2025-2026 Citizen Scholars

The Citizen Scholar Award is the highest award available to Missouri State University students. Since the award’s inception in 2007, 107 exceptional students have been recognized for their stellar achievements with academics, community engagement and leadership.

The 2025-2026 Citizen Scholar recipients are: 

Megan Bolen
Megan is a junior from Springfield, MO, majoring in Special Education. She is an active member of Bears Lead and has served as a Bear POWER ambassador, mentoring students with disabilities and helping them navigate the academic and social changes of college life. She is also involved in the Missouri State PRIDE Band, Bear Mania, and Concert Band. After graduating from Missouri State, Megan plans to begin teaching in an elementary special education classroom. She also plans to return to school to pursue a master's degree in gifted education and, eventually, a doctoral degree in organizational leadership. Megan is joined by her parents, Chad & Angela Bolen; her boyfriend, Gage Shivers; and her nominator, Dr. Marcia Dowdy.

Robert-Thomas Gumersell
Robert-Thomas is a senior from Springfield, MO, majoring in Communication. Robert-Thomas is a transfer student who has been active in the Student Government Association and was elected Director of University Affairs. He has been inducted into the national honor society for transfer students, Tau Sigma. Robert-Thomas owns his own non-profit called “R.T.’s Project Suitcase”. This project is designed to benefit foster children who are about to age out of the foster care system. After graduation, Robert-Thomas plans to pursue a master's degree. He then plans to start being a college instructor or professor. His long-term goal is to pursue a doctorate in higher education (Ed.D). and go into higher education administration, with a long-term goal to serve as a university dean or college president. Joining Robert-Thomas are his parents, Jeff & Lesa Voss, and his nominator, Campbell Keele.

Chandler Harris
Chandler is a senior from Rogers, AR, majoring in Entertainment Management and is in the Accelerated MBA program. Chandler runs his own freelance production company that includes clients like Walmart, PBS, 21C Hotels, and Ozark Foundation. He is president of the Entertainment Management Association and has held this position since his second year at MSU. Chandler served as the first launch member for planting a church in Springfield, Legacy City Church. He also serves as a board member for Home for Dinner Inc., a non-profit that aims to provide assistance to veterans in NW Arkansas. After obtaining his MBA with a certificate in leadership, Chandler plans to either begin working for an entertainment company in operations management or begin to scale his business. Chandler is joined by his parents, Lance & Chrissy Harris; brother, Carter Harris; aunt, Kathy Priore; and his nominator, Chris Nagle.

Moira Lizarraga
Moira is a graduate student from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, majoring in Communication Studies. Before joining Missouri State, she was an accomplished educator and public servant in Bolivia, earning a Teacher of the Year award in 2020 and serving in municipal government in her hometown of Santa Cruz. As a Graduate Assistant in the Graduate College, Moira served as the bilingual liaison for MSU’s first master’s degree program offered entirely in Spanish. She also serves as a board member for the Ozarks Lyric Opera. Moira plans to pursue a PhD in Communication where she will research how social structures are made to feel natural and immutable. Joining Moira is her host family, Brad & Tammy Mitchell; partner Adonis Garcia; sponsor Susan Belcher; and her nominator Dr.
Carrisa Hoelsher.

Jessica Snare

Jessica is a senior from Warrensburg, MO, double majoring in IT-Cybersecurity and IT-Infrastructure, and minoring in Data Analytics. Jessica is the founder and director of the ITC Cyber Cubs Youth Technology Summer Camp program and currently serves as president of the A-BITS student organization. She serves as the inject manager and co-captain for MSU’s eight-person Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition team. Jessica is in the Honors College and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. Jessica has a scholarship and multiple USITCC awards, including national honors in Application Development, Systems Analysis & Design, and Business Analytics. After graduation, Jessica has a signed job offer with ConocoPhillips where she will start as a Rotational IT New Hire. Jessica is joined by her parents, Rick & Elouise Snare; grandmother, Donna Snare; and her nominator, Dr. Xiang Guo.

Sam Wang
Sam is a senior from Springfield, MO, majoring in Anthropology, and minoring in Sociology, Communications, and Non-Profit Leadership. He is also in the Honors College. Sam currently serves as the Student Body Vice President for MSU’s Student Government Association, where he has formerly served as Chief of Staff and Chief Sustainability Commissioner. He has been a member of Americorps and has worked very closely with MSU’s Center for Community Engagement’s Bear Pantry. Sam has worked as an intern for the Center for Ozarks Poverty Research, where he ran the COPR’s Virtual Reality Poverty Immersion program. Sam plans on pursuing an MA and PhD in Applied Anthropology to teach in higher ed and to stay involved in the non-profit world in some capacity. Joining Sam are his parents, Jack Wang & Dr. Tracey Poston; his grandmothers, Sue Wang & Chris Hoag; recommender, Dr. Marnie Watson; and his nominator, Dr. Judith Martinez.