News

Salute to Excellence: 246 CASE scholars earned undergraduate degrees in Spring 2024

CASE Spring 2024 Salute to Excellence April 18, 2024. Cedric “Cj” Harris/University of Missouri The Reynolds Alumni Center was lit up the evening of April 18, 2024, in honor of the Center for Academic Excellence (CASE) Spring 2024 Salute to Excellence. The event honored 246 graduating CASE scholars who earned the Donald M. Suggs, George…

Great Jobs KC, C.O.O Natalie Lewis Visits KC Scholars at MU

Ms. Natalie Lewis, Chief Operating Officer of Great Jobs KC (formerly known as the KC Scholars Organization), met with KC Scholarship recipients on February 20th to discuss their educational experiences at the University of Missouri. The students were able to attend open discussion sessions with Ms. Lewis throughout the morning, sharing their experiences on the…

From the GO to COMO: Raven Smith’s full-circle moment

CASE scholar and "Straight From the Go" creator Raven Smith smiles proudly in front of the Mizzou Store for the launch of her "GO COMO" clothing line, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 (CASE Photo/Sophia Scheller) On Sept. 16, the Mizzou Store welcomed a new addition to its vast selection of clothing lines: the “GO COMO” collection.…

Director’s Corner: November 2022

Hello CASE Scholars, family members and supporters.  As we press forward with the Fall 2022 semester, I wanted to pass along a few scholarship opportunities to keep you focused and informed. Remington R. Williams Award New Scholarship announced in honor of former Student Representative to the UM Board of Curators, Remington R. Williams. One student…

Checking all the boxes: Inside the MU entrepreneurship group Knowledge is Wealth

Knowledge is Wealth founder Zeph France (third from left) shows off the "Black Mizzou" t-shirts inside the "Black Mizzou" student-run store front in the MU Student Center. The space aims to be a place to celebrate Black culture in its purest and promote inclusion. (Photo/KIWMIZZOU Instagram) “The language of friendship is not words but meanings,”…

Soaring with the Baltimore Ravens: MU, CASE graduate Lauren Purdy

Former CASE marketing intern now Ravens digital web coordinator Lauren Purdy poses for a photo at M&T Bank Stadium ahead of the Ravens matchup with the Bengals in Baltimore, Md., Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. The Ravens beat the Bengals 19-17. It was June 6, 2022. Less than 2 months since graduating from MU. Lauren Purdy…

Director’s Corner: Over halfway through Fall ’22

Hello CASE scholars, families and supporters, We are over halfway through the fall semester so I wanted to highlight some time sensitive items for you to consider. Academic Resources: At this juncture in the semester, you may be feeling stressed or challenged by one or more of your courses. Utilize academic resources: The MU Learning…

Growing to love a new home: Diversity scholar Kim Arodi

MU freshman Diversity Award scholar Kim Arodi smirks for a photo on MU's campus, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. (Photo/Braiden Wade) It was Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. Three days before the fall semester would begin at MU. For freshman Diversity Award scholar Kim Arodi, she was 72 hours away from the start of her college journey.  …

Coping with grief and loss in college

A 5-year old Sarah Parisien (left) joyfully sits on her father Patrick Parisien's shoulders while her sister Mikaela Parisien (right) rests upon her grandfather Jean-Claude Parisien's shoulders in Skokie, IL, 2007. As an MU freshman at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding the balance between a social life and the preservation of my health…

CASE welcomes new Student Service Coordinator Leo Medal

CASE Student Service Coordinator Leo Medal smiles for a photo on MU's campus, September 2022. (Photo/Braiden Wade) This semester, the Center for Academic Success & Excellence (CASE) welcomes a new face to its team, Leo Medal. He will serve as a Student Service Coordinator for CASE, eventually leading the Summer Bridge Program. In the meantime, as he finds his footing, Medal will focus his efforts on assisting Diversity Scholars. Medal’s career in student success began…

CASE visits Ireland for Global Advisers Immersion Program 

CASE Student Service Coordinator (middle back row) poses for a photo with other MU faculty members at the Quadrangle at NUI Galway during their Global Advisers Immersion Program trip to Ireland, July 2022. The Quad was the original building for NUI Galway, built in 1885. Today, it is where the university's President and Vice President's Offices…

CASE scholars, URM students celebrate culture and opportunity at 2022 GOBCC Fall Fest

Crowd cheers as an MU student shows off her dance moves during the GOBCC Fall Fest at MizzouRec on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022. (Photo/Braiden Wade) Imagine walking into a venue full of young, beautiful Black and Brown students congregating, showcasing, and celebrating everything they offer to their campus. Imagine minority student-led service organizations and local…

CASE Kickoff gives class of 2026 scholars a sense of belonging from the start

Freshman CASE Scholars gather for a photo during the CASE Kickoff event in room 111 inside the Anheuser-Busch National Resources Building, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (Photo/Braiden Wade) The Center for Academic Success & Excellence’s new freshman scholars met one another for the first time at the 2022 CASE Kickoff on Friday, Aug. 19. Enthusiasm and…

Thank you: Brooks scholar and CASE marketing intern Lauren Purdy

Graduating senior journalism student Lauren Purdy smiles for a photo on MU's campus Monday, April 11, 2022. (Photo/Becca Newton) Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee helped mold MU graduating senior Lauren Purdy into the woman she is today.  “I am truly a Southern person at heart, and I think when we say that we’re hospitable people,…

Courageous steps to the finish line: Diversity scholar Roshae Hemmings

MU graduating senior journalism student and Diversity Award scholar Roshae Hemmings dons her kente stole from CASE while showcasing three others during a photo shoot outside of Jesse Hall, Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo/Becca Newton) “Hey Roshae! Was thinking about you. I wanted to check in and see how you are doing?”  It was Monday…

Resilient since her very first breath: Brooks scholar and CASE marketing intern Kelly Lopez

MU journalism student and CASE marketing intern Kelly Lopez smiles for a photo on MU's campus Monday, April 11, 2022. (Photo/Becca Newton) Since taking her very first breath, resilience has been a common theme throughout Kelly Lopez’s life.  Kelly, an MU senior journalism student graduating in May, was born to Gayle and Dr. Ron Lopez…

Brooks’ legacy and CASE support continues to positively impact student success

George C. Brooks scholarship was established in 1988. (Photo/Rob Hill) The legacy of George C. Brooks started in 1958 when he graduated with a Masters in Education from the University of Missouri. During an era where racial segregation was still alive and well, Brooks took on the challenge of working for the university. Brooks spent…

University of Missouri receives State Department IDEAS grant for study abroad

The University of Missouri has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students Program. Mizzou is one of 37 U.S. institutions that will use an IDEAS grant to establish, expand or broaden American student mobility overseas. “We are very honored to receive this grant,” said Dr.…

Salute to CASE’S Excellent 2023 Graduates

The State Historical Society of Missouri Center for Missouri Studies was the site of a memorable event on April 27, 2023 at 6 pm as the Center for Academic Success and Excellence (CASE) held a graduation ceremony to honor the achievements of the Class of 2023. The evening was filled with joyous goodbyes and celebration…

Black-Owned Student Businesses Bringing Back Beauty

Author's Note: This is a feature story written from the author's personal perspective and opinion upon gathering the information and also being a part of the Black community herself. ‘Where did you get your nails done?’   ‘Ooo girl! I love your hair. Who did it?’   ‘Who did your makeup? It looks amazing!’   Those are the…

10 Must Reads That Honor Black Lives

Author's Note: The following book list was put together to provide novels that honor Black lives. As an English education major, I asked some of my fellow peers in my classes to recommend texts they have read. The books and summaries in the list below were composed by performing online research on the texts, as…

Sharing Student Success Across the Globe: MU Provides Delegation from University of Western Cape with Tools to Thrive

After a three-day visit at the University of Missouri from Feb. 20-22, guests from the University of Western Cape in South Africa expressed a sentiment native to their culture about the campus they visited: ‘Oh, shame!’  In South Africa, ‘shame’ is an endearing term, used to express strong admiration. Three visitors from UWC gave this…

Making a Difference One Hat at a Time: Brooks Scholar Janae Taylor

Brooks Scholar and CASE Marketing Team Lead Janae Taylor stands in front of Jesse Hall for her headshot photos. It was the fall semester of 2020. The height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon stepping into the makeshift media room to record her first ever podcast in the Center for Academic Success & Excellence (CASE), MU…

Salute to the Fall 2022 CASE Graduates 

Graduating CASE and TRiO Scholars and CASE staff stand together for a group photo during the Fall 2022 Salute to Excellence inside Memorial Union Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 (CASE Photos/Braiden Wade) The Stotler Lounge inside of Memorial Union was transformed into a winter wonderland last Thursday, hosting Salute to Excellence from 6 p.m. to 8…