What is the formula that catalyzes bright sparks to win fountains of scholarships and discoveries that make our world a better place to live? Hard work, for sure. But the fundamental element is people. It's all about having a supportive friendship group to help you laugh and to collaborate with when confronting challenging questions. Also, it's about professors, those people who go above and beyond to give you opportunities to do hands-on research. How do we know this? Because we've met Emily Boyd, Joseph Loomis, Cara Davis, and Zachary Wood, four KU chemistry majors who scooped up countless prestigious awards last year.

Program of study and year: History doctoral program, starting my fourth year Hometown: Mountain Home, Arkansas What are your research interests and why did you choose them?  My research focuses on the Holocaust and the history of modern Russia and Eastern Europe. I became interested in these fields from a really young age, in 5^th grade.

What are your research interests and why did you choose them? 

It's hard to believe that Zoya Khan hasn't been involved in politics all of her life. Since arriving at KU she's served as a student senator, president of the Muslim Student Association, diversity, equity & inclusion ambassador for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and has been a member of KU Students for Refugees,  the Dole Institute Student Advisory Board and International Studies Services.

Majors: Law & Society, Applied Behavioral Science, and Spanish

Majors: Global and International Studies and History

Describe your research in a few sentences that we can all understand:

Why did you choose your majors and minors?

I have, from a very early age, been interested in politics and history. I was a junior in high school when the September 11th Attacks took place, and after that, I was determined to pursue these interests as a career.

How do your majors and minors complement one another?

Freshman Sam Blaufuss makes the best of two worlds by combining classes from the KU School of Journalism and the College. As a double-major in strategic communications and film & media studies, with an emphasis in production, Sam has classes and experiences that will prepare him for the world beyond college. But Blaufuss isn't all work and no play - he can be spotted on campus wearing a pair of boots that he got and wore at an old job working at the cemetery in his hometown of Newton, Kansas!

Here's Sam in three quotes:

Hometown: Rogers, Arkansas 

Major(s): Dance major, psychology minor 

Internship title and organization: Production Intern at the American Dance Festival