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,”…

May 10, 2025

Building An Incredible Research Portfolio: Fritschi Earns Biochemistry Degree

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 will graduate with a biochemistry degree and the Honors Certificate from Mizzou. Fritschi will also earn minors in biological sciences and chemistry.

May 6, 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…

Dec. 11, 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…

May 9, 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 PhD 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 PhD Mizzou seemed like the perfect place for me to participate in research and ready myself…

May 8, 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…

May 7, 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…

May 6, 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.

May 5, 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…

May 5, 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.”…