Veronica “Mayowa” Adewole, senior communication major at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Norah Barry, a Webster University senior theater major, and Bleu Haywood, Saint Louis University senior communications major, were members of 2026 Gyo Obata Fellowship cohort.
The paid summer program in 2026 connected 11 students with area cultural institutions
Adewole served with the Gateway Foundation, Barry with STAGES St. Louis, and Haywood with the Missouri Historical Society.
This year marks the fifth round of the fellowship, which has now engaged more than 50 fellows and 26 host organizations. The competitive application process received a record number of applications from both prospective fellows and host organizations.