Vol. 28 No. 2 - August 28, 2023

This semester three different Truman collectibles will be given away at designated home athletic games.

A free Truman key chain will be given to the first 900 attendees of the season’s opening home football game Sept. 9. The first 300 spectators at the men’s soccer match Sept. 22 and the women’s soccer match Sept. 24 will receive a pair of Truman sunglasses. Lastly, the first 400 attendees at the home volleyball match Oct. 26 will receive a free miniature foam finger.

This St. Louis-based group is known for creating vast musical landscapes with layered harmonies and thoughtfully crafted instrumentation. The performance will be a homecoming for alumni bandmembers Neil Salsich (’11), John Hussung (’11) and Gerard Erker (’09). Salsich was recently featured on season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice.” His rendition of the Hank Williams classic “Honky Tonk Blues” wowed celebrity coaches Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Niall Horan during the blind audition, earning a four-chair turn.

The Mighty Pines have toured nationally and supported renowned acts such as JJ Grey & Mofro, The Dead South, Railroad Earth, Brian Owens, Fruition and Sam Bush. Their most recent album, “Late Last Night,” showcases the band’s growth as songwriters, arrangers, singers and musicians, stretching out with a sonic spaciousness and sliding effortlessly from roots and folk ballads to rock and soul.

Tickets are available starting Aug. 28 and can be picked up on campus in the Union & Involvement Office in the Student Union Building, the Advancement Office in McClain Hall 205 or the Admissions Office in the Ruth W. Towne Museum and Visitors Center. Tickets are also available downtown at the Kirksville Arts Association.

This season all Kohlenberg Lyceum Series events are provided free of charge thanks to the generous support of local sponsors, the Friends of the Lyceum program and the Truman State University Foundation. Friends of the Lyceum receive exclusive benefits including reserved seating, special parking and a commemorative gift of the season based on the level of their donation.

For more information, visit lyceum.truman.edu or call 660.785.4128.

Quality and accessibility have earned Truman a unique distinction according to one college-planning website.

College Raptor included Truman among schools it identified as one of the “Hidden Gems in the U.S.” The goal of this particular list is to put “a spotlight on amazing schools” that might not be as well known outside of their local area or state. To qualify for consideration as a hidden gem, a school needed to receive less than 5,000 applications per year, enroll fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students and offer five or more unique majors.

One school from each state was selected as a hidden gem, with Truman earning the distinction for Missouri. On a subset list of “Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains Region” Truman was the only public school among the three Missouri institutions recognized.

Truman also earned a spot on the list of 25 schools to be named “Most Affordable Hidden Gem Colleges for the Middle Class.” Coming in at No. 24, Truman was the only Missouri school to make this list, which honored schools for their affordability, particularly for middle-income families. College Raptor defined its “typical” middle-class family as: a family of four; an income of less than $80,000 per year; and family assets (excluding primary residence) of $50,000. The net price estimates for in-state students were also taken into consideration.

College Raptor is a college-planning website that offers side-by-side comparisons of estimated financial aid packages along with simplified campus match scores and admission chances. Factors taken into consideration for its Hidden Gems lists include retention rates, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student, selectivity and other metrics. More information is available at collegeraptor.com.

One of the most popular summer options, the Joseph Baldwin Academy for Eminent Young Scholars is for students that have completed 7th, 8th or 9th grade before the academy session begins. Broken into two sessions each lasting three weeks, JBA gives participating students the opportunity to experience campus life and attend multiple courses.

The first session consisted of 239 students, 31 preceptors and eight pro-staff members, while 257 students, 32 preceptors and eight pro-staff members participated in the second session. Students could choose from 11 different courses among subjects in the fields of STEM, fine arts, writing/language, history/social studies and athletic training.

For younger students, JBA Jr., is a weeklong day program for those entering 5th-7th grade. This year saw 56 students participate, with the help of six preceptors, one director and 11 faculty members. Activities this summer included athletic training, outdoor recreation activities, theater class, art, music and reptiles/amphibians. Students also had the opportunity to spend a whole day at the Truman Farm where they participated in a “seed-to-table” experience, took a tractor ride and saw goats, chickens, horses and cows. They also had the opportunity to take part in a campus scavenger hunt, attend a library lecture and planetarium shows.

In partnership with A.T. Still University, the Truman Healthcare Academy is for students who have completed the 9th, 10th or 11th grade. This five-day program allows pre-college students to learn about health professions through hands-on activities, demonstrations and discussions. This summer they had 53 students, seven preceptors and three directors. Students were able to learn about: disability studies; the anatomy, dental simulation and exercise physiology labs; and the medic helicopter. They also practiced suturing and casting skills and learned how to become CPR certified. In the evenings, the students were able to explore the community, including participation in an escape room and a paint night event.Nomination and registration for 2024 summer academies will open soon. Details can be found at institute.truman.edu or by contacting the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or institute@truman.edu. More information about all of Truman’s summer offerings, as well as college credit for high school students and professional development opportunities, can be found at institute.truman.edu.

Students can access THSS by using the app, available at the App Store or Google Play Store.

Brice will present an artist’s talk at 4 p.m. Aug. 29.

The University Art Gallery is located in Ophelia Parrish 1114. Reception and events are free and open to the public. For more information visit gallery.arttruman.com.

A unique campus resource will make its debut with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Aug. 30 in Pickler Memorial Library.

The Doug and Diane Villhard Innovation Lab is a dedicated space created to help all members of campus reach their academic goals, explore creative pursuits and work on passion projects.

Located in the northeast corner on the first floor of the library, this newly renovated space features: flexible furniture that can be reconfigured for groups of various sizes; collaborative writing surfaces; and networked computers with creative software. A design lab in the space will provide hands-on experiences in problem solving and critical thinking, which current and prospective students will find essential for class projects and in future work environments. The design lab will include a Lego wall and offer materials that can be easily disassembled, altered, expanded or even recycled with minimal expense and effort.

Another section of the lab will house a multimedia studio. This space will provide assistance and resources for students who want to take innovative projects to the next level. It will also be used for training to equip students to use a variety of advanced technologies and digital resources. The ability to produce podcasts will be a feature of the lab, and video conferencing equipment will allow students an opportunity to connect and collaborate with remote partners.  

The naming of this lab was funded through a generous six-figure gift from alumni Doug (’94) and Diane (’95) Villhard. The Villhards have a long history of supporting entrepreneurship and innovation at Truman. For the past eight years they have supported a variety of efforts, including the annual Bulldog B.I.T.E. Pitch competition.

As a campus-wide resource the space will allow the University to successfully facilitate collaboration and cross-disciplinary learning. It also will create a pathway for instructors, from all disciplines, to direct class efforts to these spaces and conduct information/exploration sessions.

All members of the Truman community are invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will be followed by a reception and opportunity for attendees to visit interactive stations in the lab.

Truman will host a bicycle sale at 9 a.m. Aug. 31 at the Military Storage Building on Florence Street, across from the tennis courts.

The bikes will be sold to faculty, staff and students. A Truman ID must be presented to register for a buyer number. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Buyers will be limited to purchase one bike per person. There are approximately 31 bikes for sale and one razor scooter.

Bikes will be sold for $20 (includes tax). Payment must be made by cash or check at the sale site. Bikes will be sold “as is” with no guarantees, refunds or liability from Truman.

Foundation loans can come in the form of short-term loans, long-term loans, access loans and cultural loans. Applications go through the Financial Aid Office and are repaid directly to the University. Banks and outside lenders are not involved in the process.

To be eligible for a Foundation loan students must be enrolled on a full-time basis and be in good academic standing. Students also need to demonstrate an ability to repay the loan in a timely manner. Deferments of up to five years are available for cultural and long-term loans, provided the student is enrolled on a full-time basis.

In addition to scholarship assistance, the loan program is an example of the immediate impact of donations to the Truman State University Foundation. Gifts from alumni and friends allow Truman to provide assistance directly to students as they pursue their education.

For more information on the Foundation Loan Program, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@truman.edu, at 660.785.4130 or in person at McClain Hall 103.

Sign-up for Truman’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Recruitment is open now through the first week of September.


The Fraternity and Sorority Life community makes up approximately 20% of the student body. In the 2022-2023 school year, FSL organizations raised more than $93,000 for philanthropic groups both in the Kirksville community as well as nationwide. The past few years, the Fraternity and Sorority Life community has had a higher overall-cumulative GPA than the general Truman community. Additionally, FSL organizations performed a combined 8,000 hours of service through events such as highway cleanups, The Big Event and more.

The Truman Publications Office can also assist in the creation of posters or fliers to help promote campus events. Publications request for a work order can be found here.

For all other questions, email pr@truman.edu.

Truman’s Upward Bound program is currently accepting applications for fall employment.

Upward Bound is a grant-funded college preparation program for income-eligible area students that hires Truman students to assist high school juniors and seniors with tutoring, workshops and the overall college application processes.  

Students are compensated for all hours spent training, preparing, traveling and working with students. This position is good experience for those interested in education, social work or related fields.

Positions require regular weekly availability, one to three days per week between 2:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Applicants must be juniors, seniors or graduate students. Applications are available online and review of applications begins immediately.

The New York Times membership is free and can be activated online. This membership includes access to archives dating back to 1851, daily 360 content, podcasts, newsletters and nytimes.com/edu which is an education resource website.

The following organizations and individuals volunteered during Move-In Day, Aug. 17.

Alpha Gamma Delta
Alpha Gamma Rho
Alpha Kappa Lambda
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Baptist Student Union
Beta Theta Pi
Blue Key Honor Society
Bullets Rugby
Campus Christian Fellowship
Catholic Newman Center
Claire Finter
Delta Chi
Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Sigma Pi
Delta Zeta
Epsilon Eta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi
Lambda Chi Alpha
Momentum Ministry
Owen Smith
Panhellenic Council
Panhellenic and Gamma Chis
Phi Delta
Phi Sigma Kappa
Pi Kappa Phi
ROTC
Sigma Alpha
Sigma Kappa
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Tau Gamma
Student Activities Board
Tau Lambda Sigma
Tsunami Women’s Ultimate
Veronica Aytes

William Ashcraft, professor of religion, recently submitted an article to the World’s Religion and Spirituality Project called “Lomaland.” The article is about the theosophical community that Ashcraft studied for his dissertation.