SEMO Graduate Earns Prestigious Gus T. Ridgel Fellowship for Graduate Study at University of Missouri

Mae Willingham, a spring 2025 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, has been awarded the prestigious Gus T. Ridgel Fellowship from the University of Missouri, where she will pursue a graduate degree in political science with a focus on American government and political methodology. A political science major at SEMO, Willingham credits her undergraduate experiences-including her time as a McNair Scholar, mentorship from faculty and rigorous research projects-for shaping her academic path. Known for her discipline and remarkable writing ability, she maintained a 4.0 GPA while actively engaging in campus life and supporting herself through college. The fellowship, she says, provides the freedom to fully dedicate herself to her studies and future career goals.

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