Vol. 20 No. 24 - March 14, 2016

The Missouri Department of Conservation awarded Truman the Arbor Award of Excellence in the Business/Institutional category March 8 in St. Joseph, Mo.

The award recognizes an outstanding community forestry project implemented in the last two years by a commercial entity or institution. The April 2015 project was undertaken as a group effort between Truman, the city of Kirksville, K-12 schools and the Environmental Club.

Criteria for judging included: size of affected area or percentage of the community forest involved; effectiveness of the tree care work, event or program; clarity of information; use of sound tree-management principles; innovation/uniqueness; and sustained effort.

Truman also was honored with 2015 Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Tree Campus USA is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Truman achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include: maintaining a tree advisory committee; a campus tree-care plan; dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program; an Arbor Day observance; and a student service-learning project.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

A new software competition could win aspiring hackers up to $750 in prizes.

A hackathon is a weekend-long competition in which a team collaborates to create a software project. Teams then present their projects to professional software engineers for judging and winning.

The first-ever Truman hackathon will occur 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. March 19 and 20 in Barnett Hall 2209. All majors are welcome, and registration is free. In addition to prizes, there will be professional software engineer mentors from MasterCard and Cerner, and lunch provided both days courtesy of Donna Liss, chief information officer.

To enter, contestants must build a team of up to four people, and then choose a category to compete in. Categories are:

Web applications: design an application accessible through the web that provides a service
Mobile applications: develop a useful mobile tool, or an application for wearable devices
Microcontrollers: create a device using microcontrollers, like a home automation tool for feeding the dog

If contestants use the MasterCard API, they will be in the running to win an additional $250 in MasterCard prepaid cards. An API, or application-programming interface, is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a web-based software application. For more information, visit developer.mastercard.com/portal/display/api/API.

Join the event “Truman State Hackathon” on Facebook to RSVP and get updates, or contact Alec Hanshaw for more details.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee will speak at 8 p.m. April 9 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium as part of the Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series.

Widely considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century, Joyner-Kersee is also among the most-prominent philanthropists and advocates in the country. Now in its third decade of operation, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation works to improve the quality of life for youth, adults and families, particularly in her hometown of East St. Louis, Ill. She is also a co-founder of Athletes for Hope, which helps professional athletes get involved with charitable causes.

A six-time Olympic medal winner, Joyner-Kersee earned four world champion titles over four consecutive Olympic games from 1984 to 1996. She still holds the world heptathlon record, as well as the national and Olympic records in the long jump. On the hardwood, she was a decorated All-American at UCLA and eventually played professional basketball for a short period of time.

Joyner-Kersee is a leading advocate for health issues, including asthma, from which she has suffered throughout her life. She also focuses her efforts on children’s education, racial equality, social reform and women’s rights.

Doors for this event open at 7:30 p.m. and no ticket is required. The Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series was created in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation. For more information, email pr@truman.edu or call 660.785.4016.

A newly released report indicates that Truman students’ first-time pass rate on the 2015 CPA exam remains among the highest nationwide.

According to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), Truman’s first-time pass rate ranked fifth in the nation for medium-sized programs with 21 to 60 reported candidates. Truman is the only public university in the top five for medium-sized schools. The University’s first-time pass rate ranked 30th out of the 821 institutions with 10 or more reported candidates.

Truman students excelled on the Regulation section of the exam earning a first-time pass rate that ranked them fifth in the nation. Truman had 39 first-time candidates sit for the exam in 2015. University candidates passed 77.4 percent of exam sections taken with an average score of 79.8 percent. Nationally, the first-time pass rate was 55 percent.

Truman is consistently among the top 5 percent in performance on the CPA exam.

Student performance on the CPA exam provides evidence that Truman’s updated curriculum and focus on student learning provide a private university experience and outcomes at a public price.

Truman is one of only 182 universities worldwide accredited in both business and accounting by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accreditation is the internationally recognized, specialized accreditation for business and accounting programs at the bachelors, masters and doctoral levels.

“Saturday Night Live” cast member Pete Davidson will perform at 7 p.m. March 17 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

Davidson has been featured in “Guy Code,” “Wild ‘N’ Out” and was named as one of Variety’s “Top 10 Comedians to Watch for 2014.” He also made headlines as one of the featured comedians in the 2015 Comedy Central special “Justin Bieber Roast.”

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The event is free, and no tickets are required.

The Student Activities Board will also host YouTube sensation Kid President at 7 p.m. April 14 in Baldwin Auditorium. Tickets are free for this event and can be picked up at the Student Activities Board Office beginning March 31.

For more information regarding upcoming SAB events, visit sab.truman.edu or call 660.785.4722.

Truman’s Theatre Department will present “Waiting for Godot” at 8 p.m. March 31-April 2 in the Black Box Theatre.

Widely regarded as one of the most powerful pieces of post-World War II theatre, Samuel Becket’s classic absurdist play features two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait near a tree in an otherwise barren landscape for a man named Godot. Vladimir and Estragon pass the time in a variety of comical and sometimes nonsensical ways, and receive a distraction in the form of a man named Pozzo and his downtrodden slave, Lucky, whose “talent” for “dancing” and “thinking” offer some of the most famous comic scenes and non-sequitors of this iconic text.

This production is one of two lab shows offered each year that are completely student produced, designed, directed, managed and acted. “Waiting for Godot” features a design team that includes light design by Tim Walters, sound design by Gabe Stringer, hair and makeup design by Lexi Diaz, costume design by Blaine Shepherd, set design by Eva Trunzo, and Nick Huber as technical director. Senior Tom Martin directs the production.

Performances of “Waiting for Godot” will run from March 31 through April 2. Tickets are free and can be reserved in advance at the Ophelia Parrish Box Office beginning March 29, or by calling 660.785.4515. Accommodations for audience members may also be made for March 30, a final dress rehearsal and preview night.

For more information, contact Kelsey Smugala.  

Meet the Cast

Jacque Bischoff, a freshman theater major with a double minor in business and French, will play the role of Pozzo. She has been seen on Truman’s stage in the fall 2015 One Act Festival and was part of the props crew for “Crimes of the Heart.”

Sif Fister, a freshman theatre major with a minor in psychology, will take on the role of Lucky. Sif has been seen on Truman’s stage in the student-directed one-act “Naomi in the Living Room,” as well as the Ghost in Truman Theatre’s recent production of “Hamlet.”

Nick Huber, a junior theatre major, will take on the role of Vladimir. He has been seen on Truman’s stage in the spring 2014 One Act Festival. He has also worked backstage as a member of deck crew for “The Nether” and as assistant technical director in last semester’s lab show, “Bug.”

Francis Kemper, a junior theatre major, will play the role of Estragon. Francis has been seen in main stage productions “The Nether,” “Translations,” “Eurydice” and “Twelfth Night,” as well as the lab show “Cock.”

Ana Luz Zerpa-Pita, a freshman theatre major, will play the Boy. This is her first production with the Truman Theatre Department.

Tom Martin, a senior theatre and English major, directs the show. He has appeared onstage most recently at Truman as Owen in “Translations,” Underling in “The Drowsy Chaperone” and Dr. Madden in “Next to Normal.” He also directed “Naomi in the Living Room” as part of the fall 2015 One Act Festival.

Friday, April 1, is National Truman Spirit Day.

The Truman Alumni Association Board of Directors designated the first Fridays of the month in April and October as Truman’s National Spirit Days. The purpose is to promote the University to prospective students, to give alumni and friends an opportunity to display their pride in their alma mater and to create awareness of the University locally, nationally and internationally.

Students, alumni and friends are encouraged to submit a photo demonstrating their Truman pride. Categories include: Most Spirited, for alumni and friends; Bulldog Pride, for students; Truman Tykes, for children 12 and under; and Spike's Furry Friends, for pets.

Shawn Faulkner, professor of military history at the U.S. Army General Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, will deliver “John J. Pershing: From Missouri to the Meuse Argonne” at 7 p.m. March 15 in Baldwin Hall Little Theater.

This event is part of the annual Kohlenberg-Towne Lecture Series and the History Department’s continuing effort to help the University commemorate the centennial of the Great War. This topic is particularly noteworthy in that Pershing was a student at Truman before he went on to West Point and then to lead all American troops in World War I.

President Paino will host a Coffee with the President from 3:30-4:20 p.m. March 16 in the Student Union Building Conference Room. There is no set agenda. The session is intended to provide an opportunity for members of the Truman community to ask questions about issues facing the University.

Ryan Sallans will be the 2016 Eisenberg Speaker, and will present “FtM Scouting the Unknown: My Transition from Female to Male” at 7 p.m. March 19 in Baldwin Auditorium.

Sallans is an author and national speaker who shares his story of transitioning from female to male. He takes the audience on a journey through his childhood and struggles he had with his body before moving into his adult life where he explores college, romantic relationships, family and his physical and emotional journey related to his transition. Three years ago, Sallans visited Truman and spoke to a standing-room only crowd.

This event is sponsored by the Eisenberg Speaker Fund and co-sponsored by: the School of Social and Cultural Studies; the departments of Sociology, Psychology and Health and Exercise Science; Women’s and Gender Studies; and Prism.

The University Board of Governors will meet at 10 a.m. March 16 in McClain Hall 200.

The Truman Public Relations Office is now accepting applications for the full-time fall 2016 internship position.

The public relations intern will help with the production of the University’s online newsletter, the Truman Today, and biannual alumni magazine, the Truman Review. The intern will also assist in planning special events throughout the semester, writing press releases and fulfilling other office tasks.

Applicants should have a strong background in writing and editing. Communication majors are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to candidates with knowledge of Associated Press Style.

To apply, send a resume, an advising transcript, two writing samples and contact information for two on-campus references to the Public Relations Office, McClain Hall 202, no later than March 18. For questions about the internship, contact Travis Miles at tmiles@truman.edu.

Beta Alpha Psi will host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) session from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 19 in Violette Hall 1424.

VITA offers free tax assistance for clients with low to moderate income levels filing simple tax returns. The tax assistance will be completed by IRS-certified volunteers and will also offer free electronic filing to receive a faster return.
 
Clients 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; and a copy of last year’s federal and state tax returns if available.
 
For more information, contact Lauren Akers at lma6631@truman.edu or visit bap.truman.edu/vita.

Registration for the Big Event is open until 5 p.m. March 25 and is available through TruService.

During the Big Event, hundreds of Truman students come together to show their appreciation for the Kirksville community. Students will help residents rake leaves, wash windows, paint and much more. Students can register online with an organization or as an individual. The first 300 students to sign up for the Big Event will also receive free T-shirts.

Students will arrive on the Mall outside the Student Union Building at 8:45 a.m. April 2. A breakfast of donuts, bagels, coffee and water will be provided. This Big Event will include first-ever student performances by both True Men and Illusion at 9 a.m. After a group photograph, students will disperse throughout the community to help at various job sites.

For more information about the Big Event, contact the SERVE Center at 660.785.7222 or visit their office in Student Union Building Down Under 1106.

The Office of Advancement is accepting applications for the fall 2016 annual fund internship.
 
The Annual Fund Intern will gain experience working on the fundraising side of a non-profit organization within Truman (the Truman Foundation). The intern’s responsibilities will be divided between three main focus areas: Tel-Alumni coordinator, Office of Advancement projects/office hours (focus will be on development projects such as Tag Day in the Fall) and the Student Philanthropy Council.

Qualified applicants will be a business or communication major with a minimum 2.75 GPA. The intern will work 15 hours a week for approximately 11 weeks and receive class credit commensurate with their time in the office. A supplementary stipend is also included.

For a complete job description, visit TruPositions, or click here. Deadline for applications is April 15.

Applications are now open for students interested in a nine-monthlong internship with a Peace Corps regional recruiter.

Campus ambassadors are university students who work closely with Peace Corps recruiters to expand their reach into new and diverse student groups. The program offers a prestigious internship-like experience, but the ambassadors are considered local experts, not interns. Ambassadors receive training and then share their enthusiasm for making a difference through life-changing cross-cultural experiences.

Ambassadors will post and tweet multimedia content about the Peace Corps every week, identify and connect with diverse student groups around campus, help set up events put on by Peace Corps recruiters, participate in nationwide ambassador photo and video competitions, and organize movie screenings and other activities. The Peace Corps will support the ambassadors’ professional growth through training, sample resume language, a letter of recommendation and more.

Interested students may apply here. The application is open through March 31. For more information, click here.

The Center for Academic Excellence is hiring tutors for next school year. Tutors assist students with the academic content in particular courses and, more broadly, help students with study skills. Tutors provide a student perspective on learning and school success. No prior tutoring experience is required; on-the-job training is provided during the fall semester in the course INDV 150: The Master Tutor.

Applicants must be eligible for scholarship work, averaging four hours per week. The greatest demand is for help in math, sciences and economics, but students of all majors are encouraged to apply. The Center for Academic Excellence is especially looking for people with an interest in developing interpersonal communication skills and who want to help others succeed.

To apply, visit excellence.truman.edu and click on “Apply to be a Tutor.” For additional information, contact Marcy Graham.  

The Center for International Students is now hiring academic success mentors for fall 2016.

Academic success mentors provide academic guidance to international students. Each mentor is assigned five or six students to meet with individually each week for 30 minutes.  During these meetings, ASMs work with international students to familiarize them with the American system of education and Truman classroom expectations. ASMs support students in adjusting academically and socially to life at Truman.

Applicants should have a strong academic record, good interpersonal communication skills, independent problem solving abilities and the ability to work as a part of a team. Coursework in business and computer science is a plus, although students of all majors are encouraged to apply. This is a four-hour-per-week scholarship position including weekly mentor sessions and team meetings.

Visit the Center for International Students in Baldwin Hall 129 to fill out an application. The CIS is also hiring cultural integration leaders, office assistants and international ambassadors. For additional information, contact Julia Wolfe.

With more than 20 million people, Shanghai is the largest city and metropolitan area in China. Located on China’s central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, it is the economic center of China and one of the trading centers of the world. Students will study along with more than 10,000 other foreign students from 68 countries. The Shanghai exchange program offers courses in economics, law, culture, political science, management and finance. Students will live in on-campus dorms and pay Truman tuition and Truman room and board. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Learn more at apply.shu.edu.

Students should file the 2016-2017 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) located at fafsa.gov as soon as possible to determine Title IV federal aid eligibility (Pell Grant, SEOG, TEACH, Perkins Loan, Work Study, Stafford Direct Loans, PLUS Loan).

The FSA ID replaced the PIN on May 10, 2015. Instructions on the FAFSA application website will lead the user through. Parent signers will need an FSA ID. Only one FSA ID can be associated with a particular email address.

FAFSA results are also needed for some other federal, state, University and private programs. The state’s FAFSA filing deadline for the Access Missouri Grant Program is April 1. Do not delay due to late tax filing–the FAFSA allows the use of estimated information–just update the FAFSA record after the 2015 income tax figures are finalized.

For questions, contact the Financial Aid Office, McClain Hall 103, 660.785.4130, finaid@truman.edu.

March 25
6:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

March 26-27
closed

March 28
(no classes)
4 p.m.-11 p.m.

Applications are now available for a semester-long program where students teach conversational English in rural Guangdong Province, China. Accepted students may receive a Cheung Foundation Scholarship. The application deadline for fall 2016 is March 30. For more information, contact Timothy Farley or go to china.truman.edu.

Applications are now available to teach English or French in Spain for a full academic year.

The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program aims to provide students who are native speakers of English or French the opportunity to assist teachers in Spain in elementary, secondary or language schools.

Students will spend a full academic year in Spain, typically from the beginning of October through May 31, and will work 12-16 class periods a week. Participants in the program will receive a monthly stipend and medical coverage. Preferred placement in different Spanish regions can be requested.

The program is addressed to U.S. and Canadian university students and graduates majoring in any subject, with some proficiency in Spanish.

The application deadline is April 5. For more information about the program, click here.

Jerrold Hirsch, professor emeritus of history, published “(Western) Music and Country: Popular Musics, Popular Fronts, and the Federal Music Project,” in the Journal of Folklore Research Reviews.

Stacey Kaden, assistant professor of accounting, Alan Davis, associate professor of accounting, and Linda Zhang, a 2015 Master of Accountancy graduate, had their paper entitled “Problems with Tax Provisions Related to Education - Kiddie Tax, Taxable Scholarships, Alternative Minimum Tax, and Form 1098-T Reporting,” accepted for publication in a forthcoming issue of The CPA Journal.

Lucy Lee, professor of Spanish and chair of the Classical and Modern Languages Department, has been re-elected president of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, for the 2016-19 triennium beginning July 2016. During her second consecutive term as Sigma Delta Pi’s 24th president, Lee will continue to chair the National Executive Council and Executive Committee and work with the executive director in overseeing all national operations. Currently and since 1989, Lee also serves as the adviser of Truman’s national award-winning chapter of Sigma Delta Pi.

March

Bulldog B.I.T.E. Pitch Competition
4 p.m.
March 17
Violette Hall 1010

Ernst & Young On-Campus Interviews
March 18
Student Union Building 3201, 3203

Peace Corps Info Table
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
March 23
Student Union Building

Peace Corps Info Table
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
March 24
Student Union Building

Peace Corps Info Session
3-4:30 p.m.
March 24
Georgian Room A

ABF Freight - On-campus Interviews
March 31        
Student Union Building 3201

April

KPMG On-Campus Interviews
April 7        
Student Union Building 3202

Innovation Scholarship
LA Tutors 123 will offer a $500 scholarship per month to students who showcase their creativity in a new and exciting way to make a positive impact – whether it is setting a world record to raise money for cancer research or becoming an activist for a worthy cause. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, should submit an essay describing their innovative project and provide supporting documentation (e.g. website, news article, letter of recommendation, etc.). For more information and to apply for this scholarship, click here.

Go Overseas Scholarship
This study abroad scholarship offers $15,000 to study in Ireland for a semester, with additional stipends ranging from $4,000-$8,500. The scholarship is available for an undergrad semester or a full year master’s degree. For more information, 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.

Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is a non-profit organization that provides access to higher education to St. Louis area students through interest-free loans and grants. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average, demonstrate strong character and must be a permanent resident of Greater Metropolitan St. Louis area. This includes St. Louis City and 15 surrounding counties, specifically: St Louis County, Franklin, Lincoln, Jefferson, St. Charles, Warren and Washington counties in Missouri or the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair. The application deadline is April 15. For more information call 314.725.7990 or visit the website at www.sfstl.org.

B. Davis Scholarship
The creators of the “Student Award Search Aid” website are offering a $1000 B. Davis Scholarship for 2016. Click here 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.

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.

Personality Type Scholarship 2015
Typology Central, a personality type indicator community, is offering a scholarship to both graduate and undergraduate Truman students. The scholarship was created to provide educational opportunities for individuals interested in the study of personality type theory and practical application of those systems. The deadline is June 3. For more information, click here.

Diabetes Scholarship
This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students who have been diagnosed with any type of diabetes with a 3.0 GPA. Deadline for application is June 15. Click here for details.

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. Deadline for application is June 15. Click here for details.

Grimes Scholarship
The Grimes Companies, a logistics and transportation company, is offering a $750 scholarship to both graduate and undergraduate Truman students majoring in any supply chain management, logistics or industrial engineering related degree program. The scholarship was created to promote education and the groundbreaking use of logistics to facilitate growth and positive change in the logistics and transportation industry. The deadline to apply is June 15. Details are available at grimescompanies.com/scholarships.

FlipKey Scholarship
FlipKey will award one student a $1,000 scholarship to put toward studying abroad. The scholarship can be used to cover any of the expenses associated with studying and traveling abroad. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15. Eligible students should submit a 1,000- word essay to press@flipkey.com describing why travel is important to him or her. Essays will be judged based on the following criteria: content, style and creativity. Only one essay per entrant is accepted. Applicants must include their name, college or university at which they are enrolled full time, mailing and email address, and documentation of current or upcoming enrollment in a study abroad program. The winner will be featured on FlipKey’s blog. Only full-time students 18 or older enrolled in a current or upcoming study abroad program are eligible. For more information, visit their website or contact Jacqueline Gormley.

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