Last year, the University of Missouri Board of Curators announced the inaugural recipients of the Remington R. Williams Award. The award is the highest non-academic award bestowed on students by the Board of Curators and is given in memory of Remington Williams and his outstanding service as student representative to the board from 2020 to 2022.
This year, two College of Arts and Science students were among the 2024 award recipients. Each receives $1,000 and a leadership medal to wear at commencement.
The two A&S recipients are Vishvi Aurora and Teja Teppala. Read more about them below.
Vishvi Aurora
Vishvi Aurora
Vishvi Aurora is an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Science and is pursuing a degree in biological sciences and physics as well pursuing the Honors Certificate at Mizzou.
She serves as a student ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research and is a student representative for the Chancellor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities and an undergraduate representative for the Chancellor’s Committee for Libraries.
“Vishvi has been actively involved in the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, where she orchestrated initiatives such as voter registration drives, legislative events and member recruitment based on collected input,” her nomination packet read. “She demonstrates a heart for community service and advocacy, serving on the Steering Committee for Caring for Columbia, an organization that organizes student-led service initiatives in the community surrounding Mizzou’s campus.”
Teja Teppala
Teja Teppala
Teja Teppala is a graduate student in the College of Arts and Science and is pursuing a doctoral degree in physics. He serves as the outreach coordinator for the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Association and co-lead for the Graduate Professional Council’s programming committee. He also is a leader of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ international student group.
“Teja’s experiences and contributions at Mizzou are heavily focused on service to the public and inspiring the growth and development of his fellow students,” his nomination packet read. “He wrote and shared an international graduate student handbook that has been extremely important in helping to welcome new students to Mizzou.”