Vol. 30 No. 31 - April 27, 2026

The awards ceremony for the 2026 Leadership Recognition Program took place April 21 in the Student Union Building.

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.

Union and Involvement Services
Athletic Leadership Award   
Maddy Hall

New Student Leader Award
Jewel Minner 

TLC Pass it Along Award
Stuart Whitmer 

Outstanding Organization Leader of the Year Award
Bird McGuire
Catherine Duncan
Ben Grandstaff
Paige Su

Outstanding Student Worker Award 
Khaula Hadi 
Matthew Freitag
Justina Wimer

Senior Leadership Award
Alex Peterson      

Student Excellence Award 
Adli Jacobs
Ben Croat
Natalie Whipple

Organizations
Outstanding Innovative Program Award
Residence Hall Association – Regional Leadership Conference 

Outstanding Cultural Awareness Program
Student Government

Outstanding Overall Program
Chinese Language Cultural Association – Lunar New Year

Outstanding New Organization Award 
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

Outstanding Organization Award - One Small and One Large Organization 
Community of College Entrepreneurs 
Student Activities Board

Advisors
E.M. Violette Outstanding Advisor Award - One Small and One Large Organization’s Advisor  
Katie Judd
Andrea Richards

Fraternity and Sorority Life
New member GPA
Alpha Sigma Alpha

President's Cup
Alpha Sigma Alpha

Panhellenic Spirit
Alpha Sigma Alpha – Morgan Durell
Delta Phi Epsilon – Izabelle Campbell
Alpha Gamma Delta – Elisha Clayton
Sigma Kappa – Maddie Holland
Sigma Sigma Sigma – Shelby Wilson
Delta Zeta – Audrey Jane Huffman

Academic Excellence
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Sigma Sigma

Sisterhood/Brotherhood of the Year
Delta Zeta
Sigma Phi Epsilon

Excellence in Harm Reduction and Risk Management
Phi Kappa Tau
Sigma Sigma Sigma

Outstanding Community Relations
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Beta Theta Pi

Emerging Leader
Paxton Koch
Haley Weinhardt

Living Our Values
Doran Saunders
Kacie Myers

Outstanding Chapter President
Devon Silhavy
Valery Figuerosa

Interfraternity Council Man of the Year
Doran Saunders

Panhellenic Woman of the Year
Chloe Kroencke

NPHC Member of the Year
Jae Cauldwell

Starfish Award
Phi Kappa Tau
Delta Phi Epsilon

Chapter of the Year
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Sigma Sigma

Office of Community Enrichment
Rising Activist Award 
Kendyll Gethers

Outstanding Advocate Award
Sayri Colindres 

Bertha Thomas Outstanding Faculty/Staff Advocate Award
JD Adjra

Queer Legacy Award
Riley Necker

Department of Residence Life
Outstanding Residence Leader Award
Helina Engdayehu

Institutional Compliance Office
Leadership in Equity Award
Catherine Duncan
Ben Grandstaff

SERVE Center
Outstanding Organization Award
Delta Chi

Outstanding Student Volunteer Award
Isaiah Kuheler

Omicron Delta Kappa  
Student Hall of Fame 
Marlayna Little

Faculty Hall of Fame 
Brett Berke

Staff Hall of Fame 
Taryn Shafer

Forensics placed third in Division I of the National Forensic Association National Championship Tournament, April 16-20, at Tennessee State University in Nashville.

The tournament is the largest intercollegiate forensics championship, spanning 11 different individual speaking categories and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. A record number of entries from 70 colleges and universities from across the United States were represented. Across all categories, Truman was ranked 13th overall, without regard to school or entry size. Rankings consider the performances of every student on a team. This ranking put Truman ahead of universities such as multiple campuses of the Cal-State system, Arizona State, Rice, UC-Berkeley, Northwestern and Hofstra, as well as all other participating Missouri institutions.
 
In individual events competition, Alex Peterson, fourth-year criminal justice studies and social issue advocacy major, was a semifinalist, while Emery McEvoy, second-year accounting major, was a semifinalist in Extemporaneous Speaking. Jessie Philips, fourth-year political science and international relations major, was a quarterfinalist in Poetry Interpretation. In Duo Interpretation, Philips and her partner, Briggs Maynor, fourth-year chemistry major, were quarterfinalists. Annie Nguyen, first-year political science and international relations and environmental science major, was a quarterfinalist in Persuasive Speaking. The team also had six placements in the octafinals of the tournament. These included Maynor and Philips in After Dinner Speaking, Willow Adamson, first-year psychology major, in Poetry Interpretation, Jack Unsell, first-year political science and international relations and environmental science major, in Impromptu Speaking, Nguyen in Informative Speaking and Peterson in Persuasive Speaking. In Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Ryan Franklin, second-year mathematics major, reached the double-octafinals. All 21 students contributed points to the overall result of the team.
 
In addition to these accolades, Robert Layne II (’02), a Truman communication graduate, was inducted into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame for his competitive success and application of skills learned in forensics to public service. Layne was a member of the national championship debate team in 2000 and reached several elimination rounds at both the National Parliamentary Debate Association and National Forensic Association National Championships. Layne serves in a senior communications leadership position for the City of Salem, Oregon. This is Truman’s second alumnus to join the Hall of Fame.
 
"Our success at NFA this year was indicative of our students' hard work and commitment to the team throughout the season,” said Ben Davis, director of forensics. “Each person on our squad played a hand in reaching our team goal this year of breaking into the Top 15 at NFA. Their support for each other is inspirational and the coaches are thrilled to see such fire beneath the team right now as we end our season and start preparing for another great year next season." 
 
This concludes the competitive season for Forensics. The team will begin competition for the 2026-27 season in September. For more information on the program, follow @trumanforensicunion on Instagram or visit forensics.truman.edu.

Tim Walston has been selected as Truman’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, officially stepping into the role after previously serving in the position on an interim basis. 

Walston, a member of the Truman faculty since 2006, brings almost two decades of experience in teaching, research and administration within the University. Before serving as interim provost, he was dean of the School of Science and Mathematics, where he led the launch of new academic programs and strengthened efforts in faculty development.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve as the next Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and to lead our outstanding faculty as they provide a truly amazing education to our students,” Walston said. “The end of this academic year will mark my 20th year at Truman. I feel strongly about this institution and its mission as the state of Missouri’s premier public liberal arts and sciences institution. I look forward to working with our campus to continue excelling at meeting that mission.”

Walston’s experience goes beyond the classroom, having authored and presented multiple scientific publications, professional presentations and grants. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Taylor University, as well as a master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a doctorate in genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Walston will begin his duties as the EVPAAP May 1.

Alumnus Matthew P. Matheney V (’17, ’19) will give the commencement address during graduation, May 9.

During the school year, Matheney is a math and science teacher at Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. He graduated from Truman in 2017 with bachelors' degrees in mathematics and physics, and again in 2019 with a Master of Arts in Education. In 2023, he was named as a finalist for the Missouri Teacher of the Year Award for his dedication to creating a school community where individuals can find the intersection of their talents and the needs of the world.

Truman will conduct spring commencement at 2 p.m. May 9 in Stokes Stadium. Additional information is available at truman.edu/registrar/commencement.

Alumnus Doug Villhard has been appointed to the Truman State University Board of Governors.

Villhard is the Academic Director for Entrepreneurship and a Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis, the Managing Partner at Villhard Growth Partners, and the author of three historical fiction novels based on real-life entrepreneurs. He is the co-founder of SportsHuddle (now MaxPreps), Second Street (recently acquired by Upland Software), and Father McGivney Catholic High School.
 
In addition to a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Truman, Villhard earned a Master of Science in communication from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Villhard’s appointment was confirmed by the Missouri Senate in April.

Special Olympics Missouri is seeking volunteers for the 2026 summer games, May 28-31.

All the events for the games will take place on campus. 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, meal crew, bingo, crafts 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 at somo.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/state.  
 
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.

The BFA Capstone Exhibition will take place April 27-May 1. A closing reception for the exhibition will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. May 1. Both events will be located in the University Art Gallery.

The SERVE Center will host the final pop-up food pantry of the semester from 2-5 p.m. April 28 in the Student Union Building Down Under. Pop-up food pantries are scaled-up versions of the standard food pantry, with freshly restocked items available to all students.

The Office of Student Engagement will celebrate National Superhero Day from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. April 28 at the campus fountain. Students are invited to share their favorite superhero to receive their own superhero cape. In the instance of rain, the event will take place inside the Student Union Building.

A remembrance ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. April 29 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. This is an opportunity to remember and celebrate students, faculty, staff and friends that were lost in the past year.

Staff from the Student Recreation Center will host Field Day on the Quad from 12:30-2:30 p.m. April 30. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to slackline, as well as utilize other games and equipment, including cornhole, mini badminton, yard pong, Giant KerPlunk, Giant Jenga and more.

Be advised that in accepting this prize, the value of the tickets may be reported as income and subject to applicable income taxes.

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.

As part of her senior capstone project, Adelynn Heitzman, a health science student, will host Sex in the Dark from 7-9 p.m. May 1 in Magruder Hall 2001. This glow-in-the-dark, anonymous question-and-answer event is designed to create a relaxed and inviting environment for students to learn more about and shed light on their sexual health.

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences will host a plant sale from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 6 in Magruder Hall 2034. The sale will feature a variety of houseplants such as pathos, succulents and cacti. Cash or check payment options will be accepted.

Approximately, 126 current and retired employees will be honored for their years of service and their commitment to the University with a Service Recognition Celebration, May 13. A list of the 2026 honorees can be found here.

Students can apply on TruPositions. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Violet Odzinski, the Center supervisor, at vodzinski@truman.edu.

The School of Science and Mathematics is hiring building housekeeping assistants for the 2026-27 academic year. This is a scholarship or work-study position, up to four hours per week. Assistants will help with light housekeeping duties in Magruder Hall, including sweeping, dusting and tidying up public seating areas. Students can apply on TruPositions. Any questions can be directed to Katie Dixson, School of Science and Mathematics supervisor, at kdixson@truman.edu.

A delegation from Truman attended the 2026 Meeting of the Minds Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, April 9-11. 

This annual conference, sponsored by Missouri Partners in Prevention, works with campus leaders to bring efforts promoting student success through increased health, safety, prevention and well-being initiatives back to their university. Students Joel Alabi, Chloe Ha, Khaula Hadi, Adelynn Heitzman and Fatema Labonno were joined by alumnus Moses Yohanna, Roberta Donahue, professor of health science, James Smiser, director of Institutional Compliance, and Zac Burden, director of Citizenship and Conduct. Chad Whittom, assistant director of public safety, was honored at the conference as a 2026 Outstanding Service Award winner. 

The 2027 conference will take place April 8-10 in St. Louis. Students, faculty and staff interested in attending next year's conference should contact Zac Burden at zburden@truman.edu.

Students Raina Baker, Danielle Buckner, Rilee Leckie, Liza Musgrave and Jessie Stark presented at the XII Congreso Internacional Latinoamérica Ante Nuevos Retos y Transiciones at the Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Mexico, April 16-17. In addition to their individual presentations, they participated in a panel with Mexican students to discuss relations between the two countries. They were joined by Languages and Linguistics faculty members José Carreño, Jack Davis, Stacy Davis and Óscar Sendón, who also presented at the conference.

Khia Ingram, a senior music business major, was selected as one of six flutists to participate in the 2025-26 National Flute Association Emerging Artist Mentorship Program (EAMP).

EAMP pairs college students and recent graduates who identify as belonging to a marginalized cultural group with professionally established mentors from similar cultural backgrounds. Over the course of a year, the artists will be mentored by professional flutists in one-on-one and group meetings as they discuss career goals, networking opportunities and other skills essential to an arts career. Ingram will present a capstone collaborative performance this spring as part of her program.

Additionally, Ingram was selected as one of eleven fellows for the 2026 Gyo Obata Fellowship Program in arts management. The Gyo Obata Fellowship strives to create opportunities for more diverse, inclusive and equitable access to the arts community, and specifically, in the fields of arts administration and management. Ingram will receive on-the-job training and meaningful exposure to local nonprofit arts organizations. This fellowship honors the life of Gyo Obata, who is known for his architecture throughout St. Louis including his design of the planetarium. Ingram's mentor will be Rochelle Calhoun, manager of corporate partnerships for Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

A special volume of the Missouri Folklore Society Journal, consisting entirely of fieldwork done by Truman students, was published in April. The students whose work is featured in include Zoe Aldrich, Olivia Altomari, Emma Berens, Hailey Boss, Rosemarie Carter, Lily Casey, Jacob Colangelo, Gracie Doolin, Phillip Dryden, Taylor Howard, Matthew Pierce and Nick Puleo. The book was edited by Lucy McCormick, a graduating master’s student, who also contributed to the piece. A digital version of the journal is available online at missourifolkloresociety.org. 

A team of students earned a second-place finish in the Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition, March 26-27 at Columbia College. Team members were Rosmarie Carter, Eddie Gibbons and Han Zhang. A second team consisting of Alana Ray, Megan Witzenburg and Jack Zeitz also placed in the top 10 at the competition.

Clarice Andorno, a junior mathematics major, earned an award for top presentation at the Kappa Mu Epsilon North Central Regional Convention at Washburn University, April 10-11. Andorno’s talk, entitled “The Structure of Linear Extensions of Partially Ordered Sets,” was based on research conducted at Truman with Stephen Lacina, assistant professor of mathematics.

The Truman Clarinet Choir traveled to Milan, Missouri, to perform an outreach concert for their middle and high school students, April 22. The program included a recent original work, “Evil Robot Spooky Space Jam,” three pieces from around the world to commemorate Earth Day (Ireland, South Korea and Kenya) and a unique arrangement of “Take on Me” by A-ha. Andrew Gooch, Truman alumnus and current band and choir teacher at Milan C-2 School District, invited the ensemble and made all the arrangements for the performance.