University of Missouri

May 6, 2024
Contact: Courtney Perrett, cperrett@missouri.edu

When Andy Hinkamp was thinking about which college to attend, the St. Louis native knew the University of Missouri would be close enough to home to visit family, yet far enough away to gain independence. After hearing so many great college stories from his mom, a Mizzou alumna, the choice to become a Tiger was clear.

Impressed by the more than 650 student organizations Mizzou offers, Hinkamp, who is majoring in health science with an emphasis in leadership and policy, was eager to get involved when he arrived on campus. He quickly sought out executive-level positions in an effort to make the biggest impact possible. He learned a lot about health care, leadership and himself along the way.

Read on for a Q&A with Hinkamp about his Mizzou experience.

What were you involved in during your time at Mizzou?

During my time at Mizzou, I’ve served as an ambassador for both the College of Health Sciences and Fraternity and Sorority Life, and I was also the chapter president of my fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Additionally, I was vice president of membership development for the Interfraternity Council, and most recently, I served on the steering committees for Greek Week and Rocking Against Multiple Sclerosis (RAMS), a student organization that holds fundraising events to raise awareness for those battling multiple sclerosis (MS) in Columbia. Through RAMS we’re able to improve the quality of life for those with MS by helping offset costs of treatment and therapy, as well as volunteer our time to help our clients around their place of living.

Mizzou helped me learn how much I enjoy the purpose and mission of health care, which is all about improving the well-being of others’ lives. In terms of being in leadership positions and working with others to help people in need, I fell in love with that kind of work at Mizzou.

How has Mizzou helped you achieve your goals?

Trying new things on campus at first can be a little nerve-wracking, but Mizzou has offered such an inclusive and welcoming environment for me to break out of my shell and grow in confidence.

The leadership positions I was involved with at Mizzou helped me when I became a supply chain intern for BJC HealthCare, a St. Louis-based health system. I was able to take what I was learning at Mizzou and apply it in a real-world setting where a lot of the same problems were happening that I learned about in textbooks or through my professors.

What was your favorite class?

I loved my clinical ethics class because it taught me how to interact with patients from different backgrounds who have diverse perspectives. Even if I don’t end up treating patients hands-on in my career, it was a very valuable class because I learned about how to interact with people who maybe don’t agree with me on things, have different priorities or are in different stages of life. I think that is beneficial for anyone going into any profession, as we will all work with people at some point.

Why are you proud to be a Tiger?

I am proud to be a Tiger because of the impact I have been able to have here at Mizzou. As someone who enjoys talking to people, getting involved with sales and recruitment techniques is something I want to do in the future. I have learned that it is really easy to sell people on something that you are passionate about, so anytime I talk about Mizzou, it is not hard to come up with things to highlight because of the experiences I have had at Mizzou that have allowed me to develop my leadership skills and help others.

What would you tell someone who's interested in coming to Mizzou?

Mizzou is a special campus because of the variety of student organizations we have, so I would tell new students to find something you want to do and get involved with, and you will definitely find something that aligns with what you are interested in. If you put yourself out there, you will find other people who share your interests at Mizzou.

What's next for you after graduation?

After I graduate, I will head home for a few months to finish up my internship at BJC HealthCare. This fall, I will return to Mizzou for two more years to pursue a master’s degree in health administration. The people I met at Mizzou are why I am so excited to be staying here for a few more years — the relationships and connections I have built make this place feel like home for me.

Story written by Brian Consiglio