Dec. 11, 2023

Senior Spotlight: Felix Wang

Felix Wang has made sure to make the most of his time at the University of Missouri. The senior will graduate in December with two degrees – English and information technology – as well as the Honors Certificate. Wang also took part in a study abroad experience in Ireland and has participated in multiple undergraduate research projects. Those accomplishments don’t even include Wang’s involvement in a variety of other clubs and organizations. “I’ve definitely been able to explore a wide range of interests during my time at Mizzou,” said Wang, who is from…

Dec. 10, 2023

Senior Spotlight: Kimberly Barr

When her cousin was born prematurely, Kimberly Barr found herself spending a lot of time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). While Barr was plenty familiar with hospitals – her mom is a nurse – this was first time she had spent an extended period of time interacting with other nurses. As she watched her cousin get stronger, Barr, who was in high school, began searching for collegiate nursing programs, with the goal of eventually becoming a NICU nurse. That search led her to the University of Missouri. “Growing up, my mom always told me that…

Dec. 5, 2023

From Ma Rainey to Beyoncé: A Study of Black Women in Music

Maya Gibson places Black history and music center stage in “Black Women in Music,” an Honors course covering Black female musicians from Ma Rainey to Beyoncé. Gibson, who is originally from the Washington, D.C., area, attended Oberlin College in Ohio and received degrees in vocal performance, English literature and Black studies. She pursued two master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison – African American studies and music history. Gibson came to Mizzou 12 years ago and eventually found her place in the Honors College. Gibson is part of a growing Honors faculty cohort who are teaching classes on…

Nov. 29, 2023

The World as a Classroom

Sara George, a senior double majoring in journalism and Spanish from Boulder, Colorado, did not originally have Mizzou on her radar. That changed her sophomore year of high school when her dad, an alumnus originally from Kansas City, Missouri, mentioned the prestige of Mizzou’s School of Journalism. After learning more about the program and the opportunities available for study abroad, George agreed that Mizzou was the place for her.  George was named a Stamps Scholar after undergoing the Honors scholarship application process during her senior year of high school. The Stamps Scholars…

Nov. 2, 2023

Trusting the Process

The past year has been one of growth and self-discovery for Jenny Park. It’s also been a year of celebration for the University of Missouri senior. Park began the year by being named a Goldwater Scholar. One of four Tigers to receive the award, the Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most prestigious national scholarships in natural sciences, engineering and mathematics in the United States. Park is ending the year with another illustrious honor – she was named a finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. “I was very surprised and also thrilled to hear that I had…

Oct. 31, 2023

Time to Think: How an MU Professor Achieved Success

If you’ve been in college for any time at all, then you likely have mixed feelings about the question, “What do you want to do when you graduate?” While there may be a blessed few who have their futures mapped out, the best answer most young people can give to this question is a disheartened shrug. Doug Valentine, an assistant teaching professor of sociology at Mizzou, was no different while he pursued his own education. Constantly bouncing back and forth in his mind between choices, Valentine would often find himself in “a crisis of what am I doing.”…

Oct. 31, 2023

The Student Success Sequence: Finding Your People

If you are one of the thousands of University of Missouri students from out-of-state, the struggle of being away from home for the first time is all too familiar. For others, building a community far away from old friends and family is a daunting enough task that they decide to not leave their home state. Maddie Reiser, a Mizzou senior majoring in political science and minoring in business, is about as far from home as you can get. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 10 Reiser and her family moved to Pleasant Plains, Illinois. From…

Oct. 29, 2023

Making Connections

When Manisha Muthukaruppan arrived on the University of Missouri campus in August to begin her first semester, she knew there were going to be multiple chances to make connections with her fellow Tigers. The freshman biochemistry major has taken advantage of those opportunities. Muthukaruppan has joined a handful of organizations during her first semester, such as the Pre-Med Scholars, Biochemistry Club, Asian American Association, South Asian Student Association and Mizzou Masti (Bollywood dance team). She is also helping other students get involved as a member of the Honors College Programming Board. “When I first stepped on…

Oct. 21, 2023

A Revolutionary Series

Revolutions are a team effort. For one Honors College series, education is, too. Matthew Frierdich and Billy Coleman, faculty in the Honors College and the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, are leading the charge together in a Kinder-Honors collaboration about the revolutionary movements of the world. The class, titled simply, “Revolutions,” is the first in the two-class Social Sciences Series offered through the Honors College. The sequel is “Constitutions.” Frierdich, assistant teaching professor of political science, says, “We’re working really closely together. We have different backgrounds, different training, different assumptions about how to approach…

Oct. 18, 2023

Changing Her Personal Narrative

As an advisor in the University of Missouri Office of Global and National Fellowships, Lauren Pike helps match Mizzou students with fellowship opportunities that align with their goals. As students navigate the application process, Pike and her fellow advisors offer support and guidance each step of the way. Pike helped numerous Mizzou students secure fellowships this past year – and a summer experience abroad will allow her to form an even deeper connection with the students she advises. Pike participated in the “Politics and Society in Central Asia” study abroad program this summer in Kyrgyzstan, led…