Vol. 18 No. 23 - March 3, 2014

The Minnesota Ballet will close out the 2013-2014 Kohlenberg Lyceum Series with two performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” March 22.

There will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m., both in Baldwin Hall Auditorium.

Students can pick up their free ticket at the Student Activities Board Office, while faculty and staff can pick up free tickets at the information desk, both located in the Student Union Building. Due to the upcoming Midterm Break, tickets will be available March 6 and March 7, and again starting March 17. General admittance tickets are $7 and can be picked up at Edna Campbells or the Truman cashier window located in McClain Hall. They can also be purchased online at lyceum.truman.edu.

Witness the ballet's performance of a comic tale of star-crossed characters. This play features a fun-loving cast, such as the mischievous Puck, who gives a love potion to the wrong person, Bottom, the tailor/actor who is turned into a donkey and Tatiana, the beautiful fairy who falls under a spelled love for Bottom. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a true romantic comedy.

The Truman State University Bookstore is a platinum level sponsor of the Series and the officially recognized sponsor of this event. For more information, call 660.785.4016 or visit lyceum.truman.edu.

Emmy award-winning actor Bill Oberst Jr. will share his surprising secrets to success in a free talk, titled “Still Waiting for my Closeup: How I Made 100 Movies Without Really Trying,” at 7 p.m. March 18 in Baldwin Auditorium.

Oberst, also called “Hollywood’s B-Movie King,” has performed starring roles in “Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies,” “Take This Lollipop,” and more. CNN calls him an, “emerging horror icon,” and Famous Monsters magazine says he is, “the Kevin Bacon of horror.”

The funny, inspirational talk mixes Oberst’s hilarious stories of a working actor’s life in the Hollywood trenches with clips from his starring roles. Through it all, Oberst teaches the audience how to build their own personal brand and the secrets of relentless self-promotion.

For more information, call 660.988.9099 or email toddkuhns@gmail.com.

The Truman Media Network (TMN) now has a new website that serves as the collaborative hub for all student media outlets.

This site is the product of a continued effort between the Index, TMN Television, KTRM 88.7 the Edge and Detours Magazine to share resources and offer educational opportunities in digital convergence of media.

Marilyn Yaquinto, professor of communication and chair of the Student Media Board, notes this new development as an important step in creating student media that is effective and relevant.

“There are two reasons for doing this right now,” Yaquinto said. “First, it is because this is the way the industry is operating and we want to prepare our students for the marketplace. Second, there is efficiency in sharing resources and having one unified staff. It’s about cost, but it’s also about education.”

Yaquinto expanded on this improvement, mentioning that the collaboration of different media outlets allows a wider range of journalistic experience, reflecting the multi-media approach of today’s media marketplace.  

“Before, students had to choose just one platform to tell a story,” Yaquinto said. “Now that we have this hub, students are becoming excited about telling stories using whichever technology is best-suited for the situation.”

Dan Stewart, executive producer of TMN Television, echoed Yaquinto’s excitement for merging different platforms under one name.

“It provides a singular voice that presents content Truman students want to consume,” Stewart said.

According to Stewart, all student media outlets will now meet on a weekly basis in order to minimize overlap between news presented, effectively creating an avenue for a greater quantity of engaging media.

“One of the biggest complaints we had before was that reporters from different student media outlets were interviewing the same people,” Stewart said. “It was an unnecessary and inconvenient overlap that we have now eliminated.”

Truman Media Network’s new website can be found at tmn.truman.edu.

The Department of Public Safety is offering the second self-defense demonstration class this semester to students. The program combines a hands-on approach to learning effective techniques with information about crime prevention. Designed for both female and male audiences, the class incorporates simple strategies for escaping potentially dangerous situations.

Senior Josh Saboorizadeh attended the first class and was surprised by the relevance of the course.

“It’s not only about physical defense,” Saboorizadeh said. “It’s also about recognizing habits that jeopardize your safety. No one should feel awkward about defending themselves.”

The next demonstration will take place from 2-4 p.m. March 22 at the Student Recreation Center. The class can accommodate 30 students. Those who complete the class will receive a specially designed safety whistle. To sign up, email pr@truman.edu with your name and cell phone number.  

Students interested in additional self-defense instruction should also consider taking ES 199 RAD: Rape Aggression Defense in the fall.

Registration for the Big Event is open now until March 19. If students would like to participate as individuals, they can register themselves. If students would like to participate with an organization, their organization will be in charge of registering the group. Registration will be online. Any questions can be directed to serve@truman.edu.

The Truman State University Foundation is pleased to announce that scholarship applications for Truman students for 2014-2015 are available now. This is the largest Foundation scholarship application period of the year. Applications are due by midnight, March 6. To apply, log into TruView and go to the Student tab, Student Finances channel. These scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends of the University.

The School of Health Sciences and Education and the Department of Education are offering an internship worth 12 credit hours to teach English as a foreign language in the Guangdong Province of China, August-December 2014 and February-May 2015. There will be an informational meeting for SA CHN 550(G) EFL Internship in China 7 p.m. March 4 in Baldwin Hall 244. For more information, contact Timothy Farley at tfarley@truman.edu.

The Funds Allotment Council (FAC) is now accepting funding applications for the fall 2014 semester. Both student organizations and ICA teams may apply for funding. Applications can be found and completed online at fac.truman.edu. They are due by 5 p.m. March 5. For questions, stop by the FAC Office, Student Union Building 1109 A during office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Questions can also be emailed to tsufundsallotmentcouncil@gmail.com.

FAC is dedicated to the intellectual and social development of students and to enhancing their entertainment opportunities. FAC expresses this commitment through the financial support of activities that are organized and sponsored by chartered student organizations. The council strives to fund a variety of activities sponsored by a variety of organizations that will benefit all members of the student association and the larger University community.

The Center for Student Involvement is accepting Leadership Recognition Program nominations through March 18. They can be made online or by picking up a nomination packet in the CSI Office located in the Student Union Building 2000.

The School of Business and New Student Programs are accepting applications for academic peer mentor scholarship positions for the 2014-2015 academic year.
 
Academic peer mentors support the professional and faculty advising staff by providing an academic outreach program to first-year students who are pre-business/pre-accounting majors or who are considering these majors. These positions are limited to School of Business majors who will be at junior or senior status in the 2014-2015 academic year.
 
Position descriptions, applications and recommendation forms can be obtained at the Business Academic Advising Center located in Voilette Hall 2413. Applications are due March 17.
 
For more information contact Billi Gordy, business academic advisor, at bgordy@truman.edu or Mark Weidner, head academic advisor, Center for Academic Excellence, at mweidner@truman.edu.

Would you like an opportunity to help first-year students transition from high school to life at Truman? Would you like to spend two weeks in August getting to know students, teaching them about Truman and its multitude of resources as well as creating lasting friendships between them? Sound interesting?
 
Apply today at see.truman.edu/CounselorApplicationInfo.asp. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 21. Questions regarding this position can be directed to Emmanuel Camarillo at emmanuelc@truman.edu.

The Language Company is seeking homestay families for international students attending The Language Company-Kirksville to learn English. Host families receive monthly stipends while the student is living with them, which could be from 1-9 months. For more information, call 660.342.4161 or email mksc96@gmail.com.

Remember to file the 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) located at fafsa.gov to determine Title IV federal aid eligibility (Pell Grant, SEOG, Perkins Loan, Work Study, Stafford Direct Loans, PLUS Loans). 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 2013 income tax figures are finalized. Later FAFSA filing may result in more limited funding options. For questions, contact the Financial Aid Office, McClain Hall 103, or 660.785.4130.

The Learning Technologies Team's spring semester lineup includes workshops for faculty focused on a variety of teaching with technology topics. All sessions will take place at 12:30 p.m. in Pickler Memorial Library 103 unless otherwise stated.

March 5
Captivating Your Audience with Cost-Effective Lecture Capture and Screencasting Tools
Creating successful screencasts requires knowledge of the whole screencasting workflow, from planning, through production, to delivery. This is a hands-on session, which will offer plenty of practical exercises and resources. If you want to know how to capture a voice-over narration, enhance your screen and highlight important elements, this workshop is for you.

March 19
How to Become a Transformed Twitter Teacher in a Flash!
Twitter is becoming an integral part of many digital lives and personal and professional learning networks. This introductory course explains how to use Twitter as an educational tool for professional development purposes. Demonstration of how to sign up, send and read Twitter updates (also called ‘Tweets’), and build your own PLN (Personal/Professional Learning Network) of friends will be showcased.

April 2
Constructing Effective Assignments, Problem Sets & Exam Questions
This session highlights ways in which exams, problem sets and homework assignments can be designed to best support student learning and understanding. In this hands-on workshop, participants will spend time creating effective problem sets and questions using the Blackboard Tests and Pools functions for a class of their choosing.

April 16
Analog to Digital-How to Transform your Materials into 21st Century Learning Objects (VHS to DVD)
At the end of 2014, all VHS players will be removed from the classroom. Do you have course materials still on VHS that you just can’t bear to part with? If so, this workshop is for you. Join the Learning Technologies Team for a hands-on tutorial on how to transform your analog VHS recordings into a digital format, and learn about potential issues with copyright you may need to consider before making the switch.
 
April 30
Conducting Effective Online Meetings
Would you like to facilitate web-conferences with colleagues, group meetings with students or hold office hours online? Are you interested in the many options available to facilitate web-based, real-time collaborative experiences? In this workshop, the Learning Technologies Team discusses web conferencing options, how to set up a meeting space, the meeting space layout and the many options available. Specifically explore Zoom and Big Blue Button. By the end of the workshop, you will know how to set up the meeting space with Zoom and Big Blue Button, facilitate an online meeting and take away a few best practices concerning online real-time collaboration.  

To view a list of future workshop topics and dates, visit apd.truman.edu/home/upcoming-events.

TMN Television, formerly known as News 36, was endorsed by actor and comedian David Koechner, who is best known as Champ Kind from “Anchorman.” Click here to see the YouTube video.

Student tickets are now available for the March 29 Student Activities Board spring concert featuring Hoodie Allen. General admission tickets will be available starting March 3. Tickets are free for students and $5 for general admission, and may be picked up between 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the SAB Office in the Student Union Building.

Tau Lambda Sigma will be collecting new or gently used clothing from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 3, 4 and 17 in the Student Union Building. Items will be sold at their Semi-Annual Thrift Shop taking place from 1:30-7:30 p.m. March 19 in the Student Union Building Activities Room. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Truman is a partner agency for the Regional STEM Education Summit taking place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 4. Location is TBA. Carol J. Valenta, recently retired chief scientific officer from the St. Louis Science Center, will speak at lunch. Panels will include business leaders, educators and women working in STEM fields. For more information, call 660.665.3766.

The Center for Student Involvement will host a Mardi Gras Celebration Party from 7-9 p.m. March 4 in the Student Union Building Hub. There will be activities, food and live music.

Wind Symphony II will perform in concert at 8 p.m. March 5 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

Wind Symphony I will perform in concert at 8 p.m. March 6 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

The deadline to submit abstracts for the Student Research Conference has been extended to March 7. Abstracts should be submitted online at src.truman.edu. For questions, contact 660.785.4598.

The Quincy Symphony Chorus will perform “Cabaret” at 7:30 p.m. March 8 at Salem Evangelical Church of Christ in Quincy, Ill. Admission is free with a Truman ID. For more information, visit qsoa.org or call 217.222.2856.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Sessions will take place from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 22 and March 29 in Violette Hall 1424. Beta Alpha Psi is sponsoring the free tax return preparation and electronic filing program. Taxpayers should be sure to bring proof of identity; copies of all W-2, 1098, 1099 forms and any other tax forms received in the mail; social security cards for all individuals listed on the tax return; and banking information if a direct deposit is desired. For more information, call 660.785.4378.

Through a generous gift from Lloyd and Lois Elmore, a trust has been established to make scholarships of approximately $1,000 per semester (depending on need) available annually. Scholarship recipients must be active in a Southern Baptist Church or in a Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ). The scholarship recipients must attend Truman State University. Lloyd and Lois (Trower) Elmore operated a family farm in the Gibbs, Mo., community for 50 years before moving to La Plata, Mo., in 1968. Lloyd was a member of the Christian Church in Gibbs and La Plata. Lois was the daughter of a Baptist minister and attended the Southern Baptist Church in La Plata. She was also a member of the Loyal Bereans Class of the La Plata Christian Church. The Elmore’s established the trust fund to provide an educational opportunity for students in the northeast Missouri area who are actively involved in their church. Eligibility criteria: high school graduate from northeast Missouri; current Missouri resident; active involvement in a Southern Baptist Church or Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ); financial need; and acceptance to Truman State University. Selection criteria: completed application form; evidence of financial need; proof of acceptance to Truman State University; written letter of recommendation from the local clergy; and receipt of all the above by the application deadline, May 30. Renewal criteria: student must maintain a 2.50 grade point average; complete at least 24 credit hours in previous 12 months; evidence of continued active involvement in a Southern Baptist or Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ); and maximum renewal of three times. To apply, click here.

The Missouri Insurance Education Foundation will award scholarships to deserving students attending Missouri colleges or universities in a program that could lead to positions in the insurance industry in Missouri. The C. Lawrence Leggett Scholarship in the amount of  $2,500 is to be awarded to a junior or senior Missouri resident majoring in insurance or a related area of study in a Missouri college or university. In addition to the Leggett Scholarship the foundation has made an additional scholarship available in the amount of $2,000. Application forms are available at mief.org and are due by March 31.

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. The program assists students with financial need. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average, demonstrate good character and must be a permanent resident of: St. Louis City; St. Louis County; the Missouri counties of Franklin, Lincoln, Jefferson, St. Charles, Warren or Washington; or the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe or St. Clair. Applications are due April 15. For more information, call 314.725.7990 or email info@sfstl.org.

Marketing EDGE is offering nine different marketing scholarships for the 2014 academic year. For more information or to apply, visit marketingedge.org/students/marketing-scholarships. Deadline for application is May 9.

The Jack J. Isgur Foundation will award 15–30 scholarships to students majoring in education at four-year colleges who have indicated a desire to teach humanities at the elementary and middle school levels, particularly in a rural district in Missouri. Scholarships can be as much as $2,000 and are available to juniors and seniors in undergraduate college, as well as to graduate students. For more information and to obtain an application for this scholarship, go to isgur.org. Deadline is May 15.
 
The Rural Students Scholarship Essay Contest is now available to all high school seniors and full-time college students in the U.S. with a 3.0 grade point average. Sponsored by Blaze Wifi, this scholarship worth $500 is designed to promote digital literacy and higher education in underdeveloped and potentially at-risk rural areas of the U.S. Full scholarship guidelines are available at blazewifi.com/scholarship. Deadline to apply is May 30.

The BigSun Organization is offering a $500 scholarship to help a student athlete succeed in academic pursuits. All student athletes are eligible, regardless of which sport they are participating in. Visit bigsunathletics.com to learn how to apply. Deadline for submission is June 20.

AES Engineers is offering $500 scholarships to students on the basis of character across a wide spectrum of fields of study. Students are not required to be taking Engineering courses. This award is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post secondary education facility. To be eligible, students must answer the essay question at aesengineers.com. Deadline to apply is Oct. 6.