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Legacy in Action: Phillips Scholar Libby Skaggs
Leadership, for Libby Skaggs, begins with paying attention, seeing where people feel unseen, unheard, or unsupported, and choosing to step forward. A Phillips University Legacy Scholar at Culver-Stockton College, Libby has distinguished herself as a thoughtful, driven leader whose influence makes a difference in others’ lives.
A junior this year, majoring in Political Science and Media Communications with a minor in English, Libby pairs academic excellence with a life of campus engagement. She currently serves as Student Body Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of the Wildcat Wire, and has held leadership roles across Panhellenic Council, student government, residence life, and campus media. Her understanding of leadership is rooted in responsibility rather than title. As Libby describes it:
“A leader is someone who looks at things wrong with the world and chooses to change them. They think not just of themselves, but of everyone around them… To serve as a leader is to see where the vacancy for leadership is and to fill it with grace.”
That philosophy is evident in Libby’s Volunteer Leadership Projects, where she has translated conviction into action year after year. Last year’s project involved organizing a campus basketball tournament to raise funds for Relay For Life, created in honor of a close friend who passed away after a long battle with leukemia. This year’s project focuses on designing a prayer labyrinth on campus as a much-needed space for students to pause, reflect, and engage their spiritual well-being in a fast-paced academic environment.
Libby’s ability to lead with empathy and integrity has been consistent over time. One of her early recommenders when she joined the program shared:
“When I think of a leader, I think of Libby. She takes initiative, encourages students who are struggling, and leads with empathy and integrity. She is the kind of student others naturally trust and follow.”
As a Phillips Scholar, Libby’s connection to Phillips University also takes on special meaning since Libby is the daughter of Phillips alumnus Jeremy Skaggs ’95 and the sister of Hayden Skaggs, a Phillips University Legacy Foundation Graduate Scholar and former Undergraduate Scholar. Last summer, Libby worked with Be The Neighbor, an experience that took her to Washington, D.C., Austin, Chicago, and Camp Crystal in Michigan, while this year, she’s working with the Missouri House of Representatives. The work reflects her growing interest in advocacy, community engagement, and public-facing leadership.
Through it all, Libby embodies the enduring values of Phillips University: leadership grounded in integrity, service shaped by compassion, and a commitment to building communities where others can thrive.
