Hannah Philpot: Missionary on Campus

Former NW Arkansas student works for FOCUS to minister on Missouri campus

For Hannah Philpot, 24, learning about the faith and teaching the faith go hand-in-hand.

Throughout her junior high and high school years at St. Raphael Church in Springdale and St. Joseph Church in Tontitown, Philpot was involved in her parish youth ministry and serving on the diocesan Youth Advisory Council. But it was at Missouri State University that she found her current mission.

As a freshman, Philpot met a Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary and did what most college students do. She asked questions. For her, the answers brought clarity not only to her questions, but also her future.

“For the first time I understood how Jesus didn’t make sense without the Church and vice versa,” she said.

Philpot led Bible studies in her sorority and went on to mentor other women in other chapters while in college. This experience laid the groundwork and brought her full circle in following her vocation.

Now she is a campus missionary for FOCUS at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau and works on a team with three other missionaries, befriending students and helping them live the Gospel.

“I truly believe this model of intentional discipleship on college campuses will change the face of the Catholic Church,” Philpot said. 

What is something not everyone knows about you?

“I did voice acting for a puppet monkey in the ‘Kids For Health’ videos we watched in elementary schools. The puppet’s name was Starla. She was Australian.”

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