Notables
Cassidy Dobson, assistant professor of chemistry, was accepted into the PKAL STEM Leadership Institute. The program empowers individuals in fully understanding and implementing the theory and practice of navigating the politics of change, addressing inter- and intra-personal conflicts, and re-structuring the institutional systems that limit the capacity for global competitiveness in science and technology. Designed for early- and mid-career STEM faculty, principal investigators and administrators, the Institute awakens and sensitizes its participants to the systems, structures, and influences of power and privilege within higher education, equipping them with the tools and skills needed to bring about social change in STEM.
Meghan Gasper, volleyball, and Quinn Miller, men’s cross country, have been named the recipients of the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award for the 2019-20 school year. Each Great Lakes Valley Conference institution – through the head coach – names one award honoree at the end of their respective sports season who distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athlete must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. With their sport recognition, the honorees became eligible for the overall James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award, where each institution selects one male and one female student-athlete from its season-long list of honorees to be named as James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Award winners.
Huping Ling, professor of history, along with Christopher Gordon, director of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Collections, presented “Myth & Reality of ‘Hop Alley’ the Chinese American Community in St. Louis” online May 26. They traced the history of Chinese Americans in St. Louis from the historical Chinatown in “Hop Alley” to the present. They shared this story through the lens of traditional Chinese businesses with a particular focus the Sam Wah Laundry. A recording of the presentation is available on YouTube. Much of the presentation was derived from Ling’s books, “Chinese St. Louis: From Enclave to Cultural Community” and “Chinese in St. Louis: 1857-2007.” Ling has authored 29 books and more than hundred articles.
Daniel Mandell, professor of history, wrote a piece for the Washington Post using material from his new book to provide historical perspective on some modern-day economic issues facing the country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Mandell will also be discussing the idea of equality in American history with Heather Cox Richardson, author of “How the South Won the Civil War.” The conversation will be hosted by Liz Covart with the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture. The discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. June 10, and free online registration can be completed here.
Jordan Shroyer received the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award medal for undergraduate students at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting, which took place in Hawaii earlier this year. Shroyer presented work she completed last summer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland. This year, only 15 students are awarded a Chambliss medal out of 355 entrants.
Lauren Wacker and Brodric Thomas have been named the Truman Outstanding Student Athletes for the 2019-20 school year. Wacker was named first team All-GLVC at libero for the volleyball team. She played four years with the Bulldogs, and cemented her place as one of the top defenders in program history. She finishes her career second in program history in digs with 2,326, first in digs per set with 5.05 and sixth in service aces with 142. Her 2019 season set all kinds of records, including four 30 dig matches – giving her seven for her career which tied for the most in program history. Wacker led the GLVC in digs per set in 2019 with 5.85, which was 13th in the nation. She was named Academic All-GLVC her freshman, sophomore and junior years. Thomas earned GLVC Player of the Year in men’s basketball, first team All-Conference for the third-straight year and was named first team All-Defense in the GLVC. He finishes his career as one of the top players in the history of the men’s basketball program with 1,500 points and 18.8 points per game – both marks fifth in program history. In addition, Thomas led the Bulldogs in rebounds with 224 (7.2 per game) and in steals with 55. His 2019-20 season was one for the record books as he racked up award after award. Along with his GLVC awards he was named to the GLVC Tournament Team and Tournament Most Outstanding Player, the NABC All-District Team and the D2CCA All-Midwest Region Team. His 666 points were the most in an individual season in Truman history, and his 21.5 point scoring average was sixth-most in a single season. Both his overall scoring and points per game average led the GLVC. It was the third-straight year Thomas was named first team All-GLVC and first team All-Defense.
Truman volleyball won the James R. Spalding Team Sportsmanship Award for volleyball from the GLVC for 2019-20 team. Each GLVC institution’s coach ranks the top-three teams within the sport that best displayed good sportsmanship throughout the season. The team with the highest point total is then named that sport’s James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award winner.
Meghan Gasper, volleyball, and Quinn Miller, men’s cross country, have been named the recipients of the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award for the 2019-20 school year. Each Great Lakes Valley Conference institution – through the head coach – names one award honoree at the end of their respective sports season who distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athlete must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. With their sport recognition, the honorees became eligible for the overall James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award, where each institution selects one male and one female student-athlete from its season-long list of honorees to be named as James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Individual Award winners.
Huping Ling, professor of history, along with Christopher Gordon, director of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Collections, presented “Myth & Reality of ‘Hop Alley’ the Chinese American Community in St. Louis” online May 26. They traced the history of Chinese Americans in St. Louis from the historical Chinatown in “Hop Alley” to the present. They shared this story through the lens of traditional Chinese businesses with a particular focus the Sam Wah Laundry. A recording of the presentation is available on YouTube. Much of the presentation was derived from Ling’s books, “Chinese St. Louis: From Enclave to Cultural Community” and “Chinese in St. Louis: 1857-2007.” Ling has authored 29 books and more than hundred articles.
Daniel Mandell, professor of history, wrote a piece for the Washington Post using material from his new book to provide historical perspective on some modern-day economic issues facing the country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Mandell will also be discussing the idea of equality in American history with Heather Cox Richardson, author of “How the South Won the Civil War.” The conversation will be hosted by Liz Covart with the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture. The discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. June 10, and free online registration can be completed here.
Jordan Shroyer received the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award medal for undergraduate students at the 235th American Astronomical Society meeting, which took place in Hawaii earlier this year. Shroyer presented work she completed last summer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland. This year, only 15 students are awarded a Chambliss medal out of 355 entrants.
Lauren Wacker and Brodric Thomas have been named the Truman Outstanding Student Athletes for the 2019-20 school year. Wacker was named first team All-GLVC at libero for the volleyball team. She played four years with the Bulldogs, and cemented her place as one of the top defenders in program history. She finishes her career second in program history in digs with 2,326, first in digs per set with 5.05 and sixth in service aces with 142. Her 2019 season set all kinds of records, including four 30 dig matches – giving her seven for her career which tied for the most in program history. Wacker led the GLVC in digs per set in 2019 with 5.85, which was 13th in the nation. She was named Academic All-GLVC her freshman, sophomore and junior years. Thomas earned GLVC Player of the Year in men’s basketball, first team All-Conference for the third-straight year and was named first team All-Defense in the GLVC. He finishes his career as one of the top players in the history of the men’s basketball program with 1,500 points and 18.8 points per game – both marks fifth in program history. In addition, Thomas led the Bulldogs in rebounds with 224 (7.2 per game) and in steals with 55. His 2019-20 season was one for the record books as he racked up award after award. Along with his GLVC awards he was named to the GLVC Tournament Team and Tournament Most Outstanding Player, the NABC All-District Team and the D2CCA All-Midwest Region Team. His 666 points were the most in an individual season in Truman history, and his 21.5 point scoring average was sixth-most in a single season. Both his overall scoring and points per game average led the GLVC. It was the third-straight year Thomas was named first team All-GLVC and first team All-Defense.
Truman volleyball won the James R. Spalding Team Sportsmanship Award for volleyball from the GLVC for 2019-20 team. Each GLVC institution’s coach ranks the top-three teams within the sport that best displayed good sportsmanship throughout the season. The team with the highest point total is then named that sport’s James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Award winner.
