Story and photos by Logan Jackson
Multiple students pursuing the Honors Certificate were recognized for their outstanding achievements over the past 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, Chris Josey, and an exceptional campus partner, Ashely Mitchell.
The celebration was held on Tuesday, April 15, at the State Historical Society of Missouri.
Outstanding Faculty Award
- Chris Josey – associate teaching professor of communication
Each year, the Honors College recognizes faculty who have made a substantial and lasting contribution to the academic and intellectual lives of our students. Nominees are solicited from students and other faculty and chosen by a selection committee based on the criteria of who best represents the mission and values of the Honors College through their teaching, outreach, collaboration and engagement.
Josey is an associate teaching professor of communication. He is in his second year as a Tarkow Teaching Fellow for the Honors College, teaching two section of the Honors Book Club course each year. Josey has also been a faculty led for one of the ASH Scholars teams and has mentored many undergraduate students through that work. Here is what a couple students said about Josey:
“Dr. Josey is a great example of what an Honors professor should be. He genuinely cares about the success of his students and puts in effort to make everyone’s voice feel heard.”
“My work on Dr. Josey’s ASH Scholars project has allowed me to see the world in a whole different light. Prior to joining the project, I had never done undergraduate research, and Dr. Josey designed his lab in a way that put an emphasis on teaching first-year students how to conduct research instead of just throwing us to the wolves, which helped me to gain confidence in my ability to do research (even as I made a plethora of mistakes).”
Outstanding Campus Partner Award
- Ashley Mitchell – associate director for student support services in Mizzou Admissions
The Outstanding Campus Partner Award is given to a staff member who supports the Honors College at a high level. Their passion and dedication to aiding the college is felt across our many programs and offerings.
Mitchell is an associate director for student support services in Mizzou Admissions. She helps organize some of the most important Honors recruitment events, including Honors Nights in Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia. Mitchell has devoted extra time to Honors this year, too, serving on the search committee for the new Honors College recruiter. She is a model of efficiency, organization and kindness.
Outstanding Senior Award
- Isaac Yontz – constitutional democracy and political science
Excellence in Honors Scholarship (Junior)
- Alexis Coleman – health science
- Reiley Heffern – biological sciences
- Mathew Kimaku – health science and nutrition and exercise physiology
- Nora Pryor – chemistry and romance languages (French)
Excellence in Honors Scholarship (Sophomore)
- Anthony Klote – mathematics
- Ryan Leuthauser – nutrition and exercise physiology
- Hannah Rice – biochemistry
- Rachel Trosky – nursing
Excellence in Honors Scholarship (Freshman)
- Mera Flores – business
- Kampbel James – constitutional democracy
- Sydney Lockridge – health science
- Scarlett Wand – pre-health
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Awards
- Camila Gutierrez Gomez – biological sciences and psychological sciences
- Hannah Rice – biochemistry
- Vina Vedala – biological sciences
- Ever Cole – journalism
- Sydney Turner – speech, language and hearing sciences
- Jordan Chiantelli-Mosebach – linguistics and statistics
- Gabi Ramirez – computer science
- Jillian Bernabe – psychological sciences
- Jenna Skidmore – biomedical engineering
- Alissa Chimienti – computer science and mathematics
Charles M. Hudson Scholarship
Originally established in 1984 and endowed in 1992 by Mrs. Clara M. Hudson, in honor of her husband Charles, the founder of the Humanities Sequence, the Charles M. Hudson Scholarships are given each year to students who have completed at least two semesters in the Humanities Sequence, and who have — or intend to — complete the four-course sequence. Students are nominated by faculty and considered on the basis of their written work over multiple semesters.
- Elijah Coats – anthropology
- Ava Kemper – plant sciences
Harry J. and Richard Hocks Endowed Fellowship
Established in 1993, the Harry J. and Richard Hocks Scholarship in the Humanities was created by Dr. Richard Hocks, a 20-plus year veteran of the Sequence, in memory of his father, Harry J. Hocks. It is awarded for outstanding performance in the Humanities Sequence, regardless of financial need.
- Abby Cahill – English
Elaine Hocks Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Hocks earned both her master’s degree and Ph.D. from MU. In addition to teaching in the Honors Humanities Sequence, she served as the Director of the Writing Center for 30 years. Thanks to the continual support from the Hocks family, we have the joy of awarding three currently enrolled MU students who are also tutors at the Writing Center. These awards are divided into three facets of the overall work of writing tutoring.
- Alanie Lacy – English (for public relations)
- Erin Reynolds – constitutional democracy, political science and psychology (for synchronous tutoring)
- Gabby Rivera Kroenke – Master of Education in school counseling (for online tutoring)
John Kuhlman Scholarship
Dr. John Kuhlman was a long-time professor of economics at Mizzou, especially known for teaching the Honors section of the “Economics 51” course and advising Honors students. The award, established by friends and colleagues of Kuhlman, has been in existence since 1986 and comes to the Honors College for the first time in 2025. It is intended for upper-class students co-enrolled in the College of Arts and Science and the Honors College and have a record of extracurricular contribution to the welfare of the College of Arts and Science.
- Ethan Chapman – constitutional democracy
- Asher Ferguson – geography and romance languages (Spanish)
Hayden Scholarship
The Hayden Scholarship was established in 2006 through a gift to MU by Mrs. Anne Hayden, now of Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, with honors, in 1969. During her 30-year career with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City, Hayden became well known and respected in human resources management. In 1996, Hayden received the highest human resources honor when she was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. She currently serves as the secretary/treasurer of the National Academy’s Foundation and is active in other Atlanta service organizations. Each year the Hayden Scholarship is bestowed on an Arts and Science/Honors College students based on demonstrated excellence in scholarship and engagement with the Honors College’s programming.
- Nel Kupiec – political science
- Emily Reed – constitutional democracy
- Madeleine Terry – communication
Senator Wayne Goode Scholarship
Senator Wayne Goode served 42 years in the Missouri state legislature, including 21 years in the senate, where he spent his time advocating for education and environmental issues. Goode also served seven years on Mizzou’s Board of Curators, passing legislation necessary to create the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Before his passing, the 1960 Mizzou graduate, left this scholarship gift to the Honors College to make an impact on his home state and alma mater. Students are selected for this award based on their involvement in undergraduate research through the Honors College.
- Katherine Barron – mechanical engineering
- Brendan Curtis – computer science
- Madeleine Henderson – journalism
- Bhushan Sreekrishnavilas – computer science
W. Alton Jones Memorial Scholarship
Established in 1964, when the college was just 6 years old, through an original gift from the W. Alton Jones Foundation, this award, based on academic achievement, is given to a College of Arts and Science freshman or sophomore.
- Madison Clark – mechanical engineering
- Michael Hark – business and music
- Roselynn Orr – agriculture
- Muftah Zaid – biological sciences