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Feb. 20, 2024

A Strong Mizzou Connection

Botswana Blackburn, Health Sciences department chair and teaching professor, has relished in educating the next generation of Tigers. An affiliate faculty member in the Honors College, Blackburn got her first taste of Mizzou through the Missouri Scholars Academy and later as an undergraduate and graduate student. Botswana Blackburn got her first taste of how rewarding the collegiate experience could be – especially at the University of Missouri – through the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA), a three-week residential program on the MU campus for 330 of Missouri’s academically gifted students who are ready to begin their junior year of high school.

Christopher Daubert smiles for a picture with his son, Maxwell Daubert.

Feb. 8, 2024

Planting Seeds of Success

Maxwell Daubert grew up in an academic environment and has developed a passion for all things academia, especially research. He spent plenty of time with his father, Christopher Daubert, who has conducted academic research for years and is the the vice chancellor and dean of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Photo courtesy of Maxwell Daubert. Maxwell Daubert, a senior majoring in biology with a minor in anthropology, grew up in an environment that fostered constant learning. Daubert, who moved to the Columbia area between his freshman and sophomore years of high school, spent a…

Shari Freyermuth teaching to a classroom full of students.

Jan. 29, 2024

Educating the Next Generation

Shari Freyermuth is an associate teaching professor of biochemistry and an affiliate faculty member of the Honors College. She has been involved with Honors at Mizzou for several years. While Shari Freyermuth had planned to one day attend medical school, when she arrived at the University of Georgia as an undergraduate student she found a new interest – research. That enthusiasm for discovery followed her as she finished her Ph.D. at Duke University and began a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri.  Freyermuth’s fellowship was in the laboratory of Joe Polacco, a professor emeritus of biochemistry at…

Two young kids posing for a picture in front of Memorial Union.

Jan. 22, 2024

Pursuing Her Passion for Education

Mizzou has been a special place for Madison Hayes (pictured right) and her brother for years. Working toward a degree through the College of Education and Human Development, Hayes is also pursuing the Honors Certificate at MU. Photo courtesy of Madison Hayes. A student in the University of Missouri College of Education and Human Development, Madison Hayes, who is also pursuing the Honors Certificate, is always looking for opportunities to get real-world teaching experience. Last semester, the Honors Learning-by-Contract program allowed her to do just that. Through the program, Honors students work with MU faculty to transform a…

Jan. 3, 2024

Honors Students Go Live on KBIA

Every student in Amy Simons’ Honors Tutorial was tasked with watching or listening to Views of the News, a show hosted and produced by Simons, on Wednesday in preparation for a lively discussion on Thursday. After spending most of the semester as avid consumers of the show, the cohort then worked together to produce their own episode. Honors Tutorials, small one-credit discussions available to University of Missouri Honors students, are designed to provide more meaningful relationships and in-depth learning experiences than the traditional classroom setting can offer. Some Tutorials, such as last semester’s “Views of the News: Media Criticism” taught…

Troy Hall standing at a podium, speaking to a crowd during graduation.

Dec. 15, 2023

Building Bridges Between His Interests

As the Honors Outstanding Faculty awardee, Troy Hall spoke at the Honors commencement ceremony in May and will speak during the December celebration as well.  With interests in music and philosophy, Troy Hall explores both passions as affiliate faculty in the University of Missouri Honors College. Hall, who is an instructor of philosophy and percussion faculty in the School of Music, regularly teaches in the Honors Humanities Sequence and lends his expertise each spring semester to the Honors medical ethics discussion group. With his wide range of teaching duties, Hall interacts with Tigers from multiple degree…

Matt Houk senior spotlight graphic

Dec. 14, 2023

Senior Spotlight: Matt Houk

Matt Houk has always loved to learn. That passion for education led Houk to the University of Missouri, where he will graduate this December with three degrees – political science, history and communication – as well as two minors and a handful of certificates, including the Honors Certificate. Houk accomplished a lot during his time at MU, and those achievements led him to being selected as the student speaker during the Honors commencement ceremony. It was Houk’s interest in learning, as well as a desire to follow a blueprint that his older sister…

Caroline Lyman senior spotlight graphic

Dec. 13, 2023

Senior Spotlight: Caroline Lyman

During Caroline Lyman’s first collegiate soccer match, the freshman University of Missouri defender found herself lined up against Stanford University forward Sophia Smith. Smith, who was a sophomore, had been a regular on the United States Women’s Youth National Team training circuit and was coming off a solid freshman campaign. It was quite the “welcome to college soccer” moment for Lyman. That first match proved to Lyman that her years of hard work on the pitch had been worth it – she was officially a Div. I athlete and part of one of the best conferences in the country, the…

Felix Wang senior spotlight graphic

Dec. 12, 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 St. Joseph, Missouri.

Kimberly Barr senior spotlight graphic

Dec. 11, 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 I should pursue…