Michael McLaughlin’s first visit to the University of Missouri was an unofficial one, but that’s all it took for him to realize that MU was the place he needed to be. McLaughlin, who was 14 years old at the time of the trip, was visiting his cousin and saw numerous spots across campus. It was the final stop that sold…
Plant sciences ⋅ Page 1
CAFNR Advisor Spotlight: Mackenzie Ewing
Ewing serves as an academic advisor for the agricultural systems technology and plant sciences degree programs
How rewarding is it to work with students in the agricultural systems technology and plant sciences degree programs? It has been so rewarding working with agricultural systems technology (AST) and plant sciences students! I have been lucky to see them as prospective students and meet the important people in their lives, to being their instructor and seeing them open up,…
An Advocate for CAFNR
Alex Muñoz shares all CAFNR has to offer as director of student recruitment
During a college visit to the University of Missouri as a high school senior, Alex Muñoz was ready to go home. Munoz said his morning meeting didn’t quite go to plan and he was ready to skip out on his second session, which was to take place with a representative from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR).…
Making Valuable Connections
Grace Anderson has gained incredible hands-on learning experiences through Tiger Garden
Tiger Garden, the University of Missouri’s full-service, student-ran floral shop, opened its doors in 2005 and has provided numerous hands-on learning experiences for students across the MU campus. Those opportunities are what brought Grace Anderson to Mizzou. “I was really interested in the plant sciences degree program and when I toured, I had the opportunity to meet with Lesleighan (Cravens),”…
Senior Spotlight: Hunter Seubert
Seubert will graduate with a degree in plant sciences
As a college freshman, Hunter Seubert was working toward a degree in aviation when he realized that path wasn’t the correct one for him. He returned home to Blue Springs, Mo., and was soon connected with Colonial Gardens, a community greenhouse and local nursery. Seubert worked for Kevin Keilig, greenhouse manager at Colonial Gardens, who introduced Seubert to the University…
Connecting the Dots Between Soils and Plants
A double major, Khader Saleh is pursuing his passions for plants and horticulture
As a high school student at Centralia High School, Khader Saleh found himself spending a lot of time at Chance Gardens, a horticultural attraction listed on Missouri’s National Historic Registry. Saleh’s family lived 20 minutes outside of Centralia, so as he waited for them to pick him up after school or football practice, he would kill time by taking in…
An Eye-Opening Honor
Marco Walden, CAFNR's first Henry Kirklin Memorial Scholarship awardee, has worked in numerous greenhouses on the MU campus
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…
Senior Spotlight: Maya Puller
Puller will graduate with a degree in plant sciences
As a track and field athlete at the University of Missouri, time management was key for Maya Puller as she navigated being a college athlete and earning a degree in plant sciences. Some of Puller’s days began as early as 5 or 6 a.m. with practice and weightlifting, followed by her various classes and assignments. Puller, who will graduate from…
Taking a Chance
Mason Ward's research portfolio has earned him two awards from the Entomological Society of America
As a freshman, Mason Ward took a chance and applied to the Freshman Research in Plants (FRIPS) Program with the thought that he would give research a try. Ward wasn’t sure if research would be a major part of his collegiate career, but figured by pushing himself he would certainly learn something new. Now, three years later, Ward’s extraordinary research…
Senior Spotlight: Abby Schmidt
Schmidt will graduate with a degrees in plant sciences and agribusiness management
The Missouri 4-H organization instilled a strong passion for agriculture in Abby Schmidt. She took that passion to the University of Missouri, where she has double majored in plant sciences and agribusiness management. In all, Schmidt said she will graduate in May with nearly 160 credit hours. “It took a lot of organization to make it work, but because I…