Summer Program Offers Talented Missouri High School Students New Opportunities at MU

June 7th, 2011

COLUMBIA, Mo. – This summer at the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA), hosted by the University of Missouri, approximately 330 high school students across Missouri will have the opportunity of a lifetime, and perhaps more importantly, a chance to be themselves.

“MSA provides a place for bright and talented students to realize there are others out there like themselves,” said Ted Tarkow, director of the program and associate dean of the University of Missouri College of Arts and Science. “Sometimes high school students feel like it’s a liability to be bright and talented. The MSA validates that it’s OK to be bright and talented.”

MSA began in 1985, and by the end of this summer more than 9,000 Missouri students will have participated in the annual program, which provides students unique opportunities to expand their educational and social skills. This year, from June 12 through July 2, students will spend the bulk of each day in an intensive classroom setting, studying one of four individually selected subjects, including mathematics, science, social studies and humanities. Each Missouri high school is allowed to nominate one junior-to-be for the academy; larger schools may nominate more. Nearly every county in the state is represented.

“I look back on my summer spent with you with the fondest of memories,” said Erica Endicott, who attended MSA in 1997. “I think of it as one of the happiest times of my life.”

Outside the classroom, students are introduced to a series of activities, workshops and discussions by guest speakers. Students will learn from experts in the fields of Islam and Scottish culture, learn the science behind NASCAR and discuss the issues such as the national debt. Participants also will get the chance to visit with Missouri’s Poet Laureate as well as match wits against the Missouri state Scrabble champion.

“We want these students to go for it, to plunge right in to these great learning opportunities, to live and learn like they have never had a chance to before,” Tarkow said. “We want to help them network as well as drive home the idea that being smart is a good thing.”

MSA participants are among the top 0.5 percent of Missouri students academically. Tarko says individuals who attend the academy leave with the understanding that they have a responsibility to share their talents with others for the betterment of their local Missouri communities. Many MSA alumni participate in programs such as Teach for America, Peace Corps or other nonprofit organizations. MSA alumni also continue to succeed academically. Of those who are old enough, 98 percent of academy alumni have graduated from high school, 90 percent have graduated from college and nearly 2,500 alumni have earned graduate or professional degrees.

Funding for the MSA 2011 is provided by the University of Missouri and generous contributions from private groups and corporations including Ameren Missouri. This year, there is also a student activity fee assessed on all participants.

MSA 2011 Roster

First Name	Last Name	Hometown	High School
Kevin	Ackermann	St. Paul	Ft. Zumwalt North High
Shayda	Afrassiab	Moberly	Moberly Sr. High
Breanna	Akins	Ironton	Arcadia Valley High
Clara	Albers	Berger	New Haven High
Sarah	Allen	St. Louis	Ladue Horton Watkins High
Nickolas	Allison	El Dorado Springs	El Dorado Springs High
Helen	Alpern	Liberty	Liberty High
Christian	Alten	St. Louis	Parkway North High
Adam	Arcipowski	St. Louis	Metro High
Emma	Arett	St. Louis	Metro High
Jacob	Ash	California	California High
Jordan	Backes	Linn	Helias High School
Kylie	Bain	Lees Summit	Raymore-Peculiar Sr. High
Josiah	Baker	Lees Summit	Blue Springs South High
Claire	Banderas	Lees Summit	Archbishop O’Hara High
Jantzen	Bates	Springfield	Central High
Samantha	Behen	Gladstone	Oak Park High
Ananya	Benegal	Fenton	Lindbergh Sr. High
Nicholas	Benham	Branson	Branson High
Erin	Bennett	Raymore	Raymore-Peculiar Sr. High
John	Bentley	Springfield	Springfield Catholic High School
Zachary	Bequette	Hallsville	Hallsville High
Nick	Bira	Troy	St. Dominic High School
Kislay	Bishnupuri	Fenton	Metro High
Celeste	Blum	Bonne Terre	North Co. Sr. High
Andrew	Boal	Ballwin	Lafayette Sr. High
Austin	Boice	Lamar	Lamar High
Jennifer	Boston	Berkeley	McCluer High
Robert	Branson	Butler	Butler High
Sean	Brennan	Columbia	Columbia-Hickman High
Auric	Brockfeld	Cole Camp	Cole Camp R-I High
Grace	Brown	Liberty	Liberty North High
Samuel	Bumgardner	Independence	Truman High
Kayla	Burns	Lee’s Summit	Lee’s Summit Sr. High
Louis	Burton	Hannibal	Hannibal Sr. High
Craig	Buschkoetter	Lake St. Louis	Chaminade College Prep School
Slava	Butkovich	Blue Springs	Blue Springs High
Elizabeth	Carroll	Chesterfield	Parkway West High
Hannah	Carter	Farmington	Farmington Sr. High
Sydni	Carter	Warrensburg	Warrensburg High
Jin	Chang	Springfield	Parkview High
Serena	Chang	Springfield	Central High
Leela	Chapman	Manchester	Parkway South High
Arjuna	Chatrathi	Lees Summit	Rockhurst High School
Daniel	Chen	Kansas City	Park Hill High
Isabella	Cianciolo	Kansas City	Center Sr. High
Anthony	Clapp	Kansas City	Lincoln College Prep.
Darcy	Cochran	Bolivar	Bolivar High
Jacob	Cohen	Chesterfield	Marquette Sr. High
Christopher	Colletti	Grover	Eureka Sr. High
Brianna	Collins	Jackson	Jackson Senior High
Chad	Conaty	St. Charles	Francis Howell North High
Lincoln	Connell	Norwood	Norwood High
Jacob	Connelly	Kansas City	Winnetonka High
Nathaniel	Conway	Kansas City	Park Hill High
Heather	Cook	Perryville	Perryville Sr. High
Alicia	Coronado	Manchester	Parkway South High
Jared	Counts	St. Peters	Ft. Zumwalt South High
Courtney	Cramer	Hamilton	Penney High
Zoey	Craun	Rolla	Rolla Sr. High
Ethan	Currier	Marshfield	Marshfield High
Darby	Dachroeden	Florrissant	McCluer North High
David	Daniel	Independence	William Chrisman High
Trevor	Darby	Hartsburg	Southern Boone High
Marissa	Dasta	Saint Joseph	Benton High
Jill	Davis	Brookline	Republic High
Justin	Davis-Morgan	St. Louis	Saint Louis Priory School
Avery	Day	Marshfield	Marshfield High
Lucas	Day	Rolla	Rolla Sr. High
Grace	Dearing	St. Louis	Metro High
Grace	Deitzler	University City	University City Sr. High
John	del Rosario, Jr.	St. Louis	Saint Louis Priory School
Alexis	Diaz	Independence	Truman High
Kyle	Dillon	Joplin	Joplin High
Blake	Dixon	Easton	St. Joseph Central High
Danielle	Doerr	Joplin	Joplin High
Michael	Doman	Kirksville	Kirksville Sr. High
Trevor	Donnelly	St. Clair	St. Clair High
Courtney	Dorris	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt West High
Noah	Dromgoole	University City	Crossroads School
Anna	Duban	Florrissant	Trinity Catholic High School
James	Edgington	Kennett	Kennett High
Ellen	Eisenhour	Springfield	Central High
Ahmed	Elbermawy	Canton	Canton High
Rachelle	Engen	Bates City	Odessa High
Dani	Eschweiler	St. Charles	St. Charles West High
Hank	Essman	Springfield	Central High
Nancy	Fairbank	Springfield	Central High
Jacob	Fallman	Bates City	Oak Grove High
Ethan	Farber	University City	University City Sr. High
Stephanie	Fei	St. Louis	Lindbergh Sr. High
Anjali	Fernandes	Creve Coeur	Pattonville Sr. High
Joseph	Fessenden	Troy	Troy Buchanan High
Andrew	Floyd	Columbia	Rock Bridge Sr. High
Joshua	Freeman	Ava	Ava High
Jacob	Freyermuth	Columbia	Rock Bridge Sr. High
Nicholas	Gaeke	St. Louis	Lutheran High School North
Justin	Genova	Chesterfield	De Smet Jesuit High School
Tanner	Gentges	Westphalia	Fatima High
Timothy	Gerlach	Hillsboro	Hillsboro High
Hannah	Gerlt	Foristell	Emil E. Holt Sr. High
Kelly	Gillock	Puxico	Puxico High School
Katlyn	Gladson	Independence	Truman High
Annalise	Goeke	St. Louis	Hancock High
Travis	Golick	St. Louis	St. Louis University High School
Elizabeth	Goodfellow	Columbia	Rock Bridge Sr. High
Katelyn	Goodwin	Camdenton	Camdenton High
Morgan	Grandon	Troy	Troy Buchanan High
Michele	Griffin	Mexico	Mexico High
Laura	Grisham	West Plains	West Plains Sr. High
Michael	Gulve	St. Louis	Webster Groves High
Sean	Gundersen	St. Charles	Francis Howell Central High
Stephen	Hagen	St. Louis	Metro High
Nicholas	Hakmiller	Chesterfield	Lafayette Sr. High
Andrew	Halsell	Sedalia	Smith-Cotton High School
Gregory	Hamilton	Springfield	Willard High
Kasey	Hancock	Pacific	Eureka Sr. High
Girija	Hariprasad	Ballwin	Mary Institute/Country Day School
Jacob	Harmon	Camdenton	Camdenton High
Edgar	Harper	St. Louis	Metro High
Riley	Hawkins	Imperial	Windsor High
Claire	Hawley	Lees Summit	Lee’s Summit North High
Hattie	Hayes	Grain Valley	Grain Valley High
Carolyn	Heger	St. Louis	St. Joseph’s Academy
Madeline	Hemphill	Kansas City	Park Hill High
Claire	Herbst	Cape Girardeau	Cape Central High
Brooke	Herrera	Lees Summit	Blue Springs South High
David	Hershberger	Chillicothe	Chillicothe High
Jessica	Ho	St. Louis	Metro High
Nancy	Holbrook	Carl Junction	Carl Junction High
Dylan	Howard	Raytown	Raytown South Sr. High
Zachary	Howe	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt West High
Rachel	Howieson	Sedalia	Smith-Cotton High School
Taylor	Hughes	Joplin	Joplin High
Clara	Hughes	St. Peters	Duchesne High School
Mary	Humphrey	Kansas City	Notre Dame de Sion High School
Samuel	Hunt	St. Louis	Metro High
Hang	Huynh	St. Louis	Metro High
Brittany	James	Lees Summit	Lee’s Summit West High
Alyssa	Johnson	Washington	Washington High
Alexandra	Jones	Kirkwood	Kirkwood Sr. High
Cedric	Jones	Spanish Lake	Hazelwood East High
Conor	Joplin	Chesterfield	De Smet Jesuit High School
Hailey	Jordan	Raytown	Archbishop O’Hara High
Adam	Kaminsky	Bridgeton	Pattonville Sr. High
Anthony	Kawecki	Smithville	Smithville High
Georgia	Kaye	St. Louis	Rosati-Kain High
James	Keckley	Carl Junction	Carl Junction High
Miranda	Ketcherside	De Soto	Desoto Sr. High
Sarah	Khan	Jefferson City	Columbia Independent School
Dakota	Kiper	Independence	William Chrisman High
Jordan	Kirk	Kansas City	Grandview Sr. High
Sara	Knowles	Maryville	Maryville High
Ajinkya	Kokate	Chesterfield	Metro High
Arianne	Kreger	Kearney	Kearney High
Zachary	LaMarre	Springfield	Central High
James	Langston	Springfield	Parkview High
Kayna	Lantz	Springfield	Glendale High
Tristan	Laughlin	Independence	William Chrisman High
Gabriel	Lawton	St. Louis	Metro High
Hughes	Lee	Jefferson City	Jefferson City High
Tiffany	Lee	St. Louis	Lindbergh Sr. High
Kristin	Lenz	St. Louis	Mehlville High School
Elizabeth	Linberger	Shelbyville	North Shelby High
Ryan	Link	Kansas City	Staley High
Sydney	Loethen	Lees Summit	Lee’s Summit West High
Haley	Loftis	Kansas City	Staley High
Todd	Lombardi	St. Louis	St. Mary’s High School
Anson	Long-Seabra	Blue Springs	Blue Springs High
Ocean	Lu	Springfield	Central High
Seth	Ludwig	Chesterfield	Lafayette Sr. High
Elizabeth	Lueder	St. Louis	Academy of the Visitation
Yunshu	Luo	Chesterfield	Marquette Sr. High
Jaron	Ma	Ballwin	Parkway West High
Brandon	Maddick	Lathrop	Lathrop High
Logan	Malach	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt West High
Corey	Marquardt	Springfield	Kickapoo High
Brendan	Marsh	Grover	Eureka Sr. High
Yuri	Martinez-Moylan	Saint Joseph	St. Joseph Central High
Zackery	Maser	Braymer	Braymer High
Karan	Mathur	Chesterfield	Marquette Sr. High
Corey	Matzat	Nixa	Branson High
Tanner	May	Lake St. Louis	Emil E. Holt Sr. High
Hannah	McCausland	Kansas City	St. Teresa’s Academy
Alexandra	McCrosky	West Plains	West Plains Sr. High
JoHannah	McDonald	Moscow Mills	Troy Buchanan High
Brenden	McKeon	De Soto	Desoto Sr. High
John	McNamara	Farmington	Farmington Sr. High
Kevin	McPartland	Florrissant	Hazelwood Central High
Austin	McWilliams	Poplar Bluff	Poplar Bluff High
Timothy	Middlemas	Kirksville	Kirksville Sr. High
Michael	Miles	Hannibal	Hannibal Sr. High
Dorian	Miller	Marshfield	Strafford High
Stuart	Miller	Kansas City	Park Hill South High
Corina	Minden-Birkenmaier	St. Louis	John Burroughs School
Jorie	Mink	Webb City	Webb City High
Teddi	Moorman	Lake Ozark	Osage High
Malcolm	Moses	Kansas City	Rockhurst High School
Austin	Moudy	Marceline	Marceline High
Taylor	Moyer	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt North High
Ashley	Muench	Ste. Genevieve	Valle Catholic High School
Claire	Mullaney	Ballwin	Cor Jesu Academy
Ayrton	Munoz	Kansas City	Staley High
Brendan	Murphy	Imperial	Lutheran High School South
Zachary	Murphy	Chesterfield	Lafayette Sr. High
Tiffany	Newburry	Desloge	North Co. Sr. High
Zachary	Nicewarner	St. Charles	Francis Howell High
Alexander	Noddings	Chesterfield	Saint Louis Priory School
Haley	Null	Festus	Jefferson High
Lian	Ojakangas	Springfield	Central High
Obasi	Onuoha	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt West High
Olivia	Paden	Dearborn	North Platte High
Abigail	Page	St. Peters	Ft. Zumwalt South High
Raymond	Page	Bland	Owensville High
Ye Eun	Park	Springfield	Kickapoo High
Shelbey	Parnell	St. Louis	Metro High
Willow	Pastard	St. Louis	Metro High
Eric	Patterson	Joplin	College Heights Christian School
Hannah	Payne	Darlington	Albany High
Doraida	Perez	Kansas City	Ruskin High
Justin	Persell	Richmond	Richmond R-16 High
Caitlin	Pettman	Kansas City	Lincoln College Prep.
Allison	Pierce	Fulton	Fulton Sr. High
Mauricio	Pimentel	St. Louis	Metro High
Corinne	Piotter	Columbia	Columbia-Hickman High
Daijah	Porchia	Kansas City	Ruskin High
Devin	Powell	Ballwin	Lafayette Sr. High
Duane	Price	Independence	Truman High
Kelly	Proctor	Saint Joseph	Lafayette High
James	Pugh	St. Peters	Francis Howell Central High
Spenser	Pulleyking	Springfield	Central High
Tess	Rawlins	St. Albans	The Fulton School at St. Albans
Shelby	Rees	Palmyra	Palmyra High
Miranda	Reese	St. Louis	Bayless Senior High
Matthew	Reynolds	Joplin	Webb City High
Laura	Rice	Excelsior Springs	Excelsior Springs High
Andrew	Riggs	Webster Groves	Metro High
Lucille	Right	St. Louis	Oakville Sr. High
Timothy	Rinker	Kansas City	Center Sr. High
Corey	Robertson	Cape Girardeau	Jackson Senior High
Kathryn	Rodman	Boonville	Boonville High
Catherine	Rodriguez	Columbia	Rock Bridge Sr. High
Alyse	Rogers	Lake St. Louis	Barat Academy
Thomas	Roustio	Independence	Blue Springs High
Kendra	Rowey	St. Louis	Parkway North High
Emily	Royer	Lees Summit	Blue Springs South High
Maximilian	Schindler	St. Louis	Ladue Horton Watkins High
Kyle	Schloss	Fenton	Rockwood Summit High
Rebecca	Schreiber	Fenton	Northwest High
Ariana	Schulte	DeSoto	Hillsboro High
Khala	Schulte	Russellville	Russellville High
Jacqueline	Schultz	Florrissant	McCluer North High
Emily	Schwenneker	Princeton	Princeton R-V High
Rachel	Scott	St. Louis	Oakville Sr. High
Tyler	Scott	Gladstone	Oak Park High
Thomas	Shannan	Kahoka	Scotland Co. R-I High
Emily	Sheets	Cape Girardeau	Cape Central High
Kevin	Shi	Chesterfield	Marquette Sr. High
Daniel	Shyu	Columbia	Columbia-Hickman High
Taylor	Singleton	Kansas City	Ruskin High
Christina	Sittser	Ballwin	Parkway South High
Bailey	Smith	Lee’s Summit	Lee’s Summit Sr. High
Makenzie	Smith	Jefferson City	Jefferson City High
Thomas Nick	Smith	Kansas City	Park Hill South High
James	Sorsen	St. Louis	Pattonville Sr. High
Nicole	Sparks	Fenton	Rockwood Summit High
Matthew	Spencer	Columbia	Christian Fellowship School
Benjamin	Spitznagel	St. Louis	Metro High
Emily	Spreitzer	Kearney	Kearney High
Blake	Stephens	Plattsburg	Plattsburg High
Taylor	Stevens	Jefferson City	Jefferson City High
Taylor	Straatmann	Washington	Washington High
Rebekah	Strode	Belle	Belle High
Jensen	Tedrow	Lees Summit	Lee’s Summit North High
Jason	Tian	Warrensburg	Warrensburg High
David	Ting	Springfield	Central High
Felix	Titalangha	Kansas City	Ruskin High
Benjamin	Trask	St. Louis	Metro High
Kristina	Tschomakoff	St. Louis	Metro High
Matthew	Tucker	Ballwin	Eureka Sr. High
Kenya	Turner	Hazelwood	McCluer High
Tyler	Uhrich	Ste. Genevieve	Ste. Genevieve Sr. High
Adam	Venneman	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt West High
Christopher	Vlamis	Liberty	Liberty High
Hien	Vo	St. Louis	Metro High
Zachary	Vogel	Jackson	Saxony Lutheran High
Rachel	Volmert	Columbia	Rock Bridge Sr. High
Catherine	Wagner	St. Louis	Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School
Forrest	Walker	Kansas City	North Kansas City High
Joselyn	Walsh	Canton	Canton High
David	Wang	Grover	Lafayette Sr. High
Callie	Warren	Kansas City	North Kansas City High
Taylor	Washburn	Eagleville	North Harrison High
Paul	Watkins	Ferguson	Crossroads School
Grant	Watkins-Davis	Buckner	Fort Osage High
Lillian	Webster	St. Louis	Nerinx Hall High School
Martha	Weilert	Kansas City	Lee’s Summit North High
Benjamin	Weinstock	St. Louis	Parkway North High
Avery	Welker	Perryville	Perryville Sr. High
Erin	Welker	Marble Hill	Meadow Heights High
Caleb	Welsh	O’Fallon	Ft. Zumwalt West High
Christina	Wesley	St. Louis	Parkway North High
Hannah	Wiedner	St. Louis	Parkway Central High
Preston	Williams	Kansas City	University Academy-Upper
Haley	Willis	Republic	Republic High
Dean	Wilson	Foristell	St. Francis Borgia Regional High School
Madeline	Wilson	St. Charles	Francis Howell Central High
Martina	Wilson	Kirkwood	Kirkwood Sr. High
Glenn	Winfrey	Sibley	Fort Osage High
Alexandra	Wirth	St. Louis	Bishop Du Bourg High School
Logan	Wittmaier	Defiance	Francis Howell High
Michael	Witwer	Chesterfield	St. John Vianney High School
Daniel	Woods	Jonesburg	Warrenton High
Clayton	Woolery	Joplin	Thomas Jefferson Independent School
Crystal	Wren	Florrissant	Hazelwood Central High
Mitchel	Wride	St. Louis	Webster Groves High
Paige	Wulff	St. Charles	Orchard Farm Sr. High
Yuxuan	Xiao	Kansas City	Liberty High
Bowen	Yang	Columbia	Columbia-Hickman High
Joy	Yang	Chesterfield	Parkway Central High
Jason	Yarber	Milo	Nevada High
Jason	Yuan	Saint Joseph	St. Joseph Central High
Samantha	Zuehlke	Fenton	Ursuline Academy