Remington R. Williams Award Recipients

University of Missouri Board of Curators announce inaugural class of student leaders selected for the 2023 Remington R. Williams Award

Gabriella Balaa

• Second-year student at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine.
• President of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2025, president of the student chapter of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and member of the student chapter of theAmerican Association of Equine Practitioners.

“She embodies the essence of kindness, intelligence, professionalism, leadership and diplomacy,”said Lynn M. Martin, assistant teaching professor of equine internal medicine. “I do not believe I will ever meet another student who demonstrates the same hunger for learning, professional potential and employment of candid servant leadership.”

Martin De La Hunt

• Senior majoring in computer engineering at Missouri S&T.
• Drum major for the Miner marching band and vice president of operations for student council.

“I truly admire Martin for his dedication and perseverance,” said Wulfe Retzlaff, president of MissouriS&T Student Council. “He is consistently questioning to gain understanding, and he strategizes thecompletion of a workload that appears insurmountable.”

Alexander Entwistle

• Junior majoring in biology at UMSL
• President of the Pierre Laclede Honors College Student Association, member of UMSL’s pre-medical society, member of Alpha Lambda Delta and an honors peer mentor.

“His intellectual vigor, willingness to engage in the community, humor, irreverence and energy serve to energize the college as a whole,” said Edward Munn Sanchez, dean of UMSL’s Pierre Laclede Honors College. “Alex is deeply committed to this academic community, and it is infectious. He passes this on to his fellow students through his presence and the many ways that he is visible in the college.”

Jonathan Jain

• A senior at the MU School of Journalism.
• Tri-Director of Mizzou Homecoming Steering Committee and a member of Rockin’ Against MultipleSclerosis (RAMS).

“Jonathan both leads by example and takes on leadership roles,” said Mark Horvit, faculty chair of journalism professions at MU. “He is easy to work with and collaborative by nature and has a great attitude that helps others believe that projects can be successfully completed.”

Ethan Joly

• A senior at MU’s Trulaske College of Business.
• Director for RAMS, president of MU’s club soccer team and campus involvement chair for the DeltaTau Delta fraternity.

“He has compassion and the adaptability to make things better for everyone around him,” said Jamie McDonald, advisor for RAMS. “He goes out of his way every time I see him to make sure that not just inclusion happens, but friendship does.”

Rishabh Mahendra

• A graduate student at MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
• First president for Universities Fighting World Hunger-Mizzou, president of Division of Applied Social Sciences Graduate Student Association and director of the Deaton Scholars Program.

“He has inspired growth and development of a new generation of fellow students in both academic applications and extramural academic activities,” said Brady Deaton, chancellor emeritus and executive director of the Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development. “His leadership style and collaborative spirit set the tone for his colleagues to reach new levels of accomplishments.”

Shonte Reed

• Fourth-year student at UMKC School of Dentistry.
• President of UMKC’s Student National Dental Association, treasurer of UMKC’s Dental Anesthesiology Club and a representative on the School of Dentistry’s (SOD) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.

“In my 20-plus years of working in higher education, she is the most exceptional student I have ever supported and has become a transformational leader for our community,” said Richard Bigham, assistant dean for student programs at UMKC School of Dentistry.