Vol. 24 No. 24 - March 2, 2020

Alumnus Damian Chavez works with students in Armenia. He is one of 18 Truman alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps.

Peace Corps has ranked Truman No. 19 among medium size schools on the agency’s list of top volunteer-producing colleges and universities in 2020.

“These schools are institutions that emphasize being global citizens and service-minded students,” said Peace Corps director Jody Olsen. “I am excited to know the graduates coming from Peace Corps’ Top Colleges are using their skills to make a positive impact on their communities at home and abroad.”

Since the agency’s founding in 1961, around 238 alumni from Truman have served abroad as Peace Corps volunteers. There are 18 Truman Bulldogs currently volunteering in countries around the world.

Alumnus Damian Chavez believes the diverse culture at Truman has helped him throughout his service with the Peace Corps as a youth in development volunteer in Armenia.

“My time at Truman helped me understand the complexities of social challenges. The interdisciplinary education helped me recognize the power of dynamics between institutions and the public,” he said.

Chavez joins the 130 Missouri residents currently serving in the Peace Corps. More than 3,615 Missouri residents have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.

The Peace Corps ranks its top volunteer-producing colleges and universities annually according to the size of the student body. Truman was the only Missouri school to be included in the top 25 on any of the Peace Corps’ lists. The complete 2020 rankings of the top 25 schools in each category can be found here.

Christine Nobbe, a NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador, will visit Truman to present on a group of pilots from the Mercury era who paved the way for the first female astronauts.

The “Mercury 13” were a set of 13 female pilots who passed the same tests as the Mercury 7 team members and aspired to be astronauts. The program is a lost-in-history rogue initiative organized by a NASA consultant, Dr. William Lovelace, to see if women could be astronauts.

Nobbe is the director of gifted education for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Her talk will conclude with some speculations about the first woman on the Moon, where the Mercury 13 hoped to go 60 years ago. Nobbe will bring a small collection of artifacts connected to the Mercury 13 and famous female astronauts to compliment this Women’s History Month talk.
 
The Mercury 13 presentation will take place at 7 p.m. March 4 at the Del and Norma Robison Planetarium. For more information call 660.785.7827.

Katie Alexander and Adam Barker represented Truman at the 33rd Annual Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values, Feb. 14-16, in Jefferson City.

The forum challenges students’ character development by encouraging them to reflect on their own decision-making skills, values and belief systems. Students learn about how to reconcile relationships, stand for truth, and love others as they love themselves. The forum’s guiding principle is teaching students to embrace altruism rather than egotism.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft welcomed students to the annual forum that was created by his father, former Missouri governor and U.S. attorney general John Ashcroft. Students began the day having breakfast with Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson at the Governor’s Mansion.

Students heard from several speakers who lead by example, including Rebecca Welsh, founder of HALO, a non-profit organization supporting homeless and at-risk children; John Stroup, minister at Freeway Ministries who devotes his life to helping individuals overcome life struggles; Freda Boateng, senior administrative assistant for admissions and financial aid at New York Law School and a freelance poet; Ramesh Balayar, professor of global resources, poverty, sustainable development and environmental sociology at Iowa State University; Bob Priddy, retired news director of Missourinet; Lethia Owens, author and branding expert; and Missouri state representatives Kevin Windham and Travis Fitzwater.

Christofferson is a partner and owner in the St. Louis law firm of Cockriel & Christofferson, LLC. His practice concentrates in construction litigation and business litigation – primarily representing contractors, subcontractors, engineers, owners and developers involved in all facets of the construction industry. He is a member of the Missouri and Illinois bars.

Christofferson is a 1995 graduate of Truman (BA in political science) and a 1998 graduate of The University of Chicago Law School. While at Truman, he was a Pershing Scholar and served as the student representative to the Board of Governors. He was also an active member of Student Senate, Student Activities Board and Lambda Chi Alpha.

From 2014 to 2019, Christofferson was also a member of the Board of Directors of Kids In The Middle, a St. Louis based nonprofit agency that provides counseling and support to children and families through the difficulties of separation and divorce. He served as the treasurer and finance committee chair of the KITM Board from 2015 to 2018.

Christofferson was appointed to the Board of Governors in February.

Truman students can earn one credit hour teaching English to elementary and middle school students in Taiwan via Skype.

CML 200, Taiwan Connect, is a service-learning course. Starting in the second block two sections will be offered. The class will meet every Monday or Tuesday evening from 6:30-8 p.m., beginning March 16 or 17 in Baldwin Hall 309. The only requirement is participating students must be native English speakers.

Students enrolled in 12-16 credits can take CML 200 at no additional cost. For more information, contact David Zhijun, assistant professor of Chinese, at zwen@truman.edu, 660.785.6016 or in McClain Hall 338.

All students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are invited to Baldwin Hall Auditorium to see the unveiling of the University’s new brand, logo and tagline at 3 p.m. March 4.

Each person attending the launch event will receive a special commemorative gift.

For more than a year, the University has worked with SME, a creative agency branding firm, to help refresh Truman’s brand. The logo and many of the branding elements for the University have gone largely unchanged for more than 20 years.  

The Golden Dragon Acrobats will return to Kirksville at 7:30 p.m. March 2 in Baldwin Auditorium as part of the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series.

The Broadway veterans hail from Cangzhou, Hebei, province in China and have toured the United States continuously since 1978. Representing a time-honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago, the Golden Dragons utilize award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and beauty.

Tickets cost $10 and are available now. They can be purchased online at lyceum.truman.edu, at the cashier window in McClain Hall or at the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce. If there are tickets available the day of the performance they can be purchased at the Baldwin Auditorium ticket window 30 minutes before the event.

Questions regarding the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series can be directed to lyceumseries@truman.edu or 660.785.4128. More information on the Golden Dragon Acrobats is available at goldendragonacrobats.com.

Erik Wahl, an internationally recognized artist, TED speaker and No. 1 bestselling author, will be this year’s Holman Family Distinguished Speaker. A regular on the corporate speaking circuit, Wahl rarely conducts public events. During his presentation, he will complete a unique piece of artwork especially for Truman that relates to the theme of his speech.

Wahl’s presentation will take place at 8 p.m. April 4 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium. It is provided free of charge thanks to the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series.

The Truman Public Relations Office is now accepting applications for the fall 2020 internship.

Interns work approximately 32 hours per week and can choose to receive between six to nine credit hours. To maintain full-time student status, interns take two three-credit classes in addition to the internship credit hours. A small stipend is also included.

Primary responsibilities of the intern include assisting with the production of the University’s online weekly newsletter, helping with social media and video projects, and contributing to the Truman Review alumni magazine. The intern will also help with special events throughout the semester, write press releases and fulfill other office tasks.

Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing. Communication majors are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to candidates with knowledge of Associated Press Style. Applicants must have the flexibility to work 32 hours a week.

To apply, send a resume, an advising transcript, two writing samples and contact information for two on-campus references to pr@truman.edu or mail to the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202 no later than March 27. For questions about the internship, email pr@truman.edu.

Students with an affinity for business can submit their ideas for the fifth-annual Bulldog B.I.T.E. elevator pitch contest until March 6.
An elevator pitch outlines the concept or idea for a product, service or project in a short period of time, typically from 30 seconds to three minutes. The length of the pitch mirrors the time spent waiting for and riding an elevator in a high-rise building. The purpose of the pitch is to spur the interest of a potential investor or financial backer.

Bulldog B.I.T.E., which stands for Business Innovation by Truman Entrepreneurs, is open to any student or team of students — up to three members — enrolled during the 2020 spring semester. A student or team may submit only one pitch concept for the contest. Participants may pitch a for-profit or not-for-profit concept.

Students will submit a concept or idea for a product, service or project in a video pitch no longer than two minutes by 10 p.m. March 6. The video should not include any props, except the product prototype, and should be one continuous shot. Students must also include an executive summary of their product. The executive summary must contain: name of the individual or team members; problem or issue being addressed by the concept; product description; target market; competitive advantage of the concept; value creation; and expected future use of prize money.

Judges will select six teams to attend the live pitch competition from 4-6 p.m. April 3 on campus to present their product to a panel. The top three finalists will receive cash awards: the cash prize for first place is $3,000; second place is $2,000; and third place is $1,000. Pitch participants, judges, alumni and audience members are then invited to a networking reception following the competition.

The Bulldog B.I.T.E. is sponsored by Villhard Growth Partners and is coordinated on campus by the Office of Advancement.

The online submission site for the Student Research Conference is now open and accepting abstracts until 11:59 p.m. March 4.

The 2020 Student Research Conference will take place April 16. This conference is a University-wide celebration of student research, scholarship and creative achievements. Both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts.

Abstracts need to be sponsored by a Truman faculty or staff member. A copy of the information submitted will be sent electronically to the student’s mentor for approval. Students should work with the faculty mentor before submitting the abstract.

To request a special session designation to ensure student groups present together, email osr@truman.edu by Feb. 26. Faculty-requested special sessions will be included in the discipline options for students to select during abstract submission.

Complete guidelines for the Student Research Conference abstracts and presentations can be found at the SRC website. For any questions about the Student Research Conference email osr@truman.edu.

Alpha Kappa Psi will host a Krispy Kreme doughnut fundraising event from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. March 16 on the quad and in Violette Hall. Glazed doughnuts are $1.50 each or two for $2. Specialty doughnuts are $2 each or two for $3. Pre-orders for a dozen can be made by March 8 by signing up here.

The Union & Involvement Services Office will accept Fall 2020 event and meeting reservation requests from March 19 through 12 p.m. March 24. The Union & Involvement Ser-vices Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Reservation Office will only accept paper requests.  

All lottery information and forms can be found at union.truman.edu/room-lottery.

Confirmations will be emailed to campus offices and student organizations during finals week. They will not be delivered to organization mailboxes.

Any submissions received after 12 p.m. March 24 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis once lottery requests have been processed.

For question regarding room reservations, contact the Union & Involvement Services Office at union@truman.edu or 660.785.4222.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion will host its Annual Diversity Retreat from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 21 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. This is a daylong retreat where students will be challenged to engage in a critical reflection of their personal identities and how it impacts their actions and experiences. The event is free. Lunch will be provided. An RSVP is required by March 18. For more information, visit diversity.truman.edu.

 
Grant Writing Across the Disciplines, PD 541/541G, is available for enrollment next fall for students, faculty and community members.

The primary objective of the course is to teach students about the process of writing successful grant proposals. As part of the course, students collaborate with the instructor on the development of grant proposals for submission. This is an excellent opportunity for students and professionals to develop a valuable skill.  

Sections are available at both the graduate and undergraduate level, and there are no prerequisites. The class meets live online Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. from Aug. 26 through Nov. 11.

Contact the Institute for Academic Outreach at institute@truman.edu or 660.785.5384 for more information.

The monthlong TruCare service initiative is taking place throughout March, giving everyone with a Truman connection an opportunity to show how dedicated the University is to service.

TruCare is an international service initiative where the Truman community volunteers locally to make a difference globally. Designed as a way for alumni and friends to share in the spirit of the Big Event, TruCare allows anyone with a Truman affiliation to count service hours completed from March 1 through midnight April 1 as part of a cumulative total.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University can participate by simply logging any service hours completed during that time on the TruCare website. Hours can be logged individually or by student organizations. Hours completed during the Big Event will also be counted. The grand total will be announced in April.

Last year’s campaign saw 1,059 members of the Truman community contribute 10,265.5 hours of service. Projects took place in 36 cities across 19 states and included serving at food pantries, animal sanctuaries, community kitchens, parades, resale shops and safe houses.  

TruCare is sponsored by the Truman Alumni Association. For questions about the program, contact Stacy Tucker-Potter, director of engagement.

Master Class
The Showgirls are putting on a tryout master class from 1-4:15 p.m. March 21 in Pershing Arena. This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves to dance and wants to learn some technique and performance tips. Any high school or Truman students are welcome, but it will be especially beneficial for anyone looking to tryout for the team. The cost for this class is $30, which also covers the cost of tryouts in April.

Tryouts
Showgirls tryouts will take place the weekend of April 18-19. Both the clinic on Saturday from 3-6 p.m. and the tryouts on Sunday at 9 a.m. are mandatory and will take place in Pershing Small Gym. Dancers should email trumanstateshowgirls@gmail.com if a video tryout is needed. The cost of tryouts for dancers who did not attend the master class is $20.

Dancers can RSVP for both events at showgirls.truman.edu. Any questions can be directed to trumanstateshowgirls@gmail.com.

Beta Alpha Psi will host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) session from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 28 in Violette Hall 1424.

VITA offers free tax assistance for clients with low to moderate income levels filing simple tax returns. The tax assistance will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.
 
Clients who come to VITA should bring: social security cards for spouses and dependents; bank routing numbers and bank account numbers for direct deposit; wage and earnings statements such as W-2, 1098T and 1099; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available.
 
For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

Drawstring packs of food are now available for Truman students experiencing food insecurity. Any student limiting their food intake due to cost is eligible to receive a pack. This semester, food packs will be slightly larger than in the past and will offer students more food options from which to choose.

Packs can be picked up with a Truman ID at the SERVE Center located in Student Union Building 1105 between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Food is provided by Pantry for Adair County in partnership with the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri and from generous donations from the Truman community.

The Women’s Resource Center is a student-led, nonpartisan organization focused on providing free resources to students and hosting on-campus events for a variety of women and gender-related issues. The WRC can provide information and guidance on a number of issues, including mental health, abuse and assault, LGBTQ+ and diversity, sexual health and sex education. For more information on services and events, follow the WRC on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  

March 6
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

March 7-8
Closed

March 9-13
7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

March 14
Closed

March 15
3-10 p.m.

March 16
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Regular hours resume

In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1. To have an officer dispatched for a non-emergency, call 660.665.5621.

Jack Davis, assistant professor of German, and Meg Edwards, assistant professor of political science, attended a reception in honor of Fulbright Top Producing Institutions and Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leaders at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., Feb. 18. Truman was a top producing institution for Fulbright student awards for 2019-2020. Davis and Edwards serve on the Truman Fulbright Committee and assist interested Truman students and alumni to apply for Fulbright awards. Additional information about applying for a Fulbright Award or another nationally competitive fellowship can be found here. Pictured above, from left to right: Davis; Caroline Casagrande, deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Edwards; and Matthew Lussenhop, principal deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

The Truman State University Foundation has applications for 2020-21 Foundation Scholarships available now. There is more than $750,000 that will be awarded to current students at Truman. These are scholarships established by generous alumni and friends of the University. Recipients must be enrolled full time during the term of the scholarship to receive the full amount. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Student Finances, Foundation Scholarship Application. There are typically some scholarships with no applicants. Students can submit and revise their application online at any time prior to the deadline of March 6.

The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation will offer the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship, named in honor of Allan Walker Purdy.

Purdy was born in 1914 on a farm near Macon and was the first in his family to attend a four-year college. He worked in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture before becoming the campus’s first director of scholarships and student financial aid.

The scholarship is designed to provide merit-based scholarships to emerging leaders who are outstanding students and who have a need for additional resources for higher education. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $1,000-$5,000 based on expected family contribution (EFC), unmet need and other factors.

Applicants must be a Missouri resident, typically a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA, a U.S. Citizen, attending a Missouri public four-year university or the State Technical College of Missouri, and be a sophomore, junior or senior in college. Deadline to apply is June 30, 2020. Applications should be submitted online through Scholarship Central at moslf.org. To access more information about this scholarship, click here, or contact the Financial Aid Office at 660.785.4130.