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…
Scholar Spotlight: Botswana Blackburn
To celebrate 40 years of MSA magic, we are tracking down alumni to catch up with them since completing the Academy. It’s not uncommon to cross paths with MSA alumni at Mizzou— one name that sticks out is the department chair of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Botswana Blackburn. Call out “Boomba!” on campus…
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…
2024 Standing Ovation Award Recipients: Elana Sanders-Braxton and Paula Mather!
It is not uncommon for past scholars to return to future Academies in hopes of adding to the magic in their own unique ways. This Academy phenomena manifests in several ways –- from simply showing up to Alumni Day to hosting an afternoon activity to becoming a long-time faculty member. This year’s recipients of the…
Kevin Heisinger Community Service Award Recipient Spotlight: Rohith Ryali
Take a trip down memory lane as we highlight some of the past recipients of the Kevin Heisinger Memorial Award! Rohith Ryali, hailing from Ellisville, MO, received the award during the 2019 Academy. As a scholar, he took classes on board game design and math. Ryali is now pursuing a degree in Medical Science at…
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…