March 4, 2026
Contact: Cary Littlejohn, carylittlejohn@missouri.edu
Photos courtesy of Amelia Bakker and June DeWeese
As the University of Missouri’s Mizzou Giving Day 2026 — its signature 24-hour fundraiser — approaches its 10th year, it’s a timely opportunity to celebrate the impact Mizzou alumni can make on their alma mater. Some donors, such as Amelia Bakker, BSBA ’24, are just starting their charitable-giving journey. She made her first gift last year, just a year after graduating. Others have been giving for decades. June DeWeese, BA ’72, M Ed ’73, recently reached 50 years of gifts. Whether a first gift or the latest in a longstanding tradition of giving, the generosity that defines the Tiger spirit is rooted in the same thing: love for Mizzou.
Give early
Bakker didn’t let her status as “recent graduate” stop her from giving back to the university that had given so much to her. After all, her memories of being a student are still fresh.
The account manager and marketing specialist found numerous courses in the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business that set her up for success.
“I really dove into all the offerings Mizzou had with networking opportunities, career fairs, and choosing Edge events specific to my needs and interests,” Bakker said, referring to Trulaske Edge, the college’s professional development program. “By doing so, I was able to build a strong resume, strengthen my communication skills and build meaningful relationships with professors, fellow students and employers.”
The opportunity to give back came when an email about Mizzou Giving Day — something she hadn’t been familiar with — sparked her curiosity.
She’s glad it did, and she’s glad she gave. She liked the fact that she could be specific with where she directed her gift. All gifts during the day of generosity also count toward Mizzou’s $2-billion goal for Power the Roar, the university’s comprehensive campaign that is delivering solutions to global challenges and improving lives throughout Missouri and beyond.
“I contributed to the Trulaske College of Business Scholarship Fund,” Bakker said. “I studied at Trulaske, so it felt right to invest in a fund that resonates with me. It is an amazing business school, and investing so that someone else can get an educational experience like mine makes it so much more personal and special.”
Bakker stressed how easy it was to get involved, and she encouraged other recent graduates to take the meaningful step of giving as they join Mizzou’s alumni network of more than 370,000 Tigers around the world.
“Once you graduate, you are no longer someone who receives from the school, but you can still be a part of a network that gives to others,” she said. “Start with the mindset that you are joining a community, not making a huge financial investment. Start small if it's right for you and increase over time if your financial situation allows. Do your research on all the causes and funds available that align with your interests and experiences, so the gift feels as personal to you as it is meaningful to the university.”
Give often
June DeWeese was once a first-time donor, too. She’s since made it a lifelong practice.
That’s because DeWeese’s Mizzou roots run deep.
She’s an alumna twice over, but perhaps even more impressive is her longstanding dedication to a central pillar of any university: its library system.
DeWeese retired from a full-time librarian role at Ellis Library in 2014, where she’d worked since 1974. Her days working in the library went back even farther.
“I was a student worker at the library before I’d even been to class as a freshman,” DeWeese said. “I think it was three days before I started classes.”
For DeWeese, Mizzou isn’t just her alma mater: It is the setting for a lifetime of study, work and service to the community.
Giving back felt like an obvious choice.
“We have a wonderful, outstanding, spectacular library system at Mizzou,” DeWeese said. “That makes me want to show my support.”
But her deep Mizzou pride doesn’t stop at the library, nor does her giving.
“I have always been a fan of women’s athletics at Mizzou, especially basketball,” DeWeese said.
That fandom only deepened when, after her retirement, she went to work for Mizzou Athletics, mentoring student-athletes from both the women’s basketball and volleyball teams.
“I had the best time working with these students,” she said. “The most important thing about these women is that they aren’t just athletes. They’re student-athletes. As students, they have GPAs that would just blow you out of the water. They take serious classes. They study on buses and planes and in hotel rooms, before and after games. They are just outstanding role models for other students.”
For DeWeese, giving always comes back to students – those she might have met in Ellis Library, those she might have mentored in Athletics and all of the students she’s never met.
“Giving to something lasting, something that will live on, is important because it’s not just a one-time purchase. It’s an investment for someone in the future I won’t even know,” DeWeese said. “It makes a difference for the students who walk through the doors, whoever they are, wherever they are. Hopefully, giving will impact their lives and their futures, and because of that, we’re still touching students’ lives long after they’ve graduated.”And as long as new graduates such as Bakker continue to follow in DeWeese’s footsteps, that impact will only grow larger for future generations.
Show your Tiger pride and make a gift today.
