CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� inducted Wes Lukoshus ‘74 and Kristen Harmon ‘92 into the 91ֱ�� Dept. of Education Hall of Excellence during a ceremony on April 14 on the C-SC campus.

Lukoshus enjoyed a distinguished 43-year career in journalism, public relations, and higher education administration, including 32 years with the Purdue University system. He retired as assistant vice chancellor of marketing and communication at Purdue University Northwest, where he played a key role in institutional growth and strategic communications.

Harmon is a deaf professor of English at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. A respected scholar, writer, and educator, she has published peer-reviewed scholarly articles, book chapters, anthologies, short stories, and narrative non-fiction. She teaches a wide range of courses in media, writing, literature, and composition and rhetoric. 

“We are pleased to recognize Wes and Kristen this year. They exemplify the transformative power of education and the enduring impact of 91ֱ��,” said Dr. Cindy Whiston, associate professor of education and associate division chair of the Business, Education, Art, and Media Division. “Their achievements, leadership, and dedication to their fields serve as an inspiration to our students and reflect the excellence we strive to cultivate at C-SC.”

The Education Hall of Excellence recognizes Culver-Stockton alumni who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, leadership, and dedication to the field of education.

For more information about Culver-Stockton’s education major, visit /majors/education/.

CANTON, Mo. — Dr. Dylan Marney, 91ֱ�� associate professor of music and chair of the Division of Civic Engagement, Humanities, and Performing Arts, will take the stage as the featured performer in the Hannibal Arts Council’s Casual Classics series this weekend.

The recital is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the Hannibal Arts Council, located at 105 S. Main St. in Hannibal. The recital is open free to the public.

Dr. Marney will perform solo piano works by Mozart and Chopin. The performance will feature a Kawai grand piano graciously on loan to the Hannibal Arts Council from the family of Jason Dugger. According to the Hannibal Arts Council, the Casual Classics series provides an accessible and welcoming concert experience, offering audiences an opportunity to enjoy exceptional classical music in an intimate setting. Designed to help “classical music meet community,” the series appeals to seasoned enthusiasts and first-time listeners alike.

Dr. Marney, an accomplished pianist and scholar, holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from the University of Arizona. An award-winning performer, he has appeared as a soloist throughout the region and nation and continues to compose and research electro-acoustic works for film and multimedia.

The Casual Classics event is presented in partnership with the Hannibal Arts Council, Hannibal Concert Association, 91ֱ��’s Division of Civic Engagement, Humanities, and Performing Arts, and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency

To learn more about 91ֱ��’s programs in music, music education, and music technology, visit /majors/.

Performances are set for Thursday–Saturday, April 9–11 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m., in the Mabee Foundation Theatre on the Culver-Stockton campus.

“This show is pure joy,” said C-SC Professor of Theatre Haidee Heaton. “It’s nostalgic for adults, exciting for younger audiences, and a great showcase of the talent and creativity of our students.”

Based on the Emmy Award-winning 1970s educational cartoon series, “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” brings beloved classics like “Conjunction Junction” and “Just a Bill” from the screen to the stage in a lively, theatrical format. The musical follows Tom, a young teacher nervous about his first day in the classroom, as characters from his imagination help him discover how to connect with students through creativity, music, and fun.

With its upbeat energy and clever storytelling, the production blends education and entertainment, delivering lessons in grammar, math, science, and history through catchy tunes and dynamic performances. Designed for performers of all experience levels, the show offers a vibrant and accessible theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.

Tickets are free for Culver-Stockton students, faculty, and staff. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Reserve tickets online at .

For more information about the 91ֱ�� Department of Theatre, visit /majors/theatre/.

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� will showcase student creativity and artistic achievement during the 2026 Student Honors Exhibition, opening with a public reception from 2–4 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, in the Mabee Art Gallery. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Awards will be announced at 2:30 p.m. during the reception. The exhibition will remain on display through May 13. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The annual exhibition provides an opportunity for Culver-Stockton students to present artwork created within the past year. This year’s show features work from 27 student artists, representing a range of media and artistic approaches, including works from Sara Gruenewald (senior, Silex, MO), Ava Jacobsen (junior, Taylor, MO), Tabitha Haxel (junior, Hannibal, MO), Jack Laney (junior, Montgomery, TX), and Dae’Ja Castillo (freshman, Fort Leonard Wood, MO).

The exhibition is juried by Culver-Stockton’s art faculty, with awards selected by an external judge. This year’s judge is Jan Clough, professor emeritus at Western Illinois University.

For more information 91ֱ��’s programs in art, art education, or arts management, please visit culver.edu/majors/.

The performance marks the culmination of a unique, yearlong initiative made possible through the generosity of Dr. Thelma (Tommye) Leenhouts, Ph.D., giving Culver-Stockton students the rare opportunity to collaborate directly with a living composer and debut music written specifically for their ensemble.

The March 29 concert will showcase Takach’s original composition, written in a traditional choral style with piano accompaniment. Known for his work with leading ensembles across the country, Takach will also spend time on campus this week working with students in rehearsal and sharing insights on composition, performance, and the music profession.

Earlier this academic year, the choir participated in the first phase of the project, performing a newly re-voiced arrangement of “There’s a Meeting Here Tonight” during its fall concert last October. Originally composed for the professional tenor-bass ensemble Cantus, the piece was adapted for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices, expanding access to its American gospel folk style.

“Opportunities like this go far beyond a typical concert experience,” said Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor Dr. Andrew Schroetter. “Students are not only performing music, but they are also helping bring a new work to life. That process builds musicianship, creativity, and confidence in a way few experiences can.”

For more information about Culver-Stockton’s music program, visit culver.edu/majors.

Directed by Culver-Stockton Professor of Music and Director of Bands Dr. Trent Hollinger, the program will feature a collection of American wind band works that reflect the nation’s history, resilience, and spirit.

The evening’s centerpiece is Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait,” a work that combines wind band music with excerpts from the writings and speeches of President Abraham Lincoln. The performance will feature guest narrator C-SC Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor Dr. Andrew Schroetter, whose narration will bring to life the enduring legacy of the 16th president.

“As we approach America’s Semiquincentennial, this program serves as a musical time capsule. By pairing the profound words of Lincoln with the spirited marches of Sousa and the settings of folk songs with one of America’s most important 20th century composers, our students are exploring the complex and triumphant sounds that have shaped the American identity over the last 250 years,” said Hollinger.

Additional selections include Morton Gould’s “American Salute,” based on “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”; Percy Grainger’s “Spoon River,” inspired by an Illinois folk melody; Ronald Lo Presti’s “Elegy for a Young American,” composed in memory of President John F. Kennedy; “A Bernstein Tribute,” arranged by Clare Grundman; and John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� invites families to its annual community Easter egg hunt, Hop on the Hill, set for Saturday, March 28. The event will take place at Ellison Poulton Stadium on the C-SC campus, with check-in beginning at 1:30 p.m. and the egg hunt kicking off at 2 p.m. Children ages 10 and under are welcome to participate, with designated age groups as follows:

• 3 and under
• Ages 4–6
• Ages 7–10

Hundreds of eggs will be scattered across the field, and Wildcat Willie will be on-site for photos.

This event is sponsored by 91ֱ��, the Culver-Stockton Teacher’s Organization (CSTO), and Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Culver-Stockton Chapter. Student leaders will facilitate the activities for the day.

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� will host sociologist Dr. John Schmalzbauer for the annual Robison Lecture on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. in the Meaders Lounge in the Gladys Crown Student Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Schmalzbauer will present, “We Have Been Here Before: Pandemic and Religion in 1918 Missouri,” examining how religious communities across Missouri responded to the challenges of the 1918 influenza pandemic and what those historical responses can teach us about the relationship among faith, public life, and crisis.

Schmalzbauer teaches in the Missouri State University Department of Languages, Cultures, and Religion, where he holds the Blanche Gorman Strong Chair in Protestant Studies. His research and teaching focus on campus religious life, religion and health, and religion in popular culture.

For more than two decades, Schmalzbauer’s courses have explored the diverse religious traditions found throughout Missouri, including local congregations and American religious history. From 2008 to 2011, he contributed to the Christian Science Monitor and the PBS NewsHour Patchwork Nation Project, documenting the intersection of religion and politics in the Ozarks community of Nixa, Missouri.

He is the author of “People of Faith: Religious Conviction in American Journalism and Higher Education” (Cornell University Press, 2003) and co-author of “The Resilience of Religion in American Higher Education” (Baylor University Press, 2018). Schmalzbauer currently serves as principal investigator for the Landscape Study of Chaplaincy and Campus Ministry in the U.S.

The Robison Lecture Series was established by Dr. Georgia Robison Beale in honor of her father, Dr. Henry Barton Robison. The lecture series is dedicated to fostering dialogue and understanding on critical global issues, and each year, the initiative brings leading experts to campus to engage with audiences on topics ranging from politics and economics to culture and society.

Designed for prospective students, the event allows visitors to spend time on campus learning what it means to be a Wildcat. Participants will connect with faculty, current students, and admission counselors while gaining insight into Culver-Stockton’s academic programs, campus culture, and student experience.

“We know choosing a college is one of the biggest decisions a young person will make, and we want to take the guesswork out of it,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Melanie Lechtenberg. “Explore the Roar gives students a front-row seat to what makes C-SC different, from our hands-on approach to learning to our distinctive 12+3 academic calendar. We want visitors to leave feeling informed, excited, and confident.”

The event begins at 10 a.m. with a guided campus tour led by a Wildcat Ambassador. Students will then meet with admission counselors for a question-and-answer session before participating in divisional academic activities that highlight Culver-Stockton’s programs and experiential-learning opportunities. The visit day also includes a complimentary lunch in the campus dining hall.

By the end of the event, students will leave with a clearer understanding of Culver-Stockton’s distinctive learning environment, including its innovative 12+3 academic calendar and commitment to experiential learning. The program will conclude at 1 p.m.

Registration is required. Students can sign up at culver.edu/visit. For more information, contact the Office of Admission at (573) 288-6331.

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� is inviting local vendors and artisans to participate in its annual Hillstock event, set for Wednesday, April 22 2–7 p.m. on the C-SC campus. Hillstock is a beloved tradition at Culver-Stockton and marks the end of the academic year, bringing together students, faculty, and staff to celebrate hard work and success.

Local businesses, artists, artisans, and vendors are invited to showcase their unique products and creations during the festivities. Hillstock provides an excellent opportunity to gain exposure for their products and connect with the Culver-Stockton community, and there is no vendor registration fee.

In addition to the vendor market, Hillstock offers attendees fun activities like Goat Yoga, as well as live performances from area musicians, delicious food from local vendors, and a variety of fun yard games.

Vendor registration is available at .