**Charlie Koors**
_Hospitality major and natural-born leader_

Junior hospitality management major and native son of St. Louis, Charlie Koors has been heavily involved with MU’s Center for Leadership and Service during his time at Mizzou.

As a freshman, Koors was a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class. Last year, Koors worked as a TA for the class. Now returning for a third time as a mentor, Koors says that he enjoys watching the freshmen progress in their leadership skills as the year goes on.

Koors counts his own experience in the class as one of his favorite memories from the leadership and service program.

“Some of my best friends are from that class (freshman year),” Koors says.

Koors, who has also participated in Caring for Columbia, the Mizzou Leadership Academy and Venture Out, advises students looking to get involved to consider the Emerging Leaders Program, an 11-week course for freshmen that teaches leadership skills.

“Get involved in any way possible,” Koors says. “There are 34,000 students here, but being in a leadership position makes it seem smaller.”

**Elizabeth “Liz” Oeftering**
_Velvet Cupcake Shift Supervisor and Karaoke Visionary_

The cupcakes at The Velvet Cupcake on Eighth Street are baked fresh every morning. For Liz Oeftering, a Dallas native, life’s freshness comes from the vibrancy of the Columbia community.

“You see some weird things,” Oeftering says. “One time, people were in a line that was out the door waiting for burritos. You think to yourself, ‘Only in Columbia.’ It always keeps you on your toes.”

For three years, she has helped her boyfriend run a karaoke company at Eastside Tavern every Thursday.

“There is a regular who is amazing,” Oeftering says. “He’s Korean and lived in the states for 20 years, but his English is still a bit broken. He sings ‘Barbie Girl’ and ‘Thriller.’ He’s the star of the show.”

Karaoke has been Oeftering’s medium of connection. It was there she met her boyfriend; they’ll be celebrating their six-year anniversary this week.

Oeftering’s start at The Velvet Cupcake came through her friend, a karaoke regular.

Oeftering is hoping to go to grad school, but in the meantime she’s figuring out exactly what she wants to do.

“Being surrounded by cupcakes isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Oeftering says.