May 9, 2022
Contact: Deidra Ashley, ashleyd@missouri.edu
University of Missouri senior Allie Widick, who studied journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication, can’t remember a time in her life when Mizzou wasn’t a part of it. That’s what happens when your dad was one of the original Truman the Tiger performers and your mom was a Mizzou bat girl.
From watching her first MU football game with her parents as a child, to dancing on the sidelines as a Mizzou Golden Girl, the Lee’s Summit, Missouri native said she has always worn black and gold with pride.
“Both of my parents graduated from Mizzou, and football season tickets were a necessity in our household,” she said. “I remember my first Mizzou football game — we played K-State and it was freezing cold and pouring down rain; just miserable. Mizzou won, and my parents had the best day ever. That day taught me to stay until the end of every game.”
Destined to dance
Widick started dancing at age 2 and becoming a Mizzou Golden Girl was a lifelong dream. In 2018, all her hard work and hours of taking everything from ballet to pom paid off.
“Being a Mizzou Golden Girl has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Widick said. “I love being a Golden Girl, because we get to march with Marching Mizzou and represent our university. Getting to walk down Beale Street at the Liberty Bowl and see all the black and gold is one of the coolest things I have ever gotten to do.”
Her parents are also proud to see Widick show her stripes.
“Allie’s Mizzou journey has been the opportunity of a lifetime unfolding right before our eyes,” Widick’s mom, Susan, said. “Watching her transition from being a little kid going to games with us to living out her dream as a Mizzou Golden Girl was more than my husband, Darrin, and I could have imagined as parents and Mizzou alumni. I don’t think we’ve missed a game yet that she’s performed at.”
Classroom to community
In the classroom, Widick soaked up every opportunity to get involved with hands-on learning. “Even as a freshman and sophomore, I got so many experiences to go out in the community and interview people,” she said. “Mizzou has given me so much confidence to share my experience, learn about others and chase my dreams.”
That knowledge and confidence would help her navigate areas and topics she knew nothing about.
As part of her strategic communication capstone, Widick had the opportunity to work with a local car repair shop and develop an advertising campaign. “Going into that project, I knew nothing about car shops,” she said. “But it was a great learning experience because I had to work collaboratively with others every step of the way and learn how to make changes and improvements to meet the needs of our client.”
Next stop: Mizzou Law
Although the senior has turned in her black and gold Golden Girl pompoms, Widick will still be representing the school she loves as she takes on her next venture: law school at Mizzou. Her goal is to one day become a media lawyer.
“Everything I’ve learned in my journalism classes has given me a base to reach my goal,” Widick said. “I’m sure there will be plenty to learn, but I want to use the knowledge and skills I’ve gained at Mizzou to help clients in an ever-growing field.”
Her parents couldn’t be prouder for Widick to carry on the family legacy.
“The part that makes us most proud is that we got to watch Allie write her own Mizzou story,” Susan Widick said. “Allie fell in love with Mizzou for all her own reasons and participated to the fullest. While she might be trading in her gold dress and poms for some heavy legal studies, I hope she will have time to join us for at least a couple of games … and Homecoming — Homecoming’s mandatory.”
