To be eligible for consideration, a student must show that (s)he fulfills at least two of the following three criteria, as demonstrated through the letter(s) of nomination, transcript, and personal statement:
- The student shows evidence of extraordinary intellectual curiosity.
- i.e., pursues knowledge of a range of topics
- e.g., civil engineering major who loves reading and discussing Russian literature
- e.g., forestry major who routinely attends discussions on health policy
- The student actively seeks knowledge beyond the classroom and strives to share that knowledge with public audiences for a broader impact.
- i.e., seeks out and thrives in internships and research positions; participates in intellectually stimulating extracurricular activities
- e.g., film studies major who premieres a documentary at a local film festival
- e.g., political science major who commits to a full-time internship with a state legislator
- The student significantly contributes to the academic atmosphere at MU.
- i.e., inspires peers to excel academically by directly helping them or by acting as a role-model
- e.g., marketing major who tutors struggling students at the Student Success Center
- e.g., chemistry major who presents results of a research project at Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol