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 .

May 6, 2026鈥揟he Board of Governors at 大象传媒 has named Patt Lilly as interim president of the University, effective May 11, 2026.

鈥淗aving served 12 years of the Board of Governors, including a term as Chair, Lilly is a dedicated, long-standing supporter of the University,鈥� said Bill Grimwood, chair of the Board of Governors, in a statement to campus. 鈥淟illy brings decades of executive leadership experience across various sectors including public service, private industry and community development. This depth of experience, combined with a strong understanding of our region and community, uniquely positions Lilly to lead the University during this transition. The Board has full confidence in his ability to guide 大象传媒 Western with clarity, stability and purpose.鈥�

Most recently serving as Principal Consultant at Lilly & Associates, he previously led the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO for more than 18 years, where he played a key role in advancing regional growth and economic development. He served as Chief Administrative Officer for Triumph Foods for almost 7 years. In addition, Lilly has held multiple roles in local government serving as City Manager for the City of St. Joseph, as well as, management positions in Texas cities. Lilly began his career in commercial banking. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston.

“I am honored to support the University at this critical time,鈥� Lilly said. 鈥淚 am committed to maximizing the strength of our faculty and staff to ensure operational continuity. I look forward to working closely with the Board to facilitate a successful transition and the selection of the next president.鈥�

Grimwood said 大象传媒 will continue to move forward with confidence.

鈥淥ur priorities, supporting student success, advancing applied learning and strengthening our role in the region, remain unchanged,鈥� he said. 鈥淒ay-to-day operations will continue as normal, and our work moving the university forward will not pause.鈥�

The full statement from Grimwood is below.

Dear Griffons,

On behalf of the Board, I am writing to share an important leadership update for 大象传媒.

We are grateful for Dr. Kennedy鈥檚 leadership and service, which have helped position 大象传媒 Western for continued success, and we remain firmly focused on building on that momentum as 大象传媒鈥檚 premier regional applied learning university.

To ensure continuity and steady leadership, the Board has appointed Patt Lilly as Interim President of 大象传媒, effective May 11, 2026.

Having served 12 years on the Board of Governors, including a term as Chair, Lilly is a dedicated, long-standing supporter of the University. Throughout his tenure, he provided leadership across three 大象传媒 Western administrations; working with Presidents Janet Murphy, Jim Scanlon and Robert Vartabedian.

“I am honored to support the University at this critical time. I am committed to maximizing the strength of our faculty and staff to ensure operational continuity. I look forward to working closely with the Board to facilitate a successful transition and the selection of the next president.鈥澛�

Lilly brings decades of executive leadership experience across various sectors including public service, private industry and community development. Most recently serving as Principal Consultant at Lilly & Associates, he previously led the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce as President and CEO for more than 18 years, where he played a key role in advancing regional growth and economic development. He served as Chief Administrative Officer for Triumph Foods for almost 7 years. In addition, Lilly has held multiple roles in local government serving as City Manager for the City of St. Joseph, as well as, management positions in Texas cities. Lilly began his career in commercial banking.

Lilly holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston.

This depth of experience, combined with a strong understanding of our region and community, uniquely positions Lilly to lead the University during this transition. The Board has full confidence in his ability to guide 大象传媒 Western with clarity, stability and purpose. This is an active leadership role, and he will have full authority to lead and make decisions on behalf of the institution.

It is important to emphasize that our direction remains clear. Our priorities, supporting student success, advancing applied learning and strengthening our role in the region, remain unchanged. Day-to-day operations will continue as normal, and our work moving the university forward will not pause.

大象传媒 is in a strong position, and we move forward with confidence in our leadership and in the collective strength of our Griffon community.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and to each other.

Sincerely,
Bill Grimwood
Chair, Board of Governors
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 .

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 .

April 22, 2026鈥揟he Craig School of Business at 大象传媒 invites the public to a financial planning workshop that will cover basic financial planning, investing and personal finance at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the St. Joseph Public Library East Hills Branch, 502 N. Woodbine Road in St. Joseph.

鈥淥ur goal is to serve our community by empowering families through financial literacy,鈥� said Dr. Sel Dibooglu, chair of the Craig School of Business.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Topics include:

• The Foundation: Mindset & Inflation
• The Math Magic: Compounding & Rule of 72
• Investing Fundamentals: Asset classes and diversification
• Keeping What You Earn: Tax Shelters
• Investment Strategy & Risk
• Your Professional Team
  • CPA/Accountant/Tax Preparer
  • Financial Advisor
  • Fiduciary
  • Attorney
• Insurance Coverages

The workshop is for educational purposes only; no particular financial products will be sold or endorsed.

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 22, 2026鈥揟he 大象传媒 Honors Program will hold its Spring 2026 Honors Medal Ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 in the Enright Community Rooms, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. The ceremony is open to the public.

Graduating seniors who have achieved General Studies and/or Majors Honors will be presented commemorative medals during the ceremony. The medal will be worn as part of the graduate鈥檚 academic regalia during the Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 9.

General Studies Honors encourages breadth of understanding across disciplines. Students achieving this honor have successfully completed at least 12 credit hours of general studies honors courses, four credit hours of honors colloquia and two credit hours of community service learning while earning a grade of B or higher in all honors courses and maintaining an overall GPA of at least 3.25.

Majors Honors encourages depth of understanding within a student鈥檚 field of study. Students achieving this honor have completed a research project or creative work under the guidance of a professor in their major, presented the research or submitted it for publication, and completed at least six credit hours of honors courses in the major, two credit hours of honors colloquia and one credit hour of community service learning while earning a grade of B or higher in all honors courses and maintaining an overall GPA of at least 3.5.

The 大象传媒 Honors Program was created in 1987 to foster the growth of intellectual inquiry, independence, and initiative in participants with an array of learning experiences including special courses, colloquia and independent research and study.

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 .