Add a serving of mentorship to small class sizes, mix in a semester internship with a year-long research process, and top off with a measure of worldly perspective gained from the liberal arts and studying abroad: this is the recipe for creating a superlative graduate.

Dr. Sam Minner, Dean of the Division of Education, thinks that Truman—especially the College of Education—has mastered this mix. More than ever, graduates are going on to do great things. According to Minner, these are the 5 key ingredients that go into the making of a superlative graduate.

1. They're bright. Because Truman is highly selective, the brightest of the bright come to Truman.
2. They soak up a liberal arts education. Truman students know a lot about the world they live in, they speak effectively, write effectively, work well with others, and often speak a second language. Through internships and study abroad, they also appreciate the diversity and richness of the human condition.
3. They achieve mastery in their discipline. Through small class sizes and heaps of personal attention by faculty, students get to dig deep into their discipline. Before graduation, each Truman graduate also must complete a research artifact, through the Capstone Experience, that allows him or her to develop expertise in their discipline. "Faculty are powerfully connected with students through research projects," states Minner.
4. They receive professional preparation. Truman is serious about real-life professional experience, coupled with self-reflection and dialogue with an academic mentor. According to Minner, "A Truman hallmark is that the faculty is powerfully engaged with students in and out of class. They see the value of helping students think about their education outside of the classroom."
5. They have an "It's up to me" attitude. When graduates leave Truman, they enter the world with an optimistic, highly-energized mindset. Most believe that they can make a difference—and most do—even when faced with great obstacles. It's the Truman way.

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The big break—it's what every working musician hopes for. For Cirque Du Soleil musician and Truman State University grad Anthony Cooperwood, his breakthrough came at an unlikely moment.

It all began with a $50 gig at a local nursing home, where he met a man who called Anthony two years later to do a job in China. On the way to the airport to travel to China, Anthony struck up a conversation with a fellow musician who needed a sub for the Big Apple Circus. Lo and behold, that circumstantial event led Anthony to meet the composer of Cirque and eventually become the lead keyboardist and back-up conductor for Dralion—which travels internationally.

Recently, Anthony, who's currently on the road in Berlin, Germany, spoke with us about the valuable lessons he learned at Truman that led him to becoming a world-class musician.

Work hard to perform—whatever the gig
According to Anthony, "You can get what you reach for, but you first need to work for it." After leaving Truman for New York City, Anthony did whatever he possibly could do as a musician. He taught music, he played in hospitals, in nursing homes, for television, and for recordings.

This take-on-any-gig mentality developed at Truman, during which time Anthony played weekly at a local bar, participated in the marching band, performed solos, backed up soloists and ensembles, and provided scores for the theater and opera.

Become well-rounded
Anthony credits his success as a professional musician partially to his liberal arts education. As a fledgling musician in NYC, Anthony had to become his own manager and accountant. According to Anthony, "The same time I was doing music, I had to do art, theater, math, and computer science. Without the math, I couldn't do the accounting. Without knowing how to write, I couldn't put together a compelling press kit. All those tools the university gave me, I'm using today."

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The Truman State University theatre department recently began its 2006-2007 main stage season with a production of Wendy Wasserstein's Tony-award winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Director Dr. Todd Coulter, assistant professor of theatre, selected this play as his first at Truman. "I wanted to have a female playwright in this season," he said, noting that five of the eight cast members are female.

The Heidi Chronicles follows the life of Heidi Holland (Sarah Hitzel) from her teenage years during the 1960s to her present-day career as a noted art historian and professor at Columbia University in New York City. Although she has achieved great things professionally, something is still missing in her life. From her time as an activist in the Eugene McCarthy presidential campaign in 1968 and a participant in sparsely attended rallies at the Chicago Art Institute, she looks back and wonders what happened to the once-vibrant feminist movement.

The Heidi Chronicles is Wasserstein's most famous play, artfully blending her dry sense of humor with a serious discussion of the feminist movement. Dr. Coulter felt this play was perfect for a university campus because "it has a lens of academia built into it." Freshman Adam Bennett enjoyed the play and commented on the benefits of theatre in a liberal arts education. "Attending these kinds of events helps support the liberal arts goal of Truman. It helps to open students' eyes to the arts while deepening and broadening their appreciation of the beauty around us."

Dr. Coulter stressed the benefits of getting involved in theatrical productions at Truman. "Beyond gaining experience in their field of study and understanding the complexities of producing a play, students learn the importance of collaboration," he said. "They learn the importance of holding themselves accountable for their individual work in a collective and creative environment where the individual pieces come together to create a cohesive whole."

Other productions in the 2006-2007 main stage season include:

The Pillowman (October 25-28)
Unity (1918) (November 14-18)
Fall Director's Showcase (December 7-9)
Taming of the Shrew (February 20-24)
Batboy: The Musical (April 10-14)
Spring Director's Showcase (April 25-27)

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Truman students don't complain about boredom. In fact, they have a reputation for getting involved—and getting connected. There are over 240 organizations on campus, an incredible figure for a university with an enrollment of around 6,000 students. With most students being involved in numerous organizations, it's not surprising that The Princeton Review ranked Truman in the top ten universities with 'More to Do on Campus.'

During the first week of fall classes, the Quad feels like a carnival during the annual Activities Fair, co-sponsored by Cardinal Key and the Center for Student Involvement. Almost every campus organization has a table with information, handouts, and other goodies. A special tradition is a ball drop from an airplane at 2:14 in the afternoon. Because ping-pong balls can be redeemed for prizes, students set off on a mad dash when an airplane flies overhead.

Students are thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the Activities Fair and get information on how to get involved at Truman. "There are a lot more ways to get involved than I expected," said Price Tipping, a first-year student from New Boston, Missouri. "I was surprised that the Irish dance club (Ceilidh) was here—it's just not something that you normally see." William Young, a first-year student from Sauk Village, Illinois, agreed: "It was nice. I was waiting for this actually."

Student organizations on campus are divided into 11 areas of interest:

• Campus Media
• Cultural
• Departmental/Professional
• Greek (Social)
• Honorary
• Recreational/Sports
• Religious
• Residence Life
• Service
• Special Interest
• Student Government/Political

For more information, visit the Center for Student Involvement's website.

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