Vol. 29 No. 31 - April 28, 2025

 
Kirksville will be the site of the 2025 Special Olympics Missouri State Summer Games, May 30-June 1, and the Truman campus will host all the events.
 
Volunteers are a crucial component of making the games a special event for athletes, families and spectators. There are more than 300 volunteer opportunities available during the event, from help at the athletic competitions to many of the support efforts. In addition to assistance for swimming, track and field, and powerlifting, volunteers will be needed for the opening ceremony, the Healthy Athletes stations, move in, bingo, crafts, photography and more.
 
Individuals and organizations can sign up for multiple volunteer opportunities as long as there is no time conflict between events. A complete list of volunteer needs can be found online.  
 
Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Thousands of athletes participate in 13 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. Special Olympics Missouri provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends, and communities across Missouri.

Alpha Sigma Alpha is sponsoring their annual philanthropy, Puppy Love for Tally, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 28-May 1 on the quad to raise money for the Adair County Humane Society.

For a small fee anyone interested can meet and play with adoptable animals from the Humane Society. All proceeds will go directly to the Adair County Humane Society, which is a no-kill shelter. The funds raised assist with a variety of expenses including medical bills and food for the animals.

Puppy Love for Tally was started in honor of a deceased sister, Tally Stephens, who passed away in a car accident. The philanthropy was established to always remember Stephens’ life and family. She had a strong passion for animals, which is why Truman’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha established this philanthropy in conjunction with the Humane Society.

Kayla Jackson-Williams will provide the commencement address at the spring graduation, May 10.

In 2012, Jackson-Williams graduated from Truman with a degree in justice systems before continuing her education at the University of Missouri-School of Law. Her exceptional skills in trial and oral advocacy, as well as brief writing, earned her membership to the Order of Barristers, an honor awarded to only 10 Mizzou Law graduates each year.

Following law school, Jackson-Williams began her legal career representing families in Boone County, Missouri, ensuring that each individual she assisted not only received a skilled attorney in the courtroom, but also a representative who listened and explained each part of the legal process encountered.

Jackson-Williams continued her service to her community by serving as a public defender, where she handled hundreds of criminal cases from the date a charge was filed to the final disposition of the case. She viewed her position as a public defender as another avenue to demonstrate excellence, and an opportunity to advance her skills in her advocacy through making oral arguments, preparing witnesses, researching legal issues, preparing motions, and conducting trials. More importantly, she took this opportunity to provide a voice to individuals who often felt overlooked and unheard.

Looking for a change, Jackson-Williams left the Public Defender’s Office in 2020, and she worked as a senior associate at Rogers | Ehrhardt Attorneys at Law, where she practiced civil litigation. During this time, she also served as an adjunct professor, teaching client interviewing and counseling, at Mizzou Law.

In 2021, the Supreme Court of Missouri appointed Jackson-Williams as a member of the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness and a member of the Juvenile Justice Subcommittee. In 2022, the Supreme Court of Missouri appointed her to a second committee – this time focused on reforming the juvenile justice system in Missouri.

On Aug. 2, 2022, Jackson-Williams was elected associate circuit court judge in Boone County where she has served since Jan. 1, 2023.

Grace Carcamo (left) and Lillian Conger (right) receive Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teacher award.

MAE student Lillian Conger and MAE alumna Grace Carcamo were recognized as two of Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers at the spring conference of the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE).

Conger is currently a year-long teacher of record at Linn County R-I teaching 4th grade. Carcamo is in her first year in the Kirksville School District and teaches English and reading at William Matthew Middle School.

The MACTE is a state affiliate of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and represents the educator preparation programs across the state. The Outstanding Beginning Teacher Awards recognize teachers in their first two years of service who demonstrate excellence in serving children in school districts across Missouri. Award recipients were selected based on recommendations from Missouri’s teacher education programs and a recommendation from honorees’ school districts.

All of the Outstanding Beginning Teachers received an award packet to commemorate their accomplishments, including a banner for display in their classroom or school. MACTE recognizes the contribution of these extraordinary teachers, as well as all of the excellent, highly qualified teachers throughout Missouri who serve and educate students.

To view the full list of award winners visit macte.net/outstanding-beginning-teacher-awards.

The Truman Media Network took home a total of 27 awards from the Missouri College Media Association and Missouri College Broadcast Educators joint conference, April 12.

The Index placed first for Sweepstakes and Editorial Writing in division two.

MCMA/MBEA 2025 was hosted at University Central Missouri’s campus in Warrensburg. The conference had many sessions hosted by various student media advisors. There were sessions ranging from radio to yearbook. Vince Jones, news editor, attended the conference for the first time this year.

“It was all really rewarding,” Jones said. “Seeing the seniors win awards was nice.”

Jones’ most memorable session covered solutions journalism, which taught him how to cover a story by focusing on the solutions to a problem.

“Mostly I just liked spending time with everybody, and seeing all the awards,” Jones said.

First Place
•    Sweepstakes – Staff
•    Photo Page – Lillie Morisaki
•    Political/Editorial Cartoon – Heather Beard
•    In-Depth News Reporting – Staff
•    Feature Writing – Mara Callahan
•    Editorial Writing – Staff
•    News Writing – Mikayla Stokes

Second Place
•    Special Section – Staff
•    Feature Page – Mara Callahan
•    Photo Page – Lillie Morisaki, Grace Potter
•    Sports Page – Lillie Morisaki
•    Editorial – Kaylee O’Dell
•    Information Graphic – Sydney Ellison
•    Nonpolitical/Entertainment Cartoon – Heather Beard
•    News Photography – Lillie Morisaki
•    Column – Lillie Morisaki
•    Editorial Writing – Staff

Third Place
•    Website – Rahul Chaudhari
•    Page One Design – Sydney Ellison, Lillie Morisaki
•    Column – Anthony Sarullo
•    Feature Writing – Mara Callahan

Honorable Mention
•    Best Overall Newspaper – Staff
•    Page One Design – Sydney Ellison
•    Entertainment Review – Mikayla Stokes
•    Investigative Reporting – Sydney Dial
•    News Writing – Sydney Dial
•    In-Depth News Reporting – Staff

The University will celebrate and honor spring graduates at 2 p.m. May 10 at Stokes Stadium. Several volunteers are needed to help pass out programs and direct people to the disability and available seating.  

Volunteers are asked to arrive at the stadium by 12:40 p.m. for directions prior to the doors opening at 1 p.m. Shortly after commencement begins, volunteers are free to leave or stay for the ceremony.
 
Anyone willing to volunteer, or anyone with questions about volunteering, can contact Nancy Asher at nasher@truman.edu or Kaytee Wood at kwood@truman.edu, or call 660.785.4145. For those who volunteer, more detailed information will be sent via email closer to the actual date along with inclement weather plans.

GIASR applications are for research and creative scholarship conducted in fall 2025. Grant applications may request up to $750 and can cover student stipends, supplies and travel to conduct research.

Complete guidelines for the GIASR applications can be found at the Office of Student Research website. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. May 1. Questions can be directed to osr@truman.edu.

The students of LATN 350: Readings in Latin Literature created an exhibit for their work with “De Rerum Natura,” a first-century BCE didactic treatise by poet and Epicurean philosopher Lucretius that offers explanations of topics ranging from atomic theory, metaphysics, sex and genetics, the function of the senses, and the Athenian plague.

In this course, students translated and analyzed the original Latin and studied the history of the manuscript’s rediscovery and revival via Stephen Greenblatt’s popular book, “The Swerve.” They also explored how ancient manuscripts were copied to gain a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the chain of fortuitous events that led to the preservation of “De Rerum Natura” for modern study. The exhibit, “Atomic Venus,” features manuscripts of passages from Lucretius created by the students using period tools, paired with information about Lucretius to bring visibility to this incredible work.

The exhibit will be up through finals week in Pickler Memorial Library by the Doug Villhard Innovation Lab. Amy Norgard, associate professor of classics, is the instructor for this course.

Beginning May 5, the convenience fee charged to account payments made with a credit card will increase from 2.95% to 3%. International debit/credit card will remain at 4.25% with both having a minimum of a $3 charge.

Credit card payments on student accounts can be made online only via TruView for students and via mybill.truman.edu for authorized users on the student account.

To avoid the convenience fee, payments can be made the following ways:

By e-check, an electronic debit to the checking or savings account, available online at mybill.truman.edu for authorized users or via TruView for students. There is no fee for this option, but if the user runs their debit card as a credit card, they will be charged the convenience fee. For checking or savings account debits, the e-check option can be used to avoid paying the convenience fee.

By check mailed to; Truman State University Student Account Payment, McClain Hall 100 E Normal, Kirksville, MO. 63501-0754. Checks can also be dropped off in the payment drop box by the Business Office door in McClain Hall 105.

By cash, check or PIN debit card at the cashier window in McClain Hall 105 (open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. Summer hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.)
 
For additional information or questions related to the convenience fee, visit truman.edu/businessoffice/student-accounts.

The Echo 25 award honors alumni under the age of 40 that live out Truman’s characteristics of graduates: creativity, leadership and compassion, among others. Alumni Fellows are distinguished in their profession in addition to making impressive contributions to their community and demonstrating integrity in their personal lives.

The campus community is invited to help nominate outstanding alumni for these two awards. Nominations are due by May 1. Questions about both awards can be directed to Stacy Tucker-Potter, director of engagement, at stuckerpotter@truman.edu.

Summer is a great time for students to focus their attention on a challenging class, or work on boosting their GPA for scholarship renewal or graduate school applications. It is also an opportunity to make a lot of progress toward an additional major or minor without falling behind.

Courses are available in a variety of options, including online, hybrid and in-person delivery methods. The flexibility of summer courses provides students the opportunity to have a job, take a vacation or socialize with friends back home.

With six separate terms throughout the summer, students have multiple options to fit their needs. Interim classes run May 10-24. The first round of five-week courses, as well as 10-week courses, begin May 27, while the second round of five-week courses begins June 30. An eight-week session begins June 2. The August interim runs from July 26-Aug. 9. For more information visit summer.truman.edu.

University Counseling Services is hosting a send-off party for Lucas Fischer, UCS counselor, at 10 a.m. April 29 on the third floor of the Kirk Building.

Listed below are several of the major national fellowships and their websites. More information about these fellowships is available at truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/fellowships.


Fellowships For Study in the United States
(campus nomination required)

Carnegie Endowment
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to graduating seniors or individuals who have graduated within the past academic year. Applicants must be nominated by the Truman State University nominating official. This fellowship is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Eleven to 13 students will be hired to work at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, D.C., on a full-time basis for a period of one year. Application deadline is Nov. 17, 2025.

Goldwater Scholarship
for undergraduates only
Awarded to sophomore or junior math or science majors who have one or two full years of undergraduate study remaining. Each scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 GPA, be a United States citizen and demonstrate a potential for and commitment to a career in research in mathematics or natural sciences. Deadline to declare intent to apply is Oct. 27, 2025.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship
for undergraduates only
Awarded to outstanding junior students who intend to pursue careers in public service. Each Harry S. Truman Scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $30,000 over a period of up to four years (i.e., one year of college and three years of graduate school). To be eligible, a student must have selected an undergraduate field of study that will permit admission to a graduate program leading to a career in public service. Campus deadline is Nov. 17, 2025.

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
for undergraduates only
The Morris K. Udall Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers related to environmental public policy and to encourage outstanding Native American and Alaska native students to pursue careers related to health care and tribal public policy. Requirements include sophomore or junior standing with at least a 3.0 GPA and ranking in the top quarter of a student’s class. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,000, and expenses for a Udall Scholars Orientation. Deadline for applications is Jan. 5, 2026.


Fellowships for Experiences Abroad
(campus nomination required)

British Marshall Scholarship
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to exceptional seniors or recent graduates who wish to study for two years in a British university. It is meant to further the education of young people of distinguished intellect and character who can be expected to make a significant contribution to society. To be eligible, applicants must have a 3.7 GPA, be a United States citizen and earn a bachelor’s degree before the scholarship takes effect. Applications must be completed by Aug. 15, 2025.

Fulbright Grant
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to seniors and graduate students. Grants range from a full grant – which covers one year of tuition, books and maintenance in one foreign country – to a variety of partial grants, which cover transportation costs only and/or supplement the applicant’s own personal funds. Teaching assistantships in English in selected countries are also available under the Fulbright program. To be eligible for any of the Fulbright grants, an applicant must be a United States citizen at the time of application and hold a bachelor’s degree by the beginning date of the grant. Creative and performing artists are not required to have a bachelor’s degree, but must have four years of relevant training or study. All applicants are required to have sufficient proficiency in the language of the host country to carry out their proposed study or research. Applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2025.

Fulbright Grant: U.K. Summer Institute Award
for undergraduates
Awarded to freshman or sophomore students from all areas of study with a high level of academic achievement. Each program offers students full immersion in the study of British academia and culture. Students will partake in cultural events, research, collaboration and presentation at one of nine summer institutes. The award will cover the majority of all costs incurred, including flights to and from the U.K., university fees, and room and board at the hosting U.K. university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who reside anywhere except the U.K., be at least 18 years old and have completed no more than two years of university study. Applications must be completed by Jan. 5, 2026.

Mitchell Scholarship
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to seniors or recent graduates who wish to pursue graduate study or research in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Mitchell Scholarships provide tuition and housing, as well as living and travel stipends. Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree before taking up the award. Applications must be completed by Aug. 15, 2025.

Boren Scholarship and Fellowship
for undergraduates and graduates
NOTE: The graduate fellowship does not require campus nomination.
Designed to provide U.S. undergraduates and graduates with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experience in countries and areas of the world critical to the future security of the nation. Boren Scholarships/Fellowships are designed to support students who will make a commitment to federal service. All recipients incur a requirement to enter into an agreement, in order of priority, to work for an agency of the federal government with national security responsibilities or to work in the field of higher education in the area of study for which the scholarship was awarded. Maximum awards are $10,000 for a semester and $20,000 for a full year of study abroad. Campus deadline for scholarships (undergraduate) is Jan. 1, 2026. Campus deadline for fellowships (graduate) is Dec. 29, 2025.

Rhodes Scholarship
for undergraduates only
Awarded to exceptional seniors who wish to pursue two or three years of study at Oxford University. The Rhodes Scholarship covers all tuition costs and provides a maintenance allowance. To be eligible a senior must be under 24 years of age, be a citizen of the United States and complete a bachelor’s degree before Oct. 1. There are only 32 scholarships assigned to the United States and applicants must have proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard, integrity of character, interest in and respect for their fellow human beings, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the fullest. The last of these qualities is usually, though not exclusively, demonstrated by participation and success in sports. Rhodes Scholarship applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2025. Read about Truman’s first Rhodes Scholarship recipient, Andrew McCall, who provides helpful advice for Rhodes Scholar applicants.


Other Fellowships
(no campus nomination required)

The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
for college graduates and graduate students
A highly competitive national program that provides college and graduate school graduates the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., with one of more than two dozen participating public-interest organizations focusing on international security issues. The program is offered twice yearly, in the spring and fall. It lasts from six to nine months and provides a salary, health insurance and travel costs to Washington.

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
for undergraduates and graduates
The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship is designed to attract outstanding individuals from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a foreign service career with the U.S. Department of State. The programs provide academic and professional preparation for outstanding candidates to enter the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service, representing America’s interests abroad.

Amgen Scholars Program
for undergraduates only
The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on summer research experience at some of the world’s leading institutions.

Ford Diversity Fellowships Program
for seniors and graduates only
Through its fellowship programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
for graduates only
The GRFP is a prestigious, nationally competitive fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation that provides three years of financial support for beginning graduate study leading to a research-based degree in the STEM disciplines.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship
for undergraduates and graduates
Awarded to students of exceptional academic achievement and scholarly promise for whom advanced study at Cambridge would be particularly appropriate. Successful applicants will have the ability to make a significant contribution to their discipline while in Cambridge, with a strong aptitude for research, analysis and a creative approach to defining and solving problems. Awarded only to students who gain admission to Cambridge through the regular procedures. Covers the full cost of study at Cambridge for a single person. Applications should be completed by Sept. 12, 2025.

Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows
for undergraduates
The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows offers rising college juniors opportunities in leadership development programs inspired by the life and legacy of George Washington and today’s foremost leaders. This residential summer fellowship is designed to create the next generation of the nation’s top leaders.

John Lewis Fellowship
for undergraduates
The John Lewis Fellowship honors U.S. Representative John Lewis, an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. The program explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement, diversity and minority rights in the United States, with a particular focus on Atlanta. Key areas of inquiry include race and racism, immigration, national identity, Native American issues and the relationship between civil rights and human rights. The fellowship will also discuss contemporary racial and diversity issues.

Humanity in Action Fellowship
for undergraduates
The Humanity in Action Fellowship brings together international groups of college students and recent graduates to explore national histories of injustice and resistance as they affect different minority groups today.

Fund for Education Abroad
for undergraduates
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) addresses the need for an independent study abroad scholarship provider. FEA is expanding access to study abroad by raising awareness of its benefits to the individual and value to the collective, and by granting scholarships of up to $10,000.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
for undergraduates
The Gilman International Scholarship Program is a Congressionally funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is administered by the Institute of International Education. The Gilman Scholarship Program offers grants of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students of high financial need participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship eligible. Students studying a critical need language could be eligible to receive a grant of up to $8,000. The Gilman Program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting U.S. undergraduates who might otherwise not consider these unique and valuable opportunities due to financial constraints.

U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria
The U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria provides U.S. college and university graduates with opportunities to work at secondary schools throughout Austria as teaching assistants.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA)
The Freeman Foundation’s generous support for the relaunch of Freeman-ASIA builds on prior grants to IIE that funded more than 4,500 American undergraduates in Asia from 2001 to 2014. The newly available awards will advance the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad, a five-year initiative aiming to double the number of U.S. students abroad by the end of the decade, by mobilizing resources and commitments across the higher education, philanthropy and corporate sectors.

Schwarzman Scholars
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. Students will live and study together on the campus of Schwarzman College, where all classes are taught in English. Students will pursue master’s degrees in one of three disciplines: public policy, economics and business, or international studies. Applications must be completed by Aug. 15, 2025.