Author Archives: kbest

The Adventures of Flat Spike

Student Jason Bladow took Flat Spike to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta during midterm break.

Flat Spike has become quite the world traveler! He’s been to Costa Rica, watched a Nationals game in D.C., and even helped put together care packages at the Iowa Alumni Chapter’s Palonza night. What will he do next? That’s up to his fellow Bulldogs.

Here’s how it works:

Cut out Flat Spike and color/design him any way you like. If you’re lacking artistic genius, no problem. Just print out the color copy at alumni.truman.edu/FlatSpike.asp.
Take Flat Spike somewhere cool! Show him somewhere awesome in the places you live. Take him on a family trip. Wherever you want to go, this loyal Bulldog is sure to follow.
Take a picture and email it to bulldogforever2@truman.edu, tweet it to @TrumanAlumni or mail it to the Truman Advancement Office. Be sure to include your name, address, if you’re in an alumni chapter and where Flat Spike is.
We’re going to track this guy’s travels and the alumni chapter with the most photos will win a special prize at the end of the year!
School teachers: Flat Spike really likes kids, and his buddy Stanley is getting a little tired. Send him out on your students’ travels! Any friend of Flat Spike’s is a friend of Truman.

Stephen Randall Roberts (’68, ’71) found Flat Spike at the ballpark in Washington, D.C.

Not only could you win some Truman swag, but now you can show off your Truman spirit wherever you go (he makes a pretty great travel buddy). All of Flat Spike’s adventures can be found on his Facebook page, facebook.com/TrumanFlatSpike.

Getting the Band Back Together

Pictured, left to right: Joel Kirby (’13), Eian Zellner (’13), Chelsea Lundberg (’13) and David Schatz (’13).

Approximately 125 people attended the Truman alumni and friends reception in January sponsored by the Department of Music and hosted by Dan Peterson, director of bands, during the Missouri Educators Conference annual meeting at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo.

Traveling with Truman

In case you missed it, the Truman Alumni Travel Program recently visited beautiful Costa Rica. The program offers worry-free vacations to breathtaking destinations.Want to avoid hassle? The prices are competitive and include daily activities and many of your meals. Not only that, but you have a representative from Truman there with you, answering questions and helping you prepare for the trip ahead.

“I joined the Costa Rica tour and found it perfect for individual adventure and qualified experienced tour management. Denise Smith, Truman’s director of alumni relations, provided her knowledgeable and confident travel experience, patience and gentle kindness to enhance our group chemistry and comfort. I found it was an exceptional way to see the country of Costa Rica with no hassle or worry. We had first-class accommodations and ample opportunity to individualize our vacation experience. I must add that a top reason for me signing up for the next Truman Alumni Association-sponsored adventure will be the opportunity to meet new Truman friends with whom there is already a common bond and loyalty.”
—DONNA BAILEY (’76, ’84)

Make sure to keep a look out for next year’s trip to France. More information can be found at alumni.truman.edu/TravelProgram.asp, or questions may be emailed to Denise Smith, director of alumni relations, at dlsmith@truman.edu.

Are You a Member?

Our alumni chapters are more than just socials and sporting events. Chapter members leave lasting legacies by volunteering their time at events and fundraisers, serving as mentors for students and supporting scholarships to enhance the Truman experience for the great students that will someday pursue their own excellence at the University. Being a chapter member is a great opportunity to network with other successful Bulldogs and offers a chance to build personal leadership skills.

Individual memberships are only $20, joint memberships are $30, and recent grads/current students get half-off! Go to store.truman.edu/alumni.

Not a member of your local chapter yet? Joining is easy, and members are privy to some exclusive benefits. Check out the full list online at alumni.truman.edu.

Save the Date – Homecoming – Oct. 10-12

We are busy making preparations for this year’s Homecoming weekend! There’s an even bigger and better Bulldog Tailgate in the works, plus, we will be honoring the Class of 1964 (and prior) as our Golden Alumni. If you would like to participate in the celebration, tickets are now available in the Alumni Store. Just head to store.truman.edu/alumni and click on “Homecoming 2014.” More information will be available in the next few weeks on all of this year’s Homecoming events. Be sure to “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/TrumanAlumni, and keep checking the mail for more details!

National Spirit Day

Checking in with the Chapters

A look at what some of the alumni chapters have been up to and what they have in store. For the latest news on all upcoming events, visit alumni.truman.edu/events.

Chicago Alumni Chapter: Lakeview Food Pantry, March 15
Thank you to all of the incredible volunteers that came to help out at the Lakeview Food Pantry. Chicago alumni packaged more than 130 bags of food to be delivered to homebound residents of the Lakeview community. Each resident received two bags of food containing meat, canned goods, milk, grains, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and even flowers. Some of the bags were specially packaged for residents with health concerns. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning by helping others and reminiscing about the Kirksville community!

Dallas Alumni Chapter: Spring Banquet, April 26
Bulldogs of all eras joined the Dallas Alumni Chapter at the annual spring banquet. After the meal, special guest, football coach Gregg Nesbitt (’80), updated everyone on Bulldog athletics and the University.

Mid-Atlantic Alumni Chapter: National Zoo Tour, June 28
The Mid-Atlantic Alumni Chapter invites you to a day at the zoo. There will be two special tours offered (more details online) to give an exclusive look at one of our nation’s treasures. The tour is FREE for chapter members, and $5/person or $15/family for non-members. Tickets are available in the Alumni Store. Not a member? Join the chapter for the special discount.

NEMO Alumni Chapter: Golf Tournament, July 11
Golfers of all levels are invited to join the Northeast Missouri Alumni Chapter for their annual scholarship scramble. Entry fee is $60/person or $240/team and includes lunch, soda, sports drinks and a chance to win some great prizes. To register, visit the online Alumni Store, or contact Denise Smith at dlsmith@truman.edu, (660) 785-4133.

Kansas City Alumni Chapter: Golf Tournament, July 19
The Kansas City Alumni Chapter invites you to participate in this year’s tournament at the Shoal Creek Golf Course. Golfers of all levels are encouraged to participate in this fun and exciting day. The day starts at 8 a.m., followed by a lunch buffet with hamburgers, brats, chicken and all of the fixings. Entry fee is $100/person or $400/team and can be paid through the Alumni Store.

Mid-Missouri Alumni Chapter: Cooper’s Oak Winery, Higbee, Mo., Aug. 23
The Mid-Missouri Alumni Chapter is headed to Cooper’s Oak Winery in Higbee. This small-town winery is also located on the premises of A & K Cooperage, manufacturer of fine American and French Oak barrels. Their wines are stored in a unique wine cellar, which was built in the historic Higbee City Jail. Come enjoy a summer day in the countryside while tasting the wines.

St. Louis Alumni Chapter: Cards vs. Cubs Game & Tailgate, Aug. 30
The St. Louis Alumni Chapter invites you to a night of MLB action as the Cardinals take on the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 30. There are tickets reserved in the Left Field Pavilion, $25 for chapter members and $30 for non-members. Before the game there will be a free tailgate complete with nacho bar and soda; cash bar will be available. Tickets are on sale now in the Alumni Store. Space is limited.

Arizona Alumni Chapter: Bulldogs Visit the Cooler Climates of Flagstaff, August TBA
Join the Arizona Alumni Chapter for a trip to Flagstaff. Members will meet for brunch before visiting the Lowell Observatory for a guided daytime tour, followed by viewing various wonders of the night sky through the famed Clark Telescope. Truman alumni and friends who want to make this a weekend trip can stay overnight and hike the Oak Creek Canyon trail in the Coconino National Forest with the chapter the following day.

Iowa Alumni Chapter: “Battle of the Bulldogs” Truman vs. Drake Football Game, Sept. 6
The Iowa Alumni Chapter wants you to help them cheer on the Truman football team as they battle the Drake Bulldogs in Des Moines. The chapter will host a barbeque tailgate prior to the game with refreshments and door prizes. Chapter members will get a discount on tailgate and game tickets. Help us pack Drake Stadium in PURPLE!

Thirty Golden Years Later

Ray Armstead (’84)

Time might be one of the few things that moves as fast as Ray Armstead (’84). This summer marks the 30th anniversary of his Olympic gold medal win as a member of the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team.

“I can’t believe it was that long ago—I really can’t,” Armstead said. “It makes you a part of history. Being an Olympian is like winning the lottery, but beyond that, I’m still the same.”

Interestingly enough, Armstead nearly missed the chance to become one of the University’s most accomplished athletic alumni. The St. Louis native was primarily a basketball player in high school and was a latecomer to the track. After a successful showing at the state meet his senior year, legendary coach Kenneth Gardner helped steer Armstead to Truman thanks in part to the University’s reputation for academics and its track program.

Armstead is quick to credit the coaches at Truman for helping him improve on the track.

“Everything I learned was from someone teaching me how to run, how to lift weights and basically to be a good athlete,” he said. “I’m a motivated individual and I never wanted to be a failure. I just needed somebody who had the guidance and understanding to make me better.”

In addition to Gardner, Armstead acknowledges coaches Ed Schenider, John Cochrane and John Ware as instrumental in helping him achieve his goals. Cochrane worked with Armstead in the summers, and even drove him to Bloomfield, Iowa, regularly so he could have the opportunity to workout on an all-weather track.

“He saw that I was really passionate about being an Olympian. He gave me the workouts. He put me in the weight room,” Armstead said.

Along with all of his hard work, an injury in the 1983 season might have been equally responsible for helping Armstead reach Olympic greatness. That injury led him to take a redshirt, pushing back his eligibility for the outdoor track season and allowing him more time to workout with the rest of the team.

“If I would have graduated on time, I probably never would have made the Olympic team because then you are on your own to train,” he said. “Because I was redshirted I still had the opportunity to work with Truman.”

After posting a qualifying time during a meet at Southeast Missouri State University, Armstead was invited to the Olympic trials, where he found himself competing against Division I athletes. The gravity of making the team and representing the U.S. did not set in until that summer in Los Angeles.

“The whole time I was running, I had to prove myself,” Armstead said. “It didn’t hit me until the finals. It was very rewarding.”

After the Olymp RayArmsteadSpeaking ics, Armstead returned to Truman to finish his degree in art in December. He spent much of the next five years competing professionally around the globe. When his track career was complete, he turned his focus back to his education, picking up a master’s degree in business administration from Fontbonne University and a teaching degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Today, the gold medalist still finds time to run. He usually gets in two or three miles before heading to work as an art teacher at Jana Elementary School in Hazelwood, Mo. Armstead has a son and a daughter and lives in St. Louis with his wife of 17 years, Kimberly.

Truman’s Dr. J

Reinberg enjoys spending time with his wife Christina and their children, Hunter (7), Parker (5) and Emersen (1).

Like most college students, Jason Reinberg (’00) formed a lot of lasting memories during his time at Truman. Between athletics, academics and a social life, he is hard pressed to determine which one is the most memorable.

It could be when, as a member of the 1998-1999 men’s basketball team, he hit two late free throws to secure the conference championship and send the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament. The jam-packed crowd in Pershing Arena and the celebrations late into the night are a flurry of indescribable feelings for Reinberg. That team would carry their late-season momentum all the way to the final four, the best performance ever by a Truman squad. He still considers his teammates as some of his best friends.

“We have always gotten along and supported each other. I would bet the depth and longevity of our friendships is rarely seen in a college team,” Reinberg said.

Maybe something from all of the hours he spent in class or studying in Pickler Memorial Library stands out as his most memorable moment. In addition to his successful athletic career, Reinberg graduated as a valedictorian with a degree in biology. He went on to study at the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine and interned for one year at St. John’s Mercy in St. Louis before returning to Columbia for his dermatology residency.

Currently, Reinberg works in Washington, Mo., at Mercy Clinic as a dermatologist. Although he treats a variety of rashes, the majority of his patients come in for exams in order to diagnose and treat skin cancer. The visual aspects of this field fascinate Reinberg.

“I like being able to look at a problem on the skin and in most cases immediately know what the issue is and how to treat it,” he said.

During his medical school education, Reinberg never felt at a disadvantage when matched against students who graduated from larger or more nationally well-known institutions.

“My Truman education not only prepared me for medical school, but it allowed me to succeed in medical school,” Reinberg said. “It provided a great atmosphere for learning and growth academically, as well as socially.”

So maybe it is a memory from his social life that stands out among the rest. A member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, he also spent a considerable amount of time at the Catholic Newman Center. Reinberg even enjoyed living in Missouri Hall his freshman year and still keeps in touch with his roommate and former team member Jason Ramthun (’00). To this day, he plays basketball in a YMCA league with many of the same guys he played with at Truman, as well as some younger graduates.

As great as all those memories are, none of them top the list for Reinberg. Despite his many accomplishments in college, whether they were in the classroom, on the court or in the fraternity house, he will say the one experience that stands out the most was meeting his wife Christina (Hunter) Reinberg (’01). They have three children together and Reinberg enjoys passing on his love of sports to them.

Transfer Leads to Academic and Athletic Success

Sarah Dance (’05)

One of the most Accomplished careers in the history of Bulldog athletics almost never happened.

Sarah Dance (’05) originally decided to go to school in her home state, and attended the University of Nebraska as a freshman. She did not swim that year, and when she made up her mind that she wanted to get back into the sport, she knew Truman was the place for her.

“My brother, who is three years older, went to Truman,” Dance said. “Through him, I learned about the great swimming and academics of the school. Truman was a natural fit, so I transferred.”

That decision worked out well. During her time at the University, Dance was a part of four swimming team national championships. On an individual level, she was a member of seven national champion freestyle relay teams and earned 28 All-America awards. Academically she excelled too, graduating with a perfect grade-point average while picking up a degree in exercise science with a minor in biology.

Those accomplishments helped Dance secure the NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship. The honor is bestowed on one male and one female student-athlete each year, regardless of sport or division, in recognition of athletic and academic achievement and for the purposes of postgraduate study.

“I didn’t think I would make it far in the application process, let alone win,” she said. “As students and athletes, what we do—working hard in our sport and academically—is the routine. It’s hard to recognize when it might be exemplary. I have my coach, Colleen Murphy, and my parents to thank, because they encouraged me to apply.”

SarahDanceSwimming The Walter Byers Scholarship came in handy for Dance, who attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after her time at Truman. She finished her final year of anesthesiology residency this June, and while she calls Seattle, Wash., home now, she is currently spending a year in Houston as she completes a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology at the Texas Heart Institute.

In addition to dedicating the last several years to establishing her medical career, Dance joined the National Guard and spent six months deployed in Iraq.

“I always wanted to do something with the military, but couldn’t find the right avenue until a National Guard member spoke at a med school lunch meeting during the first weeks of school,” she said. “It seemed like a good fit—the opportunity for military involvement, but to still pick my own specialty and where I live.”

Dance worked with the Guard during medical school and her residency, participating in drills during the weekends. She delayed her anesthesia residency so she would have the opportunity deploy to Iraq, where she served as a brigade surgeon for a Nebraska unit and primarily focused on medical administrative work.

“It was a great experience in a leadership role, and I met a lot of great people,” she said.

Dance and her fiancé will be married next year, and they hope to make their home in the northwest.

Truman Review

The magazine for Truman State University alumni, parents and friends.