Show-Me State Times

University of Missouri senior Jenny Park was in for a surprise when she walked into a conference room filled with her mentors, advisors, teachers, parents, and university president Mun Choi. Choi announced, "You are this year’s Mark Twain Fellow! Congratulations!" This prestigious fellowship, awarded annually, recognizes high academic achievement, leadership, service, and character. The $50,000 scholarship is intended for a senior or recent graduate pursuing graduate study outside North America.

Expressing her gratitude, Park shared, "I am so grateful for all my mentors, teachers, and everyone who has lifted me up and supported my dreams for the future." She plans to utilize the award to participate in a graduate neuroscience program in England. Park, a double major in biological sciences and psychology, aims not only for personal success but also envisions contributing to a better world and her community.

Park's dedication to academic excellence and community service has not gone unnoticed. Professor Bing Zhang praised her as an impressive scholar with a kind heart, emphasizing her commitment to helping others. Beyond her academic pursuits, Park has engaged in various extracurricular activities, including advocating for refugees and immigrants and leading a book club for high school students.

Park's father, Jae Park, expressed his pride, stating, "I always say that she is totally different from me. She is on another level." This recognition adds to Park's list of achievements, including being a recipient of other prestigious scholarships and awards, such as the Goldwater Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarship.

Looking ahead to her graduate studies and career goals, Park remains grateful for the support she has received from the University of Missouri. Her ambition to become a physician specializing in neurodegenerative diseases reflects her determination to make a positive impact in the world.

In Park's own words, "I will continue to keep the love and support I have felt at Mizzou going forward and always remember that my dreams have been supported by the University of Missouri. I will keep moving to make the difference that I hope to see in this world."