Richard Joseph

Richard Joseph is a Junior at UMKC majoring in Biology and minoring in both Chemistry and Spanish. Richard was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri, and went to Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School. Outside of the Honors Program, he is an active member of the Pre-Dental society as well as the founding father Grand Master of the social fraternity Kappa Sigma. Joseph’s future plans are to attend dental school, become a polyglot, and to travel to all seven continents, but not necessarily in that order.

Choosing UMKC has been one of the most impactful decisions of Richard’s life thus far. From the cohorts of restaurants to try to all the scenic parks or sporting events, getting lost in the city is a favorite of his. When he is not doing these things, odds are he is either studying, with his friends, or both. Richard looks forward to being able to serve and form long lasting bonds with both current and prospective Honors Program students.

Tia Kahwaji

Tia Kahwaji is a Junior at UMKC. She is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry with a pre-dental focus. Throughout her first year, she has been able to get involved on campus by serving as vice president of Pre-Dental Society and by taking part in the Trustees’ Scholars program. Alongside being involved in campus, Tia values giving back to the community through volunteering. She is currently serving as a Ronald McDonald volunteer and has taken advantage of volunteering opportunities in Kansas City through Pre-Dental Society. Her ultimate goal is to attend UMKC’s dental school and to one day open a practice in Kansas City, where she can continue to give back to the community. Aside from studying and volunteering, she enjoys spending her time exploring coffee shops, exercising, and meeting new people.

Although Tia is originally from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, she loves attending a university in an urban environment. The diverse student population and the emphasis on inclusion at UMKC initially stood out to her. Each day at UMKC, she feels as though she is a part of a tight-knit community of motivated and diverse scholars. Likewise, she has enjoyed attending a university that fosters intellectual growth, service, and leadership. As an Honors Ambassador, Tia intends to create a positive and welcoming environment so that every Honors student feels as welcomed as she did the second she got to campus. Tia is excited to work with the Honors students and provide them with the guidance needed to navigate their way through college both academically and socially.

Jessica Nguyen

Jessica Nguyen is a Junior at UMKC pursuing a degree in business with an emphasis in marketing. Apart from being involved in the Honors Program, Jessica also participates in the campus ministry St. Paul’s Outreach. Jessica is from Joplin, Missouri, and graduated from Joplin High School. She was involved in orchestra as well as student council in high school.

Jessica enjoys exploring new coffee shops in Kansas City and doing many hands-on craft activities. She is excited to create new projects and relationships with Honors students. One of the reasons why Jessica chose UMKC is because of the huge diversity in culture and perspective.

Symone Franks

Symone Franks is a freshman from Grandview, MO studying Environmental Science with a minor in Environmental Sustainability. She loves thrifting, reading, and listening to music. When she has free time, she loves to visit Loose Park and treat herself to a picnic. Her favorite thing about Honors is the community environment. This semester, she’s excited to be more involved with the Honors Program and get to know more people in this amazing community.

Cassandra Ludwig

Cassandra Ludwig is a Freshman at UMKC pursuing a dual degree in business with an emphasis in marketing and communication studies with an emphasis in journalism. Apart from being involved in the Honors Program, Cassandra also participates in Enactus, Lucerna, and the campus ministry St. Paul’s Outreach. Cassandra is from St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from Oakville High School. She was involved in the school’s journalism program as well as theater in high school.

Cassandra enjoys exploring new places in Kansas City and doing other “grandma” activities like crocheting and reading. As an Honors Ambassador, she hopes to create a welcoming environment so that every Honors student has a place where they belong. Cassandra is excited to work with the Honors students to create new projects and relationships. While Kansas City is a bit different from her hometown of St. Louis, she loves learning more and staying active in the community around her.

Tanner Burke

Tanner Burke is a Junior at UMKC majoring in Psychology. Tanner is originally from O’Fallon, Missouri, and graduated from Fort Zumwalt North High School. He was involved in orchestra in his high school and ran on the Cross-Country team for 2 years. He also played in Lindenwood’s Youth Orchestra for 3 years as a cellist. Though he isn’t in any ensembles right now, he still enjoys playing cello in his free time.

Tanner is originally from a smaller town, but he hasn’t had any problems getting involved at UMKC. Everyone in the Honors program and around campus is super friendly and he found that he had no trouble feeling at home. He’s looking forward to meeting even more people and continuing to experience the diverse culture and perspectives that UMKC has to offer. Tanner has two dogs, and he enjoys the company of most pets. He loves talking with friends and playing both music and video games. Some of his favorite games include Skyrim, Minecraft, and Subnautica. Tanner also enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons with his friends. Additionally, he is a huge nerd when it comes to both Star Wars and Harry Potter. He also knows how to solve Rubik’s Cubes.

Sean Purdue

Sean Purdue is a Junior at UMKC majoring in Civil Engineering. Originally from Liberty, Missouri, he was (and is) excited to attend an urban research university near his hometown. Sean is involved with UMKC’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the UMKC Concrete Canoe team. In his free time, Sean enjoys playing the violin; reading about history and natural science; and hiking/kayaking.

Sean enjoys the independence of being a student at UMKC, as well as the university’s proximity to many of Kansas City’s urban attractions. He is also a big fan of the Honor Program’s honors classes, which help learning become more personal. After graduation, Sean plans to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering and go on to work for a local civil engineering firm. In addition to looking forward to helping current and prospective Honors students, Sean is eager to hear and understand the many perspectives that UMKC’s students have to offer!