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Trulaske students help pilot the University of Missouri’s 113th Homecoming
Trulaske College of Business students are traditionally at the forefront of one of the biggest planning feats of the year: Homecoming.
This year is no exception with eight of our students serving on the 113th Homecoming Steering Committee, which develops and plans a variety of activities, including the parade, blood drive, talent show, spirit rally and much more.
We asked some of our students about their experience and how Trulaske helped prepare them for their leadership roles.
Jacob Wizgird, Homecoming Tri-Director
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Committee: Tri-Director (but i oversee the Public Relations, Special Events, and Campus Decorations committees)
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position?
Trulaske has prepared me for my position in Homecoming by helping me learn the type of leader I am and teaching me the skills required to be successful in my position.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
I am most excited for the Mizzou community to come together during Homecoming weekend to experience the spirit of Homecoming. The week of the game is such a special time and I am excited to see everyone at Campus Decorations night and the Parade!
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
The most exciting part of the planning process was selecting our committee members. We have such a special group of 33 students as a part of the Steering Committee, and we were so excited for them to join us this year.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
I believe Mizzou Homecoming is special because it brings the Mizzou community together to celebrate what makes Mizzou unique. The feeling of Homecoming weekend has always been special to me because of my friends and family coming to Columbia to celebrate Homecoming.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
My favorite Homecoming tradition is the Parade!
Emma Barnes
Hometown: Columbia, Missouri
Committee: Parade Committee
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position?
The Trulaske College of Business has been a welcoming environment that has allowed me to learn and grow as a leader. The courses and professors have provided opportunities to collaborate with driven individuals who are equally passionate about their careers. This has pushed me to be a better individual and future professional. I have learned valuable skills, such as strategic thinking, effective communication and team collaboration. I have gained confidence throughout my time in the Trulaske College of Business, and I am so grateful to be where I am today. The knowledge and experiences I've gained here will undoubtedly help me in my future endeavors.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
I am incredibly excited for the Mizzou community, both past and present, to come together and celebrate the homecoming weekend. It is such an amazing and unique event to participate in, filled with traditions, activities and a sense of belonging. I can't wait for everyone to enjoy what the steering committee has worked so hard to create. From the parade to the football game, and all the festivities in between, it’s going to be a weekend to remember.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
The most exciting part of the planning process has been getting to know everyone on the steering committee and working with motivated and passionate individuals. Each member brings their unique skills and perspectives, and together, we’ve formed a cohesive and dynamic team. It has truly been the best experience in my four years at Mizzou. I am so honored to help plan the 113th Mizzou Homecoming, and I will cherish these memories forever.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
Mizzou Homecoming is incredibly special because we take immense pride in giving back to our community and making the event memorable for everyone involved. Mizzou has the privilege to host the nation's first and nation’s best homecoming. This student-run committee has an incredible passion and drive for the University of Missouri and our community. The dedication and hard work put in by students, alumni, and staff make this event extraordinary. It’s not just a celebration; it’s a testament to the spirit and tradition that bind us all together.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
I think each homecoming event is special in its own way, contributing to the overall magic of the weekend. If I had to pick, I would say my favorite tradition is the parade. I love seeing the community come together and celebrate Mizzou Homecoming. The energy, the floats, the bands, and pure joy on everyone’s faces make it an unforgettable experience. Having the opportunity to plan this year's parade with my committee has been such an honor, and I can’t wait to see everyone on parade morning! It's a moment where the spirit of Mizzou truly comes alive, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Michaela Chittakhone
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Committee: Public Relations
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position? Being a part of Trulaske has paved the way for a lot of opportunities for me. The classes and extracurriculars I participate in have allowed me to explore creative outlets that have helped me grow my skills in marketing and design. These experiences not only fueled my passion but also equipped me with the tools and confidence to secure a spot on the Public Relations Committee for Homecoming. Trulaske has also prepared me for leadership by offering hands-on learning opportunities and mentorship, which have sharpened my decision-making abilities and taught me how to lead with purpose. These experiences have been invaluable in shaping me into a confident leader both inside and outside the classroom. I am so excited to continue Leading the Legacy in the 113th Mizzou Homecoming!
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming? Not many things can compare to the overwhelming joy that Mizzou Homecoming brings. Whether you’re six years old or 60 years old, there’s something for you to enjoy during homecoming season. I am personally excited for everyone to feel the same joy I experienced during my first Homecoming—the thrill of the parade, the energy at Faurot, and the sense of belonging that comes with being part of something bigger than yourself. It’s a feeling you never forget, and I can’t wait for others to share in that.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process? The most exciting part of the planning process has been seeing everything finally come together. We began planning in February and haven’t stopped working since. It started with ambitious goals and crazy ideas that seemed like it would take many miracles to achieve. Yet here we are a few weeks out from the big day, and it is all very real. I am so grateful to be working with such creative and hardworking individuals, and being able to see all of our hard work come to fruition has been truly rewarding.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special? People from all over the nation come back home to celebrate the University and the deep-rooted community within it that was established many decades ago. We celebrate not only with a big parade and football game, but also by giving back to the community that gave us the opportunity to do so. We hosted the largest student-run blood drive in the nation, collected over 178,000 pounds of canned food, and hosted a day of service with over 700 volunteers. Mizzou Homecoming is more than a celebration; it's a testament to the lasting bond between the university and its community. The spirit of service and togetherness is what truly makes it stand out year after year.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition? My favorite Homecoming tradition has always been the football game, where the energy inside the sold-out stadium is unmatched. There’s nothing quite like the roar of the crowd as thousands of fans come together, all decked out in black and gold, to cheer on our Tigers. The stakes are always high, and from the first kickoff to the final whistle, everyone is on their feet. This year, we’re facing Auburn, whose mascot is also a tiger, making the competition even fiercer. But with the spirit and support of our Mizzou family, I have no doubt we’ll bring home the win. May the best tiger win!
Jacob Dofing
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Committee: Blood Drive
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position?
Getting involved within Trulaske and going outside my comfort zone to make connections and meet new people has been so beneficial for my position on the Homecoming Steering Committee. Joining Delta Sigma Pi and then taking on a leadership role within our chapter has made me realize I love connecting our Mizzou community with opportunities and people outside of campus. Homecoming is all about coming back to Mizzou and remembering those cherished memories, and I am glad am I able to live through both perspectives.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
I am most excited for Mizzou to experience the parade this year! The parade culminates the excitement for the game with the buildup of the past week’s events like the canned food drive, blood drive, dome lighting and talent. If you are a past, present or future tiger, you get to witness first-hand the pride and love that Columbia has for Mizzou.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
The most exciting part of the planning process was being able to bond and grow as a committee. When we first started planning for the blood drive, we had a lot of work to do and at times it felt like we were stuck. My team and I kept pushing through and exchanging new ideas and we got past whatever problems came up. As the drive concluded, being able to look back from where we started to where we ended up was a moment I will never forget.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
What makes Mizzou Homecoming special is being able to go back to the place where you met lifelong friends and created memories that are unforgettable. The rush you get when you get back on campus for the first time in too long is something I dread as a present student but something I am ecstatic for as a future alumnus.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
My favorite Mizzou Homecoming tradition is the football game. There is nothing like singing your school’s fight song with 65,000 of your friends and classmates. I am very excited to be able to get a different perspective of the game this year when we walk on the field at halftime!
Connor Grossenburg
Hometown: Marshall, Missouri
Committee: Blood Drive
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position?
Trulaske has helped me in multiple ways for my leadership position; from extracurricular involvement to my course material, I think the business school is always pushing me to find creative solutions to problems and understand how to best serve in a team setting. My sales coursework especially helped in my role as sponsorships director for the blood drive. I learned how to prioritize the highest potential contacts, effectively market our cause, and sell them on the idea of why they should donate towards our drive. My leadership positions within Trulaske clubs also helped develop the confidence I needed to excel in this role.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
I’m most excited for the community to experience the traditions of the Homecoming season. Just like any other major holiday, the events we celebrate and look forward to are what create such excitement. Months of planning and anticipation is well worth it when you get to see the joy and school spirit of the Mizzou community at major events like day of service, the parade and football game.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
The most exciting part of the planning process has been the amazing group of people I have had the opportunity to work with. In all my involvement, I have never met such a group of hardworking, motivated individuals who push me to be the best version of myself. Even during challenges and frustrations, our group beamed with energy to make this the best Homecoming in history. Having such a special group of people to experience the planning process with made this experience much more special.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
Our whole community coming together makes Mizzou Homecoming so special. Whether you’re a freshman celebrating for the first time, a senior experiencing your last, or a returning alum, the Homecoming season creates a feeling which every member of the university experiences. There’s never a time in the year when we have graduates from decades ago and current students all together, plus the greater Columbia community. Uniting everyone for one common celebration is what makes Homecoming so special.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
My favorite Homecoming tradition is the blood drive (surprise!). I’ve always thought donating blood is such a meaningful community service activity, and the fact that our university hosts the largest annual blood drive in the nation is astonishing. The week of the drive demonstrates our campus community’s willingness to give back to those in such need.
Isaac Ratcliff
Hometown: St. James, Missouri
Committee: Outreach
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position? Trulaske College of Business has prepared me for my leadership position on the Homecoming Steering Committee by fostering key skills in collaboration, leadership, and planning especially in a group setting. Through various courses and group projects, I’ve had the opportunity to develop skills that are essential for managing tasks and coordinating events in a collaborative environment. The emphasis on teamwork and working together on real-world scenarios at Trulaske has been extremely valuable, as it has prepared me to work effectively with others, ensuring that different groups can come together smoothly to create a successful Homecoming experience.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
The Mizzou community is in for an exciting week filled with incredible experiences! Over the next few days, three nights of Talent where Greek groupings will showcase the results of months of dedication and preparation. Campus Decorations will bring many hours of coordination, creativity and craftsmanship to life this Friday. And of course, the highly anticipated Homecoming Day Parade, where students, alumni and community members celebrate our Tiger pride moments before taking the field against Auburn. It's a week of exciting experiences that I can't wait to see everyone experience.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
One of the most rewarding parts of the planning process has been working alongside the incredible members of the steering committee and watching everyone not only excel in their roles but also break records, making the 113th Mizzou Homecoming truly unforgettable. We kicked off the season by breaking the record for Tiger Food Fight, donating over 178,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Just last week, we set another record with 4,959 units of blood donated during the blood drive, saving over 14,000 lives — a truly inspiring achievement. These milestones have made the planning process both exciting and meaningful, and I can’t wait to see everything come to life in the days ahead.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
Mizzou Homecoming isn’t just the nation’s first, it's the nation’s best! Since Chester Brewer’s call for alumni to return home, Homecoming has grown into a celebration of Mizzou’s unforgettable culture. It’s a time to honor our history, celebrate the future ahead and immerse everyone in the legacy of Homecoming that Mizzou continues to lead.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
It's hard to pick just one tradition, but some of my favorites are Talent, Campus Decorations, and the Parade. These events are special because they showcase an incredible amount of hard work, preparation and dedication that students put in to show alumni all the amazing things happening on campus. It’s truly inspiring to see the effort that goes into these events, making them standout to me during the Homecoming season.
Blake Schrand
Hometown: O’Fallon Missouri
Committee: Talent
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position?
One of the things I value most about my time as a student in Trulaske are the connections it has given me. Each class provides great opportunities to get to know the other students and the esteemed internship program has taught me the importance of connections. The connections I learned how to make have led me To more opportunities as a leader on campus. Another big aspect of homecoming is learning how to communicate with diverse teams and organizations. The business school has helped me learn how to manage groups like this and understand the importance of recognizing everyone's contribution to the end goal.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
I'm really excited to see the parade. It's amazing to watch all the campus groups come together to showcase what we do to the Columbia community. I love how the parade brings so many people together, and every year it seems like there's even more involvement from new and unique student groups, alumni and local organizations.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
The most exciting part has been becoming a family with my fellow steerco members. At first we all came together as a group of random students not really knowing what we were getting into or where we were going. As time went on, I was able to see why each person was chosen for their specific role, and it is inspiring to see what such talented people can do when they work together.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
Well the tour guide in me has to acknowledge that it was the first homecoming ever but it is so much more than that. Seeing how invested our alumni are in our community gives Mizzou the magic you can't find anywhere else. Being able to work with the people that put on these events year after year has been such an honor. We are looking to make it even better this year.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
The best homecoming tradition is talent. Talent is such a fun night showcasing months of hard work from all of greek life as well as some other performers around campus. Seeing all that hard work form into incredible dances and skits is incredible. In the past I have always had a role in talent whether I was acting in it or helping write a story for it. This year I am blessed to be one of the hosts for it, and I couldn't be more excited. Being able to introduce all the grouping and help recognize all of the effort they have put in is such a privilege.
Brooke Tvrdik
Hometown: Wildwood, Missouri
Committee: Blood Drive
How has Trulaske helped prepare you for your leadership position?
Being an active member of multiple organizations through the Trulaske College of Business has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth. These organizations provided me with valuable opportunities to actively explore leadership roles and collaborate effectively within team environments.
What are you most excited for the Mizzou community to experience during Homecoming?
I am most excited for our Mizzou community to experience campus decorations. It is an awesome event that is great for the whole family and is an awesome way to kick off the homecoming weekend. There will be so many opportunities to see all the hard work that has been put in the last few weeks to prepare. It will also be a great time to eat some great food and catch up with friends and family.
What has been the most exciting part of the planning process?
Getting to meet so many new people I wouldn't have otherwise gotten to know and connect with. I have enjoyed getting to see their viewpoints and how differently we all work. It has also been amazing to see everyone's hard work finally pay off this past month as all of our events are taking place.
What do you think makes Mizzou Homecoming special?
Mizzou Homecoming is so special because, even years later, the traditions and events remain the same, creating a sense of continuity and connection with Columbia. It feels like you’ve never left, and being able to reunite with friends who have moved across the country makes it even more meaningful.
What is your favorite Homecoming tradition?
The Annual Blood Drive is an incredible event, collecting over 4,000 units of blood in just four days. It’s the largest student-run blood drive in the country, and it’s amazing to see how this initiative impacts so many lives. Being a part of something so much bigger than ourselves is truly inspiring.