July 22, 2025

Gaining Valuable Insights

Story and photos by Logan Jackson After graduating high school, Graham George decided that he wanted a bit of adventure before beginning his collegiate journey. Through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship, George was able to spend a year in Germany where he learned the language and was exposed to German culture. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study after high school, and I really wanted to take my time on the decision,” George said. “When I found the CBYX scholarship, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to expand my knowledge base and dive…

July 21, 2025

From Discovery Fellow to Cherng Summer Scholar

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Students pursuing the Honors College Certificate at Mizzou have a unique opportunity to begin their research journey as soon as their first day on campus through the Discovery Fellows scholarship program. Discovery Fellows gain beneficial insight into the professional world, enhance their critical thinking skills and oftentimes form invaluable connections with their faculty mentor. Caitlin Mattingly was connected with John J. Tanner, a professor of biochemistry and chemistry, through the program as a freshman. Now, as Mattingly enters her senior year this fall, she’s still an active researcher in Tanner’s lab.

July 17, 2025

Solving a Unique Problem

Story and photos by Logan Jackson When Ashton Wooster was looking for an internship opportunity last year, he couldn’t find the exact fit he was looking for. That led him to check out what types of undergraduate research opportunities were available to him at Mizzou. Wooster soon found a project that piqued his interest – and has now spent a year conducting research tied to quantum cybersecurity. “Once I got started with my work, I really got into the project,” said Wooster, a junior computer science and information technology double major. “I definitely think research is something…

July 15, 2025

Bringing Stories to Life

Story and photos by Logan Jackson An avid reader throughout high school, Josiah Anderson also spent plenty of time crafting his own stories. Anderson has continued his storytelling pursuits as a student at the University of Missouri and, this summer, is exploring those interests even further. Through the Cherng Summer Scholars program, Anderson is developing three short stories centered around the theme of dysfunctional love. “I’ve always written but I never really considered myself a writer until about halfway through high school,” said Anderson, a sophomore English major. “I told myself that I would try to…

July 14, 2025

Making Research More Accessible

Story and photos by Logan Jackson As a freshman at Mizzou, Jane Ray got involved in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program offered through the Department of Psychological Sciences. The program allows students to rotate through different psychology labs and engage in research, a weekly seminar and various workshops. For Ray, the opportunity connected her with Lisa Flores, a professor of psychological sciences. Ray got heavily involved in Flores’ lab early on and even presented some research toward the end of her freshman year. Ray has continued to conduct research with Flores and is…

July 13, 2025

Using Research to Help Others

Story and photos by Logan Jackson When Nick Ice arrived at the University of Missouri, he was looking for an opportunity to combine his interest in science with his desire to help others. Those passions led him to research. For the past two years, Ice has been an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Kamal Singh, an assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology whose research includes studying the basic science behind protein interactions. Some of these interactions include viral, parasitic, bacterial and mammalian proteins. This summer, Ice is leading his own project tied to a specific parasitic…

May 15, 2025

Honors Outstanding Senior: Isaac Yontz

Story by Logan Jackson As Isaac Yontz was making his college decision, he was pretty sure of one thing – he didn’t want to attend the University of Missouri. Yontz grew up in Columbia and was hoping to forge a path away from a university and city that were all too familiar. On the heels of the pandemic, though, Yontz realized that being closer to family may be his best option. While he was still a bit reluctant, Yontz made the decision to become a Tiger. He found his place at Mizzou little by little. As…

May 13, 2025

Always a Tiger: Ennis Earns History and Journalism Degrees

Story by Logan Jackson At least once a year, Sam Ennis and his family would make the trek from Texas to the University of Missouri to watch some Tiger football or basketball and enjoy the Mizzou campus. Those trips left a lasting impression on Ennis, and when he eventually began to look at his college options, Mizzou definitely stood out. It didn’t hurt that both of his parents earned degrees from Mizzou, either. “I have a lot of great memories tied to Mizzou sporting events,” Ennis said. “And anytime we came up to campus, we had to…

May 12, 2025

An Incredible Learning Environment: Milburn Earns Constitutional Democracy and History Degrees

Story by Logan Jackson The first piece of college recruitment material that Elise Milburn received came courtesy of the University of Missouri. While Milburn wasn’t shocked to see those types of materials as a high school student, she was a bit surprised to see something from a university in Missouri. “My family didn’t know anything about Mizzou,” said Milburn, who is from Texas. “We definitely joked about it at first, as I never imagined myself going somewhere I had never heard of before and that was fairly far away, but I did end up taking a closer…

May 11, 2025

Investigating Multiple Opportunities: Smith Earns Communication and Political Science Degrees

Story by Kaiya Lynch Senior Tanner Smith vividly recalls his first day at the University of Missouri. “I remember sitting in the dorms and was like, ‘What am I supposed to do now?’” Smith said. A communication and political science double-major with a sociology minor, Smith quickly realized that his next step was undergraduate research. Before coming to Mizzou, Smith was determined to become a lawyer. He wanted to forge his own path – and not necessarily follow in his parents’ footsteps. “I was dead set that I was not going to go to Mizzou,”…