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Story and photo by Logan Jackson
Mizzou students pursue numerous nationally competitive grants, scholarships and fellowships each year – but they don’t do so alone. In addition to their faculty mentors, the Mizzou Office of Global and National Fellowships aids students during the application journey as they navigate the various requirements, all the while exploring their interests, building their skills, articulating their goals and developing lasting mentor relationships.
The advisors within the office make sure students celebrate that journey as well. That is the primary focus of the annual MU Excels event, which not only recognizes student applicants, but also shines a light on the important role mentors play throughout the process. This year marked the 21st anniversary of the celebration.
This year’s event, which was held on Thursday, March 12, honored four faculty members and one doctoral student.
“We spend a lot of time sharing with students about the importance of the process,” said Erik Potter, program manager for the Mizzou Office of Global and National Fellowships. “Our students see so much personal growth when they engage with their applications, and no matter the award outcome, that’s something no one can take away. MU Excels is such a rewarding opportunity to highlight the importance of that process, as well as the vital role that mentors play. We have so many superb supporters across campus, and it’s really incredible to bring them all together to celebrate.”
The event included two faculty awards and one student award.
Three faculty earned the Ann K. Covington Award. This prestigious award honors faculty and staff who continue Covington’s legacy of student mentorship. Covington is a retired Missouri Supreme Court judge, a retired member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators and a graduate of the Mizzou School of Law. She also served on the Truman Scholarship campus nomination committee for many years, offering sound guidance and counsel to many student applicants.
This year’s awardees were Mary Stegmaier, vice provost for international programs and professor in the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs; Mert Korkali, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and Elizabeth King, associate professor of biological sciences.
The Robin G. Walker Award for Mentoring was given to Marcello Mogetta, associate professor of Roman art and archaeology. This specific award was established in 2022, in collaboration with the Mizzou Graduate School, to recognize a faculty or staff member who has effectively supported a Mizzou graduate or professional student’s efforts in applying for a globally or nationally competitive award. Walker worked at Mizzou for 20 years, serving as a curriculum writer, grant writer, and director of leadership and professional development in the Mizzou Graduate School.
“Mizzou has so many outstanding faculty mentors,” Potter said. “We had several incredible nominees, and we appreciate the work that they do for Mizzou students.”
The final award of the afternoon was the PIVOT Award, given to Lucas Kuehnel, who earned a chemical engineering degree at Mizzou and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the same program. Kuehnel was very involved in the Honors College during his time as an undergraduate student, too. PIVOT stands for Professional, Invested, Vulnerable, Optimistic Trailblazer. The award was created for students who support other students’ fellowship efforts, by offering 1-on-1 support and sharing their applicant experiences at events. Kuehnel is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recipient and has been very active in helping the Office of Global and National Fellowships in a variety of capacities.
Fellowships are life-changing opportunities for students. However, there are sometimes costs involved in competing for these awards. By donating to the Fellowships Student Support Fund, your money will help students pursue these tremendous opportunities regardless of their financial means.