Student Success

March 25, 2023

2023 AFA Institute Selections Include Several CAFNR Students

Several CAFNR students were recently chosen as 2023 Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Animal Institute and Food Institute selections. AFA experiences connect students to a diverse community of peers and professionals who are passionate about food and agriculture. The goal of the experiences is to challenge the way students think about themselves, their potential career and the agriculture industry. 2023 AFA Animal Institute Selections: Addison Anna Brisbane, sophomore, agriculture Caitlyn Kleffner, junior, animal sciences Emily Popa, sophomore, animal sciences Aleece Thornhill, junior animal sciences Tanner Tipton, junior, animal sciences 2023 AFA Food Institute Selections: Halley Blades, senior, food science and…

March 2, 2023

Five CAFNR Students Earn Mizzou ’39 Honors

This week, the Mizzou Alumni Association and Alumni Association Student Board named the 2023 Mizzou 18 Award and Mizzou ’39 Award 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 ’39 Award to 39 outstanding seniors each year. Recipients are chosen for their academic achievement, leadership, and service to Mizzou and the community. The five CAFNR students to earn the honor are: Javier Kelly Cuenca – Biochemistry Kelly Gillespie – Hospitality Management Isaiah Massey – Agriculture Jack McGrath – Parks, Recreation,…
female student with dark hair that's pulled back is standing in a lab with several instruments while wearing a lab coat

Aug. 17, 2022

Building a Research Footprint

Kristen Barwick, junior biochemistry major, secured two national awards this summer.
In March, the Mizzou Alumni Association and Alumni Association Student Board named the 2022 Mizzou 18 Award and Mizzou ’39 Award recipients. Six CAFNR students earned the honor, including four biochemistry students. Pictured, from left to right: Molly Shumard, Angelina Hein, Shari Freyermuth, Anna Sullentrup, Maya Derhake.

June 27, 2022

An Outstanding Honor

Four biochemistry students earned Mizzou '39 honors in March.
This year, CAFNR welcomed two students from Ecole d’Ingénieurs de PURPAN – Anne-Fleur Le Segretain du Patis and Domitille Tissier. As students at Ecole d’Ingénieurs de PURPAN, Anne-Fleur and Domitille are required to study in another country outside of France. They said they chose the United States to learn English, as well as learn more about American culture.

May 15, 2022

A Global Experience

CAFNR welcomed two students from Ecole d’Ingénieurs de PURPAN this year – Anne-Fleur Le Segretain du Patis and Domitille Tissier.
The Mizzou National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) team won this year's National Student Marketing Competition. Their first-place presentation centered on the GerriRig Grain Management System, a product the team modeled after the Grain Weevil, a grain bin safety and management robot. MU competed against more than 20 teams in early April during NAMA’s annual Agri-Marketing Conference. Pictured, from left to right: Annette Kendall (advisor), Regan Ragsdale, Drew Kientzy, Zak Bush, Kate Thompson and Halley Blades. Photo courtesy of Mizzou NAMA.

April 25, 2022

Taking home top honors

Mizzou NAMA team wins National Student Marketing Competition.
A Guinness World Record holder for highest kneeling jump (male), senior Tyler Lutz is gaining valuable hands-on learning experiences through the nutrition and exercise physiology degree program. Courses such as NEP 4200: Sports Performance and Conditioning have given Lutz an opportunity to improve his athletic performances through new procedures, techniques and modalities.

April 11, 2022

One for the Record Books

A multi-sport athlete at Southern Boone County High School in Ashland, Mo., Tyler Lutz quickly found success as a triple and long jumper on his school’s track and field team. That success turned into a passion for Lutz, as he began precise exercises to maximize his leaping ability. Lutz has continued to perfect his craft as a student at the University of Missouri. He even found a specific jump that he had a natural talent for – the kneeling jump. “I saw some people doing kneeling jumps on social media, and I decided that I wanted to give it a…
Marco Walden, a junior majoring in plant sciences, was the first student to receive the Henry Kirklin Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to underrepresented minority students studying plant sciences. Photo courtesy of Marco Walden.

Feb. 21, 2022

An Eye-Opening Honor

A member of the Missouri National Guard, Marco Walden was called into disaster and humanitarian relief efforts during the initial COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in mid-2020. Walden served the state in multiple ways as a combat medic, from helping with testing to providing vaccinations for individuals in smaller communities and towns. Walden, a junior majoring in plant sciences, took a gap year to help with the efforts. When he returned to the University of Missouri last year the first thing he did was meet with Mary Ann Gowdy, his advisor and an assistant teaching professor in the Division of Plant Science…
Maya Johnson has taken part in two different internship opportunities during her time at MU, including one with ICL Food Specialties. Johnson has also conducted undergraduate research during her time in the food science and nutrition degree program. Photo courtesy of Maya Johnson.

Feb. 16, 2022

An Important Degree Program

In May, Maya Johnson will graduate with a food science and nutrition degree from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). It will actually be Johnson’s second Mizzou graduation ceremony. Johnson is a graduate of the Mizzou Academy High School program. She spent her senior year of high school in the program, earning her diploma during a ceremony at Memorial Union. “This program gave me a lot of freedom and allowed me to set my own pace as I completed my high school degree,” said Johnson, who is also minoring in hospitality management. “I had…
In just two years, Chase Goldinger’s YouTube channel has gained nearly 8,000 subscribers, who follow along as Goldinger features life on the farm and the hands-on learning opportunities offered through the agricultural systems technology (AST) degree program at MU. Goldinger, a sophomore, is majoring in AST. Photo courtesy of Chase Goldinger.

Feb. 11, 2022

A Video View of Hands-On Learning

With just a couple days left before he graduated from Palmyra High School, Chase Goldinger’s friends thought it would be funny if he made a YouTube video about him working out on his family’s farm. Goldinger thought the idea actually sounded like a lot of fun. “I put something together real quick and showed it to all my friends,” Goldinger said. “We had a good laugh at it. I think it got like 12 views, which was honestly a bit discouraging. But I made another video and then another one. It was the snowball effect; I was really enjoying putting…