Dec. 12, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Avery Rayle
Story by Logan Jackson As Avery Rayle was exploring plant sciences degree programs at colleges across the state, she said there was one thing that stood out about the University of Missouri – ample opportunities to conduct meaningful undergraduate research right away. Nearly four years later, Rayle is finishing her plant sciences degree with a stellar research portfolio. “I knew I wanted to study plant sciences, and as I was comparing programs at different universities, none of them had an emphasis on research like Mizzou,” Rayle said. “There are so many dedicated programs here for getting undergraduates in the lab…
May 10, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Jayden Francois
Jayden Francois was looking for two things in a university – a place where he could conduct research and a spot that would prepare him for a Ph.D. He found both at the University of Missouri. “The biggest thing I knew I was going to need was a place where I could expand on my research interests,” said Francois, who is from Kansas City, Missouri. “I also knew from a young age that I was going to eventually be gunning for a Ph.D. Mizzou seemed like the perfect place for me to participate in research and ready myself for a…
May 9, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Maggie Courtney
Growing up in a family of Tigers, Maggie Courtney spent plenty of time on the University of Missouri campus, attending football games and Homecoming festivities. She also got a closer look at campus through the Missouri Scholars Academy, where she spent three weeks as part of a unique learning community during the summer after her sophomore year of high school. While Courtney had those close ties MU, she wasn’t sure if Mizzou was going to be the right fit when the time came for her to choose where to continue her education. The Stamps Scholarship interview weekend…
May 8, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Jaden Reed
Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Jaden Reed remembers thumbing through a variety of University of Missouri publications sent to her mother, a Mizzou alumna. As Reed began to make her own college decision, those MU materials were always in the back of her mind. She eventually decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and made the 7,500-mile trek to Columbia, Missouri. “When I was younger, I remember poring over the pictures of the Golden Girls and important Mizzou landmarks, like the columns,” Reed said. “As I was looking at potential universities in high school, Mizzou always felt…
May 7, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Dane Walker
Through Project Lead the Way – a nonprofit organization that develops STEM curriculum for elementary, middle and high schools across the country – Dane Walker was introduced to a variety of scientific fields. The subject that clicked the most for Walker was engineering. When he made the decision to continue his education at the University of Missouri, he knew the College of Engineeringwas going to be the perfect fit. “I was able to learn more about several fields within engineering throughout high school,” said Walker, who will graduate with a civil engineering degree from MU. “Civil engineering…
May 6, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Elizabeth Trower
Participants in the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) select one major course of study from four broad academic categories – mathematics, science, social studies and humanities. During Elizabeth Trower’s stint as a Scholar, she was placed in a journalism major class. The experience was a transformative one. Not only did Trower realize she had a passion for journalism, but she was also able to get a closer look at the University of Missouri campus. Those two factors played a massive role when Trower was making her college decision. “I had always loved Mizzou but one of the big reasons…
May 6, 2024
Senior Spotlight: Natalie Gilpin
Natalie Gilpin, a senior majoring in health science on the pre-professional emphasis track, has known that she wanted to be an optometrist since the seventh grade. Now, with graduation on the horizon and an acceptance to Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Gilpin credits Mizzou with being instrumental to her success. “I have truly been here for the academics,” she said. “That’s something I’ve always been really passionate about and I feel that has served me super well. This is an education that you wouldn’t get in other places.” Gilpin remembers that…
Dec. 14, 2023
Senior Spotlight: Matt Houk
Matt Houk has always loved to learn. That passion for education led Houk to the University of Missouri, where he will graduate this December with three degrees – political science, history and communication – as well as two minors and a handful of certificates, including the Honors Certificate. Houk accomplished a lot during his time at MU, and those achievements led him to being selected as the student speaker during the Honors commencement ceremony. It was Houk’s interest in learning, as well as a desire to follow a blueprint that his older sister…
Dec. 13, 2023
Senior Spotlight: Caroline Lyman
During Caroline Lyman’s first collegiate soccer match, the freshman University of Missouri defender found herself lined up against Stanford University forward Sophia Smith. Smith, who was a sophomore, had been a regular on the United States Women’s Youth National Team training circuit and was coming off a solid freshman campaign. It was quite the “welcome to college soccer” moment for Lyman. That first match proved to Lyman that her years of hard work on the pitch had been worth it – she was officially a Div. I athlete and part of one of the best conferences in the country, the…
Dec. 12, 2023
Senior Spotlight: Felix Wang
Felix Wang has made sure to make the most of his time at the University of Missouri. The senior will graduate in December with two degrees – English and information technology – as well as the Honors Certificate. Wang also took part in a study abroad experience in Ireland and has participated in multiple undergraduate research projects. Those accomplishments don’t even include Wang’s involvement in a variety of other clubs and organizations. “I’ve definitely been able to explore a wide range of interests during my time at Mizzou,” said Wang, who is from St. Joseph, Missouri.