23rd annual Missouri Scholars Academy gives students a chance to be themselves

Founded on the belief that one of Missouri’s greatest resources is academically talented young people, the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) and the University of Missouri-Columbia will give 330 gifted high school students the opportunity of a lifetime and a door into the future this month.

"With an open door, there are vistas of opportunities presented to them – about where they can go with the talents they have," said Ted Tarkow, co-director of the program and associate dean of the College of Arts and Science. "The doors might be in area of a subject or perspectives that are bigger than their hometowns; the doors might be in the type of people with whom they interact."

Since its establishment in 1985, more than 7,100 Missouri students have participated in the annual program, which provides students a unique opportunity to expand their educational and social skills. From June 10 through 27, students will spend the bulk of each day in an intensive classroom setting, studying one of four individually selected subjects, including mathematics, science, social studies and humanities. Each public high school is allowed to nominate one junior-to-be for the academy; larger schools may nominate more.

"I look back on my summer spent with you with the fondest of memories," said Erica Endicott, who attended MSA in 1997. "I think of it as one of the happiest times of my life."

Outside the classroom, students are introduced to a series of activities, workshops and guest speakers. This year’s program focuses around the theme of films. Students will watch and discuss classics like Dead Poet’s Society and create their own music video. MSA alumnus Bryan Watson will give the opening address. Watson graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with majors in political science and geography from MU. He later attended the MU School of Law and became licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Missouri, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.

MSA participants are among the top 0.5 percent of Missouri students academically. Individuals who attend the academy leave with the understanding that they have a responsibility to share their talents with others and use them for the betterment of their local Missouri communities, Tarkow said. Many alumni participate in programs such as Teach for America, Peace Corps or other not-for-profit organizations. MSA alumni also continue to succeed academically. Of those who are old enough, 98 percent of academy alumni have graduated from high school, 90 percent have graduated from college and nearly 2,000 alumni have earned graduate or professional degrees.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will conduct the program with the help of 60 faculty and staff from around the state. Many faculty members have been selected as Milliken National Educator Awardees, Fulbright Scholars, Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholars and Presidential Teachers.

Links

Missouri Scholars Academy
College of Arts and Science

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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