Vol. 22 No. 33 - May 29, 2018

The annual Academic Honors Awards Assembly, which recognizes outstanding students who have dedicated time, energy and talent to their academic achievement, took place May 11.

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art
Karlynn Naylor

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art History
Kathryn Hodge

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art: Studio Art
Nala Turner

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art: Visual Communication
Claire Nipper

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Classics
April Kannady

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Creative Writing
Mary Elizabeth Nixon

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in English
Catherine Holtmeyer

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in French
Elizabeth Hosler

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in German
Morgan LeBaige

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Linguistics
Lewis N. Dunham

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Music: General Concentration
Paul Rueschhoff

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Music: Liberal Arts
Sydney Hawkins

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Music: Performance
Kaylee Hershberger

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Romance Language
Céline Marie Fuchs

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Spanish
Alexandra Holzum

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Theatre
Blaine Shepherd

Outstanding Graduate Student in English
Kristen Greif

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Accounting
Timothy Hudson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: Finance
Keilah Sullivan

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: Management
Rachel Hanson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: Marketing
Hayley Sherman

Outstanding Graduate Student in Accounting
Natalie Ross

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Athletic Training
Paige Clawson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication Disorders
Greta Roettgen

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Exercise Science
Alex Sextro

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Health Science
Maha Mohamed

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Nursing
Anne Njoku

Outstanding Graduate Student in Communication Disorders
Michala Mattingly

Outstanding Graduate Student in Education K-12 Area
Michaela Hylen

Outstanding Graduate Student in Elementary Education
Sarah Wilkins

Outstanding Graduate Student in Secondary Education
Joe Milliano

Outstanding Graduate Student in Special Education
Makenna Farrier

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Agricultural Science
Brian Johnson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Biology
Katherine Andrews

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Chemistry
Stephen Plassmeyer

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Computer Science
Hieu Le

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Mathematics
Matthew Naeger

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Physics
Daniel Miller

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Statistics
Herschel “Kade” Young

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Anthropology
Jonas Chang

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication: Communication Studies
Schelleen Gottman

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication: Journalism
Johanna Burns

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication: Public Communication
Kelsey Barnes

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Economics
Annorah Harris

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in History
Benjamin Wallis

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Justice Systems
Hannah Wilson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Philosophy
Alexander C. Moellering
Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Psychology
Patricia Flanagan

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Psychology
William Leach

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Sociology
Margaret Wilcox

The 2018 honors scholars received their medals at a pre-commencement ceremony. Pictured, front row, from left to right: David Gillette, George Lloyd Wood IV, Kyle Angle, Phillip Dryden, Lewis Nathaniel Dunham, Morgan LeBaige, Jonas Chang, Taylor N. Libbert and Jennifer McNabb. Back row: Anton Daughters, Kimberly Titus, Tim Humphry, Amy Fuller, Adam Davis, David Partenheimer, Jason McDonald, James McCormick, Royce Kallerud and Steven Smith.

Seven students were recognized as honors scholar graduates for Spring 2018.

Honors scholar medals were awarded at a pre-commencement ceremony, May 11, in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Truman’s Honors Scholar Program offers outstanding students the opportunity to select rigorous courses in the liberal arts and sciences component of their degree programs.

The honor is awarded to graduating seniors who have completed five approved courses, with at least one from each of the four areas of mathematics, natural science, social science and humanities. They must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.5 in those courses and an overall grade point average of 3.5.

Students who received a grade point average of 3.5 or better during the spring semester can now find their honor roll information posted online.

The President’s List, for students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, can be accessed at truman.edu/honors/spring-2018-presidents-list. The Vice President for Academic Affairs’ List, featuring students with a grade point average between 3.50-3.99, can be found at truman.edu/honors/spring-2018-vice-president-for-academic-affairs-list. To qualify for either list, a student must be an undergraduate and complete at least 12 hours of credit during the semester.

Social media buttons on both pages make it easy for students and parents to share this accomplishment with friends and family.

Students who have requested a directory hold on their information will not be included on a list. Any questions regarding student eligibility for either list can be directed to the Academic Affairs Office at 660.785.4105.

Jesse Krebs (left) and Chad Mohler accept their Academic Innovation Awards from Janet Gooch, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Jesse Krebs, associate professor of music, and Chad Mohler, professor of philosophy and religion, were the Spring 2018 winners of the Truman Academic Innovation Award.

Krebs was recognized for his Facebook video assessment project. In an effort to assist his clarinet students in developing their ability to self-assess their playing, perform better under pressure and tactfully critique the performances of others, he has them participate in a virtual collaborative studio with clarinet students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln using a private Facebook group. Every week Krebs video records part of their applied clarinet lesson and posts it to the group. Students are then required to comment on their video and three of their peers’ each week to provide both positive feedback and areas for improvement with specific exercises that might help. In this way, technology enhances students’ assessment, fosters an environment of collaborative learning and decreases performance anxiety.
 
Mohler was recognized for using argument maps as a tool to aid critical thinking. To better appreciate the relations among the parts of philosophical arguments, his Introduction to Philosophy students construct graphical visualizations of the arguments – either in electronic or physical form. In one form of the mapping activity, students arrange the pieces of each argument, represented on pieces of paper, as if they were pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

With its new online graduate certificate in data science, Truman is offering working adults with a college degree an opportunity to gain experience in one of the world’s fastest-growing career fields.
 
Data scientists are trained to decipher large volumes of information in order to find trends and gain deeper insight into what it all means. Average salaries can reach well into six figures, and common career paths include business intelligence analysts, analytics managers and research scientists, to name a few.
 
Truman’s online program is the perfect fit for professionals looking to enhance their skill set or considering a career change. It is comprised of five online classes and can be completed in as little as 45 weeks. It’s also a great option for upcoming or recent graduates who want to add additional value to their already valuable Truman undergraduate degree.
 
“This program is designed with the needs of the working student firmly in mind,” said Kevin Minch, associate provost. “Courses are compact and online. An academic success mentor helps students stay on track throughout each course. Students are assessed based on projects that apply the skills they learn to work-relevant topics. Most importantly, they learn the essential skills to apply data science to work promptly, whereas many other programs require the completion of an entire master’s degree before producing a credential you can show your employer.”
 
For convenience, there are multiple start dates available throughout the year. Courses are taught in intensive, eight-week terms, and a flat tuition rate applies for all participants, regardless of where they reside. Open to graduates from all educational backgrounds, the only prerequisites are Computer Science 170 and Statistics 190, or the equivalent from another university. Truman currently offers both of the prerequisites online during the summer term.
 
Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a notation on their transcripts and a certificate suitable for display.
 
Processing for applications has begun and the program will launch in January 2019. Participants who anticipate having to complete the prerequisites are encouraged to do so in summer 2018.

Additional details on the data science program can be found here or by contacting institute@truman.edu.

Members of the faculty and staff celebrating their retirement, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th or 45th anniversaries of service to Truman were honored at the annual Service Recognition Luncheon, May 15, in the Student Union Building Georgian Room.


In the photo above are the 2017-18 retirees honored at the Service Recognition Luncheon. Seated, left to right: John Green, Sally Cook, Diane Bloskovich, Kathy Elsea and Judy Mullins. Back row: Gregg Siewert, Paul Detweiler, H. Martin Jayne, Mark Appold, Roger Johnson and Adrien Presley. Not pictured: David Conner, Sharon Crook, Terry Crook, Maria Di Stefano, Roger Festa, Mark Hanley, Dean Hansen, Jerry Mayhew, Toby Peavler, Silvia Pites, Eldon Rouse, Linda Seidel and Marilyn Yaquinto.


Connie Ikerd and David Rector were recognized for celebrating their 45th anniversaries of service to Truman.


Marsha Redmon and Mark Appold were recognized for celebrating their 40th anniversaries of service to Truman.


Traci Hill (left), George Walker and Wanda Cagle were recognized for celebrating their 35th anniversaries of service to Truman. Not pictured: Tom Bray and David McKamie


Pictured above are the 30-year honorees. Seated, left to right: Cindy Woods, Rhoda Kennard and Carol Lockhart. Back row: James Guffey, Paul Parker and David Murphy. Not pictured: Dawood Afzal, Kenneth Carter, Kevin Easley, Teresa Greenstreet, Ruthie Halma, Clifton Kreps, Linda Moore, Ronald Rybkowski, Steven J. Smith and Sally Weber.


Pictured above are the 25-year honorees. Seated, left to right: Susan Scheurer, Joyce Schmitz and Andrea Davis. Back row: Carolyn Wriedt, Bill Kuntz, Lloyd Pflueger, Shawna Barker and Jon Beck. Not pictured: Natalie Alexander, Jay Belanger, Michael Cannon, Marty Jacques, Doug Ludolph and Kimberly Sayre.


Pictured above are the 20-year honorees. Seated, from left to right: Elizabeth M. Clark, Denise Bahr, Donald Bindner, Karl Schneider and Laura Thrasher. Middle row: Anthony Vazanna, Dana Vazanna, Kim Murphy, Paula McCartney, Hena Ahmad and Tim Mills. Back row: Joseph W. Smith, Rusty Nelson, Dean Baker, Royce Kallerud and Michael Seipel. Not pictured: Mike Burkett, Mike Cameron, Michael Goggin, Christine Harker, Ding-hwa Hsieh, Liz Jorn, David Lusk, Sam McClure, Jeanne Mitchell, Blake Pigg, Daniel Robbins, Deanna Rood, Bridget Thomas and Torbjorn Wandel.


Pictured above are the 15-year honorees. Seated, from left to right: Dawn Howd, Laurie Hall, Bethany Gibson and Julie Lochbaum. Back row: Charles Porter, Louis McKim, Mark Jennings and Gina Anthes. Not pictured: Elaine AuBuchon, Richard Blackstad, Rebecca Glaspie and Mary Jane Kiefer.


Pictured above are the 10-year honorees. Seated, from left to right: Dorothea Shipman, John Gardner, Brandi Wriedt, Jeri Speak, Erika Sterup and Donna Liss. Back row: Linda Bondy, Sherril Pearce, Travis Miles, David Leaton, Louis Veatch, Diane Sandefur and Patricia Hanson. Not pictured: Sergio Escobar, David Charles Goyette, Charles Gran, Stephen Hudman, Katherine Jackson, Joshua Noel, Tasha Peel, James Sheets, Carla Smith, Richard Sparks, Stacy Tucker-Potter and Norman White.


Pictured above are the five-year honorees. Seated, from left to right: Arlen Egley, Stacey Dromey, Billi Gordy, Molly Corrick and Sarah Sweet. Back row: Sara Holzmeier, James Payton, James Judd, Kelly Elsea, James O’Donnell, Jeremy McAninch and Lok Ng. Not pictured: Mark Best, José Clemente Carreño Medina, Amy Egan, Katherine Fortenberry, Debby Goins, Lisa Goran, John Jones, Nancy Kleine, Linda McFarland, Casey McKim, Denice Miller, John Nash, Weston Newell, Yung-hwal Park, Richard Sapp, Paul Shapiro, David Walker, Jack Winstead, Tina Williams Alicia Wodika and Benjamin Wodika.

Kirksville will be the host of the Missouri Mission of Mercy (MOMOM), a large-scale dental clinic, Aug. 3-4.

The clinic provides free oral health care to patients of all ages who cannot otherwise afford or access care. MOMOM events across America have helped more than 238,000 patients and have provided nearly $155 million in free dental services since 2000. In Missouri, more than 6,100 dental and general volunteers have provided more than $5.6 million in free care to 9,735 patients.

Volunteers are critical to the success of these clinics because of the large numbers of patients seen. Anyone interested in volunteering for the upcoming clinic can click here for more information.

The clinic will take place in Pershing Arena. More information about the clinic is available here. Specific patient-related questions can be found at modental.org/about-us/mda-foundation/missouri-mission-of-mercy/patient-faq.

Erin Bowe is the Center for International Education Abroad Student of the Month for June.

Bowe is a sophomore justice systems major, with English and psychology minors, studying at the University of Newcastle located in Australia through the CCIS study abroad program.

“Australia is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, and I have been both on the coast and inland near the outback,” she said. “I have been to the capital of Canberra, have made several trips to Sydney and plan to visit the Great Barrier Reef toward the end of my stay. Nearly every Australian I have met has been extremely friendly and helpful, and it’s been interesting learning all of the Australian slang. Classes at Newcastle are larger and conducted much differently than those at Truman, and they have made me appreciate Truman’s small class sizes.”

Click here to learn more about the Newcastle Australia program, and click here to look at what life at Newcastle would be like.

Three philosophy and religion majors, Devin Gant, Alex Moellering and Sydney Moxley, were inducted into Theta Alpha Kappa (TAK), May 9. TAK is the national honor society for students engaged in religious studies. Dedicated to promoting academic excellence, TAK fosters the development of local chapters and the support of student sections at the regional professional conferences of the SBL, ASOR and the AAR. The society also maintains a vigorous national program of scholarship awards and fellowship competitions. Its primary publication, the Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa, offers an annual prize and the publication of outstanding student papers. Pictured, from left to right: Ding-hwa Hsieh, Dereck Daschke, Gant, Mark Appold, Moxley, Patricia Burton, Lloyd Pflueger, Moellering and Chad Mohler.

Nominations are now open for the Mark and Robin Gambaiana Purple Pride Award.
 
The Purple Pride Award is a cash prize that recognizes administrative assistants for exemplary service to their departments and to the University. In order to be considered, the administrative assistant must have at least five years of service with the University and must be non-exempt (hourly).
 
Colleagues, supervisors and co-workers can nominate an administrative assistant who meets the criteria from any department. Nomination forms, as well as more information about the Purple Pride Award, are available on the Human Resources website.
 
Nominations will remain open through May 31. The winner will be recognized during the University Opening Ceremony in August.

The Campus Community Campaign allows employees to invest in an area of campus that is meaningful to them. Gifts make an impact at any size by increasing the employee giving percentage. To donate, employees can mail or bring their donation to McClain Hall 205, give online or sign up for payroll deduction.

Employees who participate in the campaign by June 1 are entered for giveaways, including a reserved parking spot for a year.

All employee donors are automatically entered to win. Truman faculty and staff members are not required to make a contribution to become eligible for the drawing. To enter, stop by McClain 205 to fill out a prize entry form.

Stop in for one of the upcoming 12 p.m. yoga classes with Janes before the summer fitness schedule begins. All fitness levels welcome. No experience necessary.

May 30-31
June 1
Room 208

The summer hours at the Student Recreation Center begin June 4. For the full schedule of summer fitness classes visit recreation.truman.edu. To add the Student Recreation Center Google Calendar click here.

Monday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tuesday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Wednesday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Thursday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday
11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sunday
closed

The Student Recreation Center will be closed July 4 for Independence Day. The hours can also be found here.

Staff Council is sponsoring a blood drive from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 6 in the Student Union Building. To schedule an appointment, call 1.800.733.2767, or visit redcrossblood.org and enter in the sponsor code TrumanState.

Truman has a podcast for listeners to learn more about faculty, staff and students, as well as local Kirksville residents and communities. Click here to view the webpage with all episodes featuring host Janes Dreamweaver, director of fitness-wellness for campus recreation.

Dr. Kay Clapp Literacy Awards
12 p.m.
June 8
Violette Hall Second Floor Commons

The Department of Public Safety will sell t-shirts from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday to raise money for the Special Olympics. The sale is a part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and all proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics Missouri’s year-round sports training and athletic competition program for more than 15,000 athletes across the state. The shirts cost $15 for sizes youth medium-XXL, and shirts size 3XL-6XL cost $20.

The next issue of the Truman Today will be available June 11.

Shari Fieser, admission counselor and recent inductee to Truman’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, was selected by the national Phi Kappa Phi office to receive at 2018 “Love of Learning Award.” These awards help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members. Awards can go toward graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching/research/learning and more. Two hundred awards, at $500 each, are distributed each year. Fieser is completing graduate studies in leadership through Truman. Established in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest and largest national honor society which recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all of the academic disciplines. The chapter at Truman was chartered in 1991. For more information on Phi Kappa Phi, visit pkp.truman.edu.

Jamie Fitzpatrick, recently graduated women’s swimmer, has been awarded a scholarship by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. Fitzpatrick plans to use it at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis when she begins the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the fall. The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics.

Christa Reisinger, softball, was named the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Midwest Region Player of the Year in a vote by the region’s sports information directors. Among the GLVC’s statistical leaders, the Winfield, Mo. product is first in batting average (.458), first in slugging percentage (.775), first in on-base percentage (.554), first in stolen bases (38), tied for first in runs scored (49), second in walks (28), tied for third in triples (5), fifth in hits (65), sixth in home runs (10), and 10th in RBI (37). The junior center fielder collected second-team All-American honors as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and D2CCA. Reisinger is the eighth NFCA All-American selection in program history and is one of four players to achieve the honor.

External scholarships are available through Bulldog Financial Literacy. Applicants from every major, academic level and financial need can apply for external scholarships, mostly coming from companies who want to give back. The scholarships range from $250-$5,000. To apply visit tru.mn/externalscholarships.