Oct. 5, 2023
A Historical Dive into the Santa Fe Trail
A new project within the ASH Scholars Program, the Santa Fe Trail team is studying the importance of the entire trail, with a focus on its influence in the state of Missouri and beyond. Photo courtesy of Kyle Jackson. An important piece of Missouri history, the Santa Fe Trail connected the Show-Me State to present day Santa Fe, New Mexico, providing a valuable trade route through the middle of a still growing United States. The trail has been of interest to historians in the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy – and a new research project will now allow…
Sep. 20, 2023
What’s the Buzz About Bees?
A member of the board of advisors for the Boone Regional Beekeepers Association and a beekeeping project leader for Sustain Mizzou, George Frees has shared his bee expertise with a variety of audiences across Missouri over the years. Community members, elementary students and various school groups have all benefited from his knowledge and instruction on caring for one of the world’s most important pollinators. Frees is now bringing that passion to University of Missouri Honors College students. Frees, a junior biochemistry and plant sciences double major, is co-teaching an Honors Seminar with Bethany Stone, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of Biological…
Aug. 22, 2023
Sharing Stories and Highlighting Experiences
In high school, Jasmine Jackson was encouraged to find hands-on learning experiences that lined up with her passions. Jackson had enjoyed reading and writing since she was young and decided she would give writing for her school’s newspaper a try. After her first assignment, she was hooked. Jackson worked for her school’s newspaper, in Columbus, Nebraska, for two years, covering a variety of stories and individuals as a reporter. “As I started looking at potential career options, I was repeatedly told to do what I love,” Jackson said. “With my interest in reading and writing, I thought I would give…
Aug. 17, 2023
Meet the 2023 Mizzou Stamps Scholars
The University of Missouri is one of just 36 schools across the United States and into the United Kingdom that partners with the Stamps Scholars Program on a premier scholarship. Mizzou has collaborated with the program since 2016, offering Tigers a full four-year scholarship, covering up to the total estimated cost of attendance (including housing), plus an additional $16,000 enrichment fund for students to use throughout their time at MU. Mizzou has welcomed more than 30 Scholars since the partnership began – and will bring in its largest cohort this fall. Eight students will join the incredible Stamps community that…
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…