Vol. 29 No. 36 - July 7, 2025

Features

  • Truman Featured Among Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges”

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    Truman is once again included on The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges list for 2025.

    Out of more than 650 institutions, only 209 were selected to be on the list for this year. The company chose the colleges featured on the list based on those that earned the highest return on investment ratings in this year’s analysis. They tallied the ROI ratings based on more than 40 data points that covered academics, affordability and career preparation.

    Truman’s profile on the list includes numerous quotes from various students that were surveyed by The Princeton Review. Students said Truman is “a collective place for ambitious individuals” and the atmosphere is one where everyone is all in this together.

    Additionally, Truman was included among the Top 50 Best Value Colleges. This list honors the top 50 public schools that received the highest ROI rating. The University also ranked No. 5 on the Top 20 Best Public Schools for Financial Aid.

    The Princeton Review’s full list for the best value colleges for 2025 can be found here.
  • JBA Jr. Summer Program Open to Area Children

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    Registration is open for Truman’s JBA Jr. summer academy.
     
    Designed for children who have completed fourth through sixth grades, JBA Jr. is spinoff of Truman’s popular Joseph Baldwin Academy. The weeklong day camp will take place July 21-25, with activities planned from 8:45 a.m.-4:15 p.m. There is no application process for JBA Jr. The program’s goal is to help students from neighboring rural communities get excited about the possibility of college by spending time learning and exploring at Truman.
     
    Students attending JBA Jr. will participate in class activities led by Truman faculty and staff, including a scavenger hunt on campus, tours of the planetarium and herpetology lab, lessons at the University Farm and events in the music, art and science labs. 
     
    Registration is now open online and will continue until July 13 or when the 75-student capacity is reached. Tuition is $105 per student, which includes lunch and snacks. Students who qualify for federal free/reduced lunch have the option to pay a reduced tuition of $30. Some school districts will provide transportation to and from campus each day.
     
    For more information about JBA Jr. or other summer academies at Truman, contact the Institute for Academic Outreach at 660.785.5384 or jba@truman.edu, or visit jbajr.truman.edu.
  • Truman Teams and Athletes Earn All-Academic Honors

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    More than 70% of all Truman student athletes earned all-academic honors from the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2024-25 school year.

    Individually, a total of 268 Truman student-athletes received academic All-GLVC honors, which are awarded to individuals who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher during the past academic year. A total of 58 Bulldogs received the GLVC’s James Gaffney FSC Distinguished Scholar Award for earning a 4.0 grade point average during the course of the academic year. The Council of Presidents’ Academic Excellence Award was also awarded to 46 athletes for maintaining a GPA of at least 3.5 throughout their academic career.

    The 10 teams earning Academic All-GLVC team honors include women’s cross country, basketball, track and field, soccer, tennis, volleyball and swimming. Men’s teams earning Academic All-GLVC were cross country, track and field and soccer.

    The complete list of can be found here.

Announcements

  • Food Packs Available for Students During Summer Break

    The SERVE Center will be available for food packs during the summer. Pre-made pack requests will not be available and workers will not be in the pantry. Students in need of food packs can visit the Union and Involvement office to ask a worker to accompany them to the food pantry to build their own pack.

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  • Volunteers Needed for Move-In Day

    Move-In Day will take place between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 13. Those who volunteer will help new students move their belongings from their car to their respective rooms, direct traffic at essential locations and guide families to long-term parking. Sign up is available here.

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  • Next Issue

    The next issue of the Truman Today will be available July 21.

Notables

  • Dark Sky Projects Highlighted on Podcast

    Vayujeet Gokhale, professor of physics, was recently featured on a 30-minute podcast produced by the Kansas City NPR station (KCUR 89.3). The podcast discusses Truman, its students and Thousand Hills State Park. Gokhale was also included in a KCUR story regarding wildlife-friendly outdoor lighting.

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Scholarship Opportunities

  • Nationally Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships

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    Each year Truman nominates students who have shown outstanding academic performance and exceptional service accomplishments for national fellowship opportunities. The application process is very rigorous and highly competitive, but the University provides support as students prepare for and then apply to these prestigious scholarships. Many deadlines occur early in the fall semester, so it is important interested students attend the meeting.

    Listed below are several of the major national fellowships and their websites. More information about these fellowships is available at truman.edu/majors-programs/more-learning-opportunities/fellowships.


    Fellowships For Study in the United States
    (campus nomination required)

    Carnegie Endowment
    for undergraduates and graduates
    Awarded to graduating seniors or individuals who have graduated within the past academic year. Applicants must be nominated by the Truman State University nominating official. This fellowship is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Eleven to 13 students will be hired to work at the Carnegie Endowment in Washington, D.C., on a full-time basis for a period of one year. Application deadline is Nov. 17, 2025.

    Goldwater Scholarship
    for undergraduates only
    Awarded to sophomore or junior math or science majors who have one or two full years of undergraduate study remaining. Each scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 GPA, be a United States citizen and demonstrate a potential for and commitment to a career in research in mathematics or natural sciences. Deadline to declare intent to apply is Oct. 27, 2025.

    Harry S. Truman Scholarship
    for undergraduates only
    Awarded to outstanding junior students who intend to pursue careers in public service. Each Harry S. Truman Scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $30,000 over a period of up to four years (i.e., one year of college and three years of graduate school). To be eligible, a student must have selected an undergraduate field of study that will permit admission to a graduate program leading to a career in public service. Campus deadline is Nov. 17, 2025.

    Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
    for undergraduates only
    The Morris K. Udall Scholarship Program was created to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers related to environmental public policy and to encourage outstanding Native American and Alaska native students to pursue careers related to health care and tribal public policy. Requirements include sophomore or junior standing with at least a 3.0 GPA and ranking in the top quarter of a student’s class. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,000, and expenses for a Udall Scholars Orientation. Deadline for applications is Jan. 5, 2026.


    Fellowships for Experiences Abroad
    (campus nomination required)

    British Marshall Scholarship
    for undergraduates and graduates
    Awarded to exceptional seniors or recent graduates who wish to study for two years in a British university. It is meant to further the education of young people of distinguished intellect and character who can be expected to make a significant contribution to society. To be eligible, applicants must have a 3.7 GPA, be a United States citizen and earn a bachelor’s degree before the scholarship takes effect. Applications must be completed by Aug. 15, 2025.

    Fulbright Grant

    for undergraduates and graduates
    Awarded to seniors and graduate students. Grants range from a full grant – which covers one year of tuition, books and maintenance in one foreign country – to a variety of partial grants, which cover transportation costs only and/or supplement the applicant’s own personal funds. Teaching assistantships in English in selected countries are also available under the Fulbright program. To be eligible for any of the Fulbright grants, an applicant must be a United States citizen at the time of application and hold a bachelor’s degree by the beginning date of the grant. Creative and performing artists are not required to have a bachelor’s degree, but must have four years of relevant training or study. All applicants are required to have sufficient proficiency in the language of the host country to carry out their proposed study or research. Applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2025.

    Fulbright Grant: U.K. Summer Institute Award
    for undergraduates
    Awarded to freshman or sophomore students from all areas of study with a high level of academic achievement. Each program offers students full immersion in the study of British academia and culture. Students will partake in cultural events, research, collaboration and presentation at one of nine summer institutes. The award will cover the majority of all costs incurred, including flights to and from the U.K., university fees, and room and board at the hosting U.K. university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who reside anywhere except the U.K., be at least 18 years old and have completed no more than two years of university study. Applications must be completed by Jan. 5, 2026.

    Mitchell Scholarship
    for undergraduates and graduates
    Awarded to seniors or recent graduates who wish to pursue graduate study or research in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Mitchell Scholarships provide tuition and housing, as well as living and travel stipends. Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree before taking up the award. Applications must be completed by Aug. 15, 2025.

    Boren Scholarship and Fellowship
    for undergraduates and graduates
    NOTE: The graduate fellowship does not require campus nomination.
    Designed to provide U.S. undergraduates and graduates with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experience in countries and areas of the world critical to the future security of the nation. Boren Scholarships/Fellowships are designed to support students who will make a commitment to federal service. All recipients incur a requirement to enter into an agreement, in order of priority, to work for an agency of the federal government with national security responsibilities or to work in the field of higher education in the area of study for which the scholarship was awarded. Maximum awards are $10,000 for a semester and $20,000 for a full year of study abroad. Campus deadline for scholarships (undergraduate) is Jan. 1, 2026. Campus deadline for fellowships (graduate) is Dec. 29, 2025.

    Rhodes Scholarship
    for undergraduates only
    Awarded to exceptional seniors who wish to pursue two or three years of study at Oxford University. The Rhodes Scholarship covers all tuition costs and provides a maintenance allowance. To be eligible a senior must be under 24 years of age, be a citizen of the United States and complete a bachelor’s degree before Oct. 1. There are only 32 scholarships assigned to the United States and applicants must have proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard, integrity of character, interest in and respect for their fellow human beings, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the fullest. The last of these qualities is usually, though not exclusively, demonstrated by participation and success in sports. Rhodes Scholarship applications must be completed by Sept. 1, 2025. Read about Truman’s first Rhodes Scholarship recipient, Andrew McCall, who provides helpful advice for Rhodes Scholar applicants.


    Other Fellowships
    (no campus nomination required)

    The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
    for college graduates and graduate students
    A highly competitive national program that provides college and graduate school graduates the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., with one of more than two dozen participating public-interest organizations focusing on international security issues. The program is offered twice yearly, in the spring and fall. It lasts from six to nine months and provides a salary, health insurance and travel costs to Washington.

    The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
    for undergraduates and graduates
    The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship is designed to attract outstanding individuals from all ethnic, racial and social backgrounds who have an interest in pursuing a foreign service career with the U.S. Department of State. The programs provide academic and professional preparation for outstanding candidates to enter the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service, representing America’s interests abroad.

    Amgen Scholars Program
    for undergraduates only
    The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on summer research experience at some of the world’s leading institutions.

    Ford Diversity Fellowships Program

    for seniors and graduates only
    Through its fellowship programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.

    NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
    for graduates only
    The GRFP is a prestigious, nationally competitive fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation that provides three years of financial support for beginning graduate study leading to a research-based degree in the STEM disciplines.

    Gates Cambridge Scholarship
    for undergraduates and graduates
    Awarded to students of exceptional academic achievement and scholarly promise for whom advanced study at Cambridge would be particularly appropriate. Successful applicants will have the ability to make a significant contribution to their discipline while in Cambridge, with a strong aptitude for research, analysis and a creative approach to defining and solving problems. Awarded only to students who gain admission to Cambridge through the regular procedures. Covers the full cost of study at Cambridge for a single person. Applications should be completed by Sept. 12, 2025.

    Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows
    for undergraduates
    The Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows offers rising college juniors opportunities in leadership development programs inspired by the life and legacy of George Washington and today’s foremost leaders. This residential summer fellowship is designed to create the next generation of the nation’s top leaders.

    John Lewis Fellowship

    for undergraduates
    The John Lewis Fellowship honors U.S. Representative John Lewis, an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. The program explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement, diversity and minority rights in the United States, with a particular focus on Atlanta. Key areas of inquiry include race and racism, immigration, national identity, Native American issues and the relationship between civil rights and human rights. The fellowship will also discuss contemporary racial and diversity issues.

    Humanity in Action Fellowship
    for undergraduates
    The Humanity in Action Fellowship brings together international groups of college students and recent graduates to explore national histories of injustice and resistance as they affect different minority groups today.

    Fund for Education Abroad

    for undergraduates
    The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) addresses the need for an independent study abroad scholarship provider. FEA is expanding access to study abroad by raising awareness of its benefits to the individual and value to the collective, and by granting scholarships of up to $10,000.

    Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
    for undergraduates
    The Gilman International Scholarship Program is a Congressionally funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and is administered by the Institute of International Education. The Gilman Scholarship Program offers grants of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students of high financial need participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program or international internship eligible. Students studying a critical need language could be eligible to receive a grant of up to $8,000. The Gilman Program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting U.S. undergraduates who might otherwise not consider these unique and valuable opportunities due to financial constraints.

    U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria

    The U.S. Teaching Assistantship Program in Austria provides U.S. college and university graduates with opportunities to work at secondary schools throughout Austria as teaching assistants.

    Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA)
    The Freeman Foundation’s generous support for the relaunch of Freeman-ASIA builds on prior grants to IIE that funded more than 4,500 American undergraduates in Asia from 2001 to 2014. The newly available awards will advance the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad, a five-year initiative aiming to double the number of U.S. students abroad by the end of the decade, by mobilizing resources and commitments across the higher education, philanthropy and corporate sectors.

    Schwarzman Scholars

    Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars is the first scholarship created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st Century. Whether in politics, business or science, the success of future leaders around the world will depend upon an understanding of China’s role in global trends. Students will live and study together on the campus of Schwarzman College, where all classes are taught in English. Students will pursue master’s degrees in one of three disciplines: public policy, economics and business, or international studies. Applications must be completed by Aug. 15, 2025.