Vol. 26 No. 26 - March 21, 2022

Truman and the Kirksville School District are partnering to reduce food waste and contribute to locally grown produce.

Since January, the Truman Compost Project has worked with students at Ray Miller Elementary to collect food scraps from the school. The materials are used at Truman’s University Farm to create finished compost, which in turn is donated back to Ray Miller Elementary for use in the school’s Outdoor Garden Classroom. The idea to expand the Truman Compost Project originated with Michael Seipel, chair of the Agricultural Science Department.

“I am passionate about reducing food waste,” Seipel said. “I thought that expanding the Truman Compost Project to include Kirksville public schools could help educate the community about the importance of reducing food waste through educating the community’s youth about food waste and composting.”  

The partnership had been in the works since February 2020, but was put on hold at the onset of the pandemic. It was rekindled last fall when Tiffany Miller, the garden educator at Ray Miller Elementary, reached out to the Agricultural Science Department for some finished compost for the school’s garden in the fall. Representatives from both schools worked together to implement the program in January 2022.

Kelli Hunsicker, the outdoor education coordinator and a fifth grade teacher, hopes participating in the program will show Ray Miller students how they can limit their food waste by reusing it to help nourish new plants and vegetables.

“The best thing about our outdoor education program is that students get a new experience learning to grow their own food,” Hunsicker said. “Now that we have added the compost project, they can see the process of reusing our food to break down and make compost that will go back into the garden to grow new food.”

At the end of their lunch shift, children at Ray Miller Elementary separate compostable food scraps, napkins and paper towels from non-compostable trash. Twice a week Truman students visit the school to help with the process and pick up materials.

“The students were really excited when Mrs. Tiffany explained the project to them. They couldn’t wait to get started,” Hunsicker said. “It has been helpful that Truman students have been able to be here during lunch a few days a week to help students sort their lunch trays. Students are always willing to help other students figure out what needs to go where.”

Ray Miller Elementary will ultimately use the finished product in its Outdoor Garden Classroom, which grows different fruits and vegetables for use at the school. The district has a similar program at the primary school that might eventually join the collaboration.

“This is meant to be an ongoing partnership,” Seipel said. “If it is successful, and if the Compost Project has enough student labor and resources, we would like to expand it to other buildings in the Kirksville R-III District.”

Since its inception in 2004, the Truman Compost Project primarily collects food scraps from the campus dining halls and Student Union Building. The project also partners with Rot Riders, a student organization that offers to pick up food scraps from Kirksville residents for composting. A pre-pandemic student research project estimated the Truman Compost Project collected approximately 142,000 pounds of food scraps during the 2018 academic year. More information about the Truman Compost Project, including ways to get involved, can be found at compost.truman.edu.

The Office of Student Life is looking to recruit a diverse group of 12-15 students to participate in the student peer education program.

Registration for summer classes is open.

Students have the opportunity to sign up to run for Student Government from March 21-April 1. Senators in Student Government work with administrators and other organizations to identify policies that can be better and create engaging events for the student body. Students interested in serving should visit senate.truman.edu/elections to view the election handbook. For more information, email Owen Smith, elections administrator, at stugovelectionsadmin@truman.edu.

Baldwin Hall 241

The Department of Music is hosting a concert at 7:30 p.m. March 22 featuring jazz duo Jerry Tachoir, vibraphone, and Marlene Tachoir, piano. Before the evening concert, the duo will present an afternoon performance clinic at 3:30 p.m. Both events will take place in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Admission is free and open to all.

The Student Recreation Center and Union & Involvement Services have multiple different positions available for the fall semester. An informational meeting on each position and how to apply will take place at 5 p.m. March 21 in the Student Union Building Georgian B. A full list of positions for both the rec and U&I can be found on their websites.

TruSisters will host a women's history month dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. March 24 in the Student Union Building Activities Room 3200. Free food and entertainment will be provided. The entire Truman community is welcome to attend.

Student Government and the Health, Wellness and Safety Committee will host a UCS counselor presentation at 1 p.m. March 24 in the Student Union Building Georgian Room C. At this presentation students can spend time with the counselors and get a free mental health screening, as well as learn more about UCS and how to help others in crisis situations. Free cookies will also be available. Zoom link for the presentation can be found here.

Goats and coloring books will take place 2:30-4:30 p.m. March 25 on the quad. Free coloring pages and supplies will be provided.

Preceptors are needed for the following academies:

The Office of Student Research is accepting applications for Grants-in-Aid of Scholarship and Research (GIASR) as well as Conference Travel Scholarships.

The Career Center is hosting its first in-person Student Worker Fair from 1-4 p.m. March 31 in the Student Union Georgian Room. At this event students will have the opportunity to meet Truman departments and local organizations that employ or provide scholarship hours. This event is ideal for students who will be looking for employment during the fall 2022 semester. For more information contact the Career Center at careers@truman.edu or call 660.785.4353.

The Jewish Student Union is hosting a challah sale. Loaves are $5 each and must be paid by Venmo to @jsu_truman. Challah types available are traditional and cinnamon and sugar. To order a loaf, fill out this form by March 31. Orders will be delivered April 2-3.

The William O’Donnell Lee Advising Award pays tribute to excellent faculty and staff academic advisors and demonstrates how important academic advising is at Truman.

This is an opportunity for students to honor faculty and staff academic advisors in their departments. The award recognizes outstanding advising/mentoring by faculty/staff members for the 2021-22 school year, with nominations submitted by students.

Students interested in learning sign language, or needing a course to help fulfill a disability studies minor, can enroll in CMDS 475 American Sign Language. This course is will take place 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday through Friday through May 7-27. The course will be taught as an extended readings course if necessary. For more information contact Sheila Garlock, assistant professor of communications disorders, at sgarlock@truman.edu.

Students can fulfill language requirements during summer session. FREN 120 and 121 are being offered online. For more information, contact Ron Manning, assistant professor of French, at rmanning@truman.edu. Students can also take SPAN 101 or SPAN 201 in June or SPAN 102 or SPAN 202 in July through asynchronous online. Latin 150 and 151 are also being offered through asynchronous online. For more information contact Amy Norgard, associate professor of classics.

Deadline for pre-orders is 5 p.m. Pre-orders can be paid by Venmo only and are available for both pick-ups at the table April 14-15 and deliveries.

Table open from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Student Union Building for pick-ups from pre-orders and selling off remaining inventory. At the table, both cash and Venmo will be accepted.

In honor of World Autism Acceptance Day, the Autistic Advisory Board for Adair County SB40 is hosting a sensory open house from 2-4 p.m. April 2 in the Community Learning Center located at 1107 Country Club Dr. This event is an opportunity to try various sensory items and connect with autistic community members. Representatives from community support services will also be present to discuss the services they offer.

Students needing to stay on campus during the summer can now fill out the summer housing registration.
 

The Truman State University Foundation Board is made up of volunteers who are dedicated to advancing the University through philanthropy. The student representative helps increase awareness among students of the role of philanthropy in the student experience and helps articulate the case for support to their peers. The student representative also helps provide the student perspective to the board.

This academic year, there are two Saturday showcase events left, March 26 and April 23. Showcases allow prospective parents and students to tour campus, meet future and current students, talk with faculty and much more. Registration for showcase can be found here. Faculty and staff can refer potential students here.

Truman’s counseling program is currently accepting applications for the fall 2022 cohort.

The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches aged 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner and attitude and professional association involvement.

Katherine Judd, assistant professor of psychology, and Jared Young, director of academic affairs operations, have been nominated for the 5 Under 40 Award. The winners will be announced March 25 at the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet. They are among 23 candidates who have been nominated by their peers for outstanding work, community involvement and set an example in the community.

Cade McKnight was named first-team Academic All-American for NCAA Division and NAIA. McKnight earned a 4.0 GPA in the Master’s of Leadership program this year, and was named first-team All-GLVC after averaging 19.2 points per game this season, one of the top marks in the conference. He also averaged a new career high 6.4 rebounds per game.

•    Overall Sweepstakes - Good (24th place out of 69)

Scholarships of up to $5,000 are available for students who enroll in Truman’s faculty-led Spanish language and culture immersion program in Salamanca, Spain.

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