She gets the question all the time: "Why didn't you go there?"

You see, Sara DeGonia, Editor in Chief of Truman's weekly, award-winning newspaper, the Index, turned down University of Missouri. You might wonder the same thing, but for Sara, the decision wasn't a difficult one. Truman had her heart from the go—and, soon, she found that it was the perfect environment for a journalist to blossom.

During Truman's Freshman Week, Sara, a self-professed ambitious-type, introduced herself to the Index staff and applied for a job. Sara states, "Because I wanted the job so badly, I was hired as a copy editor, and have worked my way up. I've spent a good majority of my time at Truman working at the Index."

Throughout her four years at Truman, she's received hands-on editorial experience that she knows she wouldn't have had if she chose Mizzou. Sara has heard that because there's so much competition at Mizzou, you don't actually get to write until you're a junior. She states, "There are fewer opportunities as an underclassman to get published and get experience."

But if you're willing to put in the effort and care enough, you can get the training you need through involvement with one of Truman's many publications. When you couple that training with a liberal arts education, you're a double-threat. According to Sara, "As a journalist, you're always looking to learn more about everything. At a liberal arts school, you have to learn something about everything. A liberal arts education helps a journalist, because it gives you a larger perspective. There'll always be a story that comes up that you'll think, 'I remember learning about that … ' "

While Sara's shedding a few tears as her term of editor in chief is coming to a close—and she looks to her future beyond Truman—she takes great pride in what she has helped the Index achieve during her employment. Recently, the College Media Advisors Association awarded the Index the Best in Show Apple Award (for a four-year college, broad-sheet newspaper). It's the fourth time in five years they've won the Apple Award, and it's a legacy that Sara proudly leaves behind at Truman.

return >

Though it took Jenna Fischer ('95) only about three months to decide that she would rather pursue theatre than her initial path of pre-law and history, she did not officially change her major to theatre until her junior year. "I just wasn't quite ready to commit to the fact that acting was going to be the thing I was going to do," says Fischer. With the urging of her parents to get a college education, she decided to attend Truman.

While at Truman, Fischer created many of her most memorable experiences in theatre. Along with a small group of other theatre majors, she began producing, writing, and shooting short films and shows.

However, success did not come immediately once she was in L.A. It was four years before she was making an actual living as an actress.

While working as an office temp, Fischer would do almost any play, student film or film extra position to gain experience, and hopefully, to get noticed. In 2003, she auditioned for NBC's The Office and got the part of Pam Beesly, the friendly office receptionist.

"When I got The Office, it's not just that I got a job; I got the job I was passionate about," says Fischer.

Fischer is currently starring with comedy legend Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory, in which she portrays Katie Van Waldenberg, a sister of an ice-skating star who falls in love with Jimmy MacElroy (Ferrell's partner)—and mischievously tries to undo the duo's success.

return >

Fun and finals rarely go hand-in-hand. But last Saturday, before wrestling through final papers, projects, and exams, Truman students were encouraged to think of nothing else but having fun.

At Truman's big end-of-the-year event, The Final Blowout, students enjoyed good food, fun with friends, and an old-fashioned carnival atmosphere. According to Ann Creasey, senior and Student Activities Board (SAB) chair of the event, "It's a good way to relax and have fun before finals. The students really look forward to The Final Blowout—they know it's one of their last hurrahs before they hit the books before finals."

A big draw for the event is not only that it's fun—but that it doesn't require cash. The Student Activities Board puts it on free of charge. "The students didn't have to pay for anything on that day—from games to dinner to funnel cakes," Creasey states.

Features of the event included food such as pulled pork, hot dogs, chips, and desserts; t-shirts and totes students could design with stencils; a 24-foot rock climbing wall and inflatable obstacle course; carnival games such as football toss, washers, beanbag toss, and duck pond; music provided by the campus radio station, KTRM; and more. Students also won more than $1500 in prizes—including an iPod nano, a digital camera, gift certificates, and DVDs.

While the day is designed primarily for students, many Kirksville residents attended along with members of the Truman faculty and staff. "It's a fun event for all ages," Creasey states.

The Final Blowout took place Saturday, April 21, on Truman's campus.

return >

You've got the time-honored Ivy Leagues, the small (and usually expensive) liberal arts colleges, the large state schools with their NCAA rankings and party reputations. As a college consumer, you have a variety of schools to choose from—and it can be hard to know where you'll fit best.

As a high school senior, John Allen, a Truman biology major, found himself at this crossroads. So he narrowed his selection down to four schools, each having a unique complexion: University of Chicago, Bradley, University of Illinois, and Truman. After visiting each campus with a set of criteria in hand (a must-do for all prospective students, according to John), John became increasingly convinced that Truman would provide him with the best college experience. Here's why:

Sociable and Warm Atmosphere
As a gregarious young man, John was immediately warmed by the friendliness of Truman students. On his campus tour, he remembers being impressed by people opening the doors for others, no small gesture in a rush-rush world. He also felt immediately welcomed as Truman students said hello to him, despite him being a stranger. According to John, "People at Truman are bright, but they don't have egos, like at the other schools I visited."

Small Classes, Personable Profs
While John was impressed with University of Illinois' multi-million dollar science facility (a boon for any prospective biology student), the large lecture halls immediately turned him off. "I felt like I would be lost in there," remembers John. At Truman, the professors really do know your name. According to John, "If you put forth the minimum amount of effort to get to know your professors, they'll really help you. They really take advising seriously! They are there to be mentors—not just do their research."

Financially Feasible
Cost is a factor for most students, and it was a large reason why John chose Truman. Though he received a larger scholarship from Bradley, it was still less expensive to attend Truman, which is nationally recognized as the Fourth Best Public College Value by The Princeton Review.

Liberal Arts Backbone
For John, going to college was not merely a stepping-stone to getting a job. "I wanted to get educated, ask tough questions, become a responsible member of society," says John—and that's what Truman's liberal arts culture is all about.

Being in a place where everyone has a broad knowledge of many things has "popped" John's small-world bubble. According to John, "My liberal arts education has allowed me to interact with people from different backgrounds and communicate openly on a variety of topics." He adds, "Because of my liberal arts education, I am confident I will be able to confront almost any problem I face in life—whether it be at work, with my family, or in society. I know I don't know everything, but I know where to go to find the answers and how to ask for help."

return >