July 1, 2026鈥揂 composition by Dr. Derek Jenkins, associate professor of music at 大象传媒, has been selected for performance at the 21st Thailand International Composition Festival, July 5鈥�9, 2026, at Mahidol University in Salaya, Thailand.

鈥淩ock Bottom,鈥� Dr. Jenkins鈥� piece for brass band was chosen from among 200 submissions, with only 12 works ultimately selected for performance. The work will be performed by the Mahidol Brass Band during the festival.

The Thailand International Composition Festival is dedicated to the advancement of contemporary music and the cultivation of new artistic voices.The festival brings together composers, performers, scholars, and audiences from around the world to share ideas, explore new sonic possibilities, and foster meaningful artistic exchange.

Dr. Jenkins joined the 大象传媒 faculty in 2024. As a composer, his music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Brazil. He received bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from the University of 大象传媒 Kansas City and a master鈥檚 degree from Rice University.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Students in the Technical Training Center at Boehringer Ingelheim receive instruction.

June 30, 2026鈥揃oehringer Ingelheim and 大象传媒 have launched a new program to build the technical skills needed for careers in biomanufacturing. The program鈥檚 first class of students have completed the requirements to earn their certificates.聽

The Bio-Process Certificate Program combines traditional classroom learning with hands-on training at Boehringer鈥檚 purpose-built Technical Training Center in St. Joseph. Instruction is led by 大象传媒 faculty alongside Boehringer subject matter experts.

The Technical Training Center features dedicated spaces that replicate key upstream and downstream bioprocessing activities, such as transfer panels and tank-transfer simulations that mirror real production workflows, a fully equipped laboratory, and a gowning airlock. The facility also includes a functioning filling machine with restricted access barriers, enabling students to learn aseptic processes at their own pace鈥攐utside of cleanroom constraints or production shutdown windows.

鈥淥ur new Training Center of Xcellence and collaboration with 大象传媒 reflect our commitment to investing in our workforce and supporting long-term development here in St. Joseph,鈥� said David Atchison, Head of U.S. Animal Health Global Supply, Boehringer Ingelheim. 鈥淎s our technology and products evolve, so do the skills required to manufacture them. By building a strong biomanufacturing training environment and partnering with 大象传媒, we鈥檙e helping ensure our employees are prepared for what鈥檚 next.鈥澛�

While the initial group of students were Boehringer employees, the partnership aims to expand enrollment over time to include the broader St. Joseph community, helping build a strong pipeline of future biomanufacturing talent.

鈥淏oehringer Ingelheim is a vital partner in the St. Joseph community, and this collaboration underscores a shared commitment to developing local talent,鈥� said Rebecca Lobina, 大象传媒鈥檚 Director of Workforce Development. 鈥淭ogether, we are preparing a skilled workforce for careers in biomanufacturing while strengthening the region鈥檚 economic future.鈥澛�

Boehringer鈥檚 St. Joseph site is a key global supply and research and development site, producing livestock vaccines used across the U.S. and around the world. The company has invested more than $150 million in the site in recent years to enhance operations, including sustainability improvements, expanded technical training, and increased capabilities to accommodate future pipeline products.

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About Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry鈥檚 top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. Our approximately 54,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier and more sustainable tomorrow. Learn more at鈥�. 鈥��

About Boehringer Ingelheim – Animal Health business聽聽

Boehringer Ingelheim provides innovation for preventing and treating diseases in animals. The company offers a wide range of vaccines, parasite-control products, and medicines for pets, horses, and livestock to veterinarians, animal owners, farmers, and governments. As a leader in animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim values that the health of humans and animals is deeply connected and strives to make a difference for people, animals, and society. Learn more at .

About 大象传媒

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

June 11, 2026鈥揇r Benedict Adams, associate professor of education at 大象传媒, has

鈥淧edagogy for a Successful Multicultural Classroom. A Sociocultural-Based Method for Teaching and Reaching At-Risk Students鈥� was published earlier this year by Peter Lang International Academic Publishers.

鈥淭he book serves as a sociocultural-based method for both graduate and undergraduate students, providing practical frameworks that will be beneficial throughout their teaching careers,鈥� said Dr. Eric C. Sheffield, Western Illinois University. 鈥淥ne of the pressing issues in academia is classroom management. This book addresses this topic directly, offering practical tools and strategies for both experienced and novice teachers to effectively manage classrooms with at-risk students from diverse backgrounds.鈥�

Dr. Adams has been at 大象传媒 since 2019. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Suffield University in Idaho, and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Indiana University.

Dr. Adams was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Certificate of Excellence from Indiana University in 2014. In 2024, he was named Outstanding Teacher Educator at 大象传媒 and in 2025, he received 大象传媒鈥檚 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

May 14, 2026鈥揟he Bushman Planetarium at 大象传媒 will present public showings of 鈥淔ractals鈥� and 鈥淣anocam鈥� at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23. The planetarium is located inside Agenstein Hall, room 147.

鈥淔谤补肠迟补濒蝉”

A spectacular show that gives viewers a tour of the fractals in nature, endlessly repeating patterns made from simple algebraic equations. While these fractal zooms are mathematical abstractions, audiences are always amazed to recognize that patterns of nature 鈥� shapes such as trees, lightning, coastlines, insects, bacteria, seashells and more 鈥� can all be found within a fractal zoom. Each fractal tells the story of the processes that created it.

“Nanocam”

A fascinating journey exploring life forms that are invisible to the human eye and contribute to a better understanding of the world we live in. This show explores the kingdoms of bacteria, protists and their stunning mechanism of motility, the amazing structure of fungi, the specializations of plants and incredible complexity of the animal kingdom, seen through an electron microscope 鈥� a breathtaking trip into the five kingdoms of living things. This unique program, based on a scientific approach and featuring images that have never been seen before, offers another dimension of reality, a reality that is measured in micrometers.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 13 and under, students, employees, military and senior citizens age 60 and up. Planetarium tickets are not sold at the door, so they must be purchased in advance either online at or in person at Agenstein Hall, room 140 during regular business hours.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

May 13, 2026鈥揟he Small Business Development Center at 大象传媒 will present a workshop titled Trademark Basics at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at The Launch Pad, 801 Felix Street in Downtown St. Joseph. The workshop is free.

The workshop presented by SBDC and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is designed to help small business owners learn the basics of filing for a trademark to protect their ideas, brand and creations before problems arise.

Participants may register in advance at . For more information, contact Shelbie Wigington, SBDC business advisor, at swigington@missouriwestern.edu.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

A total of 326 undergraduate students and 86 graduate students have completed their degree requirements this semester. They hail from 24 states and three foreign countries.

Leslie McMillin ’00, Dein Gentry ’26, Allaina Mace ’26

The featured speaker at both commencement ceremonies will be Leslie McMillin, a 2000 graduate of 大象传媒. McMillin is currently Director, Payments Specialist in Agribusiness at FNBO in Kansas City.

Graduating students will also speak at both ceremonies. The 11 a.m. speaker will be Dein Gentry, a musical arts major from Springfield, 大象传媒. The 3 p.m. speaker will be Allaina Mace, a psychology major from St. Joseph.

A brief reception will follow the ceremony in the Looney practice gym, sponsored by the 大象传媒 Western Alumni Association.

In addition to the commencement ceremonies, graduates in two health care professions will participate in pinning ceremonies where they will receive pins symbolic of their training and new careers:

Respiratory Therapy Pinning Ceremony

8 a.m. Saturday, May 9, Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101

Nursing Pinning Ceremony

8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9, Fulkerson Center

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

A 大象传媒 student participates in a prescribed burn of the John Rushin Teaching and Research Prairie on April 1, 2023.

May 1, 2026–The Biology Department at 大象传媒 will conduct a controlled burn of the John Rushin Teaching and Research Prairie this spring. The timing of the burn depends on weather conditions.

Prescribed burns help maintain the health of prairie land to ensure it remains useful for research and applied learning. It will also provide wildlife conservation management students real-world experience in skills they will use professionally.

To avoid any possible discomfort from the smoke, it is advised that residents in the area close their windows during the burn. People in the immediate vicinity who are particularly sensitive to smoke are advised to remain indoors during the burn.

When the prescribed burn takes place, traffic will be restricted on the roads adjacent to the prairie: 50th Street (Scanlon and Vartabedian lots will still be accessible) and Messanie Street. Please respect barricades and allow teams to burn the prairie safely.

Based on the short-range weather forecast, the first window of opportunity is tomorrow, Saturday, May 2. Organizers expect to start around 9 a.m. Burning may continue into the afternoon, depending on conditions and progress.

If 大象传媒 Western is unable to conduct the burn on May 2, the next possible date is Friday, May 8.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 29, 2026鈥揟he Small Business Development Center at 大象传媒 will host a Small Business Summit in celebration of National Small Business Week on Thursday, May 7. This free event is designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners strengthen their financial knowledge, connect with local lenders and learn about valuable business resources.

Participants will receive hands-on training in QuickBooks, gain insights during a live Q&A with local bankers and lenders, and discover the no-cost advising, training and support available through the Small Business Development Center.

Whether you are starting a business, growing your company, or looking for funding opportunities, this summit will provide practical tools, expert guidance, and opportunities to connect with professionals who support small business success.

The summit will run from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Houlne Center for Convergent Technology, 4141 Mitchell Avenue. Register in advance at . For more information, call 816-271-5801 or email swignington@missouriwestern.edu.聽

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 29, 2026鈥揋riffon Media students from 大象传媒 brought home ten awards from the 大象传媒 College Media Association and 大象传媒 Broadcast Educators Association Annual Conference in Springfield, 大象传媒 on April 11.

The students won the following state awards:

大象传媒 Broadcast Educators Association

• Video – Hard News Story: First Place, Rebecca Evans 鈥�25
• Short Film: Second Place, Bailey Woodbury, junior cinematic arts major from St. Joseph
• Video Commercial/Promo: Third Place, Woodbury

大象传媒 College Media Association Awards (Division 2)

• Website: Second Place, Griffon Media Staff
• Video: Second Place, Gurtej Sohal 鈥�25
• Video: Third Place, Charlie Sample, junior applied communication and journalism major from Columbia, 大象传媒
• Multimedia Package: Third Place, Sample
• Multimedia Package: Honorable Mention, Sohal
• News Writing, Honorable Mention, Woodbury
• Story Illustration: Honorable Mention, Ellice Randleman senior graphic design major from St. Joseph

Attending the conference from 大象传媒 were Kendall Warren, sophomore applied communication and journalism major from Kansas City, 大象传媒; Sample; Johnny Fragakis, senior applied communication and journalism major from Petaluma, California; former editors Sohal and Evans; and co-advisers Dr. James Carviou and Dr. Luling Huang.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Attendees walk the red carpet at the 2025 Griffon Film Festival.

April 24, 2026鈥摯笙蟠� students will present a wide variety of video projects at two film festivals. The 大象传媒 Cronkite Film Festival will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in the Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101. The 11th annual Griffon Film Festival will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 1 at the Trail Theatre, 111 N. 9th Street in downtown St. Joseph. Both events are free and open to the public.

Cronkite Film Festival

The 大象传媒 Cronkite Film Festival is sponsored by the Department of Communication. It focuses on non-fiction storytelling, showcasing newscasts, sportscasts, individual packages, promos, social media campaign videos and a long documentary. The films were created in digital videography, Griffon Media, social media branding and multimedia storytelling classes throughout the 2025-2026 school year.

Griffon Film Festival

The Griffon Film Festival features work by cinematic arts and digital animation students over the academic year. Projects include short narrative fiction, commercials, public service announcements, industrial/educational films, experimental films, traditional animation, 3D computer animation and student game design. Doors open at 5 p.m. for a meet-and-greet and pictures on the red carpet and the awards show starts at 6 and runs until 10 p.m. The first 100 attendees will receive a free small bag of popcorn.

大象传媒 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 大象传媒 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .