The Truman State University Alumni Association established the Chapter of the Year Award to honor a volunteer chapter for exemplary service to the University through the Alumni Association or its affiliated organizations. In 2019, the award was renamed the Bulldog Forever Group of the Year Award to expand the reach of the award to be able to recognize any group of alumni that perform exceptionally in a year.
The Bulldog Forever Group of the Year Award recognizes outstanding commitment to the University through the Alumni Association and reflects length and depth of service on the part of a group of Alumni. It particularly focuses on hosting events, recruiting new Alumni involvement, organizing volunteer or philanthropic opportunities, demonstrating support for current Truman students, and communicating with other Alumni.
Each year, one award is given to a Truman Alumni Association Group that encourages the advancement of the Truman Alumni Association Strategic Plan. The Bulldog Forever Group of the Year Award is intended for and elevates the service and time given to the University by an Alumni Group and its volunteers.
2020 Bulldog Forever Alumni Group of the Year – Kansas City Alumni Chapter
Members of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter Board at a 2019 Planning MeetingThe Kansas City Alumni Chapter puts on a robust programming schedule to bring area alumni together and help them maintain their connection to the university. After recently restructuring the Board to introduce committee chairs as a way to ensure we maintain focus on each of our priority areas, they have continued to build on their schedule of events to find new ways to engage Kansas City Bulldogs. While the pandemic has altered their typical events calendar, they have planned two coronavirus-safe events: a virtual wine tasting and networking event and a local, outdoor “Homestaying” event. These events demonstrate the chapter’s commitment to helping alumni strengthen their connection to the University through the chapter.
Nomination Criteria
A group nominee must:
• Be an Alumni Group, working in coordination with the Truman State University Alumni Association.
• Demonstrate exemplary dedication, loyalty, and volunteer service to the Truman State University Alumni Association.
• Provide a significant contribution toward the mission of Truman State University and/or the mission of the Truman State University Alumni Association.
• Show active involvement with the Truman State University Alumni Association in an exceptional way over the past year.
Recipients
- 2019: St. Louis Alumni Chapter
- 2018: Iowa Alumni Chapter
- 2017: NEMO Alumni Chapter
- 2016: NEMO Alumni Chapter
- 2015: NEMO Alumni Chapter
- 2014: Iowa Alumni Chapter
- 2013: Arizona Alumni Chapter & Mid-Missouri Alumni Chapter
- 2012: NEMO Alumni Chapter
- 2011: Mid-Missouri Alumni Chapter
- 2010: Iowa Alumni Chapter
No matter where your destiny lies, I encourage you to be involved with an alumni chapter in your area. You never know what resources you may have available to you through the people you will meet and the connections you can make.