Although his family ties to the university played a role in his decision to become a tiger, the biochemistry major fell in love with the university on his own and continues to embrace his past, present and future with MU.
Freshman Brett Kercher carries on his family’s black and gold bloodline as a fifth-generation student attending MU
Established in 1838, MU has seen many students come and go over the past 184 years. While first-generation MU students still walk the halls, some students belong to a long line of MU heritage. From running through the columns to kissing the 50-yard-line, MU’s customs aim to unite past, present and future Tigers through the same black and gold legacy. For some families, attending MU is just as big of a tradition, and Kercher epitomizes this sentiment.
The Kercher’s long line of Tiger lineage began with Brett’s great-great grandmother, Angie A. Leabo Steffan. She received her Master of Education from MU in 1949. Her son Frederick Leabo Steffan later attended the university as well. He married a fellow MU student, Virginia Knox Nofftz Steffan, and the couple had four children together. Of their children, Mary Anne Graham, Brett’s grandmother, was the only one to follow the tradition of attending MU.
Growing up, Graham would frequently visit the university with her family and quickly became acquainted with the campus. From attending her parent’s graduation in 1955 to getting married at the school’s chapel and giving birth at the university’s hospital, Graham has celebrated many personal milestones at MU.
Her freshman year resembled that of a typical college freshman as she eased into the college lifestyle. She often studied at the top of Memorial Union and Ellis Library as she assimilated into college culture.
“Everything that I wanted to learn was right there,” Graham said.
Graham married Brett’s grandfather, Dan Kercher, during her sophomore year. at the Allen Percival Green Chapel. During the couple’s junior year, they welcomed their son, Kirk Kercher, into the world. After being born on campus, Kirk was born eight weeks premature. In 1971, when a baby was born that prematurely, it was common practice to put the infant on oxygen — a practice that could burn the infant’s retinas and cause a loss of sight. The MU University Hospital was one of two hospitals in America at the time conducting an experimental program to avoid this risk factor.
“I owe my sight to being born at Mizzou,” Kirk Kercher said.
After their son was born, Graham and her husband continued their studies at MU as they raised Kirk on campus. While juggling her academic and motherhood responsibilities, Graham joined a student parent organization on campus.
“MU gave me lifelong friends, skills for a great professional career, lots of family memories and even current experiences as my grandkids start coming here too,” Graham said.
When Kirk got married and began to have kids, he raised his three children with the same sense of Mizzou pride that his parents had instilled in him. Kirk took his family to MU’s Homecoming every year as he introduced his kids to the MU magic that occurs in Columbia during Homecoming Week. Although the family’s tradition of attending Homecoming faded over the years, Kirk returned to Columbia this year to visit his son as he celebrated his first Homecoming as a student.
“This year’s Homecoming was the first time that coming back to Mizzou and to Columbia for Homecoming felt like I was coming home,” Kirk said.
Seventy-three years after his great-great grandmother graduated, Brett began his freshman year during the fall 2022 semester as a biochemistry major.
In addition to being a fifth-generation MU student, Brett is also a third-generation student studying in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and serves as the president of his Residence Hall Board.
“I’m not sure if I’ll have kids, but I really don’t want the lineage to just stop with me,” Kercher said. “I feel like my kids now have to go to live that on, but I think Mizzou will still stay part of my life. ”
Edited by Egan Ward | eward@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Lauren Courtney and Kyla Pehr
