SEMO graduate awarded prestigious Gus T. Ridgel fellowship

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Mae Willingham, a spring 2025 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), has been awarded the Gus T. Ridgel Fellowship from the University of Missouri.

The competitive graduate fellowship will support Willingham’s pursuit of a graduate degree in political science at the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs.

A political science major at SEMO, Willingham maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while working to support herself throughout college. She also participated in the Law, Politics, and Society Club and was a McNair Scholar.

Willingham credits her undergraduate experience at SEMO with preparing her for graduate study. She plans to pursue a career in higher education, balancing teaching and research.