Dec. 16, 2025

An Energizing Experience

Story by Logan Jackson Brent Steele’s recent return to the Mizzou campus brought on a wave of nostalgia. Steele interacted with a variety of students, including several in the Honors College, took in a football game and visited many of his favorite spots across campus. It was Steele’s first Mizzou visit since he earned accountancy degrees in 2006. “I love Columbia; it’s such a great town,” Steele said. “It’s changed a lot – both the coffee and bagel options have radically improved – but in many ways, it felt the same. It was very comforting to…

Dec. 16, 2025

Building Community Through Fitness, Service and Sport: Anna Fairchild Earns Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Degree

Story by Riley PalshawPhoto courtesy of Anna Fairchild From leading fitness classes across Columbia, to tackling leadership roles for Mizzou women’s rugby, Honors College student and nutrition and exercise physiology major Anna Fairchild has left her mark on the University of Missouri’s campus. Now preparing to graduate in December, Fairchild looks back on how far she has come since arriving on campus. The Mexico, Missouri, native comes from a family of Tigers, but her path to finding her place at Mizzou wasn’t linear. She started in the Discovery Center and moved through agricultural business and communication…

Dec. 15, 2025

“A Career That Makes Me Feel Human”: Ryan Brunette Earns Nursing Degree

Story by Tanner O’Neal RileyPhoto courtesy of Ryan Brunette The Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri has churned out uniquely skilled nurses since its founding in 1920. Student nurse, Ryan Brunette, is one of them. From the beginning, Brunette sensed that nursing could be more than a profession. It could be a way to live a life of service. “At first I was drawn to nursing because of the variety of career paths it offers,” he said, recalling how the broad landscape of medical units first caught his attention. Emergency care,…

Dec. 14, 2025

From Legacy to Leadership: Mira Sabapathy Earns Accountancy Degree

Story by Kaiya Lynch Mira Sabapathy was no stranger to the University of Missouri growing up. The daughter of Mizzou alumni, she arrived on campus as a freshman already familiar with its history, culture and traditions. “Once I was accepted into the Cornell Leadership Program, I knew I would go to Mizzou,” Sabapathy said. “It certainly helped having parents who attended the university, so I already felt comfortable.” The Cornell Leadership Program offers leadership development for students who have achieved high levels of success. Sabapathy appreciated that the program allowed her to…

Nov. 19, 2025

Spicing Up Student Life: Meet Andrew Rubin

Story by Tanner O’Neal RileyPhotos by Logan Jackson At the University of Missouri’s Student Center, tucked inside the Griggs Innovators Nexus, the steady hum of student chatter mixes with the scent of ambition. Among the bustle sits freshman Andrew Rubin, founder of State Street Spices, a venture he built from scratch before even setting foot on campus.  Rubin, a St. Louis, Missouri, native, says his business, which he launched in 2023, blends his passions for food, culture, community and, of course, entrepreneurship. He says that is what brought…

Nov. 17, 2025

Developing Study Strategies for the MCAT

Story and photos by Logan Jackson The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is widely considered to be one of the most difficult standardized exams due to its format, expansive content and high-stakes nature. The preparation that students must do before the exam is vital, and the Honors College is offering a course to aid students on that journey. The High Impact Study Strategies for MCAT Prep (GN_HON 4070H) course brings together students from across the Mizzou campus to try new study techniques, take practice exams, complete self-evaluations and work through stress-reduction exercises. The course is taught by…

Nov. 5, 2025

Josh Donaldson Named Finalist for Rhodes, Marshall Scholarships

Story and photo by Logan Jackson Less than a year after receiving the prestigious Truman Scholarship, Josh Donaldson is gearing up for another distinguished scholarship interview. Donaldson was recently chosen as a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. “I am honored to be a Rhodes finalist and incredibly excited to meet the other finalists in November,” Donaldson said. “I am grateful for the Office of Global and National Fellowships, my mentors on campus and my family back home for helping me get to this point. This application process challenged me more than any other. Through intense introspection and reflection on…

Nov. 3, 2025

Finding Her Voice: How the Honors College Helped Charlotte Cicero Lead, Learn and Look Ahead

Story by Riley Palshaw On the night of Oct. 4, Charlotte Cicero walked through downtown Columbia with a camera in hand, keeping pace with University of Missouri President Mun Choi and local leaders as they toured the area to discuss community safety. It wasn’t a typical KOMU assignment, or Saturday night for that matter, but for Cicero, a senior broadcast journalism student and KOMU 8 reporter, it was a reminder of why she fell in love with the profession: to inform, to connect and to give others a voice.  That same sense of purpose has guided every…

Oct. 23, 2025

Amanda Paz Herrera Fosters Love of Scientific Research to Honors Students

Story by Sophia AndersonPhoto by Logan Jackson Amanda Paz Herrera is passing on her love of scientific research in her Introduction to Research (GN_HON 2453H) Honors College course. Paz Herrera started teaching this course in fall 2023 after completing her Ph.D. in biochemistry at Mizzou and becoming an adjunct professor. Now an assistant professor and core Honors College faculty member, Paz Herrera helps connects students with research through her teaching efforts. In her Introduction to Research course, students look for antibiotic producing bacteria in soil. “It’s a way to explore some microbiology techniques and…

Oct. 16, 2025

Redefining the Pursuit of Happiness

Story by Riley PalshawPhotos by Logan Jackson As humans, we’re told that happiness is something worth pursuing. But what does happiness actually mean? Sam von Gillern explores this question with his Honors College students in Lessons from Positive Psychology on Happiness and Success, an Honors Seminar course centered on research in the field of positive psychology. For von Gillern, who created and teaches the course, the idea began at Iowa State University when he encountered The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. The book’s insights laid the foundation for his class, and after arriving at Mizzou in…