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Charlotte Spohr

April 27, 2026

Charlotte Spohr Selected for DAAD RISE Germany Research Internship

Story by Logan Jackson Mizzou junior Charlotte Spohr will have the opportunity to conduct meaningful research while studying abroad this summer through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program. The internship allows undergraduate students from North American, British and Irish universities the chance to conduct research at top German colleges and research institutions. “I have never studied abroad before, and I’ve always had hopes of living and working abroad, so this opportunity is a literal dream come true,” said Spohr, a plant sciences major who is also pursuing the Honors…

Jim Spain smiling while talking with other individuals.

April 26, 2026

Vice Provost Champions Curiosity, Connection in Honors College

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 academic background is rooted in dairy nutrition and management, but his impact at Mizzou stretches far beyond animal science. Since 2007, he has served as vice provost for undergraduate studies, supporting initiatives aimed at improving student success across campus.

Nora Pryor

April 21, 2026

Honors College Celebrates Student Success, Faculty and Staff Engagement During Spring Awards Ceremony

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. Outstanding Faculty Award Each year, the Honors College recognizes faculty who have made…

A graphic featuring headshots of multiple student NSF GRFP recipients.

April 13, 2026

Mizzou Scholars Earn Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

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 honorable mention. “Having had the joy of working with some of the…

A large group of students and a faculty member smiling while posing for a photo in front of the Negro League Baseball Museum.

April 8, 2026

From Game to Classroom: Honors College Students Take a Swing at America’s Favorite Pastime

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 history. That moment is exactly what Bill Horner hopes students experience in Baseball and the American Experience, a course that explores how the story of baseball mirrors the story of the United States itself. Horner, a Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor in the…

Charles Wigton

April 7, 2026

Charles Wigton Receives DAAD Master Studies Scholarship

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 receive the DAAD scholarship!” said Wigton, a senior psychological sciences major who is also pursuing the Honors College Certificate. “I spent a lot of time and effort working with the amazing staff in the Mizzou…

Rachel Harper and Bill Bondeson smiling while posing for a selfie.

April 7, 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,…

Sophie Hof

April 2, 2026

Sophie Hof Named Goldwater Scholar

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 States. A total of 454 Goldwater Scholarships were awarded for the 2026-27 academic year from more than 5,000 applicants. “It was incredibly exciting to be named a Goldwater Scholar and a surprise!” said Hof, a sophomore biological sciences major who…

A group of students smiling while posing for a picture with Dennis Gates. They are all standing on the Mizzou basketball court.

April 1, 2026

Mizzou to Collaborate with SEC Honors Colleges on Athletics Course

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 settlements impacting college athletics and their effects on higher education, student athletes and college sports. “This course will challenge students to examine collegiate athletics from different perspectives, including not only those of…

Rachel Mueller

March 31, 2026

Rachel Mueller Earns Critical Language Scholarship

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 last summer in Gwangju, South Korea, through the program. She followed that work with a study abroad experience to Seoul, South Korea, and will now have the chance to return to South…