Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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v ndm-naumwwzulm 'V V 1 ' .- Aopunw uoxgq Z? 46$ PX! One step at a time, Ron Schepker makes his wa y to Stokes stadium. The weather was beautiful, and the ceremo- ny was held outdoors. Full of smiles, Greg Swan- son follows Cynthia Stevin- son as they prepare for com- mencement. Everyone had a nefvous grin, getting ready for the big event. Aopunw uong The into the um, fillil and the g roundin; Chatter the stad players. director up the proache The on their names a membel playing career. 1 self Vict conques Th4 ny May ning for ending with 31 through a . W 1 !th

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1 l 1 1 Jr 1;t l ' l 11 m l W : l i l 1 t l p L l iiItls the Beat of the 1 Futureil is the title of V the musical program performed by the more than 100 members of the Up With People cast. Several NMSU students will have the beat of Up With People in their future when they begin to tour with the group. The cast of Up With People is com- prised of a group of young men and wom- en from around the world who stage their musical show in various countries. iiThe program gives us the opportu- nity to travel and to meet people, i, junior g Gwen Aslakson, who was picked for the program, said. iiNot only to travel but to la get into their culture. Itls an outreach to E people around the world Her major is philosophy and religion, and she says meeting people is especially appealing to her. Meeting new people is easy with this group. In addition to making friends with other cast members, the performers stay with families who provide food and lodging for them while they are on the road. Like other students who applied for the elite group, Aslakson, in addition to an interview, filled out an application of five essay questions, which had to be re- turned to a selection committee in Ari- zona. Prospective members had to ex- plain why they wanted to join, how their career goals fit into the organizationls mission, and how they would fund the trip. Although members stay with fami- lies while touring, they still must pay tu- ition of about $7,500. Up With People is a non-profit organization, but yet they must pay for the transportation of five casts all over the world, senior Doug te Duits said. When Up With People is on the road, they stay with families who 1 The Songs From Many Nations segment of the program exposed the audi- ence to traditionaI songs and Z dances from foreign lands, 3 including this number from leSOABLOIQ wow provide food and lodg- ing. itBetween $7,000 and $8,000 a year is kind of steepf, Al Srnka, as- sistant professor of speech and director of Franklin Street, said. iiAn individual has to weigh the cost for himself. If they think theylre going to get their moneyis worth out of it, thats the important thing? Besides Visiting exotic places, the group also promotes good will world- wide. The cast performs one day in the cities they Visit and also entertain at schools, nursing homes, prisons and homes for the handicapped. The perfor- mers divide into three groups, setting up, performing community work and con- ducting a program for students. There is also a break day. Although the company performs, a musical background is not necessary, and there are no auditions. iiThey dont even care if you can sing or dance? te Duits said. iiAll they care about is how you present yourself and your leadership ability? Constantly traveling from city to city, the members are kept busy, so busy that they dont have time to think about being homesick. iiI love my family but if Ilm in exotic places in Europe Pm not going to miss them enough to come home? Aslakson said. Aslakson hopes to go on tour with the group starting in J anuary 1989. She will graduate in May, which will give her seven months to raise the money, she said. Te Duits is unsure of his future plans also. They both said they thought the ex- perience would be fun, and they would like to have it as part of the future. A Karen Klingemann Up With People - 43

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reg Swan- ia Stevin- a for com- one had a Eing ready big even t. Aopunw uoxqq : Game of life commences WITH DEGREES The fans poured into the Stokes Stadi- um, filling the bleachers and the grassy areas sur- rounding the field. Chatter and laughter floated throughout the stadium as the fans waited for the players. As the Symphonic Band, led by director of bands Dan Peterson, struck up the theme music, the players ap- proached the field. The fans rose to their feet, cheering on their favorite players, shouting their names and applauding wildly. The team members are about to be rewarded for playing the most important game of their career. Each individual had proved him- self victorious in the game of life and the conquest of education. The spring commencement ceremo- ny May 8 marked an ending and a begin- ning for about 1,000 graduates. It was an ending for one season, a season filled with anxiety and trials as studying through the night became part of the dai- ly routine and saving every penny for tu- ition meant an occasion- al dinner had to be mis- sed. It was also filled with joy and anticipa- tion as the goal line came into View. The keynote speaker, Charles Karelis, chairman of the philosophy department at Williams College tWil- liamstown, MassJ and director of the Fund for the Improvement of Post-sec- 0ndary Education for the US. Depart- ment of Education, spoke about the new beginnings that a liberal arts education can generate. 01 felt very proud to have finally achieved the goal that Itve been striving towards for a long time? senior Peter Holton stated. As the team members marched off the field, they realized that even though they may have been Victorious this sea- son, they have many more seasons ahead of them left to face and hopefully to con- quenV Laura Venable Aopunw uoxga Adding bits of Wisdom Charles KareIis, commence- ment speaker, gives an inspi- rational speech. Board of Governors t mem bers James Conway and Myra Biaotto 100k on. Graduation - '15