2025 Standing Ovation Award Recipient: Morgan McGurk

Every year, MSA recognizes an MSA faculty member or RA who exemplifies the highest ideals of the Missouri Scholars Academy with the Standing Ovation Award.  From her dedication to building strong community bonds within the Academy and encouraging students to be the truest version of themselves, this year’s award winner is Morgan McGurk (MSA’19, RA’23-‘25).…

40 years of problems: the origin story of the Problem of the Day

The Academy is known for many unique and long-standing traditions that take place each summer, one of those being the Problem of the Day. Each June, scholars looking to exercise their mathematician muscles try their hand at solving the Problem of the Day, which is posted on a wooden board in the lobby of Mark…

An MSA reunion in D.C.

Last Friday, former director Ted Tarkow, current co-director Doug Valentine and MU advancement officer Melia Douglass traveled to Washington, D.C. for a mini MSA reunion in anticipation of the 40th anniversary of the Academy this summer. 1995 scholar Jenelle Beavers hosted the event. Boomba-Hey, thank you, Jenelle! 23 alumni and guests attended the event, with…

Help Keep MSA Accessible!

The Missouri legislature is starting to vote on the 2026 budget, which includes funding for gifted education programs on House Bill 2. This funding, along with generous donations from the University of Missouri and alumni like yourselves, supports not just the three weeks in June, but MSA preparations year-round. Currently, the proposed funding for 2026…