My Mizzou Story
Laura Jennings
Someday the pills you take at night or in the morning may have a University of Missouri connection.
Laura Jennings, a senior at MU with majors in mathematics and chemistry, is well on her way toward a future in medicinal drug design. "Science is my 'thing,' " she says. "My goal is to obtain a medical degree and a doctorate in medicinal chemistry. With that I then hope to research and develop better drug therapy treatments."
Last summer Jennings worked as a researcher in enzymology — the study of enzymes — with the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at Texas A&M University. This summer she's interning at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., as a researcher analyzing the physiological effects of small molecular drugs that may be used to treat certain cancers.
"I never would have had these opportunities without the help I've received from scholarships," Jennings says. "They've basically paid for my education here, and that's helped me save money for graduate and post-graduate studies."
As one of only 300 national 2003 Barry Goldwater Scholars — named in honor of the late Arizona senator — Jennings received $7,500 for one year's tuition. That's in addition to her four scholarships at MU: a Curators Scholarship Award, a "Bright Flight" Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship, an Arts & Science Award of Excellence scholarship and an Arts & Science Quadrangle Scholarship.
Jennings says she chose to attend MU because of her brother. "We're only 17 months apart, so we're really close," she says. "He came to school here, and I followed. That's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I couldn't see myself going anywhere else."
Originally Jennings planned on studying engineering, but an organic chemistry class with professor John McCormick changed her mind. "The class was phenomenal," she says. "After that class I became interested in how medicinal chemicals affected the human body, so I decided that chemistry was a perfect major. I call math my ‘fun' major because it's just something I've always been interested in. It's logical, and everything is either right or wrong. And that's how I think."
Jennings says her switch in majors is a perfect example of the depth and quality of academic programs at Mizzou. No matter what career path students choose, she says, they are assured of a great education.
As a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and last year's Homecoming Steering Committee, Jennings is equally impressed with Mizzou's school spirit. "This is one of the most spirited schools in the Big 12," she says. "It's incredible to see how attached alumni are to MU."