Family and supporters sent off incoming Missouri State University freshmen with food, recognition, and advice Monday evening at the Lebanon Sendoff, which took place at Mighty Oak Lodge.
The Lebanon Alumni Chapter of the Missouri State University Alumni Association’s annual hosted banquet gathered a crowd that evening to celebrate
those incoming students and update those gathered on Missouri State-related news.
A silent auction (which supported the Lebanon Alumni Scholarship Fund), dining, and speakers filled the evening.
Those students who would begin their college experience this fall had the opportunity to share with those in attendance their academic plans. The night was also an opportunity to recognize students that were the recipients of scholarships.
Among the speakers Monday evening was Missouri State President Richard B. (Biff) Williams, who in his remarks told the incoming students four things: the university was thrilled to welcome them, college was a lot more than classes, the university would ready students for their future, and the students were joining something that was larger than themselves.
Williams welcomed them to the community of the Bears and gave them a challenge.
“Don’t just attend Missouri State,” he said. He encouraged them to become Missouri State and let it change their lives like it had others.
Another speaker was Grace Simpson, a 2023 Lebanon High School graduate who attended Ozarks Technical Community College in Lebanon and then went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Missouri State in 2026.
Simpson now works as an event sales manager at Hotel Vandivort in Springfield, where she assists others in celebrating life’s biggest moments, and serves as a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.
Before that, she said, she was a freshman who triggered a fire alarm while steaming her clothes on her first day of college. The incident became one of her favorite memories from college.
“College has a very funny way of humbling you very quickly,” she said. “You’re going to mess up. You’re going to feel like everyone else has it all figured out, but I promise you, they don’t.”
According to Simpson, one of the most important lessons the university taught her was that one’s academic degree would open the door, but one’s character would determine the distance they would go through that door.
She thanked her parents, Becky Ware Simpson and Mike Simpson, for their support.
As part of the conclusion to her speech, Simpson gave three notes for the incoming students: find a method for getting food into the refrigerator now that it would not appear by magic; the college laundry room is a competitive arena not to be underestimated; and some of the greatest opportunities would come from someone remembering one’s character, not from a job application.
“Never, ever forget where you came from – I am so proud to be a Yellowjacket, and I’m so proud to be a Bear,” Simpson said.
She encouraged the incoming students to always be kind, work hard, stay humble, and said that people would never forget how someone made them feel. She expressed excitement for the incoming freshmen’s Missouri State journey.
Sheila Moore, Lebanon Chapter president, thanked those in attendance on behalf of the chapter’s alumni committee.
For this and other stories, see Wednesday's LCR.
