explorate University of Missouri Honors College Newsletter
The Greatest Homecoming in History
A look at Homecomings past
Nicholas Akins
Student Spotlight
A Guide to Early Registration Advising
Advice from the Newest Adviser HC Adviser Kristina Bradley
Oct. 29, 2014 | honors.missouri.edu
- explorate - - (ex-plo-raht) is a explorate plural imperative form of the - - “to exLatin verb explorare, plore.� Drawing on the Honors College motto, Explore. - Dream. Discover., explorate invites students to seek out every opportunity available to them.
Facebook University of Missouri Honors College Twitter @MUHonors
- - contributors explorate editor Rachel Koehn staff reporters Siyu Lei Kate Maxcy Jacob Renie Kelsie Schrader Congrong Zheng faculty adviser Megan Boyer
Cover photo by Sam Vickery.
in this issue 3 Announcements 5 A Guide to Early Registration Advising 7 Nicholas Akins Student Spotlight
9 Sports: The Greatest Homecoming in History 11 Faculty: Advice from the Newest Adviser HC Adviser Kristina Bradley
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Announcements Spring 2015 Honors Courses A list of Spring 2015 honors courses can be found here: http://honors.missouri.edu/courses/catalog.php. Please bookmark this page. The catalog will be updated on a regular basis.
Spring 2015 Honors Tutorials
Based on the Oxford style of teaching, “Honors Tutorials” pair a small group of honors students (typically two to five) with a distinguished MU faculty member to discuss a topic, author, book/s, or issue very intensely over the course of a semester. Meetings take place in the faculty member’s office (or other, non-classroom setting.) Please find a description of each tutorial at http://honors.missouri.edu/courses/tutorials_spring_2015.pdf
If you would like to participate in one of these tutorials, please email a one-page statement to the tutorial professor about why you’d like to enroll in the tutorial, addressing the following questions:
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Why does a tutorial method of learning appeal to you? What do you think you’ll gain from the experience? And why are you interested in the particular topic? Make sure to indicate your major/s as well as your overall GPA.
Tutorial Applications are due Friday, November 14th.
Talk Sports and Math with the Mizzou Math Club The Mizzou Math Club is excited to host Matt Fischer, president and founder of SportsFormulator on Wednesday, October 29th from 7:30-8:30pm in Switzler Hall 101.
SportsFormulator, a Columbia-based company, predicts sports outcomes through a data analysis and proprietary formulas. They predict teams’ chances of winning and points scored for their upcoming match-ups in the NFL, College Football, NBA, College Basketball, NHL, and more! Founded two years ago, they beat ESPN Insider predictors in College football and NFL for the 2013-14 season, their first full season! Questions? Email Anne Marie Coultrap at avcz98@mail.missouri.edu
Civic Leaders Congressional Scholars
The Civic Leaders Internship Program is very excited to announce scholarships to support students interested in representing MU in the offices of Missouri Congressional Delegates in Washington, D.C. For the last three years students from degree programs campus-wide—for instance English, Journalism, Agriculture, Political Science, and Business—have worked with our Missouri Delegation at the same time as earning academic credit and advancing towards graduation. We now have funding to support your travel and the additional expenses you incur when you move to and live in Washington, D.C.
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The Civic Leaders Congressional Scholars Program awards academic credit and congressional internship experience to Mizzou sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Additionally, Congressional Scholars receive scholarships to support their time in Washington, D.C. Over the years, Congressional Scholars from a diversity of degree programs and majors have served in the following offices:
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Congressman William Lacy Clay (MO-1) Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) Congressman Sam Graves (MO-6) Congressman Billy Long (MO-7) Congressman Jason Smith (MO-8) Senator Claire McCaskill Senator Roy Blunt House Small Business Committee
We are looking for students interested in leadership and public service from all academic majors and backgrounds. You should have excellent communication skills and a strong interest in exploring and understanding public policy.
Interning in Washington D.C. is truly a life-changing professional experience. You will interact with our nation’s leaders while shaping your future professional profile. You will be immersed in the history and prestige of our nation’s capital. Most importantly, you will represent MU with our Missouri state delegation.
For more information and to schedule a workshop that will assist you in applying for the program, please visit our Online Scheduler. While we highly recommend attending a workshop and feel as though it will make you more competitive, we understand that schedules are tight. Please email us at clip@missouri.edu if you cannot attend a workshop, and we will forward on to you the application packet.
Help Start a New Major on Campus
To all MU students: We are a team of faculty members planning to launch a new major at MU in Fall 2015. Please take a few minutes to complete this four-question survey so that we can assess student interest in the major: https:// missouri.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_dbgfjlR3oHKJnlX. Thank you! Announcement sponsored by Digital Storytelling Committee.
Medical and Dental Application Program (MDAP) (for Juniors and Seniors) MDAP provides comprehensive support for students in the process of applying to health professions schools. This program is open to students applying for 2016 entering class and features a series of detailed informational seminars, an individualized application assessment conference, a personal statement conference, and a committee interview designed to mirror an admissions interview. Participants also have the opportunity to receive individual guidance from the Medopp Advisors regarding their Health Professions Resume, personal statement and letters of recommendation. Applicants who complete the requirements of program are eligible to participate in the Committee Interview process, which results in an evaluator letter from the Pre-Health Professions Committee, a group of faculty and senior staff with a range of interdisciplinary expertise. This is an important component of an applicant’s file. To register for the program, students must complete an application (found on http://premed.missouri.edu/apply/mdap.php) and return it to the Medopp Advising Office.
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A Guide to
Early Registration Advising in the Honors College
Reporting by Kate Maxcy
When you call to schedule an appointment, please have your registration date and time available. You can find your registration date and time in your MyZou student center. Advisors will try to meet with you one or two days before your registration time so that they have a clear indication of what classes will still be open for enrollment at the time of your registration date. Note: Walk-in general advising is available for non-premed specific questions Monday—Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 am and 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Honors College Students may schedule an advising appointment by calling (573) 8823893.
Who can be advised by the Honors College? For “Undecided” Honors Students Honors students who have not officially declared a major are assigned to the Honors College for academic advising. Undecided students may meet with an advisor in the Honors College to discuss possible majors and career goals, compare degree programs, select courses, and get assistance with registration. In addition, advisors can assist and/or make referrals for students on any number of academic or non-academic issues.
changing a major, honors courses, etc. However, honors advisors do not serve as the primary advisor for students with declared majors and cannot substitute for a student’s assigned academic advisor. A student’s assigned academic advisor will be able to provide the most comprehensive information on requirements in the student’s degree program.
Medopp Advising For Premed/Dental/Optometry/Podiatry Students Students who are pursuing pre-professional tracks in medicine, dentistry, or optometry are encouraged to meet with a Medopp Advisor in the Honors College. Medopp Advisors will be able to provide advice on course selection, information on professional school admissions tests, guidance in making application to professional schools, guidance about letters of recommendation, and information about research, healthcare and shadowing opportunities.
Medopp Freshman Connection Sessions Registration is now available for the Medopp Freshman Connection advising sessions. These intimate group sessions are designed specifically for first year pre-health students (Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Podiatry and Physician Assistant) who want to maximize their time and competitiveness for professional school. In these small groups, we will touch on a few important topics such as courses for the For All Honors Students Any honors student may see an honors ad- Spring semester, shadowing and volunteering, visor to discuss such things as career goals, research, study abroad and other topics first
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year students need to know, but the groups the Registrar via email to your MU account. will also be interactive and there will be plenty You may also use MyZou to view your enof time for Q&A. rollment date. Sessions will be held during several time slots • Resolve any outstanding holds (immunizaon Oct. 24, 30 & 31 and Nov. 6, 7, 13 & 14. All tion, transcripts, etc.). This will be noted in small groups will meet in the Lowry Hall Conthe email from the Office of the Registrar ference Room (2nd floor). Space is limited, so that notifies you of your registration date register early by calling 882-3893. Each sesand time. sion is limited to 8 students. • Make an appointment to see your advisor. You need to make an Advising appointment Medopp Sophomore/Junior (Pre-Application as soon as you can, but the actual appointYear) Connection Sessions ment time should be as near to your RegisRegistration is now available for the Medopp tration time as possible. Sophomore/Junior advising sessions. These • Review the online Schedule of Courses on intimate group sessions are designed to preMyZou. pare pre-health students (Medicine, Dentistry, • Look through your college catalog and Optometry, Podiatry and Physician Assistant) degree requirements/general education for the application process for professional checklist. The college catalog lists requireschool. These sessions are not for those stuments for each major, prerequisites for dents currently enrolled in MDAP. In these courses (requirements that need to be comgroups, we will cover important topics such as pleted before a course can be taken), and standardized test prep, timeline of the applicaprovides course descriptions for each class. tion process, what’s a competitive candidacy • Using your college catalog and the Schedule and prerequisite courses. The groups will be of Courses, develop a list of possible coursinteractive and there will be plenty of time for es. At this initial planning stage, it is probaQ&A. bly best to develop a list of possible courses Sessions will be held during several time slots and not worry about the specific times and on Oct. 24, 30 & 31 and Nov. 6, 7, 13 & 14. All days the classes meet. Since you may not be small groups will meet in the Lowry Hall Conregistering until late in the registration peference Room (2nd floor). Space is limited, so riod, the specific sections for a course you register early by calling 882-3893. Each seschoose may not be available. sion is limited to 8 students. • Meet with your advisor. Bring the list of your potential courses, degree requirements or general education requirements and a list Prepare for Registration and Advising of all of your questions to your advising apAppointment pointment. • On the appropriate day and time, register To have a successful Advising Appointment: for your classes. • Know the specific dates for registration. • Note the date and time you may register. This will be sent to you from the Office of
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Nicholas Akins
by Siyu Lei
Moving out of an on-campus residence hall and socialized with many other Honors College students. adapting to living off-campus is an adjustment for The socializing in particular stood out as one of Akins’ many MU sophomores. In Nicholas Akins’ case, this best experiences in the Honors College. process might have been easier. After all, Akins is “Schurz is just a great place to live your freshman now living with three of his best friends — all three of year,” Akins said. “It’s a great place to get involved, a whom lived just down the hallway from Akins’ Schurz great place to meet people who are like you, and also Hall dorm room during his freshman year. people who aren’t like you. It’s just kind of a great “Two of [my roommates] were taste of Mizzou all in one building.” in a journalism FIG,” Akins said. As an executive board member “My other friend wasn’t in a FIG, of the residence hall, Akins landed but he was just in the general the opportunity to organize various Honors community.” events throughout the year. Among Do you have a story that Before moving into Schurz Hall, them was Schurz’s annual barbeque Akins said he had some preset last October, the event that made a deserves to be in the notions of what Honors College strong impression on Akins. spotlight? If you or somestudents may look like. He expectAs part of the MU Homecoming one you know has a ed them to be “trying as hard in tradition, each residence hall orgastory that you would li k e school” as he is. This was definitenizes a barbeque every year where ly true, which he found out once all the residents are invited to come to see in the Honors Colhe moved in and started getting together to experience the tradition lege Newsletter’s student to know other people who chaland, of course, share some good spotli g ht, let us know! lenged him academically. Accordfood. Judges, who are usually facing to Akins, the challenge didn’t ulty members around campus, rate end with academics. these barbeques based on the hall Send your story idea and “They push me as a person,” decorations, general atmosphere, contact information to Akins said. “And they push me in display of hospitality and quality of si y ulei @ mai l .mi s souri . edu. other areas of my life.” food. Besides finding his best friends “The barbeque is kind of a point and roommates, Akins had some where everyone in the residence great times during his first year at MU. He was on the hall, and people from outside of the residence hall, executive board of the hall government in Schurz, get to celebrate together,” Akins said. “It’s just cool home of the Honors Learning Community (HLC). As because everyone comes in and appreciates what you a member of the Honors College pre-med FIG, Akins have done for all that time.” also took classes with his fellow FIG members and Although Akins no longer lives in a residence hall
What’s Your Story?
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this year, his tie with this particular Homecoming tradition is only strengthened. This February, Akins applied for the 2014 Homecoming Steering Committee. “Homecoming just has its special spot in my heart,” Akins said. “I really like the celebration of our school. Just a great way for basically everyone to get involved.” Akins went through two rounds of interviews before being selected as one of the three members on the Special Events Committee. More specifically, Akins was in charge of this year’s “M-I-Z B-B-Q” event. This year’s “M-I-Z B-B-Q” took place the afternoon of October 16. Instead of organizing the barbeque for Schurz Hall, Akins was in charge of communicating with more than two-dozen residence halls about the details of the barbeque, providing the residential life staff with assistance and finding the judges. Akins did everything he could to make sure the event ran smoothly. On a larger scale, Akins and the rest of the Homecoming Steering Committee met for the eight months leading up to Homecom-
Photo by Siyu Lei.
ing weekend to prepare for the time-honored tradition. “It’s such a well-oiled machine,” Akins said, “because here at Mizzou, this is like our 103rd Homecoming. So many people have done this before that basically everything has been organized for us. It’s just a matter of executing.” Since February, Akins has attended weekly meetings and “sometimes more than that.” This month is when almost all of the Homecoming events have taken place, so he and his fellow committee members have been meeting every day. “It’s not a stressful overwhelming. It’s just overwhelming in the time sense,” Akins said. Among all the Homecoming events, Akins definitely has his fa-
vorite: talent. For the talent competition, which took place from October 20 to October 22, groups of students create and perform 10-minute skits based upon each year’s theme. Akins thought of this event as a great time to just sit back, relax and enjoy a good show. “Homecoming can be very, very serious for good reason, because we have a blood drive,” Akins said. “But it’s always nice to get a little comic once in a while, so I [was] excited for [talent], for sure.” As the planning phase for Homecoming ends, Akins wants to focus more on classes and keep raising his GPA. Leaning toward pediatrics or oncology, Akins knows it will take effort to reach his goal: getting in to a good medical school.
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SPORTS
The Missouri Tigers celebrated their 103rd Homecoming with a 24-14 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodor
The Greatest Homecoming in History
With this year’s Homecoming victory in the books, MU reflects on Homecomings past By Jacob Renie They say Homecoming was born in Missouri. It began on that fated night in 1911 when the border war between two states was immortalized in history forever. MU’s Director of Athletics, Chester L. Brewer, had a vision. He wanted the season ending game to mean more than just playing the hated Jayhawks. He wanted it to be more than the signal of the end of a season of football. He wanted a celebration of all things MU. And what better way to celebrate than having MU alumni “Come Home” for a season-ending hurrah? So he gathered a crowd of over 9,000 and they flocked into Rollins Field. The game ended in grand fashion when Tiger captain Glen Shuck kicked a game tying field goal with four minutes left to play. During Kansas’ final play, Missouri’s Billy Blees completed an open field tackle to maintain the tie, and the exuberate Tiger crowd carried him off the field.
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Thus, Homecoming was born. Since then, MU has added more and more fanfare, making it into the great tradition it is today. At its Homecoming, Missouri boasts the nation’s largest student-run blood drive. The university also hosts a day of service, a parade, a food drive and a talent show. On the eve of the game, the whole town of Columbia comes out to view the Greek houses’ decorations. It carries the atmosphere of going to Christmas lights and is a perfect symbol of the school embracing the community. In its 103 years of celebrating Homecoming, Mizzou boasts a 59-38-5 record. But there is one game that will forever remain in the annuls of Mizzou Homecomings as the greatest. It happened four years ago. When the then No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners traveled to the No. 11 Missouri Tigers. The game was set up to be one for the ages. Both teams were 6-0 and on pace to win their half of the Big 12 and were competing for a spot in the conference championship. The two weeks prior had just consecutively seen the No. 1 teams get beaten, and the Tigers were looking to see that streak continue. College Game Day came to Columbia for the first time and dubbed the day “Show Me Saturday.” A crowd of 18,000 fans packed around the columns, setting a record for most attendance in Game Day history that still stands today. This Sooners team was stacked. Among the notables are Saint’s receiver Kenny Stills and Cowboy’s running back DeMarco Murray. In fact, every Oklahoma player that scored that night would go on to be drafted by the NFL.
Photo by Jonathan Thompson.
res on Oct. 25, 2014. In the spirit of Homecoming, Tiger fans made a “Tiger Stripe” pattern across Faurot Field. It started raining a little before game time, but not even the weather could stop the gaming from taking place. It was the Tigers’ destiny to be there. On the opening kickoff, sophomore back-up Gahn McGaffie went 86 yards to the house. It was his first and only touchdown of his career, and as his teammates tackled him in the end zone, the nation began buzzing. Just last week, Wisconsin had upset the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, and it had started on a returned opening kickoff. The MU defense then halted the Sooners on the ensuing drive, but special teams fumbled the punt return and the Sooners got the ball in Missouri territory. OU’s quarterback Landry Jones hit Kenny Stills for a 27-yard touchdown pass and the game was tied again at 7-7. Neither team scored for the next 10 minutes, but as the first quarter reached its final minutes, OU began stringing a couple of plays together and reached MU’s 12-yard line. Then lightning struck for Missouri as Aldon Smith intercepted Landry Jones’ pass and went 58 yards to the Sooners’ 28. With its second play of the second quarter, Missouri pushed another six across with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by De’Vion Moore. MU was now up 14-7 and kept the lead until the fourth minute when DeMarco Murray caught a 4-yard touchdown pass. MU quickly responded and marched down field to kick a 36-yard field goal with 1 second left in the half. The Tigers successfully kicked another field goal in the eighth minute of the third quarter to go up 20-14. Oklahoma responded on the following drive, going 69 yards and culminating in a 3-yard pass to James Hanna. The Sooners now led for the first time of the game at 21-20 -- a lead that would last all of 5 minutes. Missouri went 72 yards on its opening drive of the fourth and Blaine Gabbert completed a 38-yard pass to Jerrell Jackson to put MU up 26-21. Missouri then failed the two-point conversion, but wouldn’t surrender the lead for the rest of the game.
On the very first play of the next drive, Missouri’s Zaviar Gooden intercepted Landry Jones and the Tigers went 17 yards before being forced to kick a 23yard field goal. MU now led 29-21 and the crowd could taste victory with only 10 minutes left to play. Three minutes later, James Franklin scrambled 3 yards to put MU up 36-21. The Sooners responded by returning the kickoff 77 yards to the Tigers’ 15 and Trey Millard finished the job with a 2-yard carry into the end zone. The score now stood 36-27 after a failed two-point conversion. Missouri then recovered the Sooners’ attempted onside kick but was halted on offense and forced to punt. The Tiger defense then forced the Sooner offense to go three and out and punt with 2 minutes left. With that punt, Missouri knew it had done the impossible. It had upset the No. 1 team in the nation. This was the first time ever in school history that the Tigers beat a No. 1 ranked opponent. It truly was the greatest Homecoming in MU history. And it all began with a touchdown by a backup sophomore. Sources: ESPN, University of Missouri, Rock M Nation
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FACULTY “enroll,” it’s a race between 300 other students to hit the “enroll” button before someone else gets into the class. It’s a long process that academic adviser Kristina Bradley knows all too well.
Photo by Kelsie Schrader.
their schedule, that’s not at 8 a.m., that’s close to their previous class, that’s with that one professor that everyone recommends, that saton isfies some specific requirement, and that—of course— only has more than one open spot left. And then students must create a backup schedule, full of the same classes but at different times in case that one class fills up before they have time to register. And then, when the time finally comes to click
Advice from the Newest Adviser Honors adviser Kristina Bradley Early Registration By Kelsie Schrader Early Registration can be a stressful time. It sneakily creeps up and adds itself to an already-massive todo list. It forces students to engage in in-depth searches on myZou for the one class that will perfectly fit
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As a former Honors student at MU, Bradley has had much experience with Early Registration. She knows the struggles of finding the perfect class, of creating the perfect schedule, of fulfilling requirements while also taking interesting classes. Now, as a new academic adviser for the Honors College, she is using her knowledge and expertise to help other students navigate the process and make it all a little less stressful. Bradley first came to MU for her undergraduate degree in Psychology, which she graduated with in 2007. She later returned to earn a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology. She has since spent most of her time in Columbia.
“Columbia and Mizzou have become my home,” Bradley said, which has encouraged her to work in a variety of positions at MU before recently accepting a job within the Honors College. “I don’t want to leave this college bubble,” she joked. Having been a member of the Honors College during her own studies at MU, Bradley truly understands the full benefits of Honors classes. They expose students to new ideas, making them more well-rounded. The classes are focused on student engagement and critical thinking. Students who may be a bit apprehensive about a class may find that the Honors section of that class is more manageable. As for classes that students are already interested in, the Honors sections are even more in-depth and engaging. “It’s sort of like the best of both worlds,” Bradley said. “It’s nice to balance the required classes with something a little more stimulating.” With all of her experience in the Honors Col-
lege, Bradley is a great resource for Honors students looking for Honors classes to fulfill the Honors requirement. She can assist students in their search for an Honors class that fits their interest, fulfills their requirements and aligns with their schedules.
dents to first see their academic advisers, who can ensure the students are on track. Then, students can meet with the Honors advisers to discuss Honors classes and other such details.
Whether students are in need of an Honors class, seeking ways to get involved on campus, looking for information on study abroad or just needing a refresher on how to use myZou, the Honors advisers can help, and if they cannot, “we get them in touch with the right people,” Bradley said.
Bradley is a great resource for students, and during the stressful time of Early Registration, her humor can certainly help to lighten the atmosphere. Stopping in to meet with her may just allow students to learn of her interesting hobbies, such as her weekend DJ-ing at Eastside Tavern under the name DJ Glitterstorm. Any students needing advice or even just a laugh should drop by her office at the Honors College. As Bradley said, though students may walk into her office stressed, they almost always leave feeling less stressed—an aspect of the job Bradley finds to be the most rewarding.
Bradley suggests that, upon receiving their registration date and time from the Registrar’s office, students make an appointment with their academic advisers. Those advisers will provide students with all the information they need on required classes and other such requirements for their specific majors. After students have met with those advisers, they should begin making their schedule on myZou. They can then also meet with their Honors adviser to ask any questions they may have.
According to Bradley, for freshman especially, Early Registration can be a big change. Most freshmen have never had the freedom making their own schedules. “With great power comes great responsibility,” Bradley said. “You don’t want to just be taking all of the classes that look really fun and don’t do anything towards your degree plan.” That is why it’s so important for stu-
The Honors advisers are available every day from 9 -11 a.m. and 2:304:30 p.m. for walk-ins. Students can drop by any time during those hours. They can ask any questions during that time, but Bradley suggests that students who have in-depth questions that take more time to answer call ahead and make an appointment. However, if a student suddenly thinks of a question and stops in at the Honors College between class to ask that questions, they will not be turned away. Students are encouraged to at least check in with their Honors adviser before registering for classes.
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Source Unknown
Oct. 29, 2014 | honors.missouri.edu