A group of local legislators from St. Louis County, the City of St. Louis and the state of Missouri received the 2024 Friend of Higher Education Award from the Alumni Association at the University of Missouri–St. Louis on Jan. 23.

Those honored include, from left to right, St. Louis County Councilwoman Rita Heard Days; St. Louis County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb; Missouri Rep. Raychel Proudie; Ferguson Mayor Ella Jones; Darlene Green, comptroller of the City of St. Louis; Alderwoman Laura Keys of Ward 11; and St. Louis County Councilwoman Gretchen Bangert. Other recipients not pictured included Missouri Sen. Doug Beck and Missouri Rep. Tricia Byrnes. Also photographed were UMSL Alumni Association Advocacy Committee Co-Chairmen Rory Riddler and Jim Wallace (at left) and Chancellor Kristin Sobolik (at right).

The Friends of Higher Education Award was created to recognize both Democratic and Republican leaders who have demonstrated their support of higher education in the state. Nominations consider a legislator’s attendance at legislative advocacy-sponsored events; time spent volunteering to programs or mentorship of UMSL students; work sponsoring, testifying and voting for increased funding for UMSL; or sponsorship of legislation benefitting university students. The UMSL Alumni Association also recognized former Missouri Gov. Mike Parson for his work in higher education.

This photograph was taken by UMSL photographer Derik Holtmann and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. View more UMSL photos by visiting the UMSL Flickr and Instagram accounts.