MSSU to award over 600 degrees at 50th Commencement

Missouri Southern will conduct its 50th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the MSSU campus. A total of 565 students will receive 604 degrees in two ceremonies.

The 9:30 a.m. ceremony will include those receiving Bachelor of General Studies degrees and graduates from the School of Business, School of Education and Cooperative Graduate programs.

The 12 noon ceremony will be held for graduates from the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Technology and Associate programs.

A total of 15 students will receive graduate degrees. These will include those who have completed the Master of Arts in Teaching program, in cooperation with Missouri State University, and the Master of Science in Education program (Early Childhood Education and Instructional Technology), in cooperation with Northwest Missouri State University.

Both ceremonies will be broadcast live on KGCS-TV on UHF Channel 57, CableCom Channel 7 and Mediacom Channel 77 and on other cable systems served by Southern Instruction Television. DVD copies also will be sold. Those wanting copies should contact Judy Stiles, KGCS, at (417) 625-9777.

The speaker for the 50th commencement will be Bruce Speck, MSSU president. Dr. Speck, only the fourth president in Missouri Southern history, took over in his new position in February of this year.

Dr. Speck holds a Ph.D. in English with emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Master of Arts in English from Wayne State College in Nebraska, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado.

For a list of graduates, visit http://www.mssu.edu/news/2008/graduation_spring08.html.

Murdock receives Fulbright, will teach in Central Asia

Gwendolyn Murdock

When some people think of retirement they envision long days relaxing on the beach. For Gwendolyn Murdock, Psychology, retirement will mean learning Russian, teaching on the other side of the world, and, with any luck, following yaks across the mountain meadows of Central Asia.

Gwen, retiring August 1 as Professor and Department Head of Psychology, has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Award, starting August 2008. She expects to teach and help develop the Psychology curriculum at the American University-Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

The far-off, mountainous Kyrgyz Republic, famed as part of the ancient Silk Road, remained little-known during its years as one of the Socialist Republics of the Soviet Union. But now, its leaders are re-shaping its higher education system and social science research methods so they can work with scholars and businesspeople from the West.

“I look forward to this opportunity to bring my expertise to students who have grown up with the Soviet-style educational system,” Gwen says. “I have always enjoyed helping people think about new things in new ways."

Despite three previous, but short, visits to the country, Gwen realizes that there will be a great deal to learn.

“I will be equally enriched by learning how Kyrgyz students see the world and react to my ideas and perspectives," she comments. "I have the privilege of working with Dr. Aron A. Brudny, one of the most respected psychology professors in all of the former Soviet Union.”

Gwen is no stranger to international travel. She has researched animal and human behavior in Tanzania and Cuba, and has led MSSU student study-abroad trips to India and Cuba.

Gwen came to MSSU from Washington D.C. in 1985 to teach Psychology, and was appointed Department Head in 2001. Her research focus of animal behavior prompted her move to Missouri. She conducted a 10-year study of bison behavior in Prairie State Park, near Liberal, Mo.

“I very much appreciate the fact that my departmental colleagues took a chance on a weird comparative psychologist, who wanted to study the social behavior of bison. My colleagues have always been wonderfully supportive of my research interests,” Gwen recalls.

She will have help adjusting to this unfamiliar and demanding world from the regional Fulbright office, but also from her spouse, John Couper, a professor of journalism and communication who lived and worked in the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek in 2004-06. Gwen took advantage of her visits there to give guest lectures to the University that is often called the “Harvard of Central Asia.”

“I already feel quite comfortable with my future colleagues and with the students I have met,” Gwen says. “This spring, I am providing a critique of a psychology student’s thesis, which they are required to have to graduate with honors from AUCA.”

Gwen was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1992. Starting in August, the Fulbright Award will take her to a dramatic and exciting new “road less traveled.”

Contemporary Foreign Film Series

The last feature film for the Contemporary Foreign Film Series' spring 2008 season will be shown at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, May 9, in Cornell Auditorium in Plaster Hall.

This film will be shown as part of a Missouri Southern continuing education class. The cost for the class is $10 per person per semester and those interested may register.

The May 9 feature is Blame It On Fidel! (France, 2006; 95 min.).

Directed by Julie Gavras, the film explores, from a child’s perspective, what happens when her parents are caught up in radical politics in the France of the 1970s. Film Journal International called it “An instant classic…flawless all the way…one of the greatest child’s performances ever recorded on film."

For information, contact Nick Kyle, Art or Bill Kumbier, English.

Lora Dean

Student wins Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

MSSU student Lora Dean, junior International Studies major from Drexel, Mo., has won a $25,000 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.

The Rotary Club interviewed six finalists for the award Saturday, May 3 at Lake of the Ozarks. The six finalists came from all over the state, including the University of Missouri and Missouri State University.

Dean will use the Rotary Scholarship funds to finance graduate study in the Middle East after she graduates from MSSU in May 2009. Dean will be studying Arabic this summer at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. She has completed 12 hours of Arabic at MSSU.

Carolyn Hale, Communication, was Dean’s mentor throughout the application process.

Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately-funded international scholarship program. Through grants totaling approximately $500 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 70 nations.

Literary Lions to feature Buckley book for summer

The Literary Lions Book Club at Missouri Southern State University is seeking participants for this semester's literary work, the book Thank You for Smoking by Christopher Buckley.

Wendy McGrane, Spiva Library, will moderate the discussions on the book.

In the novel, Nick Naylor, chief spokesman for the Academy of Tobacco Studies, is reviled by most people. But not to worry, Nick does have a few friends, the M.O.D. Squad (Merchants of Death). They meet weekly for lunch to lament the difficulty of representing big tobacco, the alcohol industry, and the NRA.

After receiving a death threat while appearing on the Larry King Show, Nick is kidnapped by anti-tobacco terrorists who cover his body with nicotine patches and leave him for dead. The plot thickens when the FBI begins to suspect Nick of kidnapping himself.

• Introduction and background of novel will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25.
• Group discussion meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 9.
• Viewing of the film version will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 16.

All meetings will be held in MSSU’s Spiva Library near the University Java coffee shop. The total cost to participate is $25 for the general public or $15 for Friends of the Spiva Library group members.

The opportunity to participate is limited to the first 15 participants. Those interested should respond no later than June 15. Literary Lions participants’ individual copies of the book will be donated to the library.

Those wanting to participate or obtain additional information should contact the Literary Lions Book Club, by calling the MSSU Alumni Office (417) 625-9355.

Two receive Kolpin Scholarship awards

Two students from the Department of Communication were awarded Ruth I. Kolpin Broadcast Journalism Scholarships at the annual Communication Department awards program on Wednesday, May 7. The recipients for the 2008-2009 academic year were Casey Ellett, a Mass Communication major from Broken Arrow, Okla. and Adrienne Martz, a Mass Communication major from Joplin. Both students were selected by broadcast faculty and staff, based on their academic credentials and involvement in broadcasting. In addition, each was required to write an essay titled, "What the Profession of Broadcasting Means to Me."

The endowed scholarship fund was established in 2003 to honor Ruth I. Kolpin, one of Southwest Missouri's pioneers in broadcasting. "We're very appreciative of this endowed scholarship that helps our students now and into the future," says Judy Stiles, KGCS-TV General Manager.

Sigma Tau Delta Initiation/English Student Awards

On Thursday, May 1, a combined Sigma Tau Delta Initiation Ceremony and English Student Awards Ceremony was held at Missouri Southern State University. Taking place in the House of Lords Room in Billingsly Student Center, the event drew faculty, students, and family members.

Bruce W. Speck, president, who holds a Ph.D. in English, was one of the honorary guests and read three favorite poems.

Georgiana Menapace McGriff was the second guest speaker. Mrs. McGriff was a charter member of Sigma Tau Delta in 1978 and the next year received one of the English Department's highest awards, the Greef Award. She is now principal at Carl Junction Junior High, Carl Junction, Mo.

Sigma Tau Delta members also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of the local chapter with a cake and punch. Sponsors of the honor society are Doris Walters and Cliff Toliver, English.

For more information, visit http://www.mssu.edu/news/2008/sigmataudelta_spring08.html.

Go-Kart stampede

The Leadership Joplin class of 2008 presents Go-Kart Stampede to benefit Turnaround Ranch on Tuesday, May 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m at Route 66 Carousel Park. Lisa Robinson, Small Business Development Center is a member of the Leadership Joplin class, a program of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Each Leadership Class adopts a local non-profit agency each year. Turnaround Ranch has been selected so that living conditions for the teens can be improved at the west 20th street location. The class has spent two Saturdays cleaning the grounds and painting the inside of two of the cottages on the property.

Tickets are available from Lisa Robinson, by calling ext. 9575 or ext. 3128 for $5 and $10. The $5 ticket includes admission to the go-kart races, a hot dog meal and a raffle ticket. The $10 ticket adds access to Carousel Park's rides for the evening. Tickets can be delivered to your office on campus.

More information on the event can be found at: http://gokartstampede.pilrtech.com/default.htm.

Nursing student to study at Mayo Clinic

Echo Hartman

Echo Hartman, junior nursing major at MSSU from Goodman, Mo., will participate in a prestigious internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. this summer.

The 10-week Summer III Nursing Program will begin June 2 and runs through Aug. 8. Only 141 students were accepted nationwide from more than 600 applicants.

As an employment experience, nursing students will participate in providing direct and indirect patient care under the supervision of a RN clinical coach. Hartman's experience will be on the Colorectal/General Surgery unit.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Hartman says. She adds: “I will gain knowledge and clinical experience that will benefit me throughout my entire nursing career. It is going to be an amazing experience."

Hartman, a Neosho High School graduate, is the daughter of Kent and Tammie Hartman of Goodman.

McCaleb Initiative students to study in Germany

Rita Forbes, senior German and Mass Communications major from Pleasant Hill, Mo., and Valerie German, senior Biology major from Joplin, will study and conduct research in Germany.

This summer, Forbes and German will study issues relating to peace in Germany, receiving funding from the McCaleb Initiative for Peace, which is administered by MSSU’s Institute of International Studies. The McCaleb Initiative awards funding to a faculty-student team each year to investigate issues of war and peace.

The two students, along with faculty adviser Conrad Gubera, Social Sciences, will submit a series of 8 to 12 articles detailing their research and findings to MSSU’s student newspaper, The Chart, in fall 2008.

Forbes will also receive a scholarship through the nation of Germany’s Study and Internship Program. She will study journalism at the Bremen University of Applied Sciences this fall, followed by a six-month internship with a German company. She studied in Ansbach, Germany in 2006-2007.

“Getting to spend this much time abroad is a dream come true,” Forbes says. “During my last year in Germany, learned and grew more than I ever imagined was possible. I can’t wait to go back.”

Chess tournament Saturday, May 24

The Joplin Chess Club and the Webb City Gringos will co-sponsor a chess tournament on Saturday, May 24 at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin.

The event is open to everyone, even if he or she has never played in a chess tournament before. However, the tournament will be officially rated by the United States Chess Federation (USCF), of which membership is required.

Entry fee is $10 (cash only) with cash prizes and trophies to be awarded. Participants are encouraged to pre-register, although registrations will be accepted from 7:30 to 8:30 the morning of the tournament.

The tournament will consist of four rounds, beginning with a short recap of tournament rules at 8:45 a.m. Participants will have 60 minutes for each game. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Players should bring their own set, board, and chess clock. They are encouraged to familiarize themselves with algebraic chess notation.

“Spectators are welcome, and I’m hoping the curious will come and watch some of the games in progress,” says Bart Gibbons, tournament director. “Chess has been proven to have many benefits, including the enhancement of critical thinking skills, pattern recognition, creativity, and problem solving skills,” he adds.

Gibbons, Internal Controls Manager for Eagle Picher in Joplin, is also president of the Joplin Chess Club, which has been meeting in his home since March 2007. He is a rated chess master and is an international correspondence chess master. The club meets every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The club is open to all, and there is no charge to play.

Chad Stebbins, Institute of International Studies, is helping with publicity.

To pre-register for the May 24 tournament, please contact Gibbons at twocoastcpa@yahoo.com or call (417) 396-0788.

FACULTY/STAFF

Betty Baker and Jerry Williams, Lifelong Learning, attended the United States Distance Learning Annual Conference in St. Louis April 20-23.

Carolyn Hale, Communication, took students to the Japanese Stroll Garden in Springfield on May 4. Carolyn says students enjoyed the trip and the garden.

Four members of the Psychology Department recently attended the annual conference of the Midwestern Psychological Association in Chicago. They presented a poster on research conducted to assess strategies to motivate undergraduate students to perform better on standardized assessments. These faculty members, Gwendolyn Murdock, Anthony Adamopoulos, Casey Cole, and AmyKay Cole, were accompanied for four psychology students, Darrin Shirley, Barbara Gombosi, Stephanie Skanes, and Colby Elbert.

Nancy Short, Business Office, says: "I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, offers and contributions since my house burned. Words can never express how grateful I am for all you have done for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and may God bless each and every one of you."

CLASSIFIED

For Sale: Rosedale Family Pool Membership - $100. Contact Cheryl at ext. 9340.

For Sale: 1963 Chevy C-10 Pickup, 6 cylinder, 3-speed on the column, long bed, CD player, tool box, runs good, professionally appraised at $8,200, asking $2,500. Call (417) 499-0975 anytime.

Free: Anyone needing firewood? Big red maple just cut down. Call Becky at ext. 9371.

For Sale: Two-piece breakfront (formal dining room unit; glass display lighted on top with drawers on the bottom sides and double doors in the bottom middle). Buyer must transport. $499. Contact Mary Parker at 850-2794. To see photo, contact parker-m@mssu.edu.

For Sale: 2007 car only for $18,900! Chrysler 300T has only 8,000 miles. 22/26 mpg; Luxury with good mileage! Gold w/beige interior. Leather, lots of extras. Call Becky Gallemore at 659-5425 or at 540-3423 (cell).

For Sale: 3801 Cresswell; 1,348 sq ft House for sale. Within walking distance to MSSU. Located on a .73 acres-2 baths, 3 bedrooms; Great to own or rent! $85,000. Directions: From 7th & Rangeline go east .1 mile to Duquesne, then go north .1 mile to Cresswell, then west.1 mile to sign on north. For information, call 540-3423.