Vol. 20 No. 14 - Nov. 30, 2015

The Kohlenberg Lyceum Series will continue the 2015-16 season with “Christmas with the Celts” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

“Christmas with the Celts” is a live concert combining music, vocals, Irish dance and humor. The Celts are known for their brilliant musicianship of pop rock and celtic instrumentation mixed with traditional Irish/Scottish music. Their spontaneous, quick Irish wit delivers a lively performance with their playful, yet unpredictable, interactions with audiences. The Celts have been featured on PBS and have performed across the country.

Tickets are free for Truman students, faculty and staff and are available now. Faculty and staff tickets may be picked up at the information desk on the main floor of the Student Union Building. Student tickets may be picked up at the Student Activities Board window in the lower level of the Student Union Building.

General admission tickets may be purchased for $11 per ticket online at lyceum.truman.edu, at the cashier’s window in McClain Hall or at Edna Campbells in downtown Kirksville.

Due to the popularity of this show, any campus tickets still available two days before the performance will be made available to the public to purchase.

For more information on the series, visit lyceum.truman.edu or call 660.785.4016.

Truman’s senior nursing students will be hosting their annual World AIDS Day ceremony to commemorate and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Eternal Flame in front of the Kirk Memorial Building. The ceremony will include a candle lighting, listing of names, poem readings, global considerations and red ribbon distribution. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are about 1.2 million people who are living with HIV in the United States. Join Truman students in honoring those affected by the disease and help raise awareness for HIV/AIDS.

For questions and concerns, email Stephanie Powelson, Pam Melvin or Kristen Holwick.

As the end of the year and finals approach, it can be a stressful time of year. To help alleviate some of the stress, students are encouraged to “DeStress The Day” by stopping by the health and wellness awareness table from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 in the Student Union Building. Stop by the table to sign up for prizes, pick up a free stress ball or color a page. Coupons will also be available for a free three-minute chair massage that can be used between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 4.

Students are also encouraged to take a healthy study break with friends between 4-6 p.m Dec. 6 in the Wellness Zone of Pickler Memorial Library Room 108 or the Center for Student Involvement Complex Room 1102 in the lower level of the Student Union Building. Enjoy a free three-minute chair massage, food, goody bags, puzzles, games and other activities.

For more information on wellness and resources for coping with the different stressors such financial, social, physical, academic and finding a job after graduation, visit wellness.truman.edu/balanced-bulldog.

Truman alumnus and current Google Product Manager Cody Sumter will be the featured speaker during commencement ceremonies Dec. 12.

Sumter (’10) is the co-founder of Behavio, a mobile sensing company acquired by Google in 2013. He received his master’s degree from the MIT Media Lab and MIT’s Technology Policy Program, where he worked on using cellphones as a sensor platform to study social dynamics and human behavior — in addition to a project for using Minecraft as a tool to allow easy access to 3D Printing.
 
With a computer science degree from Truman, Sumter spent time prior to MIT working with large-scale data visualizations, analytics and web development for projects from bot detection in social networks to hospital sensor analytics.
 
While at Truman, Sumter was involved in the astronomy research program, working on and leading several projects at the Truman Observatory and Lowell Observatory studying both Near-Earth asteroids and Delta Scuti stars in eclipsing binary systems. He also served for three years as the student representative on the University’s Board of Governors and now serves on the Truman State University Foundation Board.

The December commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 12 in Pershing Arena. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. A reception will follow the ceremony in the Student Union Building.

 
Truman’s Multicultural Affairs Center will host the 8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Challenge Jan. 18.

The goal this year is to help 150 student volunteers make it a day ON, not a day OFF. These students will be divided into teams and go out into the local community and help community partners with projects or “challenges” that they may or may not have the time or resources to complete. The challenges require students to use critical thinking, problem solving and other skills as they address social issues and help the greater Kirksville community. In addition to unifying diverse participants around a service project, students will have the opportunity to reflect upon, honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.

Register online for this event at truservice.truman.edu. For more information, contact Shelby Sims, Center for Student Involvement program advisor, by email or at 660.785.4222.

Truman’s Forensic Union took a group of three competitors to the inaugural City of Cedars Swing hosted by McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., Nov. 14-15.
 
On the first day of the tournament, senior Sarah Muir placed second in extemporaneous speaking and sophomore Brian Kantanka placed first in poetry interpretation. On the second day of the tournament, Kantanka returned to finals in poetry, placing fifth, and also placed third in dramatic interpretation. Muir also returned to final rounds, this time placing fourth in impromptu speaking.
 
The team is done traveling for the semester, but will start the spring semester with the Gorlock Gala, hosted by Webster University in St. Louis in late January.   
 
Participation in the forensics program is open to any Truman student in good standing, regardless of prior speech and debate experience. For more information on how to get involved, visit forensics.truman.edu or contact Christopher Outzen, director of forensics, at coutzen@truman.edu, or Craig Hennigan, assistant director of forensics, at chennigan@truman.edu. 

Several Truman students and faculty members gave presentations at the annual meeting of the Missouri Folklore Society Nov. 12-14 in Jefferson City.

Senior English major Nick Puleo presented on rave culture as a folk-phenomenon. Maple Adkins-Threats gave an oral history of a Girl Scout camp with which her family has been connected over several generations. Emily Wildhaber, an English major with a folklore minor, shared a memoir of the demolition of a small town parish rectory, while Lucas Corey-Yares, a biology major and folklore minor, demonstrated functional analogies between 4chan memes and traditional proverbs. History major Patrick McGlasson discussed variations on a traditional ballad, which was performed within his own family. Anna Jones sat in on the folkjam as part of her fieldwork among traditional Missouri fiddlers. English faculty member Alanna Preussner discussed foodways on the road, while Barb Price and Adam Davis discussed the lore of cemetery monuments, focusing on the Black Angel of Iowa City and the Devil’s Chair in Kirksville.

The Missouri Folklore Society’s newsletter and website originate from Truman. The annual statewide convention in November 2016 is scheduled to take place in Kirksville. The incoming co-presidents are Barb Price and Betsy Delmonico.

Several students represented Truman at the MIssouri Folklore Society annual meeting. Pictured, front row, left to right: Maple Adkins-Threats and Emily Wildhaber. Back row, left to right: Patrick McGlasson, Nick Puleo and Lucas Corey-Yares.

Faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend a retirement reception for Glenn and Vicky Wehner from 3-5 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room. Glenn is a professor of animal science and Vicky is the coordinator of Disability Services and a registered nurse at the Student Health Center.

John Bohac, professor of art, is retiring in December after 25 years of service to the University. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend a retirement reception from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 4 at Jackson Stables, 22694 Rainbow Basin Trail.

High school teacher, Scott Holley will give a presentation, “Why Do We Have to Learn This?” at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 in Baldwin Hall Little Theater. After 40 years of teaching, Holley will share his insight on what really matters in the classroom.

Staff Council and the American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Student Union Building Down Under. To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org, sponsor keyword TrumanState, or email drive coordinator Stacy Tucker-Potter at stuckerpotter@truman.edu.

The University Board of Governors will meet at 1 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Student Union Building Conference Room.

The December commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Dec. 12 in Pershing Arena. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for seating on a first-come, first-seated basis. A reception will follow the ceremony in the Student Union Building.

Since 1962, the U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria has provided U.S. college and university graduates with opportunities to work at secondary schools throughout Austria as teaching assistants.

U.S. teaching assistants not only enhance the instruction of English as native speakers, but they are also important resources for firsthand information about the United States and the “American way of life.” The Austrian Federal Ministry of Education and Women’s Affairs (BMBF) finances this program, which is administered by Fulbright Austria (Austrian-American Educational Commission). While the participants in this program contribute to the Fulbright goal of promoting mutual understanding, this is not a Fulbright grant program. For information on the Fulbright student program in Austria, please consult the Institute for International Education at us.fulbrightonline.org/ or the website of Fulbright Austria. 

For more information about the program, including how to apply, visit the program website at www.usta-austria.at/. Only online applications will be accepted. The application deadline for the program year 2016-17 is Jan. 15.

Click here to find the program description and download an informative flyer.

The Truman Foundation is pleased to announce that 2016 Study Abroad Scholarship applications are now available. Applications are online and are due by midnight on Jan. 25. To apply, log in to TruView, go to the student tab, navigate to student finances and find the Foundation scholarships link.

The John Foy & Associates Strong Arm Leukemia Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one college student who has battled leukemia or whose life has been affected by it. Visit johnfoy.com/strong-arm-leukemia-scholarship for complete details. The deadline to apply is Dec. 15.

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 email 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 email 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.

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation has more than 100 scholarship funds available to students living in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The purpose of the scholarship funds housed at the Community Foundation vary widely from providing aid to students demonstrating financial need to those intending to major in a specific field of study. Students are encouraged to apply in January after fall transcripts are available. Most application deadlines occur between February and April.  For more information, go to www.growyourgiving.org/scholarships.

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. 

B. Davis Scholarship
The creators of the “Student Award Search Aid” website are offering a B. Davis Scholarship for $1000 scholarship for 2016. Visit their website at www.studentawardsearch.com/scholarships.htm to read more about how to apply for this scholarship and browse through the rest of their site to learn about applying for other scholarships. The deadline to submit an application for the B. Davis Scholarship is May 23.

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