2025 Hesburgh Scholarship Winners
Wentzville, Missouri
Freshman Madison Clark
Majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in aerospace engineering, Madison Clark embraces the opportunity to learn something new within her major and course work. With a passion for hands-on learning and involvement, Madison strives to cultivate a community where every voice and idea is heard and one in which she is able to give back to her community. She credits Dr. Frierdrich’s Honors One Read course as her most meaningful academic experience. Throughout the course, Madison was exposed to a classroom culture of inquire and dialogue and one that highlighted how storytelling can serve as a vehicle for both empathy and understanding.
Fort Worth, Texas
Sophomore Grace Hackworth
Majoring in Health Sciences on the Pre-Med track with minors in Biological Sciences and Women and Gender Studies, Grace Hackworth capitalizes on the opportunities to gain shadowing hours through the University Hospital and the new Women and Children’s Hospital. Grace credits her “Revolutions” Honors course with Dr. William Coleman as being a pivotal academic experience. The course highlights major revolutions throughout history throughout the 16 weeks and Grace was able to enjoy the class with members of her Freshman Interest Group, a program designed to co-enroll students into a variety of classes together, helping them find their community on campus. Not only did Grace fall in love with the course, she was inspired to declare a Women and Gender Studies minor and discovered a new passion along the way.
Columbia, Missouri
Junior Abigail Schaben
Majoring in Nursing, Abby Schaben demonstrates scholastic talents as she always puts in the extra effort within her studies. Abby credits her most fulfilling academic experience, as being a Teaching Assistant for Microbiology 2800, a course Abby had taken as a student. Throughout her time as a TA, Abby enjoyed being able to spend time with students in the lab, helping them navigate the course but also through nursing school preparation. Building a bond with the students and sharing similar experiences to them was a memorable and meaningful experience.
St. Louis, Missouri
Senior Lily Franck
Majoring in Strategic Communication and Digital Storytelling, Lily Franck is known for her creative lens for storytelling. Rather than one defining moment, Lily credits the collection of moments in which Mizzou has taught her that discomfort is growth and that her capabilities stretch further than what she envisioned. Whether it be her 10-page thesis on Black music history, her summer in New Delhi, India, her video work for her capstone MOJO Ad and their client NASA or her acceptance into the True/False Film Festival with her short motion film, “Hope Chest” Lily credits each of these experiences in helping her find her creative voice.
