April 8, 2026
Contact; Janese Heavin, heavinj@missouri.edu
If you’re out and about on the University of Missouri campus this spring, keep an eye out for Jon Hamm.
No, not the Mizzou alumnus-turned-Hollywood heartthrob. Rather, this Jon Hamm is a squirrel that now proudly bears the name.
Unofficially adopted during Mizzou Giving Day, Jon Hamm is one of the more than 200 furry fundraisers who helped generate nearly $37,000 for the Mizzou Botanic Garden and Arboretum as part of a “Name a Mizzou Squirrel” campaign.
What started as a lighthearted idea turned into one of the biggest successes of this year’s Mizzou Giving Day.
“We went into this thinking it would be fun, and maybe we’d get a handful of names,” Joe Kovolyan, director of Landscape Services, said. “To see the Mizzou community rally the way it did was incredible. It really speaks to how much people care about this place.”
And the creativity didn’t disappoint. Mizzou’s squirrel roster now includes Baby Ruth, Blanche Deveraux and Queen LaTreefah, as well as familiar campus names including Truman, Luna and Gary Pinkel. Some lucky squirrels were even knighted, with a dozen now bearing the title of “Sir.”
Beyond the fun and fame, the impact is lasting. The funds raised will fully endow six ornamental gardens on Francis Quadrangle, ensuring a dedicated funding stream for planting, irrigation and maintenance in one of Mizzou’s most iconic spaces.
“It takes a tremendous amount of care to keep the Mizzou Botanic Garden thriving,” Kovolyan said. “These spaces are more than beautiful; they’re central to the Mizzou experience. They help us recruit students, retain faculty and staff, and provide a beautiful view for alumni who return to campus. This is our shared backyard, and we want people to use and enjoy it.”
The campaign also deepened connections across the Tiger community. In addition to receiving certificates with their adopted squirrel’s name, donors automatically became members of Friends of the Mizzou Botanic Garden, with access to special events and lectures, as well as discounted tickets to other botanic gardens around the country.
"Mizzou Giving Day is a chance for everyone to support this incredible university, and the challenges led by colleges and units generate excitement every year,” Erin Allen, Mizzou’s associate vice chancellor for donor engagement, said. “This year’s ‘Name a Squirrel’ campaign was a reminder that making an impact at Mizzou can also be fun, and clearly, our donors were ready to go nuts for the cause and made it a tree-mendous success.”
Behind the scenes, the impact was just as meaningful. For the 30 dedicated team members who care for Mizzou’s 1,200-plus acres year-round, the outpouring of support was a powerful reminder that their work matters, Kovolyan said.
“It was a great morale boost,” he said. “All around, this campaign was a win. The funding helps us keep campus at its very best, it brought Tigers together in a really unique way, and it ensures these spaces continue to thrive for years to come — for people and for the animals that call it home.”
As for the hundreds of campus squirrels still waiting for their moment in the spotlight? Their time may be coming. Kovolyan envisions the squirrel campaign becoming an annual tradition and something generations of Tigers look forward to year after year.
