April 27, 2026
Vice Provost Champions Curiosity, Connection in Honors College
Jim Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies and professor of animal sciences, is a regular at numerous Honors College events. His Honors Tutorials course uses dairy cows as a model to teach students about rumen biology, nutrition and environmental factors affecting animal health. Story by Kaiya LynchPhotos by Logan Jackson For Jim Spain, education has always been about more than grades or career preparation. It is about curiosity and the responsibility that comes with learning. Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies and professor of animal sciences at the University of Missouri, has spent decades working to shape undergraduate education. Spain’s…
April 22, 2026
Honors College Celebrates Student Success, Faculty and Staff Engagement During Spring Awards Ceremony
Nicole Campione-Barr (left), a professor of psychological sciences, was given the inaugural Honors College Outstanding Research Mentor Award. Story and photos by Logan Jackson Multiple students pursuing the Honors Certificate were recognized for their outstanding achievements over the past academic year during the recent Honors College Spring Awards ceremony. The annual event features multiple scholarships and awards for Tigers across campus. The Honors College also gave an award to an outstanding faculty member, Carolyn Orbann, and two exceptional campus partners, Darren Green and Sarah Humfeld. The celebration was held on Tuesday, April 21, at the State Historical Society of Missouri.
April 14, 2026
Mizzou Scholars Earn Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Carissa Bersche Allison Collier Alexander Hardaway Patrick Hunt Gabrielle Leinbach Randi Noel Nora Pryor Gabriella Ramirez Story by Logan Jackson For nearly 70 years, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) Program has recognized and supported outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The five-year prestigious fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $37,000. This year, four Mizzou undergraduate students, two graduate students and two alumni were selected for the program, with another five students with Mizzou ties given…
April 9, 2026
From Game to Classroom: Honors College Students Take a Swing at America’s Favorite Pastime
The Baseball and the American Experience Honors College course explores how the story of baseball mirrors the story of the United States itself. The course has featured numerous guest speakers and included outings to places like the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Photo courtesy of Bill Horner. Story by Riley Palshaw Eight World Series rings sat on a classroom desk as 93-year-old former Major League Baseball scout Bill Clark told stories from more than four decades in the game. For students in the University of Missouri Honors College, it wasn’t just a lesson about baseball; it was a lesson about American…
April 8, 2026
Charles Wigton Receives DAAD Master Studies Scholarship
Mizzou senior Charles Wigton recently earned the German Academic Excellence Service (DAAD) Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines Scholarship. Wigton is a psychological sciences major who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate. Photo courtesy of Charles Wigton. Story by Logan Jackson The German Academic Excellence Service (DAAD) Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines scholarship program provides funding for students to pursue postgraduate or master’s degrees at universities across Germany. For Charles Wigton, the award is going to allow him to be a step closer to his goal of earning a PhD in clinical psychology. “It was extremely exciting to…
April 8, 2026
In Memory of Bill Bondeson
The Honors College mourns the loss of Bill Bondeson, who passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Bondeson joined the University of Missouri as a professor of philosophy in 1964. He retired from Mizzou in 2011 after decades of service, including directing the Honors College from 1969-72 and teaching in the Honors College Humanities Sequence nearly every semester of his tenure. Below, Rachel Harper, associate dean of the Honors College and longtime friend of Bondeson, shares her memories of Bondeson and the impact he made in the lives of others. In fall 1998, my discussion section…
April 3, 2026
Sophie Hof Named Goldwater Scholar
Mizzou sophomore Sophie Hof has earned the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, one of the most distinguished national scholarships in science, engineering and mathematics in the United States. Hof is a biological sciences major who is pursuing the Honors College Certificate. Photo courtesy of Sophie Hof. Story by Logan Jackson In less than two years at the University of Missouri, Sophie Hof has developed a solid research foundation, one that she will continue to build upon as a recipient of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. The award is one of the most distinguished national scholarships in science, engineering and mathematics in the United…
April 2, 2026
Mizzou to Collaborate with SEC Honors Colleges on Athletics Course
Next fall, Mizzou Honors College students will have the opportunity to explore the history and mission of NCAA athletics through a collaborative Honors course. The class includes Zoom sessions with SEC partners and in-person, Mizzou-specific seminars. Story and photo by Logan Jackson The University of Missouri Honors College will collaborate with Honors Colleges from nine Southeastern Conference (SEC) universities this fall on a course that will explore the changing landscape across collegiate athletics. Through a combination of Zoom sessions with SEC partners and in-person, Mizzou-specific seminars, the course will explore the history and mission of NCAA athletics and recent legal…
April 1, 2026
Rachel Mueller Earns Critical Language Scholarship
Rachel Mueller, a senior anthropology and international studies (east Asian studies) double major who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate, is now a two-time Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) finalist. Photo courtesy of Rachel Mueller. Story by Logan Jackson Two years ago, Rachel Mueller spent the summer refining her Korean language skills while on vacation with her father in South Korea. She learned enough to order at a restaurant and make purchases at various stores and soon began searching for further opportunities to expand her Korean language abilities. The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) provided her that opportunity, and Mueller spent…
March 30, 2026
Inspiring the Next Generation of Honors College Tigers
Heather Humphrey, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Evergy, the largest electric company in Kansas, recently shared career advice and answered questions from Honors College students during a campus visit. One of those students was her son, Jim. Photo by Logan Jackson. Story by Logan Jackson When Heather Humphrey recently received an invitation to share career advice with University of Missouri Honors College students, her first call was to her son, Jim, a sophomore business administration major at Mizzou who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate. Jim was immediately on board. “I was thrilled to…