Vol. 21 No. 31 - May 1, 2017

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee recognized the academic and athletic achievements of the 2016-17 Bulldog student-athletes at the first-ever Dogspy Awards.

Twenty-five awards were presented including the outstanding student-athlete of the year for each program, best coach, best team, best newcomer and a male and female scholar-athlete, as well as a male and female outstanding senior student-athlete.

Baseball Student-Athlete of the Year
Jason Priest

Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year
Cory Myers

Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year
Cassidy Clark

Men’s Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year
Brice Pavey

Women’s Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year
Laura Tarantino

Football Student-Athlete of the Year
Jaden Barr

Women’s Golf Student-Athlete of the Year
Nicolle Barmettler

Men’s Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year
Craig McLaurine

Women’s Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year
Katie Mattingly

Softball Student-Athlete of the Year
Christa Reisinger

Men’s Swimming Student-Athlete of the Year
Will Shanel

Women’s Swimming Student-Athlete of the Year
Evyn Spencer

Men’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Year
Paul Province

Women’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Year
Lindsey Schlichting

Men’s Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year
Elijah Farrales

Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Year
Kayla Bastian

Women’s Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year
Cassidy Smestad

Wrestling Student-Athlete of the Year
J.J. Dorrell

Coach of the Year
Chris Foster

Team of the Year
Women’s Soccer

Newcomer of the Year
Sam Reeves

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Zach Hollstrom

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Laura Tarantino

Male Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of the Year
Cory Myers

Female Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of the Year
Laura Tarantino

The Greek Advisory Board selected winners for several awards during the 2017 Leadership Recognition Program, which took place April 12 in the Student Union Building.  

Students were able to nominate their peers and Greek organizations for their work during the 2016-17 academic year.
 
Beta Theta Pi received the Academic Excellence Award for the Interfraternity Council. Sigma Kappa earned the Academic Excellence Award for the Panhellenic Council.

Nick Thiele, a member of Beta Theta Pi, received the Emerging Greek Leader Award for the Interfraternity Council. Mary Beth Howard, a member of Sigma Kappa, received the Emerging Greek Leader Award for the Panhellenic Council.

Delta Chi earned the Excellence in Risk Management Award for the Interfraternity Council. Sigma Kappa won the Excellence in Risk Management Award for the Panhellenic Council.

Alpha Kappa Lambda received the Outstanding Community Service Award for the Interfraternity Council. Sigma Kappa received the Outstanding Community Service Award for the Panhellenic Council.

Beta Theta Pi was recognized with the Brotherhood Award for the Interfraternity Council. Sigma Sigma Sigma earned the Sisterhood Award for the Panhellenic Council.

Ian Rothbarth, a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda, received the Interfraternity Council Outstanding Greek Chapter President Award. Amanda Klopcic, a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, received the Panhellenic Council Greek Chapter President Award.

Sigma Tau Gamma earned the Interfraternity Council Chapter of the Year Award. Sigma Kappa won the Panhellenic Council Chapter of the Year Award.

The annual Academic Honors Awards Assembly, which recognizes outstanding students who have dedicated time, energy and talent to their academic achievement, will take place at 5 p.m. May 12.

Outstanding Graduate Student in Accounting
Jason Bangert

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Accounting
Adam Gregorich

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Agricultural Science
Alexandria Avila

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Anthropology
Kymberly Maine

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art History
Samantha Pohlman

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art: Studio Art
Allyson Uhles

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Art: Visual Communication
Rose Linhares

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Athletic Training
Mackenzie Mertz

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Biology
Morgan Poisson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: Finance
Dalton Powell

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: International Business
Sason Jadali

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: Management
Joseph Pratt

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Business Administration: Marketing
Joshua Gilmore

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Chemistry
Leela Chapman

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Classics
Jordan Noland

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication: Communication Studies
Savannah Hoff

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication: Journalism
Mary Tomlinson

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication: Public Communication
Suzette Nahach

Outstanding Graduate Student in Communication Disorders
Lynde Blakely

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Communication Disorders
Kirsten Kovack

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Computer Science
Andrew Stratmann

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Creative Writing
Sebastian Maldonado-Velez

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Economics
Stephen Blunk

Outstanding Graduate Student in Elementary Education
Brent Hammett

Outstanding Graduate Student in Secondary Education
Jessica Wilke

Outstanding Graduate Student in Special Education
Elizabeth Rehfeldt

Outstanding Graduate Student in English
Rachel Davis

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in English
Alyssa R. LaFever

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Exercise Science
Emily Ponte

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in French
Michaela Hylen

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Health Science
Kevin Ogle

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in History
Sadie Williams

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Interdisciplinary Studies
Mary DiValerio

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Justice Systems
Casey Whitehead

Outstanding Graduate Student in Leadership
Stephen Billiter

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Linguistics
Kayleigh Wood

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Mathematics
Andrew Stratmann

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Music: General Concentration
Austin Motley

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Music: Performance
Matthew Judd

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Nursing
J. Trent Hoover

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Philosophy
Joelle Axton

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Physics
Matthew Matheney

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Political Science
Jared Heern

Outstanding Undergraduate Students in Psychology
Meredith Wekesser
Zachary Meehan

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Religion
Katlin Walker

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Romance Language
Clara Grace Miller-Broomfield

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Sociology
Megan Hynek

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Spanish
Christy B. Crouse

Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Theatre
Seth Betzler

Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award
Jamie Miller

Pershing Arena will be the site of three separate commencement ceremonies, May 13.

Due to major renovations scheduled at Stokes Stadium through late summer, May commencement was moved to Pershing Arena. In an effort to accommodate the large number of graduates, as well as their families and friends, the University will conduct three commencement ceremonies. Tickets will not be required for any of the ceremonies.

The first ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., and Cole Woodcox, professor of English and next director of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), will give the address. Mindy McCubbin (’97), director of equity investments at Shelter Insurance Companies in Columbia, Mo., is the scheduled speaker for the second ceremony at 1 p.m. The final session will take place at 4 p.m. with Michael Schwend (’83, ’90), president of Preferred Family Healthcare giving the address.

Graduates and their guests are encouraged to use the following hashtags on social media during the lead up to graduation and through the ceremonies: #TrumanGraduation #TrumanGrad #BulldogForever.

The Registrar’s Office is looking for volunteers to pass out programs at each of the three ceremonies. Anyone interested in participating can contact Maggie Herron.

Questions may be directed to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@truman.edu or 660.785.4143.

Commencement Schedule
9 a.m.
For candidates receiving:
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Music

1 p.m.
For candidates receiving:
Bachelor of Science (accounting, agriculture, athletic training, chemistry, computer science, exercise science, health science, justice systems, linguistics)
Master of Arts
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Science

4 p.m.
For candidates receiving:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science (biology, business administration, communication disorders, economics, history, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, physics, political science, psychology, sociology and anthropology)

 
Truman students won the top two spots in the annual Gould Scholastic Award Competition and earned a combined total of $17,500.

For more than 20 years, DST has administered the annual Gould Scholastic Award in honor of Robert Gould. This award recognizes outstanding university students who compose exceptional academic papers on topics related to investment management strategies, theories and trends. The award represents Gould’s legacy of effective utilization of operations management and information technology to advance the financial services industry. Student winners are awarded grants in the amounts of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 for first, second and third place, respectively, and are celebrated at a special ceremony in Kansas City.
 
On April 27, DST officials presented the Robert L. Gould Scholastic Awards to three papers. Truman students took home the top two awards.  
 
Juniors Shane Legatzke and David Newell earned the first place award for their paper, “Disruption: Trends to Redefine Finance in 2027.” The duo will share a $10,000 cash prize.

Seniors Donald Ewart and Bradford Peace earned the second place award for their paper, “A Prediction of the 2027 Financial Environment.” They will share a $7,500 cash prize.
 
A student team from Rockhurst University received the third place award of $5,000.

Painting students developed leadership skills and post-graduate opportunities while visiting Chicago, April 13-15.

Art professor Lindsey Dunnagan’s painting students met with Jake Wittrock, a Truman painting alumnus, who sells his own artwork while running a company that redesigns interior spaces. Students also visited the personal studios of two working professional artists, Louise LeBourgeois and Steve Carrelli. They talked about the journey that led them to careers as painters, thus inspiring the painting students to explore a variety of options post-graduation.

In addition to meeting with artists, touring the city included visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate school, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Woman Made Gallery. These museums featured work from artists, such as Felix Gonzales-Torres, often discussed in history classes.

By networking with professional artists and intellectually critiquing artwork as fellow artists, students heard from a variety of experiences and backgrounds that will affect their approaches to future careers.

Painting students from Truman visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

The Department of Music will present the Truman Trumpet Showcase at 6 p.m. May 1 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The first half of the performance will include five selected soloists. Hannah Weibert, along with Byunghee Yoo, collaborative pianist, will perform “Sonatina for Trumpet and Piano” by Carl Alexius. Sarah Wilson, also with Yoo, will perform “Pavane pour une infant défunte” by Maurice Ravel. Michael Bunchman, collaborative pianist and coordinator, will join Nick Wollenberg, Justin Schaedler and Alex Sutton on sonatas by Halsey Stevens, Eric Ewazen and Paul Hindemith.

Following the soloists, the concert will feature the well-known “Die Bänkelsängerlieder” by Joseph Pappas, along with pieces by Benjamin Britten and Kim André Arnesen. Aresen’s piece, “Even When He is Silent,” will showcase a four-part female a cappella based on a text scratched into a prison wall during the Holocaust:

I believe in the sun
Even when it’s not shining;
I believe in love,
Even when I feel it not;
I believe in God
Even when He is silent.

The concert will be free and open to the public.

The Theatre Department’s play direction class will present the work of nine new directors in one act plays at 8 p.m. May 3-5 in the Ophelia Parrish Severns Theatre.

The class, taught by assistant professor David Charles Goyette, directs plays from some of the best playwrights from around the country as a final assignment. The plays had to be published within the last 80 years, between 10-30 minutes in length and without heavy science, costume, light or sound effects.

These final productions represent a synthesis of numerous concepts explored in the course of the semester. Students explored composition and picturization techniques, scene analysis, how to develop a directorial approach and methods on how to work with actors.

The play direction course is required of all theatre majors in order to graduate. Admission is free for the one act plays. For more information, contact Goyette at dcgoyette@truman.edu.

May 3
“The Actor’s Nightmare”
By: Christopher Durang
Directed by: Tim Walters
An actor’s worst nightmare come true.

“Wedding Duet”
By: Lauren Wilson
Directed by: Callie Crawford
What happens after you say “I do?”

“Good Neighbors”
By: John Bartholomew Tucker
Directed by: Violet Odzinski
A forbidden romance in the dead of day.

May 4
“From the Mouths of Babes”
By: Eva Anderson
Directed by: Jessie O’Brien
A trio of disgruntled students plot revenge against their teacher.

“Land of the Dead”
By: Neil LaBute
Directed by: Seth Betzler
In New York City, a couple remembers a life-changing decision and the aftermath that ensues.

“Sure Thing”
By: David Ives
Directed by: Andrew Milhous
A witty comedy reflecting on the importance of having the perfect words to say during first impressions.

May 5
“There is No Bottom”
By: Mark O’Donnell
Directed by: Kaitlyn Chotrow
Hilarity ensues when three die-hard actors and a stage manager try to make their way through their script but end up changing lines, skipping text and one-upping each other.

“English Made Simple”
By: David Ives
Directed by: Jacque Arnold
Finally understand the twists and turns of a couple’s relationship through its various stages and use of language, with help from a handy translator.

“Banging Ann Coulter”
By: Michael Elyanow
Directed by: Brian Behrens
Four unlikely heroes relate their sexual escapades with a certain conservative commentator.

NEMO Unified, a community group created to recognize the contributions immigrants make in northeast Missouri, will celebrate NEMO Unified MayDay, May 1 on the Quad.

The same day as International Industrial Laborers’ Day, Unified MayDay will be celebrated with food from La Fuente, La Pachanga and Shekina International. Events include music, speeches and poems.

The event on the Quad is part of the two-day Unified MayDay celebrations, which start April 30 at the Milan, Mo. amphitheater. The second day moves to Kirksville at 5-7 p.m. May 1 on the courthouse lawn.

Co-sponsors include Students for a Democratic Society, A.T. Still University’s Human Resources, Milan’s Rural Community Workers Alliance and NEMO Indivisible.

For more information, visit facebook.com/NEMOUnified.

The Truman Brass Choir will perform at 8 p.m. May 3 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Beginning with John Williams’ “Quidditch,” as featured in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers’ Stone,” the Truman Brass Choir will also perform pieces by Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Johannes Brahms and Brian Balmages. The concert will feature guest appearances by conductor Jennifer Rubin, the Truman Trombone Choir under the direction of Jay C. Bulen, professor of music and chair of the Department of Music, and a special performance by Randall Smith, professor of music, as he nears the end of his tenure as Truman’s saxophone professor.

Conducted by Eric Dickson, assistant professor of music, the concert will be free and open to the public.

The newly designed poster to raise awareness that May is Mental Health Month is now available for pickup during regular business hours in McClain Hall 202 or at a Mental Health Awareness table on the main level of the Student Union Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 1.

Area businesses, community members and students are encouraged to put up a poster to demonstrate community support for mental health awareness. The posters are in collaboration with a community group made up of area health professionals and staff from the Adair County YMCA, A.T. Still University, the city of Kirksville, Kirksville R-III, Mark Twain Behavioral Health, Moberly Area Community College, Northeast Regional Medical Center and Truman State University.

For more information email pr@truman.edu.

The University would like to thank the following Friends of the Lyceum for their generous financial support of the 2016-17 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series.

Corporate Friends of the Lyceum

Gold Level
Truman Bookstore – Follett Higher Education Group

Silver
Ameren Missouri
Northeast Regional Medical Center
Walmart

Bronze
Alliant Bank
American Trust Bank
Kirksville Daily Express
US Bank

Friends of the Lyceum

Platinum
In memory of Travis Freeman

Silver
Odessa Ofstad

Bronze
Rick and Mary Lee Fleschner
Sally Herleth and Eric Schmitz
Harold and Rebecca Osborn
Tammy Roberts

Friends of the Lyceum
Scott Alberts and Hyun-Joo Kim
Aaron and Erica Baker
Russell and Pennie Baughman
Ben Beard
Harriet Beard
Kent and Bonnie Campbell
Rolf and Ilse Christen
Myra Collins
Rama Crist
Maria Di Stefano
Carolyn Frick
Ron and Elsie Gaber
Karen Gardner
Marianna Giovannini
Jodie and Debbie Gordon
Patricia Green
Georgia Kachulis
Mark Laughlin
Gary and Claire Lloyd
Jack and Sue Magruder
Richard and Bess Mercer
Dwight and Pauline Miller
Chad and Sarah Mohler
David and Debra Nichols
Eva Jane Noe
Gail and Mary Novinger
Troy Rahmig
Neil Simmons
Sherry Stacey
Werner and Gaylah Sublette
Scott and Heidi Templeton
Winston Vanderhoof
Shelley Wheeler
Ron and Cecelia Winkler
Phillip and Jane Wise
 
Thank you to the women of Delta Zeta for serving as ushers for the 2016-17 Series.

The Series will return to Baldwin Hall in the fall with the schedule to be announced in August. Anyone interested in being a Friend of the Lyceum, or those who would like to be added to the email list announcing the series line up, can contact pr@truman.edu.

Senior psychology majors will present their capstone research from 1:30-3:30 p.m. May 2 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. Presentations are conference-style posters, so members of the Truman community are encouraged to drop by and ask questions of researchers.

The Horn Studio Recital will take place at 4:30 p.m. May 2 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Horn Studio performers will present both ensemble and solo pieces by Dauprat, Puccini, Tcherepnin, Franz Strauss, Richard Strauss, Dukas, Turner, Shaw, Kerkorian, Effinger and Brouwer.

The concert will be free and open to the public.

Truman, in partnership with the Wiesbaden School of Business in Wiesbaden, Germany, offers a unique student exchange program that allows Truman students to take business courses while abroad. As an exchange program, tuition is paid directly to Truman at the current in- or out-of-state rates for full-time students.

Located in the heart of the Rhine-Maine area, one of Europe’s most dynamic business and cultural centers, the Wiesbaden School of Business offers courses in business administration, international business, accounting and taxation law, and insurance and finance. German language courses are also available. All business courses are taught in English.

For more information and how to apply, contact:
Center for International Education Abroad
First floor of Grim Hall
Telephone: 660.785.4076
Email: ciea@truman.edu

The Truman Noyce Scholars Program for Secondary Mathematics and Physics Teaching is now accepting applications for 2017-18. The Noyce Scholarship Program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and provides generous scholarships to future educators who will teach high school mathematics and physics. For more information about the scholarships and how to apply visit the Truman Noyce Scholars Office in Magruder Hall 3164 or noyce.truman.edu. Deadline to apply is May 5.

The annual Graduating Student BBQ will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 10 on the Mall.

All May and August 2017 undergraduate and master’s graduates are invited to attend. The complimentary meal includes burgers, hot dogs, drinks and dessert. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available on request. This will be an opportunity for graduates to pick up other gifts such as their first official Bulldog Forever alumni t-shirt.

Those who are unable to attend can stop by the Office of Advancement, McClain Hall 205, after May 1 during regular office hours to pick up their t-shirt and goodie bag. T-shirts will also be given out at commencement, immediately following the ceremonies.

The Truman Alumni Association is sponsoring this event. For more information, contact Jordan Ganter, coordinator of alumni relations, or check out the Facebook event.

The Nursing Department will host a retirement reception for Stephanie Powelson, Stephen Hadwiger and Mariquit “Kit” Hadwiger. In recognition of their many years of service to Truman and dedication to preparing nursing students, the department is inviting the entire campus to a celebration from 4-5:30 p.m. May 4 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. No RSVP is required.

There will be a retirement celebration in honor of Donna Rhinesmith, professor of education, from 2:30-4 p.m. May 10 in the Violette Halls Commons. No RSVP is required, and refreshments will be served.

The Truman Department of Public Safety (DPS) wants to remind the campus that bicycles must be removed from campus property before leaving for summer break. Exceptions will be made for summer session students taking classes during the summer.

DPS will tag all bikes left on campus after May graduation. If the tag is not removed by May 30, the bike will be deemed abandoned and seized by DPS.     

Abandoned or unclaimed bicycles will be kept for six months. After that time the owner shall presumed to have abandoned the bike, and it will be sold at a University auction. Junk bikes (i.e. damaged or un-repaired) abandoned on campus will be disposed of as trash.

As students finish the semester, they are reminded to consider the following campus bicycle guidelines:

* Bicycles parked on campus must be left in bicycle racks, which are provided in locations outside of most University buildings.

* Bikes are not to be left in buildings, entrances, ramps or any other hazardous location.

* Bikes should not be attached to any trees or light poles.

* Bicycles that are illegally parked are subject to parking tickets and/or confiscation by the Department of Public Safety.

* Anyone operating a bicycle must obey the same traffic control regulations that apply to cars and motorcycles, such as stopping for stop signs and riding in the right-hand portion of the roadway.

* When cycling on the roadway bicycles must be ridden with the flow of traffic and not against it. Bicyclists must also obey one-way street designations and are subject to all traffic laws.

* Bicycles ridden after dark must be equipped with a headlight, large red reflector on the rear, and white or amber pedal and spoke reflector.

* Bicycles should be ridden on streets, not on sidewalks, lawns or University-maintained parkways.

For more information, contact Department of Public Safety at 660.785.4176 or visit police.truman.edu.

May 12
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

May 13-14
Closed

May 15-19
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

May 20-21
Closed

May 22-26
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

May 27-29
Closed

May 30-June 2
7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1. To have an officer dispatched for a non-emergency, call 660.665.5621.

 
May 8-10
9 a.m.-11 p.m.
 
May 11-12
9 a.m.-7 p.m.
 
May 13-14
Closed
 
May 15-19
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
May 20-21
Closed
 
May 22-26
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
May 27-29
Closed
 
May 30-June 2
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
 
June 3-4
Closed

Specific areas may be closed for periods of time without advance notice for cleaning.

Tom Capuano, professor emeritus of foreign language, had his dictionary of medieval Spanish botany published in mid April. The “Diccionario herbario de textos antiguos y premodernos,” was issued by the Hispanic Seminary of Medieval Studies in New York and benefited from numerous grants provided over the years (1989-2015) by the Office of the Provost, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Classical and Modern Languages of Truman State University.

Antonio Scuderi, professor of Italian, chaired a session on the Italian Nobel playwright, Dario Fo, at the American Association of Italian Studies Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

Two political science majors from Truman participated at the Midwest Political Science Undergraduate Research Conference, which took place on the campus of Pittsburg State University, March 31 through April 1. The conference features the work of students from some of the top universities from across the Midwest. Rachael Palmer presented her paper entitled “From Dawn to Tusks: A Model-Based Approach to the African Elephant Conservation Act of 1988.” Jared Heern presented his paper “Net Metering and Other Solar Energy Incentives: A Multivariate Synthesis of a Disparate Literature.” Heern also won first place and a $100 gift certificate in the Best Paper competition

Schwarzman Scholars is a highly selective, fully funded international scholarship program designed to prepare future leaders for success in a world where China plays a key global role. Anchored in an 11-month professional master’s degree in global affairs at Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University, the program provides scholars with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, engage in high-level interactions with Chinese leaders and visiting speakers and learn from world-class faculty through a dynamic core curriculum and concentrations in public policy, international studies or business and economics. The Schwarzman scholars experience also includes unparalleled opportunities outside of the classroom, including internships, senior mentors and travel seminars around China.

The program is open to applicants up to 28 years of age who are fully proficient in English and have completed an undergraduate degree by Aug. 1, 2018. Complete details are available at schwarzmanscholars.org. There will be an open webinar about the program at 12 p.m. May 16.

Through a generous gift from Lloyd and Lois Elmore, a trust has been established to make scholarships of approximately $1,000 per semester available annually, depending on need. Scholarship recipients must be active in a Southern Baptist Church or in a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The scholarship recipients must attend Truman.

Lloyd and Lois (Trower) Elmore operated a family farm in the Gibbs, Mo., community for 50 years before moving to LaPlata in 1968. Lloyd was a member of the Christian Church in Gibbs and LaPlata. Lois was the daughter of a Baptist minister and attended the Southern Baptist Church in LaPlata. She was also a member of the Loyal Bereans Class of the LaPlata Christian Church. The Elmores established the trust fund to provide an educational opportunity for students in the northeast Missouri area who are actively involved in their church.

Truman students are invited to participate in an essay contest sponsored by the Interfaith Center, Student Senate, FAC, the Muslim Student Association and the College Republicans. The contest is based on two speakers who were brought to campus who expressed different views regarding the beliefs of the Islamic faith. Participants have an opportunity to demonstrate their critical thinking and a chance to win a scholarship award. The writers of the two winning essays will receive a $500 scholarship that can go toward tuition or books at Truman. The winning essays will appear on the Student Affairs website during the fall 2017 semester. Click here for complete details regarding the contest, as well as a video of each speaker’s presentation.

Applications for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s German Chancellor Fellowship are now open. The German Chancellor Fellowship allows recent university graduates to spend one year conducting a project of their design with the host of their choice in Germany. The project can be in any field, but should be research-based and create a positive social impact. Benefits include full financial support, a language course and a study tour culminating with meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel. For more information on the German Chancellor Fellowship and application process, visit humboldt-foundation.de/web/german-chancellor-fellowship.html. Although applications will not be due until Sept. 15 applicants are encouraged to begin drafting project proposals and securing host affiliations early.