The first event in the project’s year-long series, Tom Sawyer at 150: Hannibal, Twain, and the American Myth of Place, commemorates the 150th anniversary of Twain’s beloved novel and invites participants to examine how literature influences the way communities see themselves and how others perceive them.

The launch coincides with free admission week (June 8 – 12) offered by the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum (Hannibal, Mo.) as part of its Tom Sawyer 150 Celebration. No registration is required to participate in the Midwest Literary Project activities. Visitors may complete a brief project survey at any point during the week by scanning a QR code available at the museum.

On Thursday, June 11, Dr. Alissa Burger, C-SC associate professor of English and Midwest Literary Project lead, will be on site at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum to speak with visitors about the Midwest Literary Project and conduct in-person surveys as part of the initiative’s community engagement efforts. Visitors are encouraged to stop by to learn more about the project and its upcoming events.

“Tom Sawyer remains one of the most recognizable literary figures associated with the American Midwest,” said Burger. “This conversation offers an opportunity to reflect not only on Twain’s work, but also on the ways stories shape our understanding of home, community and regional identity.”

As part of the Midwest Literary Project’s three-stage format, participants in each series installment may attend an in-person community conversation, as well as engage with online resources and continue exploring each topic through a companion podcast available on the project’s website.

The Midwest Literary Project is an initiative of 91ֱ��’s newly launched Center for Rural Opportunity and is funded by Missouri Humanities. Designed as a year-long series of six themed conversations rooted in the communities of northeast Missouri, the project uses literature and the humanities to examine how place influences identity, storytelling, and the American experience.

Additional topics in the series include Jane Smiley’s “A Thousand Acres,” Midwestern culinary traditions, Black literature and jazz in the Midwest, regional visual arts and folk traditions, and the enduring cultural significance of “The Wizard of Oz.”

More information about the Midwest Literary Project, including online content and podcast episodes, is available at .

91ֱ�� is sponsoring this program in partnership with the Missouri Humanities and with support from the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund. For more information about the grants program of the Missouri Humanities Council, call (314) 781-9660 or (800) 357-0909 or email clarice@mohumanities.org.

About the Center for Rural Opportunity at C-SC
91ֱ��’s Center for Rural Opportunity is a recently established initiative designed to expand the College’s reach as a leader in rural-focused scholarship and engagement. The Center brings together academic programs, applied research, and community-facing initiatives to generate insight, inform practice, and create models that extend beyond a single geography.

Hillstock will feature a day full of exciting activities for all attendees to enjoy. Guests can expect live performances from talented local musicians, delicious food offerings from a variety of local vendors, and a variety of fun yard games. It’s the perfect opportunity for students and staff alike to unwind, socialize, and reflect on a year well spent.

In addition to the many activities and entertainment, 91ֱ�� is inviting local vendors and artisans to participate in this year’s Hillstock event. The college is seeking creative and passionate individuals and businesses to showcase their unique products and creations during the festivities. There is no cost for vendors to participate, and this is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and connect with the local community.

Interested vendors can find the participation form online and are encouraged to apply soon as space is limited.

The show, adapted for the stage by the University of Northwestern, St. Paul Theatre professor Jennifer Hunter, features Alice (Zoey Kiser) as she faces her fears and moves through this strange world. Along the way, she meets the characters from the tale: White Rabbit (Kalista VanDerAa), the French Mouse (Morgan Zavoral), the Mad Hatter (Baylee Northington), the Cheshire Cat (Cassie Williams), the Caterpillar (Celeste Frogge), Tweedle Dee (Kenzie Coleman) and Tweedle Dum (Brad Collins), and the Queen of Hearts (Megan Eaton). She also confronts the Jabberwocky creature from the story’s sequel.

Other cast members include:

Eaton as Matilda
Addison Wetzel as Duck, Mushroom, White Knight
Rowdy Jackson as Dodo, Mushroom, White Knight
Demi Brown as Lory, Mushroom, White Knight
Cheyenne Moyer as Fish Footman
Kyla Grose as Tiger Lily, Mushroom, Card 5
Micah Peterson as Peony, Mushroom, Card 7
Randi Green as Rose, Mushroom, Card 9
Faith Myers as Poppy, Mushroom, Card 3
Christian Stewart as Executioner
Hadyn Roberts as Knave
Anna Gable as White Queen
Spencer Shively as Humpty Dumpty

Crew members for the production include:

Kaitlyn Beth, stage manager
Charlotte Hansert, assistant stage manager
Madi Pruitt, assistant stage manager
Williams, costume design
Eaton, lighting design
Stewart, master electrician
Arrow Andrews, make-up design
Collins, sound design
Coleman, props design
VanDerAa, props design
Alexis Mallon, Jabberwocky design

David Lane, senior lecturer in speech/theatre education, is directing the show. Michael York, assistant technical director for the C-SC theatre department, is the scenic design and technical director.

Admission to the show is free to C-SC students, faculty, and staff. Tickets for the public are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. For reservations or more information, contact Lane at dlane@culver.edu or call 573-288-6398.

“I am honored to receive this scholarship award from Sigma Beta Delta,” Morris said. “I am so grateful to have been recognized for my achievements at Culver-Stockton, and I look forward to a great future in the field, knowing that I have been well prepared by both the college and Sigma Beta Delta.”

In addition to his membership with Sigma Beta Delta, Morris is active at C-SC by holding leadership roles in various student organizations. He is the President of Lambda Chi Alpha, Treasurer of the Red Cross Club, a Senator within the Student Government Association, and a member of the Mental Health Awareness Club. Morris is a student-athlete and a varsity player with the Wildcat men’s soccer team. He also completed an internship with Northwestern Mutual this past summer.

As his horizons expanded, he began to leave his mark all around the campus. He created banners that hang at the welcome of the Carl Johann Memorial Library and the Herrick Foundation Center.  And now, as of late October 2023, a more than 36-foot mural, his biggest design to date, graces a wall in the Gladys Crown Student Center located in the heart of the campus.

“It’s quite amazing. I’m still quite speechless standing here looking at it,” he said. “It is in a really high-traffic area, and I think almost every student at the college will come through this building once a day. It really fits well in the space. I’m still at a loss for words.”

Moore’s opportunity to create the mural came from a request over the summer to several graphic design students for a mural that represented the college. Moore said he immediately started to brainstorm a design that would encompass the feel of “the Hill.” After some feedback and critiques, Moore’s design was selected, and his art was brought to life.

The mural incorporates several aspects of the college, including detailed depictions of two of the most recognizable buildings on campus – the iconic dome of Henderson Hall and Johnson Hall, which is the oldest building on campus. The well-known Wildcat mascot, “Wildcat Willie,” is represented in the design at the iconic Tomlinson Fountain, where so many new students over the years have marked their first day by throwing a coin and making a wish during matriculation. The images are pulled together in bright hues of the college’s colors.

“Seeing it in person, my favorite is the color. The amount of blue just really pops out and adds a bit of energy to what was once quite a boring space,” Moore said. “I love seeing that when I walk past.”

Moore said the style behind his design was to create something that would resonate with visitors and have something to take away from their visit to C-SC. He noted the use of the arch in the design was an important aspect to include because the real arch at the entrance on campus is iconic but hard to represent in photographs during a visit.

“My hope is that visitors and prospective students can come along and stand under here and take photos,” he said. “I also hope it brings a smile to people’s faces when they pass by it.”

Moore said a big part of his inspiration to capture the essence of C-SC in a mural stems from the experiences he has had over the last nearly four years. As an international student, he said, coming to college as a freshman at the height of the COVID pandemic and knowing no one was made easier because of the people he met. He cherishes the chance he has had to form lasting friendships and connections that he will take with him into the future. He said that, combined with C-SC’s experiential learning thought process, contributed to the success of the mural.

Alyssa Hummel, Director of Communication and Marketing, said this mural has been a much-anticipated project for the college. “For nearly a year, we have been working to identify areas on campus that could serve as interactive photo walls,” Hummel said. “Placing Ryan’s mural outside the dining center was a great place because it is in a high-traffic area and allows us to spotlight the works of our talented students for visitors and current  students while sharing components of the C-SC story.”

“It shows they have trust in their students, and the professors are teaching these students. It shows that what they are doing works, and it gives real-world experience to students,” Moore said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and trust that was put in me by the school to create something that can be long-lasting.”

Brown-DeClue is an artist living and working in Quincy, Illinois. Her preferred mediums are painting and drawing, and she said she enjoys pushing herself to grow as an artist. The featured work for the show will include pieces that showcase landscapes using soft pastels. She said these pieces highlight known locations and are tied to a memory.

The exhibit will also feature non-objective mixed media pieces that Brown-DeClue has created. During the event, students and other attendees will have an opportunity to speak with Brown-DeClue to ask questions and talk about the artist’s work and passion for the industry.

On Oct. 27, the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center will transform into C-SC’s “Built on the Hill” homecoming headquarters from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. During that time, attendees can register for homecoming and meet for campus tours, scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. The C-SC classes of 1963 and 1973 will be inducted into the Top of the Hill Society during a luncheon slated for 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center. The event is free for inductees and previous inductees. The cost for non-members for the luncheon is $20.

Continuing the Friday events, a women’s soccer game will take place at 5 p.m. at Ellison Poulton Stadium, where the Wildcats will take on Grandview University. An alumni honors banquet will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at Meaders Lounge. Cost is $35.  The day will wrap up with the annual Blue and White Mixer from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Mabee Center, a men’s soccer game against Grandview University at 7 p.m. at the stadium, and a Black Student Union Yard Show at 8 p.m. at The Alumni Plaza. The show will feature the National Pan-Hellenic Counsel’s and multicultural Greek letter organizations’ steps and strolls.

Off-campus, a golf outing will be held for alumni and friends beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 at the River Valley Community Golf Course, 33566 220th Street, Canton, Missouri. The fee is $40 and includes green fees, a golf cart, and lunch. Players can pay at the course at the time of the event.

Festivities continue on Oct. 28 when several events open to the public are scheduled.

The day begins with C-SC’s annual homecoming parade at 9 a.m. in downtown Canton. The event will feature the musical talent of several area marching bands and current campus organizations’ parade participants celebrating the college and alumni. An alumni baseball game is set for 10:30 a.m. at Nichols Field, and an Alpha Xi Delta gathering will be held at 11 a.m. at Alpha Xi Delta Plaza. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Greek houses will be open for tours.

Saturday events also include a high school band awards ceremony at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Alexander Campbell Auditorium in the Performing Arts Center. Those attending campus events can enjoy concessions at the athletic fields. Activities for school-age children will include the Big Cat-Little Cat Legacy Land from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Himsl Field. The event is sponsored by CSTO.

At 12:30 p.m., The Wildcats football team will take on William Penn at the Ellison-Poulton Stadium. Homecoming court activities will take place at halftime during the game.

Other community events slated for the day include an art gallery exhibit 3-5 p.m. featuring the work of Amanda Brown-DeClue (’18) in the Mabee Art Gallery located in the Herrick Foundation Center. Brown-DeClue will discuss the exhibit at 3:30 p.m. A women’s volleyball game against Mt. Mercy University is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Charles Field House.

Off-campus, Tau Kappa Epsilon members will gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Tower of Pizza in Quincy, Illinois, and An Evening of Celebrations will be held at 6 p.m. in the Caldwell Building Event Center, 30200 MO Highway 16, Canton. The event will feature the alumni choir and various reunions, music, dinner, and dancing.

The weekend wraps up with a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29 in Merillat Chapel.

Those attending are asked to bring canned food or non-perishable items for donation to the local food pantry. Those items can be dropped off at the registration table.

For questions or more information about the event, contact CSTO sponsor Lacy Harrison at lharrison@culver.edu.

The Developing an Educator Workforce that Expands Yearly (DEWEY) Award is given to higher learning institutions that are working to increase the number of teacher candidates and strengthen retention in teacher preparation programs. The DEWEY awards provide $70,000 grants to 15 education preparation programs and $45,000 to five two-year higher learning education programs annually. Those who receive the one-year grants move through a competitive selection process based on a detailed proposal that meets the required criteria.
Recognizing the opportunity with the DEWEY funding for C-SC’s education candidate recruiting and retaining efforts, Dr. Cindy Whiston, associate professor of education, outlined a plan for the use of the funding for education majors during the 2023-24 academic year. Part of the focus will include scholarships that assist with items such as textbooks, course expenses, mileage, meals, tutoring, and certification expenses.

“It is extremely important to support our students who may experience financial shortfalls as they try to complete their degrees because these are the individuals with a passion for education who are working hard to achieve their goals,” Whiston wrote in the proposal application.

The funding will also be used to enhance social media recruitment campaigns as well as recreational activities, service events, and professional development for students in the education program. C-SC will use part of the funding to host a mini-conference in the spring to connect professional mentors with students, especially those in underrepresented populations, including male students and students of color.

“As a result of our efforts to support underrepresented populations in the past four years, we have seen our numbers of male elementary education candidates nearly double, and we would like to see that trend continue,” Whiston wrote.

Through the support of previous grant funding, C-SC has increased recruitment and retention efforts of education majors. The education program at the college saw an increased retention rate. Retention was 85% from the 2023 spring semester to the fall semester of that year.

Undergraduate enrollment also increased in that time, according to Whiston. She noted a 20% enrollment increase between the 2022 and the 2023 fall semesters. The program grew from 43 new students in the fall of 2022 to 52 new students in the education program in the fall of 2023. The previous grant funding also helped the college increase enrollment in the Master of Education program, up 37% from 2022 to 2023.

“Our goal is to assist in ending the critical teacher shortage within a 60-mile radius of our college by supporting those educators,” Whiston wrote.

C-SC’s Critical Response Simulation Lab (CRSL) is a live, virtual, and responsive simulation using advanced technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to train in scenarios tailored to diverse needs.

Seth McBride, who serves as Chair of the Criminal Justice Department, as well as a former corporate investigator with Boeing, Co. and former detective with the Hannibal Police Department, said the simulation lab is used to train students, law enforcement, public servants, church workers, business professionals, and community leaders. He noted the software is customizable for each group of trainees.

“The simulator embedded in the Critical Response Simulation Lab is MILO. MILO stands for Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives. The software uses more than 950 different scenarios in the areas of de-escalation, conflict resolution, and use of force decision-making. MILO is used by police agencies across the country for continuous training in these same areas,” said McBride. “I am proud that 91ֱ�� is one of few private liberal arts colleges to have a simulator lab with this technology in the United States.”

The lab, where training is facilitated by McBride and Sgt. Devon Willis of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, is housed in the lower level of the Johann Library on the campus and was made possible by a generous lead donation from C-SC alumna and trustee emerita Leslie Kelsay ’73, along with other gifts from alumni and friends.

C-SC officials will hold the Kelsay Criminal Justice Lab dedication ceremony at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, for campus officials, trustees, students, and media personnel. Speakers for the event include McBride, Willis, and Kelsay, as well as David Parrish, Lewis County sheriff; Dr. Lauren B. Schellenberger, C-SC president; and Tara Mackey ’21, an officer with the Hannibal Police Department.

Mackey, a graduate of C-SC’s criminal justice program, said the simulation lab is a valuable resource to all who experience the training.

“There are so many different aspects of policing that training on MILO can cover. Human interaction and communication are at the top of that list. The experiences I got from the simulation have been extremely helpful in my overall law enforcement training. The simulation provides the closest possible thing to real-world experiences,” she said. “It is one thing to simply be exposed to these simulations, but I believe the true value of the MILO lab is the educational conversations and learning points that it creates for students and professors to explore.”