August 27, 2025
Students kicked off the academic year with the traditional barbecue and networking event.
Junior Avery Thomas remembers clearly his first New Student Barbecue at Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒.
鈥淚 was walking past the Torq鈥橬 Tigers table, and they noticed the mullet I had at the time,鈥 he said. 鈥淪omeone joked, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got the right haircut for this club!鈥 That simple comment made me feel like I鈥檇 found people with similar interests, people I could connect with.鈥
Today, Thomas is president of the Torq’N Tigers Quarter Scale Tractor Pulling Team, where he has made lifelong friendships and invaluable connections to employers and faculty.
鈥淚鈥檝e also found a lot of support from fellow engineers in the club, whether it鈥檚 help with homework or just having people who understand the struggles,鈥 he said.
Thomas shared his experience with other Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 students at the New Student Barbecue Aug. 27 on Shamrock Plaza. Hosted by the , the annual event gives students opportunities to connect with student organizations in the College.
MESC President Emily Omohundro said the barbecue helped students find people they can genuinely connect with.
鈥淭he barbecue is a proud and long-standing tradition at Mizzou,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t gives all 糖心Vlog传媒 students an opportunity to find their own way to make the College feel like home away from home.鈥
Representatives of the many student organizations and competition teams in Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 were on hand to engage with students and help them find their place within the College.
鈥淲e show up because that鈥檚 what our organization is built on,” said Anyshya Hemphill, president of the University of Missouri chapter of National Society of Black Engineers. “We want people to meet us and have an opportunity to say, 鈥業’ve found my people.鈥”
Scroll our gallery of photos from the barbecue.
