2018 Mizzou 18 Recipients

 

 

In the spirit of service that was the cornerstone of the 1839 founding of the University of Missouri, the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board presents the Mizzou 18 Award to 18 outstanding graduate and professional students each year. Chosen for their academic achievement, leadership and service to Mizzou and the community, the honorees represent a variety of research areas, activities and organizations from across campus. Each winner also chooses a faculty or staff member to recognize as their adviser throughout their college career.

Tanner Adkins

Hometown: Elmo, MO
Activities/Honors: Litton Leadership Scholars, The Rock Campus Church, Residential Life Peer Adviser for the Study Abroad FIG, International Agriculture Education Developer for USAID & Chemonics

Mentor: Jon Simonsen, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Leadership


Walta Abraham

Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Activities/Honors: National Society of Black Engineers - President, Region 5 National Society of Black Engineers - Regional Leadership Chair, Epsilon Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Civil Engineering Undergraduate Researcher for McNair Scholars Program, College of Engineering Ambassador, Mystical 7 Secret Honor Society Member, Mizzou Alternative Breaks Site Leader

Mentor: Dr. Enos Inniss, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Civil Engineering

Walta Abraham is the daughter of Almaz Araia and Tesfaldet Abraham

Walta Abraham

Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Activities/Honors: National Society of Black Engineers - President, Region 5 National Society of Black Engineers - Regional Leadership Chair, Epsilon Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Civil Engineering Undergraduate Researcher for McNair Scholars Program, College of Engineering Ambassador, Mystical 7 Secret Honor Society Member, Mizzou Alternative Breaks Site Leader

Mentor: Dr. Enos Inniss, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Civil Engineering

Walta Abraham is the daughter of Almaz Araia and Tesfaldet Abraham

Rachel Bauer

Hometown: Woolwich Township, NJ
Activities/Honors: 2016-2017 President of the Graduate Professionals, 2017 MU Tribute to Women Award Winner

Mentor: Cheryl Black, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Theatre

Susheel Bhanu Busi

Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Activities/Honors: 3MT winner and MU representative at the Regional competitions

Mentor: Dr. James Amos-Landgraf, Assistant Professor, Veterinary Pathobiology


Rachel Bauer

Hometown: Woolwich Township, NJ
Activities/Honors: 2016-2017 President of the Graduate Professionals, 2017 MU Tribute to Women Award Winner

Mentor: Cheryl Black, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Theater

Rachel Bauer is the daughter of James and Carol Bauer

Rachel Bauer

Hometown: Woolwich Township, NJ
Activities/Honors: 2016-2017 President of the Graduate Professionals, 2017 MU Tribute to Women Award Winner

Mentor: Cheryl Black, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Theater

Rachel Bauer is the daughter of James and Carol Bauer

Sarah Cramer

Hometown: Columbia, MO
Activities/Honors: Sustain Mizzou Beekeeping, STAR Grant Recipient, Ag 100 Grant Recipient

Mentor: Anna Ball, Professor, Agricultural Education and Leadership


Tanner Adkins

Hometown: Elmo, MO
Activities/Honors: Litton Leadership Scholars, The Rock Campus Church, Residential Life Peer Adviser for the Study Abroad FIG, International Agriculture Education Developer for USAID & Chemonics

Mentor: Jon Simonsen, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Leadership

Tanner Adkins is the son of Kevin and Cheryl Adkins

Tanner Adkins

Hometown: Elmo, MO
Activities/Honors: Litton Leadership Scholars, The Rock Campus Church, Residential Life Peer Adviser for the Study Abroad FIG, International Agriculture Education Developer for USAID & Chemonics

Mentor: Jon Simonsen, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Agricultural Education and Leadership

Tanner Adkins is the son of Kevin and Cheryl Adkins

Michael Fink

Hometown: Eureka, MO
Activities/Honors: Graduate Fellow - Pathobiology Area Program, Graduate Facilitator - Veterinary Enrichment and Teambuilding (VET) Orientation Program, Participant - 2016-2017 University of Missouri System Graduate Student Leadership Development Program, Graduate and Professional Mentor - Spring 2017 Deaton Scholar Program 

Mentor: Craig Franklin, Professor, Veterinary Pathobiology

Maria Haag

Hometown: Sullivan, IN
Activities/Honors: Founder of Animal Science Exploration Day

Mentor: William Lamberson, Division Director

Rachel Hankins

Hometown: Wildwood, MO
Activities/Honors: Mizzou Alternative Breaks

Mentor: Sarah Edwards, Mizzou Alternative Breaks Coordinator, Office of Student Engagement

Alex Howe

Hometown: Nottingham, NH
Activities/Honors: Coalition of Graduate Workers - Member, Student Body President for Graduate-Professional Students

Mentor: Peter Vallentyne, Florence G. Kline Chair in Philosophy, Philosophy Department

Sarah Lirley McCune

Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Activities/Honors: PhD Candidate in History, WGST Graduate Minor, Graduate Instructor

Mentor: Dr. LeeAnn Whites, Professor Emerita, Department of History

Kelsey Palmquist

Hometown: Columbia, MO
Activities/Honors: Student Unions Programming Board Graduate Assistant,Transfer Center Steering Committee Member

Mentor: Amanda Purchase Roberts, Dean of Students, Senior Student Services Coordinator

Sarah Lirley McCune

Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Activities/Honors: PhD Candidate in History, WGST Graduate Minor, Graduate Instructor

Mentor: Dr. LeeAnn Whites, Professor Emerita, Department of History

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Sarah Lirley McCune

Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Activities/Honors: PhD Candidate in History, WGST Graduate Minor, Graduate Instructor

Mentor: Dr. LeeAnn Whites, Professor Emerita, Department of History

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Jeff Perkins

Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Activities/Honors: Triangle Coalition - Co-Advisor, NASPA Graduate Associate, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. -  Xi Epsilon Lambda Chapter 

Mentor: Dr. Amalia Dache-Gerbino, Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

Matt Rau

Hometown: Washington, MO
Activities/Honors: Graduate Assistant for Missouri Student Unions, Co-Captain Team, Red, White, and Blue Columbia, Platoon Leader for 1141st Engineer Company (SAPPER), Alumni Advisory Board for the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity

Mentor: Heath Immel, Senior Associate Director, Missouri Student Unions

Eric Scott

Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Activities/Honors: Coalition of Graduate Workers - Co-Chair, Member of the Missouri National Education Association

Mentor: Julija Sukys, Assistant Professor, English


Matt Rau

Hometown: Washington, MO
Activities/Honors: Graduate Assistant for Missouri Student Unions, Co-Captain Team, Red, White, and Blue Columbia, Platoon Leader for 1141st Engineer Company (SAPPER), Alumni Advisory Board for the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity

Mentor: Heath Immel, Senior Associate Director, Missouri Student Unions

Matt Rau is the son of Dr. Michael and Andrea Rau

Matt Rau

Hometown: Washington, MO
Activities/Honors: Graduate Assistant for Missouri Student Unions, Co-Captain Team, Red, White, and Blue Columbia, Platoon Leader for 1141st Engineer Company (SAPPER), Alumni Advisory Board for the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity

Mentor: Heath Immel, Senior Associate Director, Missouri Student Unions

Matt Rau is the son of Dr. Michael and Andrea Rau

Emma Smoczynski

Hometown: Burr Ridge, IL
Activities/Honors: MU Career Center

Mentor: Carrie Collier, Senior Student Services Coordinator, MU Career Center

Jonathon Sun

Hometown: Columbus, OH
Activities/Honors: Graduate Assistantship in the Mulitcultural Center, College of Education Graduate Student Diversity Award

Mentor: Amalia Dache-Gerbino, Assistant Professor, Higher Education

Emma Smoczynski

Hometown: Burr Ridge, IL
Activities/Honors: MU Career Center

Mentor: Carrie Collier, Senior Student Services Coordinator, MU Career Center

Emma Smoczynski is the daughter of Glenn and Sally Smoczynski

Emma Smoczynski

Hometown: Burr Ridge, IL
Activities/Honors: MU Career Center

Mentor: Carrie Collier, Senior Student Services Coordinator, MU Career Center

Emma Smoczynski is the daughter of Glenn and Sally Smoczynski

Emma Smoczynski

Hometown: Burr Ridge, IL
Activities/Honors: MU Career Center

Mentor: Carrie Collier, Senior Student Services Coordinator, MU Career Center

Emma Smoczynski is the daughter of Glenn and Sally Smoczynski

T.J. Thomson

Hometown: Golden, CO
Activities/Honors: Mizzou Queer Media Association - President, 2015 Mizzou Catalyst Award Recipient, NLGJA 2015 Excellence in Photojournalism Award Recipient, 2013 Great Plains Journalism Awards Student Photographer of the Year, and National Blue Key Honor Society Lifetime Member.

Mentor: Keith Greenwood, Associate Professor, Missouri School of Journalism

Leslie Touzeau

Hometown: Columbia, MO
Activities/Honors: Henry Kirklin Community Garden, Hope Goddard Iselin Fellow in Public Horticulture, Ag 100 Grant Recipient, Co-Founder of the Missouri Young Farmers Coalition

Mentor: Dr. Mary Hendrickson, Assistant Professor, Rural Sociology

Blake Willoughby

Hometown: Phenix City, AL
Activities/Honors: Associate Director at the Center for Applied Theatre and Drama Research, Vice-Chair for the City of Columbia's Substance Abuse Advisory Commission, and GSA Director of Public Relations

Mentor: Dr. Cat Gleason, Assistant Professor, Theatre