July 21, 2026

Making Connections in the Lab

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Jennifer Boyd spent last summer gaining valuable research experiences through the Summer Research Exposure Program (SREP), which pairs first- and second-year undergraduates with faculty members to engage in mentored research and creative activities.  Her work earned her continued funding through the SREP+1 program during the following academic year.  “I honestly never thought I would be involved in research,” said Boyd, a junior biological sciences major. “I always thought it sounded cool, but it felt like something that was unattainable. Mizzou has helped me realize that it’s…

July 20, 2026

A Second Summer of Storytelling

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Josiah Anderson has spent the past two years at Mizzou searching for every available opportunity to improve his writing skills. Last summer, he was able to explore the short story genre through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. This summer, he’s returning for a second year in the program.  “There are not nearly as many creative scholarships when compared to research scholarships, which I completely understand,” said Anderson, a junior English major. “But as a creative writer, I would obviously love to be paid to work on a project that I’m passionate…

July 19, 2026

Research Takes Root

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Noah Davis was scrolling through YouTube shorts late one night when one video caught his attention. The short featured scientists discussing a variety of research developments in plant science. Davis had cared for houseplants for years and remains passionate about all things plants.  “I was just thinking about how cool it was that researchers were doing this high-level work, and I was interested in what would eventually happen,” Davis said. “I then realized that I could be part of that type of work; I could help find answers to challenging questions.”…

July 15, 2026

From the Newsroom to the Statehouse

Story by Logan Jackson While Anna Boyle expected to spend her time at the University of Missouri chasing story ideas and writing on deadline as a journalism major, she didn’t expect to find a new area of interest – politics.  Boyle, a senior, has since added a constitutional democracy minor and spent significant time in Jefferson City last semester, serving as a legislative intern for two representatives in the Missouri House of Representatives.   “Within journalism there are naturally a lot of political conversations,” Boyle said. “Being in that space and part of those conversations sparked an…

July 14, 2026

Finding History in the Fishbowl

Story by Logan Jackson As a senior constitutional democracy major, Abby Plenge has spent countless hours on the fourth floor of Jesse Hall, the home of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy. While the entire space has served as a special place for Plenge, there is one spot that has always been a bit more unique – the fishbowl. A study space utilized by constitutional democracy students, the fishbowl features a decades-old mural painted by James P. Hatfield, a Mizzou graduate and longtime college professor. During Plenge’s time as a marketing ambassador for the Kinder Institute, her…

Aug. 25, 2025

Cherng Summer Scholars Explore Their Academic Interests

Story and photos by Logan Jackson More than 80 Mizzou students pursuing the Honors Certificate have participated in research or creative scholarship projects through the Cherng Summer Scholars program since its creation in 2018. This year’s cohort was the largest in the program’s history. Fifteen Honors College students pursued their academic interests through the nine-week program this summer. The projects are individually designed by the students, with the support and mentorship of a Mizzou faculty mentor. “I was beyond thankful for this opportunity,” said Graham George, a sophomore German and international studies (peace studies) double…

Aug. 13, 2025

Making an Impact Through Research

Story and photos by Logan Jackson While Joseph Oyewusi knew there were plenty of opportunities to explore his interests at the University of Missouri, there was one primary experience he knew he wanted to pursue – research. Oyewusi was able to participate in a laboratory last year as a freshman and, through the Cherng Summer Scholars program, has led his own project in the same lab this summer. “I read Ben Carson’s autobiography, Gifted Hands, when I was younger,” said Oyewusi, a sophomore biological sciences and psychological sciences double major. “Through that book, I knew I wanted…

Aug. 12, 2025

Making a Lasting Impact

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Pari Patel knew she was going to pursue research while at the University of Missouri, but she wanted to make sure she chose a laboratory and project that she was passionate about. Patel found the perfect spot last year in the Mizzou Cyber Education, Research and Infrastructure Center (Mizzou CERI), where she has been able to research confidential computing, a technology that protects data while it is being processed. “When I was first introduced to software like ChatGPT, it definitely brought up a lot of questions tied to how people are…

Aug. 11, 2025

Contributing to a Growing Field

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Cole Stevens has gained experience and confidence throughout his three years in the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics, a lab focused on conducting the highest quality, hypothesis-driven research centered on orthopaedic disorders. Stevens, who will be a senior this fall, joined the lab as a freshman. The health science major has led his own research project this summer, through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. “When I arrived at Mizzou, I knew I wanted to get involved in research,” Stevens said. “I did a deep dive into…

Aug. 10, 2025

A Passion for Answering Questions

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Ava Fleury was a young child when her mother suffered a health scare. Her mother was thankfully able to pull through, and as she grew up, the experience motivated Fleury to look at careers in the medical field. She took advantage of learning opportunities throughout mid-Missouri, such as the Mizzou Mini Medical School, a week-long program where high school students can preview what medical school looks like. Those experiences only strengthened Fleury’s interest in medicine, and she wanted to continue on that pathway when she enrolled at Mizzou two years ago.