Willa Dawson
Romance Languages Major, Music Minor
College of Arts & Sciences Division
Parkway South High School
Manchester, MO & Northampton, MA
Manchester, MO & Northampton, MA
Organizations
Sigma Kappa
Pi Delta Phi
Student Ambassadors
University Orchestra
Jazz Combo
Pi Delta Phi
Student Ambassadors
University Orchestra
Jazz Combo
Willa Dawson
Honors or Recognitions
2008 Homecoming Queen, Principal Double Bass in University Orchestra, Missouri Bright Flight Scholarship, President’s List, President’s Combined Ability Scholarship, Music Scholarship, Tilles Fund Scholarship
What attracted you to Truman?
The feeling that I could do anything I wanted while at Truman: study abroad, study Asian literature, learn to play a new instrument, etc. I felt like I wouldn’t be inhibited by the school’s size or academic programs. If anything, Truman really encourages their students to experience as much as they can during their years at the school.
What do you like best about Truman?
The quality of professors. I guess I had expected a small school to not have very many "big name" professors, but I was wrong. The vast majority of our professors have doctorates, multiple Master’s degrees, published books, etc. A lot of the professors here are also very involved with the students: they sponsor student organizations, get to know their students as individuals, and take genuine interest in their students’ well-being. I’ve had dinner at professors’ houses, babysat for them, and of course had lengthy, philosophical discussions. Having outstanding professors is an important part of college.
What has surprised you about Truman?
The people. There’s a big variety of students, professors, and staff, and no one fits a stereotype here: the "jocks" are chemistry majors, the "nerds" are presidents of biggest student organizations on campus, the "sorority girl" is on the rugby team, the "frat guy" is an art major. The people here surprise me all the time, I love it!
What do you like most about your classes?
The size, they’re perfect. They’re just big enough to get different perspectives from different people, but small enough to where professors focus attention on your education, not on just getting through the lecture.
What do you feel is unique about Truman?
The University Conference Day. Classes are cancelled for a day each spring so that students and teachers in every department can get together and have an open forum. Concerns are raised, changes are made, and students’ voices are heard. People get together and talk about how to make Truman better. It’s really a cool thing.
How would you describe life at Truman to a friend?
There’s always something to do in Kirksville, it’s just usually on-campus. Truman does a really good job of bringing a variety of shows to campus (comedians, bands, performance troupes) as well as harboring a large amount of student organizations to keep us all busy. But if that’s not your scene, off-campus housing in still very close to campus, so it’s always a possibility to walk to a friend’s house to make dinner and watch a movie or something. It’s really up to you.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to attend graduate school in Europe and receive my Master’s abroad.
What do you do for fun in Kirksville?
There’s always things to do, so it’s not hard to find something. Usually it’ll be a pick-up game of Frisbee on the quad, going out to Thousand Hills State Park to go hiking, having a movie night, attending on one of the hundreds of activities Truman provides for us, or staying active with my sorority. And there’s homework. A wise Truman student once said, "If there’s not something you’re studying, there’s something you should be studying." It’s safe to say I’m never bored!
2008 Homecoming Queen, Principal Double Bass in University Orchestra, Missouri Bright Flight Scholarship, President’s List, President’s Combined Ability Scholarship, Music Scholarship, Tilles Fund Scholarship
What attracted you to Truman?
The feeling that I could do anything I wanted while at Truman: study abroad, study Asian literature, learn to play a new instrument, etc. I felt like I wouldn’t be inhibited by the school’s size or academic programs. If anything, Truman really encourages their students to experience as much as they can during their years at the school.
What do you like best about Truman?
The quality of professors. I guess I had expected a small school to not have very many "big name" professors, but I was wrong. The vast majority of our professors have doctorates, multiple Master’s degrees, published books, etc. A lot of the professors here are also very involved with the students: they sponsor student organizations, get to know their students as individuals, and take genuine interest in their students’ well-being. I’ve had dinner at professors’ houses, babysat for them, and of course had lengthy, philosophical discussions. Having outstanding professors is an important part of college.
What has surprised you about Truman?
The people. There’s a big variety of students, professors, and staff, and no one fits a stereotype here: the "jocks" are chemistry majors, the "nerds" are presidents of biggest student organizations on campus, the "sorority girl" is on the rugby team, the "frat guy" is an art major. The people here surprise me all the time, I love it!
What do you like most about your classes?
The size, they’re perfect. They’re just big enough to get different perspectives from different people, but small enough to where professors focus attention on your education, not on just getting through the lecture.
What do you feel is unique about Truman?
The University Conference Day. Classes are cancelled for a day each spring so that students and teachers in every department can get together and have an open forum. Concerns are raised, changes are made, and students’ voices are heard. People get together and talk about how to make Truman better. It’s really a cool thing.
How would you describe life at Truman to a friend?
There’s always something to do in Kirksville, it’s just usually on-campus. Truman does a really good job of bringing a variety of shows to campus (comedians, bands, performance troupes) as well as harboring a large amount of student organizations to keep us all busy. But if that’s not your scene, off-campus housing in still very close to campus, so it’s always a possibility to walk to a friend’s house to make dinner and watch a movie or something. It’s really up to you.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to attend graduate school in Europe and receive my Master’s abroad.
What do you do for fun in Kirksville?
There’s always things to do, so it’s not hard to find something. Usually it’ll be a pick-up game of Frisbee on the quad, going out to Thousand Hills State Park to go hiking, having a movie night, attending on one of the hundreds of activities Truman provides for us, or staying active with my sorority. And there’s homework. A wise Truman student once said, "If there’s not something you’re studying, there’s something you should be studying." It’s safe to say I’m never bored!