A Summer of Discovery

By Logan Jackson

Published on Aug. 8, 2024

Students smiling for a group photo.

The Cherng Summer Scholars program allows Honors College students at the University of Missouri to explore their passions through research projects aimed at questions they are interested in analyzing.

Students who are accepted into the nine-week program participate in projects that are individually designed, with the support and mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member.

“It’s a privilege to be able to work doing something you love, so I’m extremely grateful for the Cherng Summer Scholars program, to say the least,” said Emily Boyett, a senior journalism and political science double major. “It’s not often that you get the opportunity to geek out all summer! Also, I’ve gotten amazing advice and support from my mentor, Dr. (Bryce) Reeder; Susan Lever, who teaches the Cherng seminar course; and, of course, my Cherng peers. The program has also been helpful in building my research skills and preparing me for graduate school. Without this experience, I don’t think I would be as confident as I am today in my ability to conduct original research, especially independently.”

This summer, 12 students pursuing the Honors Certificate were named Cherng Summer Scholars. The program is supported by a gift from Andrew and Peggy Cherng and the Panda Charitable Foundation. One of the many Honors programs that the Cherng family supports, Cherng Summer Scholars receive a $7,000 award and access to a $1,000 project expense account.

“The Cherng Summer Scholars program has been a wonderful opportunity for personal and intellectual growth filled with many mistakes, setbacks and challenges accompanied by curiosity, discoveries and triumphs,” said Kameron Hahn, a senior biological sciences major. “Thanks to Peggy and Andrew Cherng and the Panda Charitable Foundation, we are able to realize the gift of experiential learning for an entire summer. I am also appreciative of our weekly colloquium with other Cherng scholars. Dr. Lever fosters a learning environment where we can reflect on our progress and goals as researchers. It is also interesting to learn about the interdisciplinary research being conducted by my peers around campus. I am incredibly honored to be a Cherng Summer Scholar. 

Lever, an associate professor emerita of chemistry, leads a weekly class with the students, where they meet to discuss their projects, as well as any challenges or successes that the past week held. That course also allows students to share the exciting steps on their research journeys.

“The Cherng Summer Scholars program has been simply wonderful,” said Hannah Rice, a junior biochemistry major. “It has been a blast and an important intellectual experience to share my work with other young researchers and hear about their projects. This support system has been a great resource and sounding board for my work this summer. I never would have been able to accomplish as much without this program!”

The program ends with the students presenting at the Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum, hosted by the MU Office of Undergraduate Research. The forum gives each student the opportunity to showcase their discoveries.

“This program is an excellent opportunity for our students to grow and develop as researchers, whatever their field of study,” said Catherine Rymph, dean of the Honors College. “It also shows the variety of research that undergraduate students can pursue at MU. We are very thankful to the Cherng family for making an opportunity of this nature possible.”

Learn more about some of this year’s Cherng Summer Scholars: