Dec. 18, 2025
An Empathetic Spirit: Catie Tejeda Earns Health Science Degree
Catie Tejeda will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in health science through the College of Health Sciences, as well as the Honors Certificate. Story by Logan JacksonPhoto courtesy of Catie Tejeda On her official tour of the University of Missouri, Catie Tejeda was a sponge, absorbing every detail of her trek across campus. While she was impressed with everything that was being shared, when she walked across the quad, she knew she was going to be a Tiger. “I know it sounds super cliché, but Mizzou really did feel like home when I saw the Columns,” Tejeda said. “Something…
Dec. 17, 2025
Building Community Through Fitness, Service and Sport: Anna Fairchild Earns Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Degree
Anna Fairchild will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and exercise physiology through the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, as well as the Honors Certificate. Story by Riley PalshawPhoto courtesy of Anna Fairchild From leading fitness classes across Columbia, to tackling leadership roles for Mizzou women’s rugby, Honors College student and nutrition and exercise physiology major Anna Fairchild has left her mark on the University of Missouri’s campus. Now preparing to graduate in December, Fairchild looks back on how far she has come since arriving on campus. The Mexico, Missouri, native comes from a family of Tigers,…
Dec. 16, 2025
“A Career That Makes Me Feel Human”: Ryan Brunette Earns Nursing Degree
Ryan Brunette will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing through the Sinclair School of Nursing, as well as the Honors Certificate. Story by Tanner O’Neal RileyPhoto courtesy of Ryan Brunette The Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri has churned out uniquely skilled nurses since its founding in 1920. Student nurse, Ryan Brunette, is one of them. From the beginning, Brunette sensed that nursing could be more than a profession. It could be a way to live a life of service. “At first I was drawn to nursing because of the variety of career paths it…
Dec. 15, 2025
From Legacy to Leadership: Mira Sabapathy Earns Accountancy Degree
Mira Sabapathy will graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy through the Trulaske College of Business Integrated BSAcc/MAcc program, as well as the Honors Certificate. Story by Kaiya LynchPhoto courtesy of Mira Sabapathy Mira Sabapathy was no stranger to the University of Missouri growing up. The daughter of Mizzou alumni, she arrived on campus as a freshman already familiar with its history, culture and traditions. “Once I was accepted into the Cornell Leadership Program, I knew I would go to Mizzou,” Sabapathy said. “It certainly helped having parents who attended the university, so I already…
May 16, 2025
Honors Outstanding Senior: Isaac Yontz
Isaac Yontz will graduate with degrees in constitutional democracy and political science and earned the Honors Certificate. Yontz has been able to study abroad and conduct undergraduate research. His efforts led to him receiving the Mizzou ’39 Award early this year and, recently, he was named the Honors College Outstanding Senior. Photo by Logan Jackson. 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…
May 14, 2025
Always a Tiger: Ennis Earns History and Journalism Degrees
Sam Ennis’ father (pictured right) attended the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) as a high school student. MSA was created by Ted Tarkow (pictured left). Ennis (pictured middle) interacted with Tarkow as a student at Mizzou, through a Humanities Sequence course. Photo courtesy of Sam Ennis. 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…
May 13, 2025
An Incredible Learning Environment: Milburn Earns Constitutional Democracy and History Degrees
The Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy served as a home away from home for Elise Milburn. She was able to study abroad and conduct research through the program. Milburn was also very involved in the Honors College, earning more than 40 Honors credits as a Tiger. Photo courtesy of Elise Milburn. 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…
May 12, 2025
Investigating Multiple Opportunities: Smith Earns Communication and Political Science Degrees
Tanner Smith was part of the ASH Scholars Program for all four years as a Tiger. That program allows students to conduct research in the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines. Photo by Logan Jackson. 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…
May 11, 2025
Building An Incredible Research Portfolio: Fritschi Earns Biochemistry Degree
The Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program jumpstarted Eric Fritschi’s undergraduate research career. He will graduate with numerous research awards and honors. Photo by Logan Jackson. Story by Logan Jackson When Eric Fritschi arrived on the University of Missouri campus as a freshman, he knew he wanted to get involved in research. The Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program allowed him to do just that. Now, as Fritschi heads toward graduation, he’s built an incredible research portfolio. “I didn’t know what I would enjoy about research, but I always knew I wanted to give it a shot,” said Fritschi, who…
May 7, 2025
Exploring Her Interests: Bowman Earns Computer Science Degree
Story by Logan Jackson While Maya Bowman admitted that the scholarship opportunities offered by the University of Missouri made her decision to become a Tiger an easy one, what happened on her official campus tour truly sold her on attending Mizzou. “My dad earned a degree from Mizzou, so I already had a connection with campus,” said Bowman, who grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. “He was with me during my tour, and after we finished, he showed me his favorite spots. Hearing how much he loved Mizzou and diving into those memories was really great and motivated me to…