Green coat ceremony scheduled at MSSU for 14 future physicians, first year student convocation also on tap

(From Southern News Service)

Incoming freshmen will be welcomed to Missouri Southern State University during two special events planned for Saturday, Aug. 17.

A Green Coat ceremony for the 14 future physicians in the newest Yours to Lose cohort will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Billingsly Student Center’s Connor Ballroom.

Launched in 2017, the Yours to Lose – Advanced Medical School Acceptance Program is an exclusive, one-of-a-kind partnership with KCU. It allows a cohort of Missouri Southern students to be admitted to KCU’s new Joplin medical school at the same time they are accepted to MSSU.








As pre-med students, they will obtain their bachelor’s degree in biology during an accelerated, three-year course of study before seamlessly transitioning into their first year of medical school. The program will not require them to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

The event will be emceed by Dr. James Donelson, a faculty member and part of the Yours to Lose selection committee. After the formal signing, each student will be presented with their green goat.

“Medical school students receive a white coat at the start of their journey,” said Dr. Donna Johnson, advisor for the Your to Lose program. “The green coats are symbolic of the start of their journey here at Missouri Southern.”







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All freshmen and their families have been invited to the annual First-Year Student Convocation, set for 2 p.m. Saturday in the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.

Participants will learn about Missouri Southern’s traditions and will walk across stage to receive a medallion to be worn for a class photo and again during commencement. The featured speaker for the ceremony will be MSSU graduate Tim Arr (pictured above).

Arr, who graduated in 2017 with a degree in environmental health and safety, currently serves as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. He was a recipient of the university’s Spencer-Bartlett Respect Award and received the Outstanding Graduate Award from the Environmental Health and Safety Department.

A Southern Social will follow the ceremony. University Experience instructors and course assistants will be joined by faculty, staff and alumni to welcome the new students to campus.