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A group of WashU Philanthropy Lab student “Ambassadors” traveled to Texas last month to pitch for funding for St. Louis organizations — one of whom landed $50,000 for LifeWise STL. Luc Neacy ‘27, pitched on behalf of LifeWise STL, which helps families and people of all ages achieve economic well-being through high-impact, relationship-based programming and addressing systemic barriers. The additional funds bring the total Philanthropy Lab grants from the spring 2025 course to $60,000 for LifeWise STL — and to $120,900 across 22 community nonprofits in the St. Louis region.  

Ronné Turner, vice provost for undergraduate enrollment and student financial aid at Washington University in St. Louis, recently sat down for an interview with Inside Higher Ed. Ronné discussed the university’s WashU Pledge program, which offers eligible students from Missouri and southern Illinois a full scholarship. “It is our hope that no talented student, regardless of their family background, sees finances as a barrier to entry at WashU,” Turner said in the interview.

Founders looking to innovate in the health sector are finding that St. Louis’ medical and academic prowess makes it a great place to grow their companies, with experts at local institutions including WashU who are generous with their time and willing to share their knowledge. 

Martin Mwita, who just turned 21, recently became the first patient in the St. Louis region to receive a gene therapy newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sickle cell disease. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and St. Louis Children’s Hospital are among only a few academic medical centers in the U.S. that have begun offering the treatment.

It’s been over a century since the city of St. Louis hosted some of the world’s best athletes for the Summer Olympic Games. On June 20, those fields used over 100 years ago played host to the next generation. Hundreds of kids from our area took a lap around the historic track at Francis Olympic Field at Washington University.

Rebecca Brown, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and university governance at Washington University in St. Louis, has been named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Most Influential Business Women” class of 2025. Established in 1999, the “Most Influential Business Women” awards annually recognize and celebrate women in the St. Louis area who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in business careers, and for their accomplishments and contributions to their industries.

St. Louis is known nationally for its excellent (and free) art. Staff, faculty, students and alumni of Washington University in St. Louis are sharing their favorite places to view visual art around the region during the summer.

At summer camps across the region, kids are playing football, tie-dying T-shirts and building mock volcanoes. But at one WashU summer camp, local students are making art to explore an unlikely topic: public health. The LIGHT Creativity in Public Health Summer Camp encourages students to tap into their imaginations and lived experiences to create artwork, poetry and stories that communicate the importance of health and science. 

Thirteen teachers from across the St. Louis region have been selected to work with WashU faculty members for the 2025 Summer Teacher-Researcher Program. Administered in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis’ Institute for School Partnership, the program is designed to provide opportunities for faculty to connect with local educators and to provide professional development for area K-12 teachers.

A few months ago, The Jewish Light shared stories of some of the bright lights in the St. Louis arts community. Now, it has published a deeper spotlight on three artists whose brilliance illuminates not just St. Louis, but the international art world.