Vol. 14, No. 31 - May 4, 2010

Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Luke Freeland as the next student representative to the University Board of Governors March 9. He was confirmed by the Missouri Senate April 15.

The Board of Governors is the highest policy-making body of the University. His term is scheduled to run until Jan. 1, 2012.

A physics major from Kirksville, Freeland is also working on a minor in political science with an emphasis in pre-law.

As a student at Truman, Freeland has occupied leadership roles in Blue Key Honor Service Fraternity as well as Alpha Kappa Lambda and has been active with Campus Pals, the Joseph Baldwin Academy and the SERVE Center.

Freeland served as co-coordinator for the SERVE Center’s Big Event in March 2010.

Among his accomplishments at Truman, Freeland has received the University’s Golden Leadership Award and President’s Scholarship.

The role of student representative to the Board had previously been filled by Cody Sumter. Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Sumter in the spring of 2008. During his time with the Board, Sumter was a member of the Presidential Search Committee and the Honorary Degrees Selection Committee.

Last fall Sumter was selected to the Missouri Government Internship Program and currently is working as an intern with Sen. David Pearce.

Rob Tigner, current Beta Theta Pi adviser and chair and associate professor of psychology, recently was honored during a Beta Alumni Banquet.

In his honor, an endowment fund has been created to support members of the Truman Zeta-Xi Chapter so can participate in leadership conventions.

Truman Betas are able to attend these programs currently through the generosity of almuni of other chapters.

Tigner has supported Beta leadership opportunities by encouraging members to attend various leadership events each year. Tigner also spends two weeks each year volunteering as a facilitator at Beta’s leadership programs.

The Dr. Rob Tigner Leadership Fund has been created through the Beta Theta Pi Foundation with initial donations from Truman alumni of more than $20,000. The money will support Truman Betas when they travel to leadership opportunities. More than 120 Truman Betas already have participated in these programs throughout the last decade, and this fund will ensure that future Truman Betas get the same opportunity.

Organizers hope to raise $50,000 for the endowment fund by April 2013.

Those interested in contributing to the fund can donate online at http://www.betathetapi.org/gift. Please specify that you would like your gift directed to the “Dr. Robert Tigner Leadership Fund.” For more information about the fund, contact Marc Tower at 816.665.3928 or marctower@hotmail.com.

Tigner also was recently recognized with the E. M. Violette Outstanding Advisor Award for his work with the men of Beta Theta Pi.

Sigma Phi Epsilon hosted the organization’s annual “Vince Run” April 25. The Vince Run raised $1,000 this year.

During the Fall 1984 semester, Vincent Lukowski arrived as a freshman at Northeast Missouri State University and joined Sigma Phi Epsilon that spring.


Two years later, he and a friend were driving along Hannibal’s fabled towering bluffs near the Mississippi River when a driver in a pick-up truck veered around a corner and crashed into their car. The car was pushed into the ditch and overturned, rolling partway down the bluff toward the river.

Vince was not wearing his seatbelt. He was thrown from the car and his injuries included a broken brain stem. Vince has been a quadriplegic since then, in residence at the Beth Haven Nursing Home. Vince can eat and see; he watches television and listens to the radio and to music. In fact, he is aware of everything happening around him and around the world. But Vince cannot talk and, because he can move only one finger on his right hand, he cannot write.

Beginning in April 1989, the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon have conducted an annual fundraising project in honor of Vince and to support the Beth Haven Nursing Home. The SigEps engage in an annual relay run from the SigEp house in Kirksville to Vince’s room at the Beth Haven Nursing Home in Hannibal. Each SigEp brother runs a mile and passes the baton to the next brother for 97 miles.

The funds raised by Sigma Phi Epsilon during the annual Vince Run have been used by the Beth Haven administration and staff for the acquisition of accoutrements for the residents otherwise not possible.

In 1997, Vince’s family and the administration and staff of Beth Haven used SigEp’s gift to establish a scholarship in Vince’s name with the national Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation in Richmond, Va., of which Truman’s chapter adviser, Roger Festa, is a member of the Board of Governors.

The “Vincent Lukowski Scholarship” is reserved for members of Truman’s chapter, and each year a Truman student receives tuition assistance.

Vince’s family and close friends from Hannibal participate in the SigEps’ visit with Vince at Beth Haven each April. Vince’s mom hosts a pizza party for the SigEps who run to Hannibal, Festa introduces each SigEp to Vince and the visit is concluded with a SigEp brotherhood ceremony.  

For Vince Lukowski, this is a special event to which he looks forward each spring.

This year’s recipients of the Dr. Kay Clapp Children’s Literacy Fund are Kristina D. Rieman, a current graduate student at Truman, and Terri L. Polster, a teacher at Center Elementary School.

The Dr. Kay Clapp Children’s Literacy Fund was endowed by Dr. and Mrs. Sam Minner in 2006 to honor Dr. Clapp, a professor emeritus in the Department of Education at Truman State University.

Dr. Clapp is a powerful proponent of literacy and children’s literature. Hundreds of students and practicing teachers have been influenced by her dedication and careful mentoring.

The fund provides $500 each to a Master of Arts in education student and a current teacher to purchase children’s literature for their professional practices.      

Will Petry, a senior biology major from Wildwood, Mo., has received a competitive Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF). After graduation, Petry will study at the University of California, Irvine in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and will conduct most of his research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic, Colo.

The NSF Fellowship program began in 1952 and is designed to support research-based graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The fellowship provides three years of support, including $10,500 tuition assistance, a $30,000 stipend and a one-time $1,000 travel budget.

Petry learned about the fellowship last summer after participating in another NSF-funded program called the Research Experience for Undergraduates at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. While working on his Ph.D., Petry will be studying the community consequences of ant-aphid mutualisms.

Along with Petry, 2009 Truman alumnus Josh Hirner received a fellowship. Hirner currently is a Ph.D. student studying organic chemistry at the University of California, Irvine.

In addition to the 2,000 students across the country who were offered the fellowship, another 2,500 received Honorable Mentions, including Chelle King, an accelerated track masters student in the Truman biology department. After Truman, King plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biological science at the University Alabama.

Beginning this fall, the Truman State University Bookstore will offer students a new, multi-channel textbook rental program.

The textbook rental program will allow students to rent their textbooks from the Truman Bookstore for less than 50 percent of the cost of purchasing a new, printed textbook. Students will now also be able to rent their books either in the store or from the store’s website http://truman.bkstore.com.

Students can highlight or mark the rented books just as they would if they purchased a book and planned to sell it back to the bookstore. Students will also have the opportunity to convert their rental to a purchase during the first two weeks of class. Students must return rented books in person no later than 10 days after the last day of finals or mail them to the bookstore.

Barnes & Noble began piloting their rental program earlier this year at 25 campus bookstores across the country. More details about the rental program will be available in the coming months at http://truman.bkstore.com.

The Spring 2010 Commencement Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. May 8 at Stokes Stadium. Gates open at 12 p.m. The rain site is Pershing Building.

The ceremony will feature a commencement address by former University president Charles McClain.

Graduates should report to Baldwin Auditorium by 12:30 p.m. Pictures will be taken in Baldwin Auditorium starting at noon.

Following the Commencement Ceremony, the University will host a reception on the Mall near the Student Union Building. This reception is for all students, family members, guests, faculty, staff and administration.

Each degree candidate was issued four rain tickets in the event of inclement weather. Tickets must be presented for entrance into Pershing Building.

These tickets do not guarantee seating, which is on a first come, first served basis. Ticket holders will be admitted from 12 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Arrangements have been made to have closed circuit viewing of the Commencement Ceremony in Baldwin Auditorium for family and friends who do not have tickets.

In case of rain, the reception will take place in the Georgian Room of the Student Union Building.

In the event of rain, information will be posted on the University home page at http://truman.edu.

The May Commencement Ceremony at Truman State University will also be a homecoming of sorts as long-time president, and architect of the school’s liberal arts mission, Charles J. McClain will return to address the graduates and receive an honorary degree.

McClain has been called a higher-education legend in the state of Missouri. His presidency spanned nearly 20 years, from 1970 to 1989, and his vision and leadership helped the school refocus its mission, transforming it into Missouri’s only highly selective, public liberal arts and sciences university.

While president, McClain established a value-added program to track the strengths and weaknesses of Truman students. As a result of his leadership, the University received national recognition for its academic excellence and assessment programs, including the G. Theodore Mitau Award for Innovation and Change in Higher Education, the highest award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The University was also ranked one of the five most innovative colleges and universities in the country in a U.S. News & World Report survey of college and university presidents.  

While his accomplishments related to Truman alone are impressive, what McClain achieved as an educator away from the University is just as remarkable.

His career began at the age of 16 when he accepted a teaching position in a one-room school near Sullivan, Mo. In 1963, he founded Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., where he served as president for seven years. McClain has also occupied various roles in education in the capacity of assistant professor, school superintendent, elementary school principal and elementary teacher, as well as assistant professor and assistant dean for the College of Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In 1989, McClain was selected by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to serve as Missouri’s commissioner of higher education, and he later worked as a consultant for the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. In 2003, McClain received the Des Lee Distinguished Professorship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The following year, he was selected as a member of the Missouri Academy of Squires, an organization limited to 100 Missourians of achievement.

If that were not enough, in 2008, at the age of 77, McClain became the interim president of Fairmont State University in West Virginia.

Over the years, McClain has remained a strong supporter of Truman. In the year following his retirement, the University’s administrative building was re-named in his honor. In 1999 he initiated a matching gift campaign to raise funds for the Pershing Scholarship program at Truman. Initiated under his presidency, the Pershing Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship awarded to incoming freshmen, providing tuition and room and board, as well as a $4,000 stipend for study abroad.

McClain earned his undergraduate degree from Missouri State University in 1954 and his advanced degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His achievements have been recognized by both his undergraduate and graduate universities by his designation as a distinguished alumnus and his membership in Phi Beta Kappa.

He and his wife, Judge Ann Covington, reside in Columbia, Mo. McClain’s two daughters, Anita and Melanie, are both Truman graduates.

In addition to delivering the commencement address, McClain will be honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

The Truman State University Board of Governors voted in 2009 to award honorary degrees to recognize individuals for outstanding achievement in a field and demonstrated commitment to the University’s mission and values.

McClain is among the first honorary degree recipients, both for his lifelong commitment to education and for his crucial role in transforming the University into the state’s only public liberal arts and sciences university.

Truman’s Commencement Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m., May 8 at Stokes Stadium. In the event of rain, ceremonies will be moved to Pershing Arena. For more information, call 785.4105.

Truman Information Technology Services (ITS) is upgrading the campus fiber optic network. The fiber optic network provides network and cable television services for the campus.

Phase one of the fiber upgrade was completed in December with new fiber installed to McClain Hall, Pickler Memorial Library, the Student Union Building, Magruder Hall and Violette Hall.

Phase two currently is under way and should be completed by mid-summer. When phase two is complete most campus buildings will have new fiber optic service.

The BigSun Organization is proud to be able to continue to help young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits by offering a $500 scholarship. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of the sport. Deadline for submission is June 24. Visit http://www.bigsunathletics.com to learn how to apply.

AES Engineers is providing $500 scholarships to students, regardless of courses being studied, who meet certain criteria. Scholarships are intended for future leaders across a wide spectrum of fields of study. This award is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post secondary educational facility. Students are not required to be taking engineering courses to be eligible. Students must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words in answer to one of the two questions posted online at http://www.aesengineers.com/scholarships.htm. Deadline for entry is Oct. 8.

The US-UK Fulbright Commission is offering a five-week summer institute at Newcastle University in London. Meet people from all across the world, make friends and experience life as a real student in the UK while visiting museums, galleries, theatres, cities and historical sites. The summer institute will cover the majority of the participant costs including round-trip airfare, tuition, and room and board. The deadline is May 14.
 
For more information, visit http://fulbright.co.uk/fulbright-awards/for-us-citizens/special-programmes.

Starting April 27, the City of Kirksville and Adair County Rural Water will be changing the water disinfectant used at the Water Treatment Plant from chloramines to chlorine, while maintenance is done to the ground storage tank at the facility.

After this maintenance is completed in mid-June, the City will return from chlorine to chloramines. There will be an additional notification of that change prior to its implementation.

This change will not affect the safety or quality of the water provided by the Water Treatment Plant. However, during the transition periods some customers may experience water odor problems. This is a temporary problem that should not last more than a day or so.

Some customers will need to take precautions. These changes can affect kidney dialysis and be toxic to fish in aquaria. The City will coordinate with dialysis treatment centers and also address the concerns of fish owners to ensure a safe conversion process.

If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact the Jack Schuster, deputy director of Public Works at 660.627.1291.

Dereck Daschke, chair and associate professor of philosophy and religion, was named to the editorial board of the Journal of Religion and Film, a free, online publication, accessible at http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/, and based at the University of Nebraska - Omaha.

Lucy F. Lee, professor of Spanish, has been reelected Sigma Delta Pi vice-president of the Southwest for the 2010-13 triennium. Lee’s new term will begin at the conclusion of the Society’s Triennial Convention in Guadalajara, Mexico July 12.

Regina Morin, associate vice president for enrollment management, was recently awarded the Peggy Clinton Memorial Service Award from the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling (MOACAC). The award recognizes her guidance, support and inspiration to students, colleagues and MOACAC.

Sara E. Orel, professor of art history, had a panel she organized accepted for the national conference of the Council on Undergraduate Research, which will be hosted at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, in June. The session is titled “Enhanced Study Abroad Experiences: Conducting Undergraduate Research in a Foreign Setting.” She will also be presenting information about the scaffolding of assignments in the Art History program for the session “Universalizing the Senior Thesis in Humanities and Social Sciences: How to Build a Research-Across-the-Curriculum Program.” She is a counselor in the Arts and Humanities Division of CUR.

Antonio Scuderi, associate professor of Italian, presented “The Commedia Maschere and the European Carnival,” at the annual conference of the American Association for Italian Studies, in Ann Arbor, Mich. He also translated the booklet for the new CD, Fantasia Poetica, by Carlo Aonzo (mandolin) and Elena Buttiero (piano). The CD has music from Beethoven, Munier, Calace and Bruzzone.

The Communication Disorders and Education Departments, with assistance from the Regional Professional Development Center, collaborated to produce “Rousing Minds to Life: Ways to Kindle Vocabulary Learning in Young Learners.” The project was presented by Dr. Robert Cooter during the Second Annual Language and Literacy Conference. Cooter is an internationally acclaimed author/researcher in the field of reading. He is a national speaker and currently is Ursuline Endowed professor of education at Bellarmine University. More than 120 professionals and approximately 20 students attended.

The School of Health Sciences and Education is hosting speaker Ryan Barker from the Missouri Foundation for Health at 12 p.m. May 6 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room B. Barker will speak about “Cover Missouri,” a health reform law.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) will meet at 4:30 p.m. May 7 at the University Club House, located at 516 E. Patterson. Contact Marc Becker at marc@truman.edu or call 785.6036 for more information.