June 24, 2025
Contact: Brian Consiglio, consigliob@missouri.edu
Photos by Abbie Lankitus
When hundreds of Missouri high school students gathered in an auditorium at the University of Missouri, there was a buzz of excitement for a unique lecture on the chemistry of NASCAR.
Students in the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) soaked up lessons on the chemical reactions that power racecar engines and the science behind fire-retardant suits that protect drivers.
Then came the highlight — a visit from Carl Edwards, Hall of Fame NASCAR driver and Columbia native who attended Mizzou.
Edwards inspired the audience as he spoke on the power of driving through life with ambition and at full speed.
And based on the legacy of this program, this year’s scholars are poised to do just that.
For the past 40 years, around 330 of Missouri’s most academically gifted rising high school juniors have gathered each summer for three transformative weeks at MSA, hosted by the Mizzou Honors College.
This isn’t your typical summer enrichment program. At MSA, students dive into a rigorous curriculum, one in which Shakespeare shares space with math modeling, music, programming and engineering.
MSA creates a tight-knit, intellectually vibrant community where curiosity is celebrated and self-confidence soars. From the moment they step foot on Missouri’s flagship campus, scholars feel a strong sense of belonging.
“In addition to what the scholars learn, the sense of community they build with their peers is often a highlight of the experience,” Steve Keller, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Science and co-director of MSA, said.
Scholars also explore Mizzou’s premier research facilities such as the University of Missouri Research Reactor and the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building — gaining firsthand exposure to the resources and innovation that power a leading research institution. From meeting Linda Godwin, a NASA astronaut and former Mizzou professor, to competing against national champions in chess and Scrabble, scholars are constantly pushing their intellectual boundaries through fun activities.
The scholars don’t find out what they will be doing each day until the night before. And that’s on purpose.
“Uncertainty is part of life,” Doug Valentine, an assistant teaching professor in the College of Arts and Science and co-director of MSA, said. “We give the scholars opportunities to make spontaneous decisions to explore who they are, what they value, where they come from and where they’re going.”
Over the years, scholars have participated in creative projects such as floral design at Mizzou’s Tiger Garden and community service projects such as removing invasive honeysuckle plants at a local park. These experiences provide outlets for self-expression, leadership and responsibility. Every element of the academy is built to develop the next generation of well-rounded achievers ready to take on tomorrow — with Mizzou as the launchpad.
“What scholars remember most is meeting a group of remarkable leaders at Mizzou they otherwise never would have met,” Keller said. “They remember being asked something about themselves at the academy that no one had ever asked about them before.”
Since its founding in 1985, MSA alumni have gone on to work in the White House and Napa Valley, run for mayor of New York City and serve as members of the University of Missouri Board of Curators. Others have returned to Mizzou to mentor the next generation as university students, faculty and staff.
That includes Hunter Bailey, a former scholar who graduated from Mizzou in May and is now paying it forward as a resident assistant for MSA.
“Inspiring the scholars to be proud of their curiosity and ambition is very rewarding,” Bailey said. “I’m proud to support not just their intellectual pursuits and but also their personal and social development.”
