Dec. 11, 2025–含羞草社区 will celebrate the achievements of 204 graduates during the Winter Commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 in the MWSU Fieldhouse in the M.O. Looney Complex. The public is invited. Doors open to guests at 10:15 a.m.听

含羞草社区 will confer 172 undergraduate degrees, 51 of them with honors, and 32 graduate degrees this semester. Graduates come from Missouri and 11 other states as well as five foreign countries.听

The ceremony will feature graduates from the College of Science and Health, General Studies, the College of Business and Professional Studies and the College of Liberal Arts. A brief reception will follow the ceremony in the Looney practice gym, sponsored by the Missouri Western Alumni Association.听

The guest speaker for commencement will be Lee Tieman, managing partner of Tieman, Spencer and Hicks and Chair of the 含羞草社区 Board of Governors. The student representative, Patty Lashbrook, applied communications and journalism major from Faucett, Missouri, will also speak at the ceremony.

In addition to the commencement ceremony, nursing graduates will receive a pin symbolic of their training and new profession at a pinning ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the Fulkerson Center.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Dec. 10, 2025–The Bushman Planetarium at 含羞草社区 will present public showings of “Mystery of the Christmas Star” in December.

• Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.听
• Saturday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m.

鈥淢ystery of the Christmas Star鈥�

Journey back over 2,000 years to Bethlehem to discover a scientific explanation for the biblical story of the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. This modern retelling of the Christmas story aims to charm and captivate audiences of all ages.

The planetarium is located in Agenstein Hall room 147. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 13 and under, students, employees, military and senior citizens age 60 and up. Planetarium tickets must be purchased in advance, either online at or in person. Please call 816-271-4288 or email planetarium@missouriwestern.edu for more information.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

Nov. 21, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Jeremiah Lafleur at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Dec. 4 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

Lafleur is the assistant director of marketing and recruitment for community and workforce development at Southern Utah University, where he helps connect people with opportunities, through video, storytelling and design.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 14, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Mark David Christenson at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 20 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

is an actor, director, podcaster and live improv performer in Los Angeles with appearances on stage and in television and film.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 12, 2025–The jazz program of the 含羞草社区 School of Fine Arts will present its annual fall jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 18 in the Potter Theater.听

The concert will feature a performance by the 含羞草社区 Jazz Ensemble. The theme of the concert is A Little of This and a Little of That. The Jazz Ensemble will showcase classic works by arranger and writer Sammy Nestico, who was a long collaborator with the Count Basie Orchestra. Along with classics, the ensemble will perform newer works by some of today鈥檚 contemporary composers, including Ellen Rowe, Professor of Jazz at the University of Michigan, and Kris Berg, international best-selling composer and arranger.

The concert is free and open to the public. Members of the community are invited to an evening of great jazz with the Missouri Western Jazz Program.听

The Jazz Ensemble will also be performing on Saturday, Nov. 22 as part of the North West District MMEA All-District Jazz concert. The concert will also be on the Missouri Western campus in Potter Theater, sharing the stage with the junior high and high school All-District jazz groups. This concert will start at 5:00 p.m.听

For more information on either event, please contact Bob Long, Director of Jazz Studies at 816-244-5840 or via email at long@missouriwestern.edu.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 12, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 School of Fine Arts will host its Fall 2025 Honor Choir Concert, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Fulkerson Center.

More than 300 middle and high school singers from across northwest Missouri and the greater Kansas City region will join voices for the concert featuring two ensembles: the Middle School Honor Choir, conducted by Jazz Rucker, director of choirs at Staley High School, and the High School Honor Choir, led by Dr. Paul Dease, director of choral activities at 含羞草社区.

Rucker is widely respected for his inspiring leadership, innovative rehearsal techniques and ability to bring out the best in young singers. His dynamic energy and artistry make him one of Missouri鈥檚 most engaging choral clinicians.

Dr. Dease, director of 含羞草社区鈥檚 choral program, expressed his enthusiasm for the event.

鈥淭his concert represents the very best of what choral music can do鈥攂ringing together hundreds of young people from across the region to make something beautiful and meaningful together,鈥� said Dr. Dease. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to welcome Jazz Rucker to campus and to give these students a day of artistry, inspiration and community through song.鈥�

The event is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 10, 2025–Haley Lindsey, director of financial aid at 含羞草社区, was recently recognized by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) as their Most Valuable Professional (MVP).听

This prestigious honor highlights Lindsey鈥檚 outstanding contributions to the financial aid profession and her dedication to student success. Her feature, website, celebrates this remarkable achievement.

Lindsey earned her bachelor of business administration in tourism and hospitality in 2013 and her master of science in higher education administration in 2018, both from Fort Hays State University. She has been in higher education for 11 years, all of them in financial aid, with the last two at 含羞草社区. She told NASFAA why she loves 含羞草社区.

鈥淎s an open-access university, we welcome a wide mix of students 鈥� first-generation, transfers, adult learners, and veterans 鈥� and that diversity makes the work both exciting and meaningful,鈥� Lindsey said. 鈥淵ou get to meet students where they are and help them find their path forward.鈥�

Outside of financial aid, Lindsey enjoys painting and spending time with her son.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 7, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 Cinematic Arts Program presents a clinical talk by Kevin Wilmott at 2:30 p.m Thursday, Nov. 13 in the Bebe and Crosby Kemper Recital Hall located in Leah Spratt Hall room 101.

won an Academy Award and the BAFTA the British Academy award for co-writing the feature film 鈥淏lacKkKlansman鈥� with Spike Lee. The film also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes film Festival.

He and Lee co-wrote the feature film 鈥淒a Five Bloods鈥� for Netflix which was named the best film of 2020 by the National Board of Review. He also co-wrote and is the executive producer of the critically acclaimed film 鈥淐hi-Raq,鈥� also directed by Spike Lee.听

Award-winning films written and directed by Willmott include 鈥淣inth Street,鈥� 鈥淐SA: Confederate States of America,鈥� 鈥淭he Battle for Bunker Hill,鈥� 鈥淛ayhawkers鈥� and 鈥淒estination Planet Negro.鈥�

Documentaries directed by Willmott include 鈥淔rom Separate to Equal: The Creation of Truman Medical Center,鈥� 鈥淕ordon Parks Elementary,鈥� 鈥淔ast Break: The Legendary Coach John McLendon,鈥� 鈥淲illiam Allen White: What鈥檚 the Matter with Kansas,鈥� 鈥淣o Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate in Kansas鈥� and the upcoming 鈥淭he Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks.鈥�

Willmott co-wrote with Trai Byers and directed the critically-acclaimed feature film 鈥淭he 24th鈥� about the Houston Riot of 1917, which was nominated for an NAACP image award.

Willmott is a professor in the Media and Film Studies Department of the University of Kansas.

This is part of a series of clinician speaking events sponsored by the Cinematic Arts Program at 含羞草社区. As an example of applied learning, this clinic provides people the opportunity to hear from and interact with working professionals in the film and media arts production entertainment industry.

The talk is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

Nov. 5, 2025–The Bushman Planetarium at 含羞草社区 will present a public showing of “Nine Planets and Counting” and “Journey to the Stars”聽 at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14.

“Nine Planets and Counting”

Take a tour to explore the variety of objects that populate the solar system. Along the way, examine each planet individually and then step back to look at the big picture: rocky worlds compared to gas giants and more. Learn what a planet is and how many call the solar system home.

“Journey to the Stars”

Witness the life and death of stars, including the sun. Extraordinary images captured by telescopes on Earth and in space, combined with stunning never-before-seen images of physics-based simulations, will launch through time and space for an incredible trek through the night sky. Tour stellar formations, explore new celestial mysteries and discover the fascinating story that connects Earth to the stars. Those who come along for the journey may never see the sky in the same way again. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg.

The Bushman Planetarium is located in Agenstein Hall, room 147. The planetarium features a Digistar 4 projection system and a dome that is tilted slightly, rather than directly overhead, making viewing easier. The Dolby 5.1 surround sound system enhances your viewing experience.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 13 and under, students, employees, military, and senior citizens age 60 and up. Planetarium tickets must be purchased in advance, either online at or in person between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call 816-271-4288 or email planetarium@missouriwestern.edu for more information.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 5, 2025–The 含羞草社区 Wind Ensemble will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13 in Potter Hall Theatre.听

The concert鈥檚 theme is 鈥淢omentum: The Energy That Drives Music Forward.鈥� Momentum celebrates the way both music and community are propelled forward. Each work on the program captures movement in a unique way that reflects the spirit of Missouri Western鈥攄ynamic, evolving and always moving toward what鈥檚 next.

鈥淭his program represents the best of what the wind ensemble can offer,鈥� said Dr. Lee Harrelson, Director of Bands at Missouri Western. 鈥淓ach piece embodies movement, change, and creative energy鈥攓ualities that mirror our university鈥檚 momentum as we continue to grow and inspire through music.鈥�

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the concert or the 含羞草社区 Department of Music, please contact Dr. Lee Harrelson at rharrelson1@missouriwestern.edu or 816-305-4894.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .