
Story and photo by Logan Jackson
When Stayton Slaughter was choosing which universities he wanted to make official visits to, he knew the University of Missouri was going to be on his list. His mother received a master’s degree in health administration from Mizzou, and he wanted to make sure to stop in Columbia during his many college visits.
“From the beginning of my tour of Mizzou, there was such a great vibe,” said Slaughter, who is from Coppell, Texas. “Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, the campus was beautiful, and I just had a great time. I was matched with a student in my area of interest for the tour and learned so much. During the rest of my college visits, I was just thinking in the back of my head, ‘This isn’t as good as Mizzou.’”
Slaughter was also interested in the scholarship opportunities that Mizzou offered, including the Stamps Scholarship. Mizzou has partnered with the Stamps Scholars Program since 2017 to offer this premier scholarship to more than 50 Tigers. Mizzou Stamps Scholars receive a four-year, full cost of attendance scholarship, plus an additional $16,000 enrichment fund to be used during the student’s four years to enhance their studies and academic pursuits. Stamps Scholars are enrolled in the Honors College for all four years, working toward the completion of the Honors Certificate.
Around 20 semifinalists are invited each February to the Stamps interview weekend where they learn more about the Mizzou campus, meet current Stamps Scholars and interview for the scholarship. Slaughter was one of the individuals invited to interview.
“I really enjoyed all the conversations that I was able to have,” Slaughter said. “Talking with the current Stamps Scholars was very informative, and I learned a lot from the faculty and staff I met with. The information about research was especially appreciated, and it was great to hear more about how to make the most of this opportunity.”
Slaughter is one of seven Stamps Scholars who will begin their collegiate journeys at Mizzou this fall.
“I was sitting in my biology teacher’s classroom when I got the call,” Slaughter said. “I was over the moon when I learned I would be a Stamps Scholar. It was truly one of the best moments of my life so far, and I’m very thankful for the opportunity.”
Slaughter plans to pursue a biological sciences degree at Mizzou, with an emphasis in medical science and human biology. He will be on the pre-med track, with a goal of going to medical school. Slaughter said he is very interested in research at Mizzou, too. The Stamps Scholarship will allow Slaughter to get involved in research early in his collegiate career.
“Biomedical research is going to be a focus for me,” Slaughter said. “I wasn’t able to get any research experience in high school, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what opportunities are out there for me at Mizzou. Biology, in general, is such an interesting field and truly touches on so many aspects of daily life. The opportunity to conduct research was actually what drew me to the Stamps Scholarship. I’m definitely ready to get started.”
Slaughter was able to gain hands-on learning experience in high school at a local hospital, where he completed around 500 hours of medical shadowing. His parents are both in the medical field, too.
“One thing that really stuck out to me about my experience was the fact that doctors are gaining an increasingly unique role in our communities as providers of trustworthy information,” Slaughter said. “There are a lot of challenges with that, and the information and counsel doctors provide to their patients are vital.”
Along with research, Slaughter will play the oboe at Mizzou as part of an ensemble. He’s been playing the oboe for seven years.
“Being a musician and navigating music has taught me several important skills that are relevant in so many ways, including academically,” Slaughter said. “It’s obviously a separate interest area than my major, but the oboe is something I’m very passionate about.”