June 26, 2026
Contact: Travis Zimpfer, zimpfert@missouri.edu
Four University of Missouri Tigers were honored with the Remington R. Williams Award for their accomplishments in and outside of the classroom.
The highest student leadership award bestowed, it’s given annually to seven students across the UM System. Honorees receive $1,000 and a leadership medal to wear at commencement.
The award is given in memory of Remington Williams, who served as student representative to the board from 2020 to 2022.
The four Mizzou recipients are:
Mildred Awakessien
Awakessien is pursuing a doctorate in chemistry in the College of Arts and Science under Mizzou's Graduate School.
She currently serves as president of Women Economic Empowerment and as an executive member of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources International Student Association.
“What distinguishes Mildred most is her ability to balance this extensive leadership and service work with consistent academic progress and research advancement,” Kerry Clark, director of CAFNR International Programs, said. “Her contributions on campus are highly visible, and she has directly impacted the lives of students through mentorship, advocacy and community building, all while continuing to advance her graduate research.”
Hannah Banks
Banks is pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accountancy from the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business and an Honors Certificate from Mizzou's Honors College.
Outside of class, she has served as president of Mizzou’s chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and president of the Mizzou Panhellenic Association, where she represented and advocated for more than 4,000 students across 14 sororities.
“Her ability to unite diverse stakeholders, collaborate across councils and lead with purpose reflects the highest standards of institutional leadership,” Sijie Yao, director of the Paul & Lynn Ann Vogel Master of Accountancy and Intergraded Program, said.
Sophia Sapp
Sapp is pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in food science from the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and earned an Honors Certificate this past spring.
She has served as the president of the Mizzou Food Science Association and as the student leader of Sustain Mizzou.
“Sophia’s visible success has fundamentally changed students’ perception of what is possible during undergraduate years,” Bongkosh Vardhanabhuti, professor of food science, said. “Her example has effectively democratized research access — students who previously thought research was only for exceptional cases now see it as attainable.”
Ashton Wooster
Wooster is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and information technology at the College of Engineering and an Honors Certificate.
He served as president of the Mizzou Computing Association and as vice president of Mizzou’s Engineering Student Council.
“Ashton consistently operates at a level comparable to advanced graduate students, contributing original ideas, engaging deeply with complex technical concepts and collaborating effectively across disciplinary boundaries,” Chi-Ren Shyu, associate dean for graduate education and strategic initiatives in the College of Engineering, said.
