UMSL music student G Schmiedeke was honored as a 2026 recipient of the Remington R. Williams Award by the University of Missouri Board of Curators. Schmiedeke is a musical and social leader in several Department of Music ensembles including the UMSL Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Triton Sound Pep Band and Jazz Combo. (Photo by Jay Fram)
The University of Missouri Board of Curators unveiled the latest recipients of the Remington R. Williams Award Thursday. University of Missouri–St. Louis music student G Schmiedeke was part of the fourth cohort of outstanding students.
“The Remington Williams Award is the highest honor the Board of Curators bestows upon students and pays tribute to one of the best and brightest students I had the opportunity to know,” said Todd Graves, chair of the UM Board of Curators. “These seven students – through their academic achievement, leadership and character – have met the high bar he set and established legacies of their own at their respective universities and across the entire UM System. We’re proud to recognize their achievements.”
The award is named in honor of Remington Williams, whose life was tragically taken by a drunk driver in 2022. Williams had just earned his juris doctor from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, and he was also pursuing his MBA as a member of the inaugural cohort of UMSL’s Online MBA Program. He was a highly engaged student during his time in the University of Missouri System, serving as the student representative to the Board of Curators since 2020.
In 2023, the Board of Curators established the Remington R. Williams Award to honor Williams’ legacy and recognize exceptional student leaders who exemplify and share many of his leadership qualities. The prestigious award is presented to seven students each year: one each from UMSL, UMKC and the Missouri University of Science and Technology, as well as four from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
G Schmiedeke performs with the Triton Sound Pep Band during Pack the Stands. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
As part of the award, recipients will also receive $1,000 and a student-designed medal to be worn at commencement.
Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and make an impact on their respective institutions, inspiring growth and development of fellow students in both academics and extracurricular activities and exhibiting outstanding character and collaborative spirit.
Schmiedeke embodies these traits, serving as a musical and social leader in several Department of Music ensembles including the UMSL Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Triton Sound Pep Band and Jazz Combo. In February, Schmiedeke was one of six UMSL students chosen to perform with Missouri All-Collegiate Orchestra at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference.
In addition to being a skilled musician with both the violin and bass, Schmiedeke is also a dedicated mentor who supports academic success within the department. Schmiedeke tutors students in aural skills, music theory and piano and regularly leads group study session before finals.
That commitment to music education and lifting up others extends to the St. Louis community, as well. Schmiedeke works as a tutor with Gateway Music Outreach – a partner organization of the E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative – teaching individual and group lessons on violin, viola and bass. Schmiedeke also volunteers with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Peer-to-Peer program as a bass teacher and with Hazelwood West High School in variety of roles including AP music theory tutor, pit orchestra assistant for the spring musical and percussion technician with the marching band.
“Through academic excellence, leadership, mentorship and community service, G Schmiedeke represents the highest ideals of the university and is exceptionally deserving of this recognition,” wrote Joanna Mendoza, chair of the UMSL Department of Music, in her nomination letter.
This year’s other recipients are:
• Mildred Awakessien, MU doctoral student in chemistry
• Hannah Banks, MU undergraduate majoring in accountancy
• Sarah George, UMKC professional student studying medicine
• Aiden Pickett, Missouri S&T undergraduate majoring in psychology and computer science
• Sophia Sapp, MU accelerated master’s student in food and hospitality systems
• Ashton Wooster, MU undergraduate majoring in electrical engineering and information technology
