Mikael Epps on Choir, Community and Stepping into the Future

One Band, One Sound
Mikael Epps is a first-generation college graduate, choir president, campus leader, and entrepreneur with a business already in motion. As a Class of 2026 senior at Lincoln University of Missouri, he's crossing the stage this May leaving with a plan, a voice and proof that where you start doesn't have to define where you end up.

"No matter the volume you were raised in or grew in, that doesn't dictate your life or your future," he said. "You can always be that light in a dark room. You can always be that flower in a garden that will grow."

Pressing Through
Mikael was accepted to multiple HBCUs and universities before choosing Lincoln, drawn by the family-oriented feeling on campus and the one-on-one access to faculty and staff he knew he'd need. What he couldn't have anticipated was how much that support would matter.

He has faced real challenges along the way. COVID hit early in his college career and set him back. He pushed through by using his resources, reaching out to faculty in his department, having the hard conversations, and refusing to quit.

"I know giving up would have set me back way further than all the hard work I put in," he said. Four staff members stayed in his corner throughout: Asia Duncan, Miss QB, Miss Liz Maro and Miss Jill in student conduct. "They lit the race with me and kept that push for me."

Be the Voice
Mikael has always been the person others come to. Not because he sought it out, but because people find him. He's never turned anyone away. "I will always give my last to anybody in the situation, just because I know how it feels to be in that predicament."

That same instinct shows up in how he leads. As president of the gospel choir and student director of entertainment for CAB, he's the person behind homecoming, Springfest and the events that give campus life its energy. It's a significant amount of responsibility, and he carries it the way he carries most things: by showing up fully and bringing others along with him.

For Mikael, finding his voice has been one of the defining experiences of these four years. "A lot of stuff could be swept under the rug," he said. "Always be the voice. Express your opinion. These years brought that out of me, to always express how I feel, express my concerns. Use your voice."

What Comes Next
After graduation, Mikael is moving in two directions at once. He's been building a catering and cooking business called Eat's with Kel's, with plans for a food truck or storefront and eventually a restaurant of his own. Culinary school is on the horizon. He's also pursuing work as a behavioral support specialist in the medical field.

He arrived four years ago as a freshman from Chicago with a driven mindset. He's leaving this May as the first in his family to earn a college degree, a choir president, a campus leader and an entrepreneur with a plan.

"I'm proud that I finished," he said

Mikael Epps is a senior business administration major from Chicago, Illinois. He serves as president of the Lincoln University Gospel Choir and as student director of entertainment for the Campus Activities Board.