Greetings, Truman Family and Friends!
When you think about a word to describe Truman’s campus in the summer, what word comes to mind?
Well, here’s the word for this summer – EXCITING!
Not long after celebrating our impressive graduates in May, we immediately pivoted to hosting the 2025 Special Olympics Missouri State Summer Games (page 2). Hosting the games was a terrific opportunity to partner with Kirksville and our surrounding communities to provide an unmatched experience for the athletes and their supporters. We were truly inspired by them and the great sense of community surrounding the games. Everyone associated with Truman, Kirksville and northeast Missouri can take great pride in staging an amazing event.
On the heels of the games, we started summer orientation for our next generation of Bulldogs, classes for our current students, and our annual summer programs and camps for pre-college students. Our flagship program, the Joseph Baldwin Academy for Eminent Young Scholars, is celebrating its 40th year with record numbers of attendees (page 3). And in case you were not aware, we offer a JBA Scholarship that is automatically awarded to students who attended Joseph Baldwin Academy and enroll at Truman.
The campus is also humming with exciting construction projects. Pershing Arena is finally getting air conditioning! The Ryle dining hall is being renovated with new kitchen equipment, lighting, paint and carpet, and Chick-fil-A is being renovated and expanded. And perhaps most exciting, the newly renovated Kirk Building (page 14) is now fully open.
The Kirk Building renovation is exciting for so many reasons. It is one of the oldest buildings on campus, steeped in history and fondly remembered by generations of alumni and friends. It is also a sign of the support the University has earned at the state and federal levels, as the renovation was completely funded with state and federal dollars. Perhaps most importantly, the project also represents our unwavering commitment to our students and our community.
Whether you have recently returned to campus, or it has been a while, I would love to welcome you back home to experience the excitement of Truman for yourself. Even with the dog days of summer right around the corner, it is always a great day to be a Bulldog!
Go Dogs!
Sue
