to-date on what is going on in the broader res life world as well as form connections and build professional development.” Thank you to our staff members who attended the conference and brought back valuable insight. We value your hard work and dedication for representing our university.  

Jim Huelskamp, a maintenance technician within our department, was featured within the ACUHO I talking stick. Make sure you check out his feature here: https://ts.acuho-i.org/november_2025/snapshot_jim_huelskamp.html . Thank you for all of the work you do for our university! 

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