Aug. 16, 2023

Ready to Engage in Research

As Rhea Pookulangara was making her college decision, one of her priorities was finding a place that would allow her to participate in undergraduate research. Pookulangara had been involved in research projects since her junior year of high school through the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS) at the University of North Texas. Pursuing that research passion at the collegiate level was high on her interest list. While she had several options, Pookulangara knew that the University of Missouri would provide her those opportunities, and after being named a Stamps Scholar, she will be exposed to a variety of…

Aug. 15, 2023

Exploring Her Scientific Interests

Growing up, Charlie Beecher loved being outdoors, searching storm drains for tiger salamanders or trees for bugs. Beecher grew up in Pullman, Washington, where she also enjoyed visiting the incredible orchards throughout the area. It was during that time that Beecher found her love of nature and science. She carried that passion to Missouri when her family moved to the Kansas City area. Now, as Beecher embarks on the next step of her academic journey, she is excited to further her scientific pursuits at the University of Missouri. Beecher is no stranger to the MU campus. Both of her parents…

Aug. 14, 2023

Bringing the News to Life

When she was in middle school, Maya Dawson spent hours writing short stories and poetry, developing her own voice as an author. Once she got to high school, Dawson thought those skills would translate rather well to a journalism class she was interested in taking. While Dawson quickly learned that her journalistic writing voice would differ from her poetic style, she also found a passion for bringing the news to life. “I kind of thought that the styles wouldn’t be all that different – and that was not the case,” Dawson said. “I found, though, that I really enjoyed sitting…

Aug. 10, 2023

Pursuing His Political Passions

Among the many lessons Chase Zeller said he learned during the pandemic one not only left a lasting impression on him, but it also sparked an interest that he hopes to dive deeper into as a student at the University of Missouri. Zeller saw the importance of government in his life and the lives of individuals across the country, especially at the local level. He spent his final two years of high school participating in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, gaining valuable insight into the inner workings of several governmental entities. Zeller, who plans to major…

Aug. 10, 2023

Making a Positive Impact on Education

With an affection for education, Macy Monical plans to spend her time at the University of Missouri gaining valuable insights into ways she can help others get the most out of their education. Monical will be majoring in educational studies when she begins at Mizzou in the fall, as she is interested in making a positive impact on education with a career outside of the traditional classroom setting. “It’s a really big passion of mine to improve education and help others,” said Monical, who is from Park Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. “While there are multiple ways…

Aug. 9, 2023

Continuing a Mizzou Legacy

As Owen Neely embarks on the next step of his academic journey at the University of Missouri, he is ready to pursue his passions. Neely grew up in Lockwood, Missouri, a town of less than 1,000 people located northwest of Springfield. He is interested in a career in medicine – and is hoping to eventually return to his small-town roots and bring great healthcare options to rural residents. Neely has the perfect blueprint to follow. His mother, Angie Whitesell, earned a biochemistry degree from Mizzou, as well as her medical degree. She is a family care physician in Lockwood and…

Aug. 8, 2023

Developing Her Journalistic Voice

An avid admirer of words, Ivy Reed jumped at the chance to join the Globe, Clayton High School’s Newsmagazine, during her freshman year. By the time her junior year rolled around, her passion for writing – and a lot of hard work – landed her a spot as an editor-in-chief of the publication, a role she continued during her senior year as well. Reed’s time with the Globe gave her the freedom to stretch her creative muscles and develop her writing style. She will soon be expanding those skills even further at the University of Missouri. Reed will join the …

Aug. 7, 2023

Asking Questions and Uncovering Answers

Growing up, Janet Musangali loved not only asking questions, but putting in the effort to uncover the answers. That natural curiosity led her to develop a passion for science. As Musangali continues her academic journey at the University of Missouri this fall, she plans to continue to follow that passion and major in chemistry. “Since I was little, I was always very curious,” Musangali said. “I had a wide variety of interests, and I wanted to know more about each one. I soon found out that science was a great way for me to explore those interests,…

Aug. 2, 2023

Representing Mizzou on a Big Stage

When Brooke Bowman chose the biological sciences degree program at the University of Missouri her focus was on getting into the medical field, with the goal of eventually becoming a doctor. However, the more time she spent in laboratories across campus, Bowman realized that her career may not be in the clinic. She had started to develop an interest in research. That passion has connected Bowman with a variety of hands-on learning opportunities at Mizzou, as well as an exciting research program on the west coast this summer. Bowman is currently participating in the Bruins-In-Genomics…

July 28, 2023

Exploring Passions Through Creative Projects

The Cherng Summer Scholars program allows Honors College students at the University of Missouri to explore their passions through research projects aimed at questions they are interested in analyzing. Students who are accepted into the nine-week program participate in projects that are individually designed, with the support and mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. “What I love about this program is that you get to create your own project,” said Faith Quist, a senior double major in journalism and international studies. “You aren’t picking from a list of topics and doing something that you may not have much of an interest…