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Ghanaian earns degree, health from UMSL

Ghanaian earns degree, health from UMSL

Princess Rita Tamakloe has mixed feelings about ending her time at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She’s excited to get back to her family and start her new life, but she will take with her a valuable education, eye-opening experiences and her newfound health.

UMSL supporter played big role in creating Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization

UMSL supporter played big role in creating Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization

Though many Americans have not heard of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the group finally got its deserved time in the limelight last weekend when it collected the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. University of Missouri–St. Louis supporter Will Carpenter is particularly pleased for the group’s recognition, which makes sense, seeing as how he played an integral role in creating the treaty that lead to the formation of the OPCW.

Book fair celebrates faculty authors

Book fair celebrates faculty authors

For several years, María Teresa Balogh attended Friday’s annual Faculty Author’s Reception, always telling herself that she’d have a book out by the next year. As a longtime writer, she’d published lots of her poetry, but her own book remained a goal.

Student violinist performs with Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis

Student violinist performs with Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis

The invitation came via an email from her University of Missouri–St. Louis violin instructor Julia Sakharova. Would she be interested in playing with the Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis? Always hungry for opportunity and a new experience, Octavia Sydnor, a junior music major with an emphasis in violin performance at UMSL, jumped at the chance.

Breaking into fiction big time: MFA alumnus recognized in Ploughshares

Breaking into fiction big time: MFA alumnus recognized in Ploughshares

It’s reason enough to celebrate when your fiction story is published in the summer 2013 issue of Indiana Review. But when University of Missouri–St. Louis alumnus Ryan Trattles, MFA 2013, learned that his story “Helpful Products for Family Men: A User’s Guide” was also highly praised in Ploughshares, another prestigious literary establishment, it felt a bit surreal.

Alison Zeidler works to make St. Louis’ economy stronger

Alison Zeidler works to make St. Louis’ economy stronger

Talk to Alison Zeidler about St. Louis and the 29-year-old’s love for the region is obvious. She wants to see St. Louis thrive. That makes her a natural fit for her work at the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Zeidler served as project manager at the partnership until October when she was named assistant vice president of New Market Tax Credits.

UMSL collaborative brings dance, music to area schools

UMSL collaborative brings dance, music to area schools

Merengue music blares out of a boom box as a group of about 40 fifth-graders at Buder Elementary School in south St. Louis walk arm-in-arm into the school gymnasium. The curriculum for the next hour – ballroom dancing.

Alison Zeidler works to make St. Louis’ economy stronger

Influential women: UMSL shows off its feminine side

St. Louis Business Journal Publisher Ellen Sherberg received a warm welcome when she approached the University of Missouri–St. Louis in the late 1990s about sponsoring an event to highlight the outstanding achievements of women.

Optometry student leads at local, national levels

Optometry student leads at local, national levels

Devin Sasser was a determined child. When most 6-year-old boys wanted to be a baseball or football player, the Dallas native was adamant that he someday enroll in law school and become a lawyer. By age 11, he’d moved past that and set his sights on a health-science field.

Students of Service carry on Holiday Fest tradition

Students of Service carry on Holiday Fest tradition

Their goal is to collect 1,000 items – food, uniforms, toiletries. The annual Holiday Fest is bringing everyone together at the University of Missouri–St. Louis to help local families in need.

Meet the UMSL Alumni Association president

Meet the UMSL Alumni Association president

The University of Missouri–St. Louis’ Alumni Association is turning a new leaf with its new president Michael J. Finkes, BS chemistry 1973 and MS chemistry 1978. Finkes, a seasoned member of the association, assumed his position July 1. He recently retired from Monsanto, where he worked for more than 30 years, and is dedicating his time and energy to the university and community that helped him build a foundation for his successful career.

International student-athlete thrives at UMSL

International student-athlete thrives at UMSL

Louisa Werner wakes up at 8 a.m. From 9 to 10:45 a.m. she fulfills her duties as a research assistant in the psychology lab on campus before attending her 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. class. Then it’s on to tennis practice from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. She changes just in time for one more night class, officially concluding her day at 9:30 p.m.

UMSL business students support Old Newsboys Day

UMSL business students support Old Newsboys Day

As Devon Brandon entered the Millennium Student Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis Thursday morning she was greeted by the smiling faces of fellow UMSL students dressed in crisp green new aprons and hocking newspapers. The haggling was part of an annual St. Louis tradition known as Old Newsboys Day that benefits more than 250 local charities.

Students conduct malaria research in the Galapagos Islands

Pioneering nonprofit news operation gains approval

Newsrooms around the country are becoming quieter as layoffs and closures silence once-thriving organizations, but a University of Missouri–St. Louis site in midtown St. Louis will soon be bustling as its population of journalists doubles.

Good job UMSL! Month of Community Giving hits record high

Good job UMSL! Month of Community Giving hits record high

To honor their 50th Jubilee this year, employees at the University of Missouri–St. Louis gave nearly $80,000 to the United Way of Greater St. Louis and Community Health Charities of Kansas and Missouri campaigns, breaking the campus record. Both organizations provide funding to social service, health and research agencies in the St. Louis region.

Veterans’ powerful stories captured in second volume

Veterans’ powerful stories captured in second volume

“The real damage of war is never going to be known unless those who have been there share their stories,” Colin Halloran told the audience gathered Nov. 15 in the Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

UMSL historian surveys St. Louis’ guiding spirit

In St. Louis’ nearly 250 years of existence, the Gateway City and the surrounding region has experienced many science and technology milestones. Those advances have shaped a port city into one of the United States’ most powerful manufacturing hubs and home to the “Biobelt.”

‘I Chose UMSL’ campaign shifts focus to opportunity, outcomes

‘I Chose UMSL’ campaign shifts focus to opportunity, outcomes

UMSL students look to the university to create life-altering opportunities. UMSL alumni prove-out those opportunities with solid successes. That’s the story of the newest chapter of the “I Chose UMSL” branding campaign launched in October. This is the fourth iteration of the popular initiative.

Students praise newly renovated physics lab

Students praise newly renovated physics lab

A newly renovated science lab at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is drawing rave reviews from students after undergoing an upgrade courtesy of a gift from St. Louis-based Peabody Energy.

Meet Sharon Pruitt, The Current editor-in-chief

Meet Sharon Pruitt, The Current editor-in-chief

Sharon Pruitt’s love affair with writing dates to her childhood obsession with science fiction and fantasy books. Inspired by books like “Ender’s Game” and “The Hobbit,” Pruitt began writing her own stories. As a fifth grader, she edited her school newspaper and later developed a fondness for zines, independent publications with a limited circulation.