Photos from The Truman Lecture Series & First Year Seminar

As students assemble rain barrels during First Year Seminar class, a representative from Boys Grow shares how they will utilize the rain barrels within their organization. Boys Grow mentors Kansas City’s urban youth through agricultural mentorship.

Avila first year students assemble rain barrels purchased through the Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence. Avila donated the assembled barrels to various organizations throughout the Kansas City area.

Avila students share conversation with William Kamkwamba during dinner the evening before the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture.

The Truman Lecture opened with an experienced and educated panel who spoke to the audience about sustainability. Pictured l to r: Lisa Thresher, Life Scientist with Resource Conservation at the Environmental Protection Agency; Stephen Melton, Educator on causes and impacts of global warming; Thomas Schlange, Manager of Community Recycling Centers at Bridging the Gap and Sunny Hamrick, Curbside Compost Manager at Jerusalem Farm.

Moderator and Chair of the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., opens the Truman Lecture in Goppert Theatre.

Avila student, Brielle Beavers, calculates her carbon footprint at the reception before the featured speaker.

Sunny Hamrick with Jerusalem Farm urged the audience to be conscious consumers and emphasized that we are all connected and it is only together that we can fully care for our common home.

Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA, President, Avila University welcomes to the stage William Kamkwamba, author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and featured speaker.

William Kamkwamba, author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and featured speaker shares experiences growing up in Malawi and displays the cover of the book that inspired him to build a windmill behind his home.

William Kamkwamba graciously signed books for students, faculty, staff and guests.

Members of the Truman Lecture Panel (l-r) Lisa Thresher, Life Scientist with the Resource Conservation at the Environment Protection Agency; Stephen Melton, Educator on causes and impacts of global warming; Thomas Schlange, Bridging the Gap; William Kamkwamba, Truman Distinguished Lecturer and author; Sunny Hamrick, Jerusalem Farm; and Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Truman Lecture.

Sunny Hamrick, Jerusalem Farm, discusses sustainability with a student at the reception.

First year students Marlon Jones and Brooklynn Hufft present a gift of thanks to author and Truman Distinguished Lecturer, William Kamkwamba.

A first year student listens intently to William Kamkwamba, author and Truman Distinguished Lecturer, during the book signing event.

William Kamkwamba shared details about his continued plans to create a more sustainable world during dinner following the lecture. Pictured l to r: Aaron Bennett, Advancement Event and Meeting Coordinator, Avila University; Ron Slepitza, Ph.D., CSJA, President, Avila University; Suzanne Slepitza, Avila First Lady; Bill Buchanan, Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence; Jeanne Buchanan ’76, Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence; William Kamkwamba, author, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and featured speaker; Sue Ellen McCalley, Ph.D., Professor of Education and Psychology and Chair of the Harry S. Distinguished Lecture Committee, Avila University; Joe Fahey; Harry S. Truman Lecture Sponsor, J.M. Fahey Construction Company; Sue Fahey, Harry S. Truman Lecture Sponsor, J.M. Fahey Construction Company and Paige Illum, Ph.D., Director of Student Engagement and Success. The educational opportunities provided through First Year Seminar and the Harry S. Truman Distinguished Lecture would not be possible without the generosity of the Buchanan and Fahey families.