**Kim Pearl**
_Dairy expert and cow enthusiast_
Sophomore Kim Pearl’s first word was “cow.”
“From then on, I was completely obsessed with cows,” says Pearl, who is an animal sciences major.
Because of her love for the bovine species, Pearl, a native of Willard, Mo., originally wanted to be a vet, before deciding on ruminant nutrition with an emphasis in dairy. (Ruminants, she says, are animals with multiple stomachs.) Pearl wants to one day formulate diets for dairy cows and see how different diets affect milk production.
Be it something geared toward her faith (she’s a member of Christian sorority Sigma Phi Lambda, as well as other campus ministries) or her passion for cows (she’s also a member of the MU Dairy Club), Pearl is involved in many different organizations around campus.
“That’s one of the things I love the most about Mizzou — all the different things you can get involved in,” Pearl says.
OK, we have to ask: What kind of milk does Pearl prefer? She answers sheepishly.
“I’m lactose intolerant,” Pearl says.
She sticks to whole milk-style Lactaid.
“At least (dairy producers) will know their product is safe with me,” Pearl says.
**Karen Shortt-Stout**
_Columbia Art League education director_
For Karen Shortt-Stout, art is not just a medium of expression. It is an inquiry of human nature.
And as education director for the Columbia Art League, Shortt-Stout shares her passion for inquiry with others.
“Our goal is to provide a vibrant learning community for artists of all ages and skill levels in our area,” she says.
Shortt-Stout’s learning experiences as a graduate student in MU’s art education program taught her a valuable lesson as she explored her own concept through a series of work.
“I realized it is more important to learn through art than about it,” Shortt-Stout says.
She hopes her students will have an experience similar to hers.
“The key is to help students figure out what inspires them, give them tools and skills to work with, and then be willing to step back and let them create their own meaning,” she says.
