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…
Senior Spotlight ⋅ Page 4
Senior Spotlight: Kris Glover
Glover will graduate with a degree in parks, recreation and sport
A tuition increase at his previous university led Kris Glover to consider other educational opportunities. His twin sister help bring Glover to the University of Missouri. “When I decided to transfer, I really wanted to find a place where I would be the most successful,” Glover said. “My sister shared all of the great things that she had been able…
Senior Spotlight: Michelle Maile
Maile will graduate with a degree in natural resource science and management
When Michelle Maile transferred to the University of Missouri, her love for the outdoors led her to select biological sciences for her area of study. Once she got to Mizzou, though, she realized that there were multiple degree programs that hit on her true interests, which are related to natural resources and plant sciences. “At the community college I was…
Senior Spotlight: Carli Carmack
Carmack will graduate with a degree in hospitality management
After earning her associate’s degree from North Central Missouri College (NCMC) in Trenton, Mo., Carli Carmack joined the Office of Sponsored Programs at the University of Missouri as an office support assistant. That was nearly nine years ago. Carmack has worked her way up in the office, and now serves as an administrative team lead. While Carmack said she loves…
Senior Spotlight: Jordan Duenckel
Duenckel will graduate with degrees in food science and nutrition, and finance
As a senior in high school, Jordan Duenckel knew that he was going to continue his education at the University of Missouri – what he didn’t know was what he was going to study. As Duenckel searched through the MU course catalog, an interesting entry caught his eye. “As I was flipping through, I noticed food science and nutrition,” Duenckel…
Senior Spotlight: Luke Eaton
Eaton will graduate with a degree in environmental sciences
During his freshman year, Luke Eaton decided to join the soil judging team on a whim. Eaton didn’t know it at the time, but that decision would open up a new world of opportunities – and help him find the perfect emphasis area to study. Eaton knew he was going to major in environmental sciences when he first came to…
Senior Spotlight: Laura Valencia
Valencia will graduate with a degree in biochemistry
Growing up in Columbia, Laura Valencia always loved the University of Missouri. She had a chance to officially become a Tiger when she transferred to Mizzou in 2018. As she heads toward graduation, Valencia said her time at MU has been incredible. “My favorite memories at Mizzou include all of the homecoming festivities over the years, the late nights studying…
Senior Spotlight: Maria Kemerling
Kemerling will graduate with a degree in animal sciences
Maria Kemerling began cheering in 2010 – and knew she was going to love being on the sidelines as a Mizzou cheerleader when she first stepped on the University of Missouri campus as a freshman in 2017. Now, as Kemerling heads toward graduation, she has numerous game-day experiences at Faurot Field and Mizzou Arena under her belt, as well as…
Senior Spotlight: Hannah Strain
Strain will graduate with a degree in agriculture
A legacy student, Hannah Strain knew that she wanted to carry on the family tradition of attending the University of Missouri. “Attending the University of Missouri has always been something that I had dreamed of,” Strain said. “The campus atmosphere, attentive staff and diverse educational opportunities are all incredible attributes of Mizzou that made committing to school here an easy…
Senior Spotlight: Dillon Linneman
Linneman will graduate with degrees in agricultural systems technology and agribusiness management
The University of Missouri held a special place for Dillon Linneman growing up, as he and his family spent plenty of time in Columbia watching the Tiger football and basketball teams. He also made the trek to Columbia multiple times a years through FFA. When Linneman’s senior year of high school rolled around, Mizzou was the easy choice. Not only…