2026 Hesburgh Scholarship Winners

As an education major, Teeney Franck says her introductory creative writing class transformed how she views both education and her future as a teacher. In a supportive workshop setting, she discovered the importance of constructive feedback and drew inspiration from the class’s creativity. The experience strengthened her commitment to encouraging curiosity, inclusivity and a safe learning environment in her future classroom, while also deepening her appreciation for how general education shapes both personal and professional growth.

Majoring in Romance Languages and Elementary Education, with a minor in Latin American Studies and a Multicultural Certificate, Sonya Hendrickson describes her Totalitarianism and Culture course as one of her favorites during her time as a Tiger. The class pushed her to think critically while aligning with her personal interests. As a first-year student enrolled in a 4000-level course, she welcomed the challenge with curiosity and ambition, gaining skills she plans to carry into her future teaching career.

An Accountancy major and Honors College student, Sarah Won says her Philosophy 1200 course helped her recognize how seemingly unrelated fields can overlap. Through the class, she saw connections between philosophical logic and judgment in accounting, which allowed her to better understand the people and stories behind the numbers.

A Biological Sciences major and Honors College student, Sophie Hof credits her English 1000 course with transforming how she approaches and communicates her research. The class reinforced her belief that science shouldn’t be confined to the lab but should connect with communities, policies and broader conversations—because meaningful discoveries deserve not only to be made, but also shared.

Majoring in Journalism and History, with a minor in American Constitutional Democracy, a Multicultural Certificate and a member of the Honors College, Maggie LeBeau credits her Honors course, Survey of Psychopathology, with deepening her understanding of the complexities of mental health. The class encouraged her to pursue independent research and approach the topic with greater insight in her work as a journalist. She has since applied that knowledge in her role as a state government reporter at KBIA Public Radio, using the platform to shed light on untold stories about the realities of healthcare in Missouri.

A Computer Science major with a minor in Mathematics and a member of the Honors College, Gabriella Ramirez credits her Introduction to Research course with helping her connect with mentors who opened the door to research opportunities beyond the traditional computer science curriculum. Another course, Reproducible Data Analysis for Biomedical Research, further shaped her understanding of coding’s broader impact. Together, these general education experiences not only led to her becoming the first computer science student accepted into Mizzou’s NIH Maximizing Access to Research Careers program, but also helped her discover a passion for interdisciplinary health research.

Majoring in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology with a minor in Philosophy, an Ethical Theory and Practice Certificate and a member of the Honors College, Ryan Leuthauser credits a required Humanities course with inspiring him to pursue his Philosophy minor. Through that class, he explored topics ranging from coffee to Captain America to fly fishing, while also learning to examine issues from multiple perspectives and develop a deeper appreciation for wisdom—lessons he plans to carry into his future career as a physician.