Vol. 24 No. 30 - April 20, 2020

While much of campus remains quiet, there is one section full of activity, as crews have been busy finishing up the most recent phase of the Greenwood Center project.    

The former elementary school is in the midst of being converted to a facility dedicated to serving those with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Since 2015, Truman has been completing the project in phases based on the availability of state support and private donations.

The current development phase should conclude by the end of May. Recent work includes: sidewalk and parking lot construction with site lighting; electrical service rough-in; voice and data infrastructure; sanitary sewer service; storm sewer; new water service; perimeter fencing; replacement of gutters and downspouts; and new paint on the exterior wood trim.  

Funding for this portion of the Greenwood Center project comes from appropriated state capital funds and private donations. In 2019, Truman received a $1.1 million grant from the Sunderland Foundation of Kansas City, to be spread out over two years. The Sunderland Foundation specializes in grants for planning, design, construction and renovation, particularly in the fields of higher education, youth servicing agencies and health care facilities.  

With this phase complete, the University will continue to pursue private donations and grants to further the project. An estimated $4.4 million is needed to get the Greenwood Center up and running.

Once it is finished, the Greenwood Center will be the area’s only interprofessional center dedicated to serving those with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition to licensed professionals on staff, the comprehensive center will provide a valuable opportunity for students to engage in hands-on, high-impact learning experiences.

For more information on the Greenwood Center, visit greenwood.truman.edu.

Truman Media Network’s student-run newspaper, The Index, and radio station, 88.7 KTRM, won several statewide college media awards from the Missouri College Media Association and Missouri Broadcast Educators Association.   

Missouri colleges tuned into the MCMA awards banquet April 7 via Facebook Live, during which The Index won 21 awards.

MCMA was scheduled to host its annual conference and awards banquet the weekend prior, but had to cancel due to COVID-19. The association still gave out awards, though, and board members announced them in a series of Facebook Live videos.

The Index competed in Div. II, and Ryan Pivoney, Index editor-in-chief and MCMA vice president, announced the awards for that division.

It’s unfortunate that the conference got cancelled, Pivoney said, but everyone’s safety is more important. He said announcing the awards via social media was nice, though, because it allowed more people the opportunity to tune in.

“I’m incredibly proud of The Index staff and the work we do,” Pivoney said. “We’ve covered a lot of important news events and had a lot of fun sharing the stories of our community. The awards are just a bonus.”

On April 11, the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association announced award winners in its student media contest. KTRM took first and third place in the Radio Station Promotional Announcement awards, while a film from the COMM 355 Digital Video Production class received an Honorable Mention.

MBEA had nearly 200 entries across 31 categories that included audio, video, scriptwriting and multimedia. There were 84 winners from 13 public and private Missouri universities determined by 18 different judges, all of whom are professionals either working in the industry or teaching.

“There are dozens of people and countless hours of work behind every award KTRM wins,” KTRM station manager Monica Fallone said. “I am incredibly proud to see the creativity of KTRM employees recognized by leaders in media education and the radio industry.”

Missouri College Media Association award winners:
First Place
Sports Writing - Chase Potter
Entertainment Review - Gordon McPherson
Feature Photography - Mary Van Winkle
Non-Political/Entertainment Cartoon - Samuel Sardis
Page One Design - Ryan Pivoney
Sports Page - Ryan Pivoney
Feature Page - Elisabeth Shirk

Second Place
News Writing - Rachel Becker
Editorial Writing - The Index Editorial Board
In-Depth News Reporting - Allyson Lotz
Editorial/Op-Ed Page - Elisabeth Shirk
Sports Page - Ryan Pivoney
Website - The Index Staff
Sweepstakes - The Index Staff
Best Overall Newspaper in Div. II - The Index Staff

Third Place
Entertainment Review - Gordon McPherson
Sports Photography - Kara Mackenzie
Feature Page - Elisabeth Shirk

Honorable Mention
Editorial Writing - The Index Editorial Board
Column - Kayla Lewis
Sports Photography - Kara Mackenzie
Missouri Broadcast Educators Association award winners:
 First Place
Audio > Station Promo - Trevor Grandin

Third Place
Audio > Station Promo - Hillary Albert

Honorable Mention
Video > Short Film - Rita Hanch, Sean Hicks, Ellie Steller

The Educator, Research Mentor and Faculty Wellness Honoree of the Year awards have been decided.

Each award is coordinated by Student Government and given to celebrate professors who have exhibited extraordinary efforts in educating their students and building a vibrant community for personal growth and learning at Truman.

Educator of the Year is presented to a faculty member who has shown a special commitment to teaching, academics and fulfilling the University’s liberal arts mission.

Research Mentor of the Year highlights the best of the incredible work that research mentors are doing to ensure their mentees get impactful experiences in academic research that will supplement their education at Truman and prepare them for research in their professional lives.

Faculty Wellness Honoree is a newer award that highlights the great efforts professors are making to support wellness in their students and to build a positive culture of wellness on Truman’s campus.

This year’s recipients of each award are:

Educator of the Year
Joseph Benevento, English

Research Mentor of the Year
Cassidy Dobson, chemistry

Faculty Wellness Honoree of the Year
Eric Dickson, music

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some confusion, the 2020 Census is still being conducted, and there are some important things for students to consider.

The census is conducted every 10 years, and it is a critical resource. Census data is used to calculate the number of elected representatives each state gets, and it is also considered in deciding where to build factories, offices and other resources that serve local communities. The census is used to improve transportation, infrastructure and affordable housing.

For college students, the census affects federal student loan programs, campus funding, health and social services, campus improvements and various legislation. It is crucial all college students participate in the census and do so correctly.

April 1 is the official census date, and everyone should fill out the census based on where they would have been living on that date under normal circumstances. Students who were living off campus and have returned to their hometown due to the coronavirus pandemic should take that into consideration when they fill out the census. Students who were living on-campus have already been counted through Residence Life, and they do not need to take any action.

Students can complete the 2020 Census online at my2020census.gov. For more information, visit census.mo.gov.

Join Mary Beth for Yoga at Home or try a Workout at Home with Jordan & Zach. Modify workouts as necessary based on fitness level. Stay up to date on the latest recreation and wellness offerings by liking Facebook pages Truman Campus Recreation, Truman Wellness, and by requesting to join the #BetterBulldog online community.

Positive Peers is a student-run mental wellness support group open to all Truman students. The organization is now searching for new facilitators and executive board members for the Fall 2020 semester. Apply online or contact positivepeerstsu@truman.edu for more information. Applications can be found here and are open until 11:59 p.m. May 3.

A new way to celebrate Purple Friday (or any other day of the week) during online meetings is through Truman-themed Zoom backgrounds. Six new backgrounds are now available at identity.truman.edu/zoom-backgrounds. Instructions for how to use the new backgrounds are also on the website.

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 April 24. For questions about the internship, email pr@truman.edu.

In years past, Truman has marked Arbor Day with an on-campus ceremony or tree-planting event. Although the University community is spread out this semester, the spirit of Arbor Day is still strong.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit CelebrateArborDay.com for ideas and resources to help celebrate Arbor Day in these ever-changing times, including a fun social media opportunity with #arbordayathome. Post a photo of your favorite tree, use the hashtag #arbordayathome and tag the Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation will plant a tree on your behalf in one of the nation’s forests, up to 50,000 trees.

Anyone who would like to show support for their fellow Bulldogs during this time can print out a free window sign featuring Flat Spike. Similar to the phenomenon of hunting for teddy bears in windows, children can keep an eye out for Flat Spike, and the signs serve as a reminder that everyone is in this situation together. Printable signs can be found here and here.

Each year Truman nominates students for national fellowship opportunities who have shown outstanding academic performance and exceptional service accomplishments. The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive, but the University provides support as students prepare for and then apply to these prestigious scholarships.
 
Listed below are several of the major national fellowships and their websites. More information about these fellowships is available at www.truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/fellowships.

For Graduate Studies
Fulbright Grants
Research grants and teaching assistantships for a year abroad

Rhodes Scholarships
Grants for two years of study at Oxford University

Marshall Scholarships
Awards for two years of study in any British university

Mitchell Scholarships
One year of graduate study or research in Ireland or Northern Ireland

Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Awards for an advanced degree or second bachelor’s degree at the University of Cambridge

 
For Undergraduate Studies
Goldwater Scholarships
Up to $7,500 annually for tuition, fees, books, room and board for science and mathematics majors

Harry S. Truman Scholarships
For senior year and post-graduate study leading to a career in public service

Udall Scholarships
For students interested in careers related to environmental issues or for Native Americans and Alaskans interested in careers related to health care and tribal public policy

Carnegie Endowment Junior Fellowships
For students interested in international affairs to work as research assistants to the Endowment’s senior associates in Washington, D.C. for a full year

Boren Scholarships
To study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests

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.