Vol. 20 No. 5 - Sept. 21, 2015

The Multicultural Affairs Center will host Robert L. Smale, an associate professor of history at the University of Missouri, to give a presentation entitled “Multicultural Collision in Sixteenth Century — Panama” at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Student Union Building Activities Room.

Smale earned his Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of Texas at Austin and has done extensive research experience in Bolivia. His first book, “I Sweat the Flavor of Tin: Labor Activism in Early Twentieth Century Bolivia,” was published in 2010. He is the current president of the Latin American and Caribbean Section of the Southern Historical Association. Smale’s most recent book project is a history of the sixteenth century Marañón Expedition into the Amazon and the rebellion of Lope de Aguirre.

During Smale’s presentation, he will dive into the history of Panama, the role of Spanish power and its effect on the country and its people.
 
Over the course of the sixteenth century Panama became Spain’s crossroads of empire in the Americas. Conquistadores subjugated much of the isthmus’s indigenous population to menial labor services and imported indigenous slaves from across the Caribbean and Central America. As the indigenous population shrank under the exactions, the Spaniards began importing African slaves to fill the void. The conquistadores’ dominance was never total, and escaped indigenous and African slaves continually threatened their former Spanish masters. Royal authorities fretted that unruly subject people might cut the lifeline of silver that flowed from Peru across the isthmus to Spain. Ironically, they depended upon those same subject groups, indigenous people and African slaves, to keep the silver moving.

For more information, or questions about the event, contact Jerad Green at jgreen@truman.edu.

The late film legend Vincent Price performed at Truman more than any other university in the country. He established the Vincent Price Theatrical Performance Scholarship, a legacy that continues to support Truman students today. This fall marks the 30th anniversary of Price’s 1985 Homecoming visit.

Victoria Price, the daughter of Vincent Price, will be on campus Oct. 8 for a charity dinner and presentation.

"A Treasury of Great Recipes" 50th Anniversary Charity Dinner will take place at 6 p.m. in the Georgian Rooms of the Student Union to benefit the Vincent Price Theatrical Performance Scholarship. The dinner will feature an “around the world” gourmet tasting featuring selections from Vincent’s cookbook, “A Treasury of Great Recipes.”

Following the dinner, there will be an evening of entertainment, including a free presentation by Victoria Price at 8:30 p.m. in Violette Hall 1000.  

“An Evening with Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe” will take place at 9:30 p.m. in Baldwin Hall Little Theater. This event is free and open to the public.

The evening concludes with a performance of “The Raven” and a screening of the first film in a series of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations between Price and director Roger Corman — “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Free popcorn will be provided by Truman’s Career Center

To purchase dinner tickets or to support Price’s scholarship, click here. Dinner tickets may also be purchased by phone at 660.785.4133. RSVP for the event by Sept. 28. Ticket availability is limited.

Six students represented Truman’s Ronald E. McNair Program at the Annual McNair Scholars Research Conference Sept. 11-13 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Country.

Accompanied by John Quinn, professor of political science and interim research coordinator, the scholars gave public presentations based upon their projects conducted this past summer.

The McNair Program provides support for students interested in obtaining a Ph.D. who are income eligible, first-generation college students of any background or who are from underrepresented groups. McNair has been at Truman since 1992.

Senior scholars who presented include: Ciera Utter (health science), Roberto Renteria (psychology), Brandi Jones (health science), RaShaunda Fargo (English/education), Meghan Meyers (health science) and Chelsie Yokum (communication).

Last weekend’s game marked both the return of bulldog football and the reappearance of a Truman ROTC tradition. 

Though the roar of the cannon was silent in Fall 2014, expect to hear it at all home games this semester. Last year “Black Jack” was sent to the Missouri National Guard Maintenance Shop in Jefferson City for safety certification. During inspection, the Guard corrected minor discrepancies, added new gear and gave Black Jack a paint job.

“We are indebted to the Missouri National Guard for going above and beyond the call of duty to help us with the cannon,” said Douglas Reinsch, ROTC enrollment officer.

The cannon was nicknamed Black Jack in honor of General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, who attended the University in 1880. Although Reinsch is not sure when the cannon arrived, he suspects it was shortly after the arrival of ROTC in Fall 1969. Since its appearance on Truman’s campus, Black Jack has only been fired by certified ROTC cannon crew members. The cannon is fired during football games for touchdowns, extra points and field goals scored by the bulldogs. The cannon crew also does push-ups equaling the current Truman score.

“It is our way of ‘Inspiring Strength’ in Truman Athletics and supporting Truman and the Kirksville community,” Reinsch said.

Shooting Black Jack is a team effort. An ROTC gunner opens a section of the cannon, known as the breech, while the loader inspects the chamber, receives the round from an ammo bearer and rams it inside the breech. After the gunner and loader ensure the breech is fully closed, the cannon chief gives the command to fire. The gunner pulls the firing lever with a gradual, steady pull, and the cannon shoots. The cannon chief this year is Sgt. 1st Class Brad Watson.

Pickler Memorial Library is hosting a book sale 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 24 and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 25, outside on the south side of the library.

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series will begin the 2015-16 season with a performance by Truman’s very own Department of Music at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 in Baldwin Auditorium.

“At the Movies” is the theme of this fun and exciting program. Music has always played an important role in movies, and this concert will feature some of the most important and memorable music in the history of film. Don’t miss this opportunity to recall many of Hollywood’s best motion-picture scenes and stars of yesterday and today.

Enjoy all of Truman’s major instrumental and vocal ensembles, plus small groups and soloists, performing music from such films as “The Pink Panther,” “The Lion King,” “Forrest Gump” and many more.

Tickets are free for Truman students, faculty and staff. Tickets are available now and may be picked up in the Student Union Building. A limited number of general admission tickets may be purchased for $11 per ticket online at lyceum.truman.edu or at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville.

For the 2015-2016 Kohlenberg Lyceum Season tickets will be made available two weeks before each performance. The exception is the Dec. 5 performance. Those tickets will be available Nov. 16 due to the Thanksgiving Break. Due to the popularity of the shows, any campus tickets still available two days before a performance will be made available to the public to purchase. For more information on the series, visit lyceum.truman.edu.

 
Those students who are interested in a paid spring internship opportunity still have an opportunity to apply for the Missouri Government Internship program. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 1.
 
This internship gives students the opportunity to gain real, meaningful experience in the fast-paced world of state politics. If selected, interns will be working full time alongside staffers in the office of a state legislator, state agency or state executive. Through interning at the Capitol, students will expand their knowledge of the workings of state government and build a tight-knit and diverse professional network.

Interns are eligible to receive up to 15 hours of credit for their work at the capitol and also will be compensated for moving and living expenses with a $2,500 stipend.

Daily tasks vary depending on the office, but interns can expect to attend public hearings and complete legislative research. Other duties may include writing and editing published materials, preparing for hearings, tracking legislation, constituent relations, attending fundraising events, writing speeches and assisting with basic office work.

In order to participate in the Missouri Government Internship, students must have completed at least 60 hours and spent a minimum of two semesters at Truman. Students will only be considered with a GPA of 2.75 and higher.

All majors are eligible and encouraged to apply. While there is no required coursework prior to the internship, applicants must be hard working, motivated, professional and eager to learn.

Interviews will take place Oct. 6-8. More information and applications are available online here.

For more information, contact Candy Young or Heidi Templeton.

The BAT is a two-hour multiple-choice exam designed to assess aptitude for business and finance. Scores are entered anonymously into the BAT database where more than 20,000 top firms can search for internship and full-time candidates. Truman will be offering a free test session from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 23 in Violette Hall 1432. Registration is required as there is limited seating. Click here to register. For more information, contact Candice Bobbitt at cb5522@truman.edu.

The co-ed Mad Hatter Volleyball Tournament will take place at 9:15 a.m. Sept 26 at the Greenwood School volleyball court. Teams will be drawn from at hat at 9:30 a.m. and games will be played on a grass court. Round robin pool play will be followed by a single-elimination tournament. Individual registration is $5 per person. Ages 16 and up are eligible for play. A maximum of 40 players will be accepted. Entry fees benefit the Truman American Chemical Society.

For more information or to sign up, text or email Amy Fuller at 435.230.5232 or afuller@truman.edu. Please mention your prior volleyball experience when registering. The Facebook event can be accessed by clicking here.

The Student Recreation Center will offer free body composition assessments Sept. 29. Afternoon and evening appointments are available. Tests include measuring body fat percentage, blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index.  

Sign-ups are available at the weight room desk at the Student Recreation Center. The next assessment will be at the beginning of November. For more information, visit truman.edu/recreation/fitness-wellness-program/body-composition-testing.

The McNair Program is hosting information sessions Sept. 28 and Oct. 2 for first-generation Truman students that are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Janet Blohm-Pultz, McNair program coordinator, is offering three presentations for prospective applicants.

Information Sessions:
12:30 p.m.
Sept.28
Magruder Hall 2000
STEM focus

3:30 p.m.
Sept. 28
Violette Hall 1140

2:00 p.m.
Oct. 2
Violette Hall 1308

The McNair Scholars Program is passionate about research and advocating for diversity in higher education. The benefits of being a McNair scholar are many. The program builds leaders and fosters service to the Truman campus, the public, and our democracy.

Applications will be available online Oct. 1 and are due by Nov. 1. For more information, visit the McNair website online or the Adair Building on campus.

Truman will celebrate Homecoming the weekend of Oct. 9-11.

As part of this year’s celebration, Truman again will host a pre-game tailgate from 11 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Groups and organizations that would like to reserve a space are encouraged to do so by going to the Alumni Homecoming website or emailing alumnievents@truman.edu. Reservations can also be made online here.

The parking lots on the southwest corner of Patterson and Franklin streets will be open for all families, friends, alumni and students to tailgate before the game. Admission is free. For $6, attendees can pre-purchase a tailgate lunch. Meal tickets can be purchased online here. A limited number of meal tickets will be available at the tailgate and can be purchased with cash or check, but pre-registration is preferred. In case of inclement weather, the tailgate and other events will move to the Student Union Building.

Adults of drinking age may bring in their own wine or beer. Event staff will be checking identification. Only wine and beer will be allowed and must be in cans or cups. No glass containers are permitted. Hard liquor and hard liquor products are prohibited. Kegs are not allowed. The complete homecoming tailgate policy is available here.

A workshop on electronic records management for small historical institutions and records repositories is being offered from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 16 in Pickler Memorial Library. The workshop is sponsored under the State and National Archival Partnership Grant awarded to the Office of Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander and the Missouri State Archives, and was given by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Intended for staff and volunteers of Missouri’s smaller record repositories, topics covered in the workshop included: appraisal, accessioning and description of electronic records; issues surrounding electronic records management; lifecycle of electronic records; preservation strategies; and understanding the importance of long-term access.

The workshop will be lead by Missouri state archives staff. There are 25 spots available and registration is based on a first-come first-serve basis. To register, contact Brian Rogers at brian.rogers@sos.mo.gov or 573.526.1981.

Truman will host its 26th annual undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

Submissions for the conference must be received by Oct. 12. Papers should be eight-12 pages in any area of philosophy or religious studies and should also include a cover sheet with name, institution, title of paper, address, email and phone number. Presentations must be approximately 30 minutes, including time for questions.

Papers may be submitted either as a hard copy or by email. If accepted, authors will provide a 100-word abstract by email. For more information or to submit a paper, contact David Murphy at dgmurphy@truman.edu or at the address below.  

Undergraduate Philosophy & Religion Conference
Truman State University
100 East Normal Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501
Attn: David Murphy

With approaching deadlines for study abroad programs, many students are faced with questions about studying abroad such as: which university is best for my subject area?; can I get by if I don’t speak the country’s language?; or how do I apply for a visa?

The study abroad ambassadors, Carolina Benitez, Rebecca Harbison, Amanda Myers and Julia Wolfe are here to help. The ambassadors were chosen among other applicants who have studied abroad to serve as liaisons for the Truman Study Abroad Office.  

Some of their responsibilities include organizing outreach efforts, presenting to student groups and assisting the Study Abroad Office with activities throughout the semester. One of their main goals as ambassadors is to coordinate opportunities for students to share their study abroad experiences with their peers. They also lead the efforts of the Study Abroad Club planning activities around campus, promoting opportunities and offering advice for those who are looking to study abroad in the future.  

To learn more about the ambassadors visit studyabroad.truman.edu/ask-the-ambassadors. To contact any of the ambassadors, email them at tsustudyabroadclub@gmail.com.

Jerrold Hirsch, professor emeritus of history, has published, “Kentucky Folk Art: New Deal Approaches,” in Kentucky By Design: The Decorative Arts and American Culture, ed. Andrew Kelly. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 2015. The book has been nominated for the Fred Kniffen Book Award for the best authored book in the field of North American material and for the Allen Nobel Book Award given in honor of superior scholarship in the field of North American material culture.

Robert Martin, professor emeritus of education, had two major piano compositions released this summer by Parma Recordings on the Ravello Label. The two works, “100 Views of Mt. Fuji: 100 Pieces in 100 Minutes—Homage to Hokusai” and “Stone & Feather,” appear on the double CD, “Playful Edge of the Wave.” The “Stone & Feather” work and some of the “100 Views” have been performed at Truman. Martin retired in 2011 but has continued to be active writing and composting modern classical art music.

OMG Scholarship
To apply for this scholarship, students must: be between the ages of 16 and 25 on Sept. 30, 2015; submit answers to the essay questions, which can be found on the application page, prior to the Sept. 30 deadline; have at least one full year of post-secondary studies remaining at the time of the award (current high school students are also eligible); and have a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

Fantasy Sports Daily Scholarship
Fantasy Sports Daily is offering two ongoing scholarships per year, valued at $1,000 each. These scholarships are designed to help students who demonstrate a strong aptitude for higher learning, have a drive to improve themselves and a desire to improve society in general. Winners will be determined by the Fantasy Sports Daily executive team each spring and fall semester. The fall 2015 scholarship award is currently available and open to all eligible students who apply online at fantasysportsdaily.com/scholarship.

Branson Show Scholarship
BransonShowTickets.com is offering a $1,000 scholarship to assist in furthering the education for young people. The essay topic for their annual scholarship is “How (Enter the Show) Inspired Me to Realize My Dreams.” In the event that students have not seen a Branson Show, they are invited to research and use their creativity. At the end of the essay, students may include a short personal statement if preferred, but it is not a requirement. To find out more about this scholarship, visit bransonshowtickets.com/company/scholarship. Deadline for essay submission is Oct 15.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors each year. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, and their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. With the 27th class in 2015, the foundation has provided more than 5,550 Coca-Cola scholars with more than $56 million in educational support. One-hundred and fifty Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship. Applications can be completed by clicking here and the deadline to apply is Oct. 31.

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship
Every year, the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans awards 30 fellowships to immigrants and the children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate education in the United States. Each award is worth up to $90,000. This includes up to $25,000/year stipend and up to $20,000/year tuition support. Awards support up to two years of full-time graduate study in any field, including the visual and performing arts, and at any graduate-degree granting institution in the United States, with the exception of online programs. In addition to funding, fellows join a community of more than 500 New Americans with family origins in more than 75 different countries.

The fellowship program looks for applicants who have demonstrated and sustained accomplishments that show creativity, originality and initiative. The fellowship looks for evidence that an applicant’s proposed graduate training is likely to enhance future creativity and accomplishment, and that the individual has a commitment to responsible citizenship in this country.

For information on eligibility requirements or to apply, visit the fellowship website. Applications are due by Nov. 1.

Elie Weisel Foundation Scholarship
Applications and information for the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in ethics essay contest for 2016 are now available online at ethicsprize.org.  Five scholarships ranging from $500-$5,000 will be given away. This scholarship is open to registered undergraduate, full-time juniors and seniors at accredited four-year colleges or universities. Essays must be submitted by Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. Winning students are also eligible for an internship and a chance for their essay to be published in a nationally recognized publication.

ImproveNet Scholarship
ImproveNet is challenging students to showcase their DIY skills in new and creative ways. High school seniors accepted to a college or trade school or any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at any accredited college, university or trade school in the United States are qualified to apply by submitting a 1,000- to 2,000-word essay. Additionally, all participants must be 18 years of age or older and a legal U.S. resident. Students should e-mail their essays to scholarships@improvenet.com. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

Home Advisor Scholarship
HomeAdvisor is challenging students to break new ground in green home improvement by offering a scholarship every year to one student. High school seniors accepted to a college or trade school, or students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, are qualified to apply by submitting a 1,000- to 2,000-word essay. Students should e-mail their essays to scholarship@homeadvisor.com by Dec. 15.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative
Three scholarships totaling $850 will be awarded annually to the authors of the three best Apprentice Ecologist essays. By registering and submitting an essay, students will automatically be considered for a scholarship. Applicants should embody the spirit of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative by demonstrating personal leadership, initiative and environmental stewardship in their project. Essays will be judged by a committee of Nicodemus Wilderness Project board members, volunteers and past Apprentice Ecologist award winners. Details for how to submit a project can be found by clicking here. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15. 

Infoparrot Scholarship

Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri Scholarships
Scholarships are available through Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc., for the 2015-2016 academic year. Last year they awarded more than $14,000 in scholarships to Missouri students. Two students selected by the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri will be submitted to Central Region as an applicant and to National Garden Clubs Inc. as a Missouri applicant, and will compete for a Central Region and National Scholarship. The scholarship application is available online at gardenclub.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1.

Rover Scholarship
Rover.com is a one-stop shop for loving and trustworthy dog sitters. Rover connects pet parents with loving dog sitters across the country. This would not be possible without the rapid growth of the sharing economy. Take a survey and submit a 400- to 500-word essay discussing the emergence of a sharing economy in the next five years. For more information on how to apply, click here.

Seed Grand Project Application
The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) is a network of more than 500 of the world’s leading amphibian experts providing scientific guidance to enable conservation actions to be prioritized and implemented by the Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), a partnership of more than 100 organizations committed to amphibian conservation worldwide. Seed grants are normally provided in amounts ranging from $500-$1,000 and are designed to help kickstart projects or allow teams to try new innovative approaches to address conservation, research and education challenges. For more information, click here.

Scholarships Available for Veterans
To learn more about scholarships offered to veterans, click here.