Kevin Heisinger Community Service Award Recipient Spotlight: Jesse Wren

Take a trip down memory lane as we highlight some of the past recipients of the Kevin Heisinger Memorial Award! Wren taking part in a service activity as a scholar in 2017. Jesse Wren, a scholar from Ironton, MO, received the award during the 2017 Academy. Wren graduated from Truman University with a BS in…

A Dream Becoming A Reality

At the 2024 closing ceremony, Alessia Roten shared a few words regarding her life-changing experience during the three weeks of the Academy. Photo by Ever Cole. Each year, MSA faculty, RAs, and Directors choose a scholar who they believe fully embodies the spirit of the Academy to speak at the annual closing ceremony. For the…

Comics Versus the World

While Mike Kersulov gives scholars in his major class plenty of hands-on learning opportunities, this year was particularly special. Scholars were able to present at a virtual comics conference, hosted by the Comics Studies Society. Photo by Logan Jackson. As Mike Kersulov began sharing what the upcoming three weeks would look like for students in…

The Traditions Guy

Austin McWilliams has been leading Taiso for the past two years. He inherited the role from Akehiko Takahashi, who brought Taiso, an exercise routine that has been practiced in Japan for nearly 100 years, to MSA in 1990. Photo by Logan Jackson. Austin McWilliams thought he would have some fun with a handful of his…