Feb. 26, 2026

Deaton Scholars Program Brings Together Students to Solve Complex Problems

Story and photos by Logan Jackson Since 2017, the Deaton Scholars Program has allowed Mizzou students to be part of innovative, interdisciplinary teams dedicated to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.   The program has been overseen by the Honors College for the past year, and while there have been a few changes, the mission remains the same – bring together motivated Mizzou students to collaborate on solutions to pressing local and global challenges rooted in poverty. “It has been extremely exciting to continue the program via the Honors College,” said Michelle Teti,…

Jan. 12, 2026

Honors College Students Find Confidence, Connection Through Study Abroad

Story by Riley Palshaw Each year, Mizzou Honors College students pack their suitcases and scatter across the world, chasing new experiences in places far from campus through study abroad. They go for different reasons – curiosity, adventure, academic opportunity – but they often return describing the same feeling. Studying abroad, they say, opened their eyes to new ways of living and learning, and became one of the most rewarding decisions they made at Mizzou. The Honors College supports these experiences in more than one way. Some students travel through the college’s own faculty-led…

Dec. 17, 2025

An Empathetic Spirit: Catie Tejeda Earns Health Science Degree

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 about them just drew me in. I toured other schools but none of them matched up to Mizzou.”…

Dec. 16, 2025

Building Community Through Fitness, Service and Sport: Anna Fairchild Earns Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Degree

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, but her path to finding her place at Mizzou wasn’t linear. She started in the Discovery Center and moved through agricultural business and communication…

Dec. 15, 2025

“A Career That Makes Me Feel Human”: Ryan Brunette Earns Nursing Degree

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 offers,” he said, recalling how the broad landscape of medical units first caught his attention. Emergency care,…

Dec. 14, 2025

From Legacy to Leadership: Mira Sabapathy Earns Accountancy Degree

Story by Kaiya Lynch 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 felt comfortable.” The Cornell Leadership Program offers leadership development for students who have achieved high levels of success. Sabapathy appreciated that the program allowed her to…

Nov. 17, 2025

Developing Study Strategies for the MCAT

Story and photos by Logan Jackson The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is widely considered to be one of the most difficult standardized exams due to its format, expansive content and high-stakes nature. The preparation that students must do before the exam is vital, and the Honors College is offering a course to aid students on that journey. The High Impact Study Strategies for MCAT Prep (GN_HON 4070H) course brings together students from across the Mizzou campus to try new study techniques, take practice exams, complete self-evaluations and work through stress-reduction exercises. The course is taught by…

Nov. 5, 2025

Josh Donaldson Named Finalist for Rhodes, Marshall Scholarships

Story and photo by Logan Jackson Less than a year after receiving the prestigious Truman Scholarship, Josh Donaldson is gearing up for another distinguished scholarship interview. Donaldson was recently chosen as a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. “I am honored to be a Rhodes finalist and incredibly excited to meet the other finalists in November,” Donaldson said. “I am grateful for the Office of Global and National Fellowships, my mentors on campus and my family back home for helping me get to this point. This application process challenged me more than any other. Through intense introspection and reflection on…

Nov. 3, 2025

Finding Her Voice: How the Honors College Helped Charlotte Cicero Lead, Learn and Look Ahead

Story by Riley Palshaw On the night of Oct. 4, Charlotte Cicero walked through downtown Columbia with a camera in hand, keeping pace with University of Missouri President Mun Choi and local leaders as they toured the area to discuss community safety. It wasn’t a typical KOMU assignment, or Saturday night for that matter, but for Cicero, a senior broadcast journalism student and KOMU 8 reporter, it was a reminder of why she fell in love with the profession: to inform, to connect and to give others a voice.  That same sense of purpose has guided every…

Oct. 16, 2025

Redefining the Pursuit of Happiness

Story by Riley PalshawPhotos by Logan Jackson As humans, we’re told that happiness is something worth pursuing. But what does happiness actually mean? Sam von Gillern explores this question with his Honors College students in Lessons from Positive Psychology on Happiness and Success, an Honors Seminar course centered on research in the field of positive psychology. For von Gillern, who created and teaches the course, the idea began at Iowa State University when he encountered The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. The book’s insights laid the foundation for his class, and after arriving at Mizzou in…