Vol. 30 No. 22 - February 16, 2026

The fairs are open to students of all majors and academic levels. These events are hosted by the Career Center twice a year to help students prepare for graduate school, internships and job searches. The fairs provide a chance for students to meet with many representatives from businesses, non-profits, government and graduate and professional schools.

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 25 the Graduate School Fair will take place. This is an opportunity for students thinking of pursing graduate studies to connect with their future school. The Career and Internship Fair will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 26. There, students will get to talk to several employers visiting campus from across the United States. Both events will take place in the Student Union Building Georgian Rooms.

Students attending either fair can have professional portraits taken free of charge by the campus photographer during the event. These high-quality portraits are perfect for LinkedIn profiles, Handshake profiles and other professional materials.

New employers are being added daily to Handshake. To see which organizations will be attending the Career and Internship Fair, log in and check regularly. Employers are posting a variety of internships and full-time positions, with many hiring for multiple roles across different fields. 

To learn more, or to register for these events, go to hiretruman.truman.edu then to Student/Alumni Login followed by events, career fairs and select career fair of choice. Click on “Attend” in the upper right corner of the page to formally register. For questions regarding times or function of the event, visit the Career Center website or email the Career Center at careers@truman.edu. These events will be accessed from #HireTruman.

Students Aubrey Gogel, Anna Million, Elliot McGowan and Joley Ostendorf bring the March sisters to the stage as they face love, loss and growing up during the turmoil of the Civil War. Students Lauren Cavanah, Grant Wayland, Alex Smith, Lillie McLaughlin and Elias Tucker join them to bring the world and characters of “Little Women” to life. This telling celebrates family, friendship and finding one’s voice. Whether discovering it anew or returning to a favorite, “Little Women” speaks to every generation.
 
The production will take place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 in the James G. Severns Theatre in Ophelia Parrish. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online. 

Questions should be directed to boxoffice@truman.edu.

VITA sessions will take place from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 21, Feb. 28 and March 28 in Violette Hall 1432. Students, employees or community members 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; a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available; and, if applicable, the total paid for day care provider(s) and the day care provider’s tax identifying number. VITA services will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.

Appointments are required. Truman students can make appointments online. International students who did not have income for 2025 will need to schedule an appointment to file Form 8843. Sessions for international students filing 8843 forms will take place from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 18, Feb. 25 and March 25 in Violette Hall 1428. Truman employees and community members must call 660.785.6064 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

The committee consists of six to 10 members of the Truman community who help determine the theme and philanthropy, as well as plan and facilitate all student-oriented Homecoming festivities. Any position on the Homecoming committee is a useful resume builder and can help make connections both on and off campus. It is also an opportunity to serve the Truman community.

Positions on the committee are volunteer-based and open to all grade levels and majors. Applicants do not have to be a part of Fraternity and Sorority Life to be a part of the committee. Available positions include public relations, events, philanthropy, lip-sync and ceremony coordinators. Descriptions for each of the positions can be found here.

Additional information can be found on the Truman Homecoming website and applications are available here. Applications close at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 22.

The LRP is designed to honor Truman students, organizations and advisors for their dedication to their peers, organizations, campus and the Kirksville community through various leadership roles during the academic year. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to nominate exceptional student leaders, advisors, organizations and events on campus.

Submissions for the LRP are taken online only. A link to the nomination form can be found at involvement.truman.edu/leadership-recognition-program. Multiple nominations for individuals or organizations are welcome. Details about all of the awards can be found in the nomination packet available here. Nominations will close at 5 p.m. March 16.

Questions about the LRP can be directed to the program coordinator at lrp@truman.edu or orgs@truman.edu. Union and Involvement services will host the Leadership Recognition Program ceremony April 21.

The virtual panel “Marketing Careers in the Real World: Roles, Skills and Pathways” will take place at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in Violette Hall 1010.

The panel will feature Tara Bloch and Marco Ilardi, business administration alumni, and Dave Collett and Justin Gioia, communications alumni. The alumni have all succeeded in marketing and will come together to share their experiences and expertise with current students.

Bloch graduated from Truman in 2012 and currently works as the marketing director for Diode Dynamics, L.L.C., based out of St. Charles, Missouri. In previous years, Bloch had positions at Target, Truman and Financial Planners of Missouri, where she continued to enhance her marketing, advertising and promotional skills. Additional information about Bloch can be found on her LinkedIn profile.

Ilardi graduated from Truman in 1999 and currently serves as a managing partner for V2 Ventures, based out of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Before working at V2 Ventures, Ilardi worked for Adknowledge, Fox Interactive Media and Intermix Media in various presidential, marketing and strategic positions. Additional information about Ilardi can be found on his LinkedIn profile.

Collett graduated from Truman in 1996 and is currently the executive vice president and global client leader of Weber Shandwick, based out of the greater St. Louis area. Between 1997 and 2004, he worked for Boeing as a communications specialist and Fleishman-Hillard as the vice president. While at Weber Shandwick, he also worked as an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis from 2019-2025. Additional information about Collett can be found on his LinkedIn profile.

Missouri Partners in Prevention (MOPIP) Coalition is accepting applications to attend the Meeting of the Minds Conference, which takes place April 9-11.

The conference educates students and professionals about student leadership, peer education and prevention strategies in relation to alcohol, drugs and other wellness topics. This is a great learning opportunity for college students and professionals, whether they are working in prevention, residence life, fraternity and sorority life, student activities or any other discipline. 

MOPIP is looking for students who would like to learn more about critical health behaviors for university students and bring that knowledge back to campus to impact positive change for the Truman community. Previous attendees have included health science majors, peer educators and campus student leaders.

Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. Registration is required and can be completed through the CLCA Google form. Attendees will be asked to show proof of registration upon arrival to receive a physical ticket. Tickets are required to participate in the free dinner. 

The dance company Ailey II will be the next performance in the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 in Baldwin Auditorium. 
 
Ailey II, the second company of the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, brings technical mastery and emotional depth to works by the most daring established and emerging choreographers.
 
In their performance at Truman, Ailey II will showcase “Down the Rabbit Hole” by Houston Thomas, as well as world premieres “Berry Dreamin’” by Chalvar Monteiro and “Third Person Point of View” by My’Kal Stromile. 
 
Tickets are available now and can be picked up at any of three convenient campus locations: the Union and Involvement Office in the Student Union Building; the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205; or the Admissions Office in the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center. Tickets are also available off campus at the Kirksville Arts Association in downtown Kirksville. Any remaining tickets will be available at the ticket window in Baldwin Hall beginning 30 minutes before the performance. 
 
Tickets for the 2025-26 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series are provided free of charge thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, the Friends of the Lyceum program and the Truman State University Foundation.
 

Truman’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition will take place at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in Violette Hall 1010, providing students an opportunity to highlight their graduate-level research. 

For the competition, participants will create a slideshow containing an introductory slide, using the set template, and a single slide that conveys their study. They will then have three minutes to discuss their research and its importance. Any original graduate research qualifies. It can be a scientific study, a discussion on a student’s creative writing adventure or musical composition. Current graduate students cannot submit research completed as an undergraduate. 

Students will create a three-minute presentation following the guidelines available on the Truman 3MT website. They will need an introductory slide that will include their name, title of presentation, faculty member and department. The single research slide appears right after, and as soon as the student starts speaking, the timer begins.  

The first-place prize is a $75 gift card, with second place earning a $50 gift card. The winner of the competition will attend the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools annual competition.  

For registration, students must include their name, email, title of their research and name of their faculty research mentor by 12 a.m. Feb. 23. After registration, students must then submit their final slideshow including their introductory and research slides by 2:30 p.m. Feb. 26. 

The Office of Student Research is accepting TruScholars proposals for the eight-week summer 2026 term from June 1-July 24. 

Applications for research and creative scholarship grants may request up to $5,750 and may include a $3,500 maximum student stipend, a $1,750 maximum mentor stipend and up to $500 for supplies.

To be eligible for funding, students must; have full-time enrollment in undergraduate studies, be mentored by a Truman faculty member, have good academic standing, plan to graduate no earlier than the fall 2026 semester and have completed their freshman year by May 2026.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 25. Additional information about the TruScholars program is available on the Office of Student Research website. Individuals with any other questions regarding the TruScholars program should email ewiles@truman.edu or osr@truman.edu. 

The University Art Gallery will feature “Creative Urges: The Paintings of Dorothy Wirtz” now through Feb. 27.

Born and educated in the Midwest, Wirtz (1915-2013) was unstoppable at a time when few opportunities were afforded to women in academia. She earned a Ph.D. in French in 1944. Despite facing considerable obstacles, she became a professor of French and a published poet and scholar.

Alongside her teaching, Wirtz found time to develop her own style of expressive painting that drew from the current movements of surrealism and abstract expressionism. These paintings have remained largely unseen until now.

Throughout her life, Wirtz was constantly engaging with art and sought to impress in others a love for creativity and culture.

Students are encouraged to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible for the 2026-27 school year. 

In celebration of Financial Aid Awareness Month, the Financial Aid Office in McClain Hall 103 will have free candy available. Students are encouraged to visit the office and discuss any questions they may have about financial aid. 

Along with processing the FAFSA to determine federal, state and some University funds, the office provides information about scholarship service and renewal for returning students. They can also help with private scholarship check processing, funding for study abroad or summer school, budgeting, financial literacy or loan counseling.

Upward Bound is currently seeking Truman juniors, seniors or graduate students to serve as residential mentors for the 2026 Summer Academy. 

Upward Bound participants are income-eligible students from Northeast Missouri high schools, and the Academy is designed to help prepare underrepresented students for success in college.

Dates of employment are May 28-July 1, with most weekends free. Successful applicants are responsible, high-energy, interested in working with adolescents and possess an understanding of educational barriers experienced by low-income/first-generation college applicants.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions have been filled with qualified candidates. For more information, or to access an online application, visit the Upward Bound website.

The Truman Institute for Academic Outreach will host the new Truman Band Academy for high school students, June 7-11. 

Students will have the full campus experience, including staying in residence halls, enjoying campus dining and meeting fellow musicians from across the Midwest. Under the orchestration of Curran Prendergast, Truman’s director of bands, students will participate in daily full-band rehearsals, instrument sectionals led by University faculty and interactive electives designed to enhance musicianship and creativity. At the end of the week, students will perform a full-ensemble concert to showcase their work. 

Applications for the Academy are due March 15 and require two complete years of transcripts, contact information for an educator recommendation and a completed signature page. Applications are not completed until all materials are received. 

Tuition is $500 and includes housing and meals, all activities, a t-shirt and additional materials. Once acceptance is confirmed, $250 must be paid by April 16 to secure the student’s spot, with the remaining tuition being paid no later than May 14.

The Student Activity Board’s annual spring survey is now open. 

The survey is open until March 20 and is available at sab.truman.edu. Anyone who fills out the survey will be entered into a raffle for a prize. Students must be logged into their Truman email to submit a response. 

The Office of Student Research is accepting abstract submissions for the 2026 Student Research Conference.

This conference is a University-wide celebration of student research, scholarship and creative achievement and will take place April 16.

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts. Submissions are welcome for oral, poster, performance art and studio art presentations. Abstracts must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. March 20 and be sponsored by a Truman faculty or staff member. Students should work with their mentor before submitting.

Complete abstract guidelines are posted on the Office of Student Research website. The website will be updated with additional details for this year’s event once they are finalized.

Volunteer and service sign-ups for the Big Event, taking place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 28, are now open. 

As a way of saying thanks to the Kirksville community, Truman students, alumni, faculty and staff are participating in the 25th annual Big Event. Hundreds of volunteers will provide services to the residents of the community by raking leaves, washing windows, painting and more. The Big Event gives Truman the opportunity to show appreciation for all the support the Kirksville community has offered to them.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up here. Sign-ups for volunteers will close March 20. 

Kirksville residents and non-profit businesses interested in receiving volunteer service can sign up here. Sign-ups for residents and non-profit businesses will close March 20.

The Environmental Sustainability Fee Accountability Committee (ESFAC) is currently accepting campus sustainability project proposals.

Project proposals should be focused on enhancing sustainability on campus. They are judged based on environmental benefit, cost-effectiveness, visibility, student impact and opinion, contribution to Truman’s image, feasibility and time sensitivity. 

Most projects approved by ESFAC will receive funding for the 2026-27 calendar year and are intended to be completed within that year. However, the committee also allocates funding to one ongoing project that will take multiple years to complete. Their last major project, installing solar panels at the University farm, has concluded and they are welcoming submissions for a new major project.

Applications should be well thought out and as detailed as possible, however the committee will help to refine submissions. Proposals can be completed using this form. The deadline for proposal submission is March 21. For more details about the application process and guidelines, visit the committee archives or reach out to Kara Sargent, committee chair, at kms5248@truman.edu.

The exhibition featuring pieces from Truman art club members will be on display in the library café now through May 8. 

Truman Forensics Union continues its success on the Public Forum Debate circuit.

In preparation for the Pi Kappa Delta national tournament in March, the team competed in the fifth Public Forum Debate competition of the season. The team of Cooper Spacil, second-year social issue advocacy major, and Emmett Beeson, first-year business administration major, placed second in the tournament. They were followed by the team of Jack Unsell, first-year environmental science and political science double-major, and Neveah Carter, first-year communication disorders major, who took third. The Truman teams beat notable regional competition from Simpson College. Carter received second in speaker awards and Spacil was fifth. 

 “It’s amazing to see our novice team members finding early success and representing Truman alongside their varsity peers at this level,” said Lars Wagener, assistant director of forensics. 

Dereck Daschke, professor of philosophy and religion, attended the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, last month.

Daschke reviewed seven feature films and one panel discussion on Jewish representation in TV and cinema for the online, open-access Journal of Religion and Film, where he serves on the editorial board. His reviews can be found at https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/.

The Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation will offer the Purdy Emerging Leaders Scholarship, named in honor of Allan Walker Purdy. Born in 1914 on a farm near Macon, Purdy 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.

This program supports candidates who demonstrate leadership, character and academic performance. It is open to students who started higher education right after high school, as well as adult learners who are now pursuing or returning to complete a degree. Additionally, these students have a vision, are eager to make their contribution to the world and have the work ethic to bring their dreams to fruition.

The scholarship application period runs through April 1. More information, including details on how to apply, can be found here. The scholarship amount can vary based on an applicant’s circumstances. The general range will be $2,000-$5,000 based on student aid index (SAI), unmet need and other factors.

The Truman State University Foundation 2026-27 Foundation Scholarship applications are now available.

Recipients must be enrolled full-time during the term of the scholarship to receive scholarship funds. Applications can be submitted and revised at any time prior to the March 6 deadline. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the Student Tab, Scholarships, Financial Aid & Loans then Foundation Scholarship Application.