Vol. 29 No. 34 - June 9, 2025

Features

  • Truman Announces List of Spring Graduates

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    Truman has released the names of students who graduated at the conclusion of the spring semester.
     
    The names of the graduates can be found online at truman.edu/honors/spring-2025-graduation-list. Students who graduated with honors will have that distinction noted by their names. Cum laude recognizes those who earned a grade point average of 3.50-3.74. Magna cum laude is for graduates with a grade point average of 3.75-3.89. Summa cum laude honors graduates with a grade point average of 3.9 or better. 
     
    Master’s degree recipients will have that distinction noted by their names.
     
    The list is organized by state and hometown. Hometowns are based upon the permanent address given to the University by the student. Students who have requested a directory hold on their information will not be included on the list. Any questions regarding student eligibility for inclusion on the list can be directed to the Registrar’s Office at 660.785.4143.
     
    Truman conducted commencement ceremonies May 10. A recording of the ceremony is available at truman.edu/registrar/commencement/commencement-video. A photo gallery can also be found at photos.truman.edu/home/commencement.
  • New Director Looks to Increase Career Center Visibility

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    The Career Center has something for everyone – from first-year students to job-hunting seniors. That’s the message Alison Ayers would like all students to keep in mind. 
     
    Ayers is the new executive director of career services and employer relations. She began overseeing the Career Center in May after having most recently served as the career services lead instructor at ACI Learning Tech Academy and as the assistant director of Student Involvement and Fraternity & Sorority Life at Missouri S&T. She has also coached individual clients ranging from recent graduates to mid-level professionals and executives. Ayers relocated to the area to be closer to family and to make a more local impact in her profession. 
     
    “This opportunity felt like the perfect blend of everything I’m passionate about: career services, student development and building meaningful relationships,” she said. “More than just a job, it’s a chance to support students while investing in the region my family proudly calls home.”
     
    While the Career Center has been a valuable campus resource for decades, Ayers has plans to expand its impact. New endeavors include a career closet offering free professional attire for interviews, and participation in Handshake, a powerful online platform that connects students with employers, internships and job opportunities nationwide. 
     
    “I’m thrilled to continue growing our resources to ensure students are prepared and confident in today’s fast-evolving career landscape,” Ayers said. “Whether students are just beginning to consider their future or preparing to land their first job, we’re here to help.”
     
    One key factor that could help students realize the importance of using Career Center services early in their time on campus is its relocation to the newly remodeled Kirk Building. The campus landmark has been transformed into a Student Success Center with a collaborative service model. Multiple departments will work in conjunction to assist students, including: the Student Health Center; Counseling Services; Student Access and Disability Services; the Center for Academic Excellence; the Communication Lab; and the Writing Center.
     
    Greater visibility and accessibility will help the Career Center as it looks to expand programming, form deeper campus partnerships and increase student engagement. 
     
    “Whether it’s through pop-up events, new employer connections, skill-building opportunities or the simple ability to drop by a more central, welcoming space, we want students to see the Career Center not as a last stop, but as a key part of their Truman experience,” Ayers said. “Career development is truly a collaborative effort, and I’m committed to fostering strong partnerships across campus to create a supportive ecosystem that prepares students for success beyond graduation.”
     
    The Career Center is now operating out of the first floor of the Kirk Building. For more details on the services available, visit career.truman.edu. For more information, contact careers@truman.edu or call 660.785.4353.
  • O’Day Wins Emerging Composers Competition

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    Evan O’Day was selected as the first-place winner of the 2024-2025 Jâca Emerging Composers Competition.

    Jâca, the award-winning clarinet and guitar duo, received nearly 30 submissions from around the world – including entries from Canada, Argentina and Israel.

    O’Day’s winning work, “Duet for Clarinet and Guitar,” was praised for its idiomatic writing, genre-blending musical language and emotional authenticity. Drawing inspiration from jazz, Brazilian choro, Klezmer, contemporary chamber music and even anime scores, he created a 12-minute piece that balances rhythmic complexity with heartfelt lyricism. 

    Currently pursuing degrees in music education and composition, O’Day is a multi-instrumentalist with a passion for sharing music with others, especially through teaching. 

    As the first-place winner, O’Day will receive a $500 cash prize, have his work premiered in concert by Jâca and have the piece published on Jâca’s website and online store.
  • Bulldog Great Larance Jones Heading to Collegiate Athletics Hall of Fame

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    University track and field great Larance Jones was inducted in the Collegiate Track and Field/Cross Country Athlete Hall of Fame, June 8, in Eugene, Oregon.

    Jones was one of 12 honorees that were recognized as part of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association event. The induction ceremony took place before the start of the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field.

    The Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, established in 2022, honors the best of the best in collegiate track and field and cross country. It recognizes athletes who have left a lasting mark on the sport during their collegiate careers.

    When Jones arrived on campus in the early 1970s, he quickly established himself as a standout in Bulldog track and football, particularly in track. During his track career, the quarter-miler earned All-American recognition, won the NCAA Division I outdoor title once, the NCAA Division I indoor title twice, the NCAA Division II outdoor title three times and the MIAA Conference indoor and outdoor titles three times each.

    Jones set a school record in the 440-yard dash, as well as conference indoor and outdoor records in the event. He was the first collegiate quarter-miler to win his specialty at the Texas, Kansas and Drake Relays in the same year with record-setting times, an accomplishment he achieved in 1974. He participated in the 1972 Olympic Trials, advancing to the semifinals in his specialty. At the time he finished his collegiate track career, he had recorded the world’s fastest time in the 440-yard dash, 45.2 seconds, in the spring of 1974.

    Jones also played on three Bulldog football teams, helping the 1971 team win the MIAA Conference title. However, in the 1972 season opener against Missouri Western, he suffered a knee injury that could have ended his athletic career. Through perseverance, he recovered fully and competed in the 1973 track season. In 1974, his final football campaign, Jones earned all-conference accolades and ranked among the NCAA Division II national leaders in kick returns. He caught the attention of professional football scouts and was selected in the 15th round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, but was cut. He was then signed by Washington. Jones ranked second in NFL kickoff returns in 1974 and set a league record with a 102-yard kickoff return. He played for Washington through the 1977 season before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Jones retired from professional football in the fall of 1978.

Announcements

  • Food Packs Available for Students During Summer Break

    The SERVE Center will be available for food packs during the summer. Pre-made pack requests will not be available and workers will not be in the pantry. Students in need of food packs can visit the Union and Involvement office to ask a worker to accompany them to the food pantry to build their own pack.

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  • Starbucks and Einstein Special Summer Hours

    During orientation days Einstein’s will be open from 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m. and Starbucks will be open from 1-5 p.m. Upcoming orientation days are June 9, 12, 17, 23 and 25.

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  • Volunteers Needed for Move-In Day

    Move-In Day will take place between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 13. Those who volunteer will help new students move their belongings from their car to their respective rooms, direct traffic at essential locations and guide families to long-term parking. Sign up is available here.

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  • Retirement Reception for Dave Rector

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  • Next Issue

    The next issue of the Truman Today will be available June 23.
  • Board of Governors Meeting

    The University Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. June 14 in the Student Union Building Conference room 3000. The website is updated to include the open session agenda.

Scholarship Opportunities

  • Nationally Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships

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    Each year Truman nominates students who have shown outstanding academic performance and exceptional service accomplishments for national fellowship opportunities. 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. Many deadlines occur early in the fall semester, so it is important interested students attend the meeting.

    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.