My Mizzou Story
Nicole Niewald
Service with an A&S Smile
Senior Nicole Niewald is taking an unusual detour before beginning a master's degree in public health.
In her first job after graduation, Nicole Niewald will face challenges with the teenagers she'll encounter every day in inner-city New York. Only half of students from low-income communities graduate from high school.
Despite the challenges, Niewald is eager to begin teaching high school science through Teach for America. "It will be a great experience," she says. "It isn't going to be easy, but the kids need to know that some people have faith in them."
Niewald will graduate in May 2008 with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and interdisciplinary studies, then attend a five-week training seminar to prepare for the two-year assignment. She's one of more than 15 MU students who have joined this year's Teach for America program.
No one who knows Niewald, a senior from Imperial, Mo., would consider such service an unusual commitment for her. Throughout her undergraduate years, she has combined training in leadership with a service component.
To honor Niewald's scholarship and service, the University of Missouri named her to Mizzou '39, a group of outstanding seniors. The number of students selected reflects the 1839 founding of the University of Missouri, Niewald says. She knows that Mizzou statistic — plus a host of others — because she meets with visiting prospective students as tri-chair of the Honors College Ambassadors and served as a Summer Welcome Leader.
Niewald's other award qualifications are equally superb. She is president of the Arts and Science Student Council and since August has devoted a minimum of two hours a week planning A&S Week activities. As founder and president of Mizzou Public Health, she is spearheading a project to distribute nutrition information to students in MU's new student center. She also serves as campus coordinator for Teach for America and is a student assistant for the Office of Service-Learning.
After completing two years in Teach for America, Niewald plans to pursue a master's degree in public health with an emphasis on obesity prevention. She hopes eventually to work in public policy.
February 2008