Vol. 22 No. 30 - April 23, 2018

As part of the TruCare service initiative, more than 1,200 members of the Truman community contributed 12,370.5 hours of service across the country.
 
The Truman Alumni Association sponsored TruCare as a way for individual alumni and friends, along with alumni groups and student organizations, to share in the spirit of the Big Event. Anyone with a Truman affiliation was encouraged to count any community service hours completed from March 1 through the Big Event, which took place April 7.

Altogether, 1,230 Bulldogs contributed to this year’s count. Projects took place in 38 cities across 20 states and included working in food pantries, church nurseries, retirement communities, thrift shops, pet adoption centers and libraries, as well as participating in Habitat for Humanity.
 
In just its second year, TruCare saw an increase of 7,643 total hours and 169 alumni volunteers.

Attendees of the Foundation Banquet applaud as the current total of funds raised in the "Pursue the Future" campaign is announced. In less than the allotted five years, Truman surpassed its $40 million goal.

In less than the allotted five years, Truman surpassed the $40 million goal in its “Pursue the Future” fundraising campaign.
 
At the Truman State University Foundation Banquet, April 14, a surprise announcement revealed the campaign exceeded its original goal.
 
“I am grateful for each and every gift commitment that has been made during this campaign. It takes every single gift to reach a stretch goal,” said Charles Hunsaker, interim director for advancement. “With roughly seven years invested in this campaign, counting pre-campaign planning, it is so gratifying for our staff and volunteers to have surpassed this significant goal.”
 
A majority of the money raised will go directly toward helping students. Nearly $23.7 million dollars has been allocated to support Foundation scholarships. Academic programs and faculty support will receive more than $7.9 million, followed by $5.4 million for mission enhancement gifts, including the Truman Fund for Excellence, along with more than $3 million for athletics.
 
“Student-centered support was the driving priority for this campaign,” Hunsaker said. “Our alumni and friends believe in Truman’s mission and have demonstrated this belief by their willingness to invest in our continued efforts to provide opportunity and access for each of our students.”
 
In total, more than 15,000 gifts and commitments have been received for the “Pursue the Future” campaign as of April 20. Commitments have come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from $1 up to the largest-ever commitment to the University, a $7 million legacy commitment from alumni Dan and Jan Shepherd.
 
Truman began the advanced gifts, or “quiet phase,” of the five-year “Pursue the Future” campaign July 1, 2013. The three-year public phase began in July 2015. “Pursue the Future” will conclude June 30, 2018, and any gifts or commitments received prior to then will count toward the official total.
 
For information on how to make a gift to the “Pursue the Future” campaign, including personalized bricks and pavers for the Sesquicentennial Plaza, visit campaign.truman.edu.

With its new online graduate certificate in data science, Truman is offering working adults with a college degree an opportunity to gain experience in one of the world’s fastest-growing career fields.
 
Data scientists are trained to decipher large volumes of information in order to find trends and gain deeper insight into what it all means. Average salaries can reach well into six figures, and common career paths include business intelligence analysts, analytics managers and research scientists, to name a few.
 
Truman’s online program is the perfect fit for professionals looking to enhance their skill set or considering a career change. It is comprised of five online classes and can be completed in as little as 45 weeks. It’s also a great option for upcoming or recent graduates who want to add additional value to their already valuable Truman undergraduate degree.
 
“This program is designed with the needs of the working student firmly in mind,” said Kevin Minch, associate provost. “Courses are compact and online. An academic success mentor helps students stay on track throughout each course. Students are assessed based on projects that apply the skills they learn to work-relevant topics. Most importantly, they learn the essential skills to apply data science to work promptly, whereas many other programs require the completion of an entire master’s degree before producing a credential you can show your employer.”
 
For convenience, there are multiple start dates available throughout the year. Courses are taught in intensive, eight-week terms, and a flat tuition rate applies for all participants, regardless of where they reside. Open to graduates from all educational backgrounds, the only prerequisites are Computer Science 170 and Statistics 190, or the equivalent from another university. Truman currently offers both of the prerequisites online during the summer term.
 
Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a notation on their transcripts and a certificate suitable for display.
 
Processing for applications has begun and the program will launch in January 2019. Participants who anticipate having to complete the prerequisites are encouraged to do so in summer 2018.

Additional details on the data science program can be found here or by contacting institute@truman.edu.

From left to right, Jim Cunningham (’97), Jonathan Scheeler, Doug Villhard (’94) and Daymond John pose for a picture as Scheeler accepts his prize. Scheeler won first place in the 2018 Bulldog B.I.T.E. elevator pitch competition.

Jonathan Scheeler, a senior business administration finance major, won the 2018 Bulldog B.I.T.E. elevator pitch competition.

As the winner, he earned a prize of $3,000 for his drone data servicing concept.

Shane Legatzke, a senior accounting and business administration finance major, earned $2,000 for his pitch of a system of grants to educate high school students on financial literacy. The team of Joey Goldman, a sophomore business administration marketing and management major, and Victoria Kleitz, a senior business administration management major, finished third and won $1,000 for their pitch of an application that allows users to find charities that are credible and donate to them.

An elevator pitch outlines the concept or idea for a product, service or project in a short period of time, typically from 30 seconds to three minutes. The length of the pitch mirrors the time spent waiting for and riding an elevator in a high-rise building. The purpose of the pitch is to spur the interest of a potential investor or financial backer.

Bulldog B.I.T.E., which stands for Business Innovation by Truman Entrepreneurs, allowed participants to pitch a for-profit or not-for-profit concept. Judges selected six teams to attend the live pitch competition April 13 in the Student Union Building to present their concept to a panel. Contestants were judged based on the problem, product/service solution, market, competition, value creation, seed money, a Q&A session and the presentation of the concept.

The final round judges for Bulldog B.I.T.E. were Jim Cunningham (’97), Paul D. Garnett (’73), Amanda Gioia (’93), Mike McClaskey (’85) and Brian Roth. The first round judges for the competition were alumni Amy Gryder (’97) and Ron Thomas (’65).  

Alumni Doug (’94) and Diane (’95) Villhard, along with Express Scripts, sponsored the 2018 Bulldog B.I.T.E. competition.

Nominations are now open for the Mark and Robin Gambaiana Purple Pride Award.
 
The Purple Pride Award is a cash prize that recognizes administrative assistants for exemplary service to their departments and to the University. In order to be considered, the administrative assistant must have at least five years of service with the University and must be non-exempt (hourly).
 
Colleagues, supervisors and co-workers can nominate an administrative assistant who meets the criteria from any department. Nomination forms, as well as more information about the Purple Pride Award, are available on the Human Resources website.
 
Nominations will remain open through May 31. The winner will be recognized during the University Opening Ceremony in August.

Denise Smith’s children, Amanda Hall and Christopher Boyer, unveil the plaque marking the garden plot dedicated to their mother’s memory. Denise was Truman’s director of alumni for nearly 18 years.

The Truman State University Foundation hosted a series of events on campus the weekend of April 14 to honor donors and celebrate the sesquicentennial. One of the more serene gatherings was the dedication of a mall garden spot in honor of Denise Smith.
 
All totaled, Smith devoted more than a third of her life to the University. As a student, she was a proud member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, maintaining her ties with the chapter long after receiving her bachelor’s degree in 1979. Following 12 years as the general manager of KMEM radio in Memphis, Mo., she returned to her alma mater as director of alumni relations. She later served as the interim co-director of advancement from January 2016 until her untimely passing in November 2017.
 
During her nearly 18-year career, Smith worked tirelessly with the Alumni Board of Directors to create a nationwide network of Bulldogs. She was passionate in her efforts to ensure all alumni felt a genuine connection to the University. Because of her leadership, there are now 10 alumni chapters throughout the country, along with a handful of smaller alumni clubs. The University’s travel program has grown in popularity, visiting the likes of France, Scotland, London and, later this year, Iceland. Working in conjunction with the board, Smith helped institute National Truman Spirit Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday in October. Most recently, she was instrumental in establishing TruCare, a monthlong service initiative to inspire alumni to volunteer their time to charities in their communities.
 
More pictures of the garden dedication, as well as all of the photos from the Truman State University Foundation weekend, can be found at photos.truman.edu.

Members of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity celebrate after the Cookout for Kids. All totaled, the group raised nearly $3,500 for the SeriousFun Children’s Network.

Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity conducted its annual Cookout for Kids, April 5, and achieved record numbers in both meals sold and dollars raised.
 
Members of the fraternity sold 531 sack lunches for $5 each. Between sales from the lunches and donations from individuals and local businesses, the group secured $3,477.42 for the SeriousFun Children’s Network. The national philanthropy for Phi Tau, the SeriousFun Children’s Network, is a global community of 30 camps and programs that offers free recreational experiences to children with serious illnesses. These services are provided at no cost to the families.
 
In an effort to prepare and sell as many meals as possible, Phi Tau members worked with area businesses to secure donations and keep their costs low. Among those businesses making in-kind contributions to the Cookout for Kids were Smithfield Foods, the Wooden Nickel, Hy-Vee and Walmart. Several other businesses made financial contributions, including: Kirksville Motor Company; Sonny’s Collision Center; Galt Speak; Heritage House Realty; Peters Heating and Air Conditioning; Woody’s Tire and Auto; North Kansas City Electric; Forethought Travel LLC; Earl T. Burton, agent, New York Life Ins. Co.; Kirksville Pharmacy; Rapture Hair Salon; Holiday Inn Express; Kirksville Country Club; Hampton Inn; Vicki Benson and RE/MAX Home Team; the Benson Law Firm LLC; and Pepsi-Cola Memphis Bottling Co. Inc.

Truman Media Network brought home 14 awards from the Missouri College Media Association Conference, including multiple first and second place finishes.

TMN competed in division two against Webster University, Missouri Western State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Drury University and Missouri Southern State University.

Six students attended the MCMA conference at Lindenwood University, where they participated in journalism-focused workshops and attended an awards banquet with other student journalists across the state. Brently Snead, the Index editor-in-chief, will serve as the MCMA secretary for the 2018-19 conference at Missouri State University.

The awards and recipients include:

Truman Media Network Staff
First Place, Website

The Index
Second Place, Best Overall Newspaper

Kennedy Martin
Honorable Mention, Sports Writing

Rachel Steinhoff
Honorable Mention, Sports Writing

Nicolas Telep
First Place, Column Writing

Gordon McPherson
First Place, Entertainment Review

Kennedy Martin
Third Place, Sports Photography

Kennedy Martin
Honorable Mention, Sports Photography

Daniel Degenhardt
Honorable Mention, Feature Photography

Annie Kintree
Second Place, Nonpolitical/Entertainment Cartoon

Mariah Radle
Honorable Mention, Information Graphic

Rachel Steinhoff and Seth Wolfmeyer
Third Place, Sports Page

Rachel Steinhoff and Jeremy Jacob
Honorable Mention, Sports Page

Rachel Fechter
Second Place, Features Page

Studio art senior capstone exhibitions will take place April 23-27 and April 30-May 4 in the University Art Gallery, Ophelia Parrish 1114.

Senior studio art majors will display the results of their senior thesis projects in the gallery during the last two weeks of classes. These bodies of work are the result of semester-long projects in the medium in which these studio majors have chosen to concentrate, including printmaking, painting, ceramics, fibers and sculpture. The thesis exhibition for studio art majors completing a Bachelor of Arts will take place April 23-27 with a closing reception from 6-7:30 p.m. April 27. The thesis exhibition for studio art majors completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts will take place April 30-May 4 with a closing reception from 6-7:30 p.m. May 4.

Senior thesis exhibitions are sponsored by the Department of Art. University Art Gallery exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public.

The Department of English and Linguistics will host their senior seminar conference from 9:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m. April 26 and from 8:30 a.m.-3:20 p.m. April 27 in the Student Union Building.

Presentations include explorations of the works of Midwestern writers, 1920s American writers, and Jane Austen, as well as readings of creative writing and a diverse array of topics in linguistics. Philip Schaefer, winner of the Agha Shahid Ali Poetry Prize, will read selections from his book of poetry, “Bad Summon,” at 1:30 p.m. April 26 and present the keynote address, “Truth to Music: We Owe Reality Nothing” at 12:30 p.m. April 27 in the Student Union Building Activities Room.

“Bad Summon,” winner of the Agha Shahid Ali Poetry Prize, was recently released from the University of Utah Press. Schaefer is the author of three chapbooks, two of which were co-written with friend and poet Jeff Whitney. He won the 2016 Meridian Editor’s Prize in poetry and has work out or due out in Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner, Thrush Poetry Journal, Guernica, The Cincinnati Review, Salt Hill, Bat City Review, The Adroit Journal, Baltimore Review, diode and Passages North. Schaefer received his Master of Fine Arts from University of Montana.

April 26
SUB Conference Room: Creative Writing (9-10:20 a.m.)

“Building Fences”
Johanna Burns

“How Did I Get Here?: A Reading from a Collection of Magical Realism Short Stories”
Ana Chapman

“Ava”
Alayna Mueller

“Guardians of Hope – Screenplay”
Ethan Trower


SUB Activities Room: Linguistics Capstones (9-10:50 a.m.)

“Awareness of Pragmatic Uses of Twitter”
Lewie Dunham

“The Phonotactics of Consonant Clusters in Jiwere”
Kataryna Kraeski

“Vowel Length in Hawaiian Performance Poetry”
Noelle Meningoz

“Derivational Morphology Usage in Young English Speakers”
Mallory Collinge

“Gloss Over It: Translating Between Signed and Written Languages”
Anna Barger


SUB Conference Room: 1920’s America (10:30-11:50 a.m.)

“Playing With Theory and Faulkner’s Use of Nature to Convey Meaning in As I Lay Dying”
Ashleigh Harding

“From the Great Deluge to Consuming Fire: Apocalyptic Environment Within William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying”
Zachary Swope

“Power, Pathology and the Human Condition in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying”
Joshua Young

“Creation of Identity in 1920s American Literature”
Andres Rodriguez


SUB Activities Room: Midwestern Literature (11-11:50 a.m.)

“An Ecofeminist Reading of Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres”
David Smith

“Butch: Female Masculinity in M.E. Kerr’s Deliver Us From Evie”
Amanda Crisp

“Using Children’s Literature to Inform Midwestern Culture”
Ashlei Lagle


SUB Conference Room: Creative Writing (12-1:20 p.m.)

“If You Give a Straddler a Cohort – the Formation of First-Generation College Student Identity Through Socialization”
Jessie Woolridge

“Ever Blooming: Excerpt from a Young Adult Novel”
Emily Stogsdill

“Thoughts to Help”
Jacob Athanas


SUB Activities Room: Economy of Austen (12-1:20 p.m.)

“Satire in Jane Austen as a Window to the English Leisure Class”
Sarah Holtmeyer

“’Invite him to dinner, but leave him to choose his own wife’: An Examination of Hospitality Politics in Jane Austen”
Abbie Donaldson

“Money, Marriage, and Walking: Women’s Autonomy in Pride and Prejudice”
Denise de la Cruz

“The Role of Motherhood in Pride and Prejudice: A Look at Mrs.Bennet”
Jared Dickerman


SUB Activities Room: Keynote (1:30-2:30 p.m.)
A reading by Philip Schaefer from his collection of poems“Bad Summon,” winner of the 2017
Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry.


SUB Conference Room: Midwestern Literature (3-4:20 p.m.)

“Sherwood Anderson and his Place in the Grand Scheme of Storytelling”
Kathryn (Katy) Cryts

“Main Street, USA: Walt Disney’s Relationship with Marceline, Missouri”
Austin Krueger and Trevor Hamblin


SUB Activities Room: 1920s America (3-4:20 p.m.)

“Jazz and Art of the 1920s Represented Today”
Brooke Johnson

“On Mind Reading and Modernism: A Cognitive Approach to 1920s American Literature”
Ian Madden

“Comparing Cather and Fitzgerald: A New Historical Approach to Understanding Consumerism in the 1920s”
Allison Barr

“Connecting the Classics and the Contemporary: How Recently Written Young Adult Novels Set in the 1920s Follow in the Footsteps of Fitzgerald and Larsen”
Katie Holtmeyer


April 27
SUB Conference Room: 1920s America (8:30-9:20 a.m.)

“Nella Larsen’s Passing and Shannon Gibney’s See No Color: A Journey for Identity in 1920s vs Current America”
Brock Akins

“Unraveling Identity: A Deconstructionist Look at Nella Larsen’s Passing”
Lynne Halladay

“Lives Behind Authors of the Lost Generation and the Effects on their Characters”
Madison Viola


SUB Activities Room: Midwestern Literature (8:30-9:20 a.m.)

“The Poetry of Plants in Spoon River Anthology”
Abigail Marler

“Spoon River: A Midwestern Ancient Greece”
April Kannady

“The Cemetery in Spoon River Anthology”
Taylor N. Libbert


SUB Conference Room: Midwestern Literature (9:30-10:20 a.m.)

“Ed Gein: The Midwest’s Most Depicted Serial Killer”
Autumn Lavezzi and Rowan Pugh

“The Cross and the Veil: Writing a Fantasy Novel in the Midwest”
Caitlin Magness


SUB Activities room: 1920s America (9:30-10:20 a.m.)

“The New Woman of the 20s: A Look at the Portrayals of Women in Cane”
Kimberly O’Loughlin

“Fitzgerald Versus Hemingway: Defining the New Woman of the 1920s”
Makenzie Berhorst

“New Wealth, New Women: Female Characters in post-WWI America”
Rachel Hanna


SUB Conference Room: Creative Writing (10:30-11:20 a.m.)

“Souls Collide – A Dystopic Romance”
Anna Morgan

“The Lies That Bind: A Young Adult Fiction Piece”
Dora Brewington

“Femmelot: An Audio Drama Podcast”
Melissa Albers


SUB Conference Room: Economy of Austen (11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.)

“Getting to the Point: Distance and Travel in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice”
Melissa Slemp

“The Company You Keep: The Effects of Relationships in Pride and Prejudice”
Montana Carlson

“Emma: Abuse of Social Power”
Tessa Oliver


SUB Activities Room: Midwestern Literature (11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.)

“Realism vs. Romanticism in the Midwest: A Closer Look at Hamlin Garland’s “Up the Coolly” and “Quincy, IL: The Gem City”
Madeline Eaton

“Hamlin Garland and Thomas Hart Benton: American Midwestern Regionalism and Realism”
Abbey Gerveler

“Bodies in Turmoil: The Creative Blends and Conceptual Metaphors Building Bodies in Craig Thompson’s Blankets”
Kelly Mahaffy


SUB Activities Room: Keynote (12:30 p.m.)
A Professional Talk by Philip Schaefer, “Truth to Music:  We Owe Reality Nothing.”


SUB Conference Room: Economy of Austen (1:30-2:20pm)

“Sisterhood in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility”
Claire Wandrey

“Darcy, Wickham, Bingley, Collins, Oh My!: Examining Males as Satirical Devices in Pride and Prejudice”
Grace Fodor

“Emma: A Parent-Produced Prodigy”
Keith Kerkemeyer


SUB Activities Room: Creative Writing (1:30-2:20 p.m.)

“So, the World Has Ended… Now What?: Stories from an Absurdist Dystopia”
Morgan LeBaige

“Allegation Crocodile”
Dave Smithson

“Outer Demons: A YA Graphic Novel Script with Artwork”
Shaenna McCumber


SUB Conference Room: Economy of Austen (2:30-3:20 p.m.)

“The Significance of Letter in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice”
Rebecca Canino

“Mansfield Park and the Subtle Condemnation of Slavery”
Sam Andrzejewski

“Rereading Jane Austen: A Feminist Approach to Emma”
Marissa Albracht


SUB Activities Room: Creative Writing (2:30-3:20 p.m.)

“White Girl”
Emily Stobbe

“Summer of 2009: A Coming of Age and Coming Out Novel”
Amy Jereb

The club baseball team will play in the National Club Baseball Association playoffs April 27-29 in Cape Girardeau.

With a 15-0 record, the club is one of the only undefeated teams left in the league.

With games in the fall and spring, the club is a competitive baseball team for players who want to continue to play in college but with a smaller time commitment than a varsity team. Schools in the division include Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Northwest Missouri State, Central Missouri, Maryville and South East Missouri State. The team can be followed on twitter, @TSUClubBaseball.

The cast of the “H. M. S. Pinafore” in 1911 poses for a picture following their performance, which took place on a stage built on Normal Lake. Photo courtesy of Pickler Memorial Library’s Digital Library.

Opera was a popular genre in the early 1900s, and the campus community staged several successful productions.
 
According to “Founding the Future: A History of Truman State University,” the first, and perhaps most famous, campus production was Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore.” The comic opera was set aboard the ship H.M.S. Pinafore, and for the University version in 1911 a boat/stage was constructed on the campus lake, the area now known as the Quad.  
 
“Founding the Future” credits the lake as the setting of several opera productions, including “Alessandro Stradella” and “The Gondoliers.”

The grassroots environmentalism course will host a week of events to bring awareness to homelessness and poverty in Adair County, with a focus on AM Housing, a non-profit organization working to build a rehabilitation shelter in Kirksville.

Events — including posters, music and donation collections — will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 23-25 on the Mall. Used clothing that was collected during Earth Week will be used in a sale from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 27-28 on the Mall or the Student Union Building Down Under if there is rain. The proceeds from the sale will go to AM Housing.

Questions can be directed to Caleb Garzanelli, cmg3625@truman.edu.

A remembrance gathering will take place at 3 p.m. April 24 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room to honor students who passed during this academic year. The intention of the gathering is to help the campus community remember Rachel Morris and Maya Warr and provide a place for students to contemplate mortality and the significance of life.

President Thomas will host her final coffee and chocolates for this academic year at 3:30 p.m. April 25 in the Conference Room of the Student Union Building (SUB 3000). Members of the Intellectual Property Committee, including: Donna Liss, chief information officer; Kevin Minch, associate provost; and Warren Wells, general counsel, will be present to discuss issues and questions related to the work of this committee.

A “Be the Match” registry drive will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 25-26. The drive offers the opportunity to sign up to be on the marrow registry. Sign-up takes less than 15 minutes, and participants only need to register once. The drive is sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega and Delta Sigma Pi.

Campus tree walks will take place at 4:30 p.m. April 26, May 3 and May 10. The walk will begin at the north entrance to the Quad on Normal Street. Members of the PLANTS! club and Lisa Hooper, associate professor of biology, will participate in the walk. For a map of the route, click here.

The Brass Menagerie Concert, featuring the Truman Brass Choir conducted by Eric Dickson, will take place at 8 p.m. April 26 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The concert will feature special performances by: the Truman Horn Choir, conducted by Patricia Mickey; the Truman Trombone Choir, conducted by Jay C. Bulen; and the Truman Trumpet Ensemble, conducted by Eric Dickson. Special conductor Sean Schierbecker will lead the brass choir in a performance of “The Intruder” by Noah D. Taylor. Nick Gragg will be the featured bass trombone soloist in the performance of “Skylines” by David Uber.

Sponsored by the Department of Music, the concert is free and open to the public.

A virtual author talk featuring Shaun David Hutchinson will take place from 12-1 p.m. April 26 in Baldwin Hall Little Theatre.

Shaun David Hutchinson is the author of numerous books for young adults, including: “The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley,” which won the Florida Book Awards’ Gold Medal in the young adult category and was named to the ALA’s 2015 Rainbow Book List; the anthology “Violent Ends,” which received a starred review from VOYA; and “We Are the Ants,” which received five starred reviews and was named a best book of January 2016 by Amazon, Kobo, Publishers Weekly and iBooks.

The presentation is sponsored by the Department of English and Linguistics.

The Final Blowout will take place from 5-9 p.m. April 28.

It will be located at the parking lot at the southwest corner of South Franklin Street and West Patterson Street, with a rain location in Pershing Arena. Sponsored by the Student Activities Board, the event is free for Truman students, and general admission will cost $5 a person.

The Final Blowout is celebrating the end of Truman’s sesquicentennial anniversary and an amazing school year. At the event, there will be a variety of attractions, games and other fun activities. There will also be the opportunity to create custom t-shirts and compete for a variety of prizes, including a hammock, Truman apparel and Cardinals versus Royals tickets. Two food trucks, Jamaican Jerk Hut and Grill-A-Brothers, will be at the event and will accept cash or credit. The Final Blowout will have free Andy’s Custard and live musical performances from artists, including AJ Smith, Dustin Hatzenbuhler and Black Daniels and the Bears. The event will conclude with a professional firework display in honor of the sesquicentennial anniversary.

Showcase presentations for Health 440 capstone projects will take place from 6-8:15 p.m. April 30 and May 2 in Violette Hall 1010.

April 30
Pictures of HLTH 440 student presenters
5:45-5:55 p.m.

Genesis House Fundraising
Lana Allen, Briana Niedling, Kristin Flinn, Montira Mosby and Ashley Smith
6-6:09 p.m.  

Title IX Project
Elsa Snyder, Anna Wang and Sabiya Azim
6:10-6:19 p.m.

Buddy Pack
Madeline Thomas, Marissa McBurnett and Michael Judson
6:20-6:29 p.m.

Mental Health Awareness Week
Allison Politsch, Hanna Livsey, Autumn Shepard and Maureen O’Toole
6:30-6:39 p.m.

HLTH 374 Teaching Assistants
Marisa Meiners, Emily Fleck and Swati Patel
6:40-6:49 p.m.
 
Sexual Health Communication
Bethany Johnston, Bethany Main and Rachel Hanson
6:50-6:59 p.m.
 
Break
7-7:04 p.m.

American Heart Ass’n CPR Awareness
Jessica Hyde and Melanie King
7:05-7:14 p.m.

Nutrition in the Kitchen at CLC
Emma Veitch, Clarice Schmid and Megan Rodman
7:15-7:24 p.m.

Oral Health for Pre-K -1st Graders
Katie Mattingly, Mitch Finder, Ian Niccum and Derek Mielke
7:25-7:34 p.m.

Calm the Chaos—Anxiety Workshop
Allison Freed and Kianna Friesz
7:35-7:44 p.m.

HLTH 255 Teaching Assistants
Elizabeth Tyron-Ebert and Madeline Carney
7:44-7:54 p.m.

CLC Mental Health Lessons
Mackenzie Maher
7:55-8:05 p.m.

May 2
Pictures of HLTH 440 student presenters
5:45-5:55 p.m.

NEMO AHEC Elementary Emergency Preparedness
Emmy Fry and Dria Riley
6-6:09 p.m.

Greenwood Project Fundraiser (I Am Able 5K)
Marguerite Farrand and Alysa Wisness
6:10-6:19 p.m.

HLTH 320 Teaching Assistants
Christian Banez and Angela Sas
6:20-6:29 p.m.

Skin Health Research and Awareness Week
Kim Williams, Rachael Reckamp, Allie Dougherty and Courtney West
6:30-6:39 p.m.

Disk Golf Fundraising
Trevor Atnip and McKenna Owens
6:40-6:49 p.m.

Kirksville After-Prom Escape Room
Emily Buechler
6:50-6:59 p.m.

Break
7-7:04 p.m.

Sexual Health Week
Gillian Mwangi and Brendan Cronley
7:05-7:14 p.m.

Faith Lutheran School Health Lessons
Leigha Lierheimer and Kaitlin Beck
7:15-7:24 p.m.

Thousand Hills Research
Bene Clear
7:25-7:34 p.m.

Earth Week/Sustainability
Ronna Owens, Maggie Pond and Nikki Bhuma
7:35-7:44 p.m.

HLTH 195 198 Teaching Assistants
Josh Pearson, Kameron Murray and Josh Hall
7:45-7:59 p.m.

Disability Awareness Research
Chloe Hromockyj and Lauren Box
8-8:09 p.m.

The Fulbright Committee will host a writing workshop from 4:30-6 p.m. May 1 in McClain Hall 208. Students graduating by the end of the 2018-19 academic year who plan to complete a Fulbright application in the fall of 2018 should start their application immediately. The campus deadline will be September 2018. The workshop with provide advice and the chance to work with a faculty mentor on developing the application. Questions can be directed to Meg Edwards.

Join Staff Council members for some light “Punch and Munch” refreshments as a pick-me-up on Reading Day. Stop by to see what other fun games, goodies and giveaways will be waiting. Contact Tessa Prewitt, Winston Vanderhoof or Nicole Stelter with any questions.

Dr. Kay Clapp Literacy Awards
12 p.m.
June 8
Violette Hall Second Floor Commons

Christa Reisinger, softball center fielder, was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career. Overall, the Winfield, Mo., native hit .615 (8-for-13) with six runs scored, three home runs, six RBI, 17 total bases, a 1.308 slugging percentage, two walks, a .667 on-base percentage and three stolen bases in three attempts. Since joining the conference prior to the 2014 season, the Bulldogs have now been accredited with Player of the Week eight times and Pitcher of the Week six times.

Luke Komotos and Sam Reeves were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division II All-Academic team. Komotos was 8-21 competing in the 174-pound weight class, and it is his first NWCA Division II honor. Reeves was a national qualifier at 197 pounds with an overall record of 18-10. This is his second NWCA All-Academic honor.

Two teams of eight students competed at the mid-Missouri DataFest on April 6-7, with the award for “Best Visualization” going to one of the teams. Participants included Caleb Jones, Nabin Karki, Rudy Nartker, Mengqing Zhang, Grant Wallace, Mandi Murphy, Jason Odom and Liting Zhang. Teams were given less than 24 hours to try to find trends and patterns in a corporate data set containing more than 17 million records, bringing in additional information from public sources and applying classroom knowledge learned in statistics classes to real-world data. The American Statistical Association DataFest is a celebration of data in which teams of undergraduates work around the clock to find and share meaning in a large, rich and complex data set. This year, over 2,000 undergraduate students from more than 70 colleges will meet in 35 different locations to celebrate DataFest.