Each year, Missouri State University hosts up to 100 students at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy (MFAA). MFAA is a three-week summer residential program for highly motivated student artists in visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing and music.

The Academy offers an intensive schedule of classes in interdisciplinary and discipline-specific arts, and a wide range of co-curricular activities.

Ray Castrey is a co-director of the academy.

Baylor Barnes will be a senior at Parkview High School in Springfield.

Junior Maura Shimmens attends Helias Catholic in Jefferson City.

Leah Sutherlin will be a senior at McCluer North in Florissant.