UM Board of Curators recognizes 2026 Remington R. Williams Award recipients

Seven students from UM System universities received the prestigious award, which honors service, leadership and academics

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri Board of Curators announced the next seven students to receive the illustrious Remington R. Williams Award Thursday. This award celebrates their commitment to service, leadership and academic excellence.

“The Remington Williams Award is the highest honor the Board of Curators bestows upon students and pays tribute to one of the best and brightest students I had the opportunity to know,” said Todd Graves, chair of the UM Board of Curators. “These seven students — through their academic achievement, leadership and character — have met the high bar he set and established legacies of their own at their respective universities and across the entire UM System. We’re proud to recognize their achievements.”

The Remington R. Williams Award commemorates the student representative to the Board of Curators who served from 2020 until his untimely and tragic death in June 2022. Williams attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where he received his juris doctor and served as a member of the Law Review and Honor Court. At the time of his death, he was pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Each recipient of the Remington R. Williams Award must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or its equivalent in their current program to qualify for the award, and they must hold active membership in at least two student organizations, including one in which they held a major leadership position. A fellow student, faculty member or staff member must formally nominate a recipient before the Board of Curators makes final determination on the winners.

As part of the award, recipients will receive $1,000 and a student-designed medal to be worn at commencement.  

The 2026 recipients of the Remington R. Williams Award are:

Mildred Awakessien

• Student at Mizzou pursuing a doctorate in chemistry with a cumulative GPA of 3.8.
• Has served as the president of Women Economic Empowerment and as an executive member of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources International Student Association.
• “What distinguishes Mildred most is her ability to balance this extensive leadership and service work with consistent academic progress and research advancement,” said Kerry Clark, director of CAFNR International Programs. “Her contributions on campus are highly visible, and she has directly impacted the lives of students through mentorship, advocacy and community building, all while continuing to advance her graduate research.”

Hannah Banks

• Undergraduate student at Mizzou pursuing a bachelor's and master's degrees in accountancy with a cumulative 3.8 GPA.
• Has served as the president of the Mizzou chapter of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and president of the Mizzou Panhellenic Association.
• “Hannah’s impact expanded further in her role as president of the Panhellenic Association, where she represented and advocated for over 4,000 students across 14 sororities,” said Sijie Yao, director of the Paul & Lynn Ann Vogel Master of Accountancy and Integrated Program at the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. “Her ability to unite diverse stakeholders, collaborate across councils and lead with purpose reflects the highest standards of institutional leadership.”

Sarah George

• Student in the UMKC School of Medicine 6-year BA/MD program pursuing a doctorate in medicine and a minor in chemistry with a cumulative 3.8 GPA.
• Has served as the president of the Days for Girls and as president of the UMKC chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association.
• “Across her numerous leadership roles... Sarah has consistently inspired the growth and development of fellow students,” said James Shackelford, assistant dean in the UMKC School of Medicine. “Her mentorship of younger students, particularly women entering medicine and surgery, has had a lasting ripple effect across campus organizations, strengthening leadership pipelines and fostering a culture of collaboration.”

Aiden Pickett

• Undergraduate student at S&T pursuing bachelor's degrees in psychology and computer science with a cumulative 3.9 GPA.
• Has served as the president of S&T’s Student Council.
• “Aiden’s interdisciplinary interests and student well-being trainings make him accessible and approachable to literally everyone,” said Clair Reynolds Kueny, department chair of psychological science at S&T. “His seemingly never-ending energy means he tirelessly pursues his responsibilities and goals, and his integrity and professionalism ensure he holds himself accountable to meeting (really exceeding) everyone’s expectations.”

Sophia Sapp

• Graduate student at Mizzou pursuing an accelerated master's degree in food science with a cumulative GPA of 4.0.
• Has served as the president of the Food Science Association and as the student leader of Sustain Mizzou.
• “[Sophia’s] visible success has fundamentally changed students’ perception of what is possible during undergraduate years,” said Bongkosh Vardhanabhuti, a professor of food science in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “Her example has effectively democratized research access — students who previously thought research was only for exceptional cases now see it as attainable.”

G Schmiedeke

• Undergraduate student at UMSL pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music with a cumulative GPA of 3.6.
• Has served as the marketing coordinator for the UMSL Instrumental Ensembles.
• “G demonstrates outstanding character, humility and professionalism,” said Joanna Mendoza, chair of the UMSL Department of Music. “His participation and leadership in UMSL Music ensembles are evidence of his collaborative nature, and he exhibits empathy and personal engagement that make him a trusted leader and valued member of both the UMSL and St. Louis music communities.”

Ashton Wooster

• Undergraduate student at Mizzou pursuing bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and information technology with a cumulative GPA of 4.0.
• Has served as the president of the Mizzou Computing Association and as vice president of finance of Mizzou’s Engineering Student Council.
• “He is the top well-rounded undergraduate I have supervised in my academic career,” said Chi-Ren Shyu, associate dean for graduate education and strategic initiatives in the College of Engineering. “Ashton consistently operates at a level comparable to advanced graduate students, contributing original ideas, engaging deeply with complex technical concepts and collaborating effectively across disciplinary boundaries.”