HARMONY ROSE VODICKA
BEARS LEAD AMBASSADORS
When I began attending Missouri State University, I was invited to join the Bears Lead program. I established an amazing community of mentors and peers in the program before my graduation from Bears Lead after two years, and served as a Student Ambassador for a third year after.
After two years in the program. students are graduated from Bears Lead. I was so thankful to my mentors in this program and the way that they supported me throughout my beginnings at Missouri State. I wanted to continue my work with this program and was accepted to serve as a Student Ambassador for one year following my graduation.
At the 2025 STAR Awards hosted by the Office of Student Engagement at MSU, Bears Lead Ambassadors won Outstanding New Organization. I dedicated so much time and care into this organization in order to give others the wonderful experience I had had, and it was very fulfiling to win this award for this program.
At the first annual Bears Lead Ambassadors Banquet, I was awarded the Most Enthusiastic Connector Award for my dedication and success as a peer mentor for my Bears Lead students. I was also recognized for my outstanding work as an ambassador, and got to pass the torch onto the next year of Student Ambassadors.
As Student Ambassadors, we represented the face of the Bears Lead organization and got to attend many Missouri State events to present our students and our organization. I had a wonderful time interacting with campus members and being a familiar face for our students who were attending these events for the first time.
Serving as a mentor and leader for incoming students was an incredibly rewarding experience. I made many connections with students that allowed them to express their excitement in attending events with me and feeling supported when they talked to me. I made a direct impact on their time as a student, and they made an impact on me too.