Madison Jolly, who earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2024, won a Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow Award from the Missouri Milken Educators in June. Jolly teaches at Bland Middle School in Bland, Missouri.

Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow celebrates educators who have demonstrated high potential. The distinction aims to empower awardees by pairing them with another award-winning educator who will encourage them to pursue excellence during their first year as a teacher. Only 10 students in Missouri earn the award each year.

While at S&T, Jolly was the Student Council’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Education chair and representative. Being a first-generation and transfer student, Jolly says she believed she could provide a unique perspective as CASE chair and help guide first-generation students through the journey of being the first family member to attend college.

Jolly also says that her academic journey was a bit atypical from her fellow graduates. She earned an associate degree in teaching from East Central College and then pursued a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in middle school English. She also minored in literature, creative writing and psychology.

About Missouri S&T 

Missouri University of Science and Technology is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to The Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.