STUDENT CLOSE-UP

Fierce Focus

By Bridget Garwitz

From the moment she set foot on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus, senior Krystal Clay has demonstrated a prodigious sense of focus. Her first visit to Missouri's flagship university was in 2003 while she was a student at Marquette High School in Chesterfield, Mo. But unlike most incoming freshmen, she knew exactly what she wanted to study.

“I came out here with my parents and thought, 'This is a really nice campus,' and the new business facilities really keyed my interests.” Once Clay arrived as an MU freshman the following fall, she began working toward her degree in marketing. Little did she know what she would achieve in three short years, including being chosen as one of Mizzou’s 2006 top 10 marketing students.

Clay received her most recent honor in July when INROADS named her Senior Intern of the Year for her work at Anheuser-Busch Companies. The title is granted to the student who exemplifies the most outstanding work ethic and service.

INROADS is a non-profit organization that recruits talented, ethnically diverse students and places them in internships that will prepare them for professional careers in business and industry.

INROADS Midwest Regional Director Stacy McMurray says that when she and her staff evaluated Clay's performance, they looked at such criteria as her leadership positions, grade point average, community service hours, attendance at INROADS training sessions and willingness to serve as an ambassador for the organization.

“Krystal has received over the past three summers the INROADS Mark of Excellence Award, the 4.0 Award (three times), the Honor Roll award, the Scholar Award, the Frank C. Carr Community Service Award and the Award of Leadership,” McMurray says. She notes that Clay was one of only two interns this year to receive all six awards.

At the MU College of Business, Clay applies her solid work ethic to everything she does. Professor John Bennett says he is fortunate to have had her in two of his classes.

“She’s an impressive young woman. In a class of about 300 students, I would rank her at the top,” he says.

In addition to her exceptional class work, Clay has translated her enthusiasm for business into leadership positions within extracurricular organizations.

“The College of Business has a lot of opportunities for activities. They do a really good job of preparing students,” Clay says.

This year, Clay is serving as vice president of the Black Business Students Association and will continue to serve as a College of Business ambassador, introducing prospective and new business students to the MU campus. She also works as an intern in the Intercollegiate Athletics Development office and last year served on the Caring for Columbia Steering Committee, which is responsible for organizing a day of community service for MU students.

What keeps Clay so motivated and consistent?

“I like doing a good job at whatever I do. When I start something, I finish it,” she says with humility.

Bennett concurs, “She does the work. You can depend on her to do a job and do it well. I require students to take initiative, and Krystal really does that. I wish I had her in all of my classes.”

What lies ahead for Clay, who plans to graduate from Mizzou in May?

“I'm pretty much open to any job in marketing or any other business-related field,” she says.

Reliable sources indicate that Clay will excel at whatever she chooses.

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Last Update: November 15, 2007