Big changes happened to Troy’s scholarship portal over the summer, aiming to give students an easier and faster application experience. The changes were spearheaded by Director of Scholarships Kerrie Hill. The scholarship portal, previously made possible through a software called Blackbaud, is now AwardSpring. “[The university] has been looking around for a new platform for over a year now,” Hill said. After meeting with several different companies, AwardSpring is what th

A long-time Troy staff member and administrator will step into a new role starting this semester. Alicia Bookout, who most recently acted as the associate vice chancellor for financial aid, is taking on a new role as the interim vice chancellor of development and alumni affairs. The change comes at Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr’s direct request – one that Bookout was proud to receive. “It means a great deal to be trusted with [serving in this position],” Bookout said. “Being

This summer, learning didn’t stop for Troy students studying abroad. Students traveled around the globe – from the Sahara Desert to Europe’s historic cities – turning world-famous landscapes into their personal classrooms. Multiple departments traveled across Europe, South America and Asia this year, visiting destinations such as London, Italy, Aregentina, Egypt and China. Each of these experiences offered countless educational opportunities while providing students with mem

What was meant to be a routine post to make others laugh gave one Troy student a few moments of fame on Fox News this summer. “I’ll tell you what, being on Fox News was not on my bingo card for 2026,” said Rachel McDaniel, a nontraditional junior studio art major from Troy, Alabama. “I honestly don’t even watch the news. “If my friends and family hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have ever known I was on Fox News.” McDaniel was playing a mobile game of Catan, while ignoring several

As students prepare for the fall semester, the Troy University Police Department (TUPD) is reminding everyone that campus safety starts with awareness. Whether walking alone after a late-night study session or heading home after an evening out, officers say several resources are available to help students stay safe. TUPD Chief George Beaudry said there are several safety resources and services available through the campus police department. One of those offered services is a

Students cuddle puppies during last year's Welcome Week. University Relations photo Welcome Week, the name given to the collection of eight days full of events aimed at welcoming students to Troy University, has officially kicked off. For many incoming students, the events stand as their first opportunity to meet new people, get involved on campus and begin their college experience. “At the heart of Welcome Week is creating a sense of belonging,” said Associate Dean of Stu

A group tailgates for last year's Homecoming game. University Relations photo Gameday tailgating at Troy University will start to look different this upcoming football season. The Troy University Police Department (TUPD) recently collaborated with Troy Athletics and university administration to update the tailgating policy on campus. In a Facebook post, TUPD outlined several new rules, including no fully enclosed tents, no overnight tailgating and no tailgating past kickoff.

Chi Omega sisters gather in front of their house on Sorority Hill Kathryn Clark photo As Trojans rushed across the intersection of Veterans Memorial Drive and Elm Street onto Sorority Hill for Bid Day last Saturday, they marked their very first moments as newly pledged sorority sisters. On a sunny morning full of excitement, memories and sisterhood, sorority members joined hands, donned their colors and threw what they knew with their new sisters for the first time. One of th

When I was about to leave for college, I heard from almost every adult in my life: “Those four years will be gone in a blink of an eye.” To 18-year-old me, that seemed impossible. I didn’t realize how true it really was until that cap and gown were sitting on my bed, staring me down. I mean, just yesterday, I was moving into my freshman dorm and going to every Welcome Week event that was offered. I was learning the ropes of campus and getting used to a college class schedule.

Well, here I am. The end of the road. I came to Troy as a junior in the fall of 2024, transferring from the University of North Alabama. Stepping onto campus, I only knew two people, and neither were students in the Hall School of Journalism and Communication. I knew starting a new school where I hardly knew anyone was going to be a challenge. The main reason I decided to transfer to Troy was to pursue TrojanVision. I originally had no intention of writing for the Trop

A lot can change in four years. When I stepped on campus in August 2022, I couldn’t have envisioned what my life and time at college would look like today. As a nervous, socially anxious freshman, I never would’ve imagined I could be the slightly less nervous, socially anxious senior I am today. In all seriousness, my entire worldview and perspective on life have changed at college, and I’m so grateful to this period of my life for helping me figure out who I am. My first spo

When I came to Troy as a freshman, I declared my major as English and was intent on becoming an English professor someday. I had never once planned to become a journalist –but oh how plans love to change. I remember taking a job assessment quiz in eighth grade and one of the recommended jobs was journalist. I thought, “Yeah right, all journalists do is talk about politics and murders. That’s way too grim for me.” It wasn’t until I came to Troy and met Dr. Stefanie Hicks East

How can one simply jot down two years? My time at Troy University is coming to a rapid close, and I just have so much to say. When I arrived here as a transfer student from Wallace Community College, I never expected what this place and the people in it would mean to me. As a student in the English department, I have had the unique honor of coming to know some of the hardest working, supportive, encouraging faculty in all of our school. Thanks to these professors who believed

If Barbie truly can be anything, I guess I am living it. I started my college career at Troy as soccer Barbie, complete with cleats, gloves and my emotional-support water bottle. Then, I became nursing student Barbie, pink stethoscope and caffeine in hand. When I entered the Tropolitan Dreamhouse, I wasn’t sure where I fit in. My roommate encouraged me to join the Trop, but I still couldn’t picture myself writing news. Could I really be journalist Barbie? I remember my first

Growing up, all I have ever known is sports. It’s all I’ve talked about my entire life. From obsessing over stats and scores, to attending as many events as possible, it is an obsession. What better way to use that obsession than to write about it? Being able to cover Troy Sthletics has given me remarkable experiences. I covered multiple Sun Belt championships for men’s basketball and have traveled to several states to cover the “school we love.” My favorite thing about being

I never thought I could write for a newspaper. Coming into college, I thought my opinions and beliefs were unimportant, small and not worth articulating. After all, who cares what a teenage girl from rural Appalachia has to say? Emily Mosier, a previous editor-in-chief for the Trop who I had the honor of competing alongside on the debate team, encouraged me to start submitting opinions, and eventually to apply for a scholarship with the paper. Nervously, in January of 2025, I

As my time at Troy comes to an end, I have begun to reflect on all of the amazing memories I have made here. Cheering at the collegiate level for the first time, finding my people in a new place, winning the Sun Belt in football, cheering to a bowl game, competing on a national level and so many other moments have made my time here unforgettable. There are a few moments that are truly more memorable than any of those things. My journey to journalism was not conventional. When

As my Troy career ends, I’ve reflected on all my achievements, and working on The Tropolitan is one of my biggest. The journalism department has been nothing but supportive all four years, but this past semester working as copy editor has brought me closer to my peers, given me insight into the industry and prepared me for future opportunities. If I had to give advice to a freshman me, I’d tell myself to get involved with The Tropolitan sooner— it’s an experience on campus un

From a smooth nostalgia perspective Bruno Mars’ fourth studio album, “The Romantic,” is a clear, straight to the point 32 minutes, nine-track project that marks a deliberate return to his soulful, retro-inspired sound. Known for blending modern pop with vintage influences, Mars leans even further into his nostalgic aesthetic here, drawing heavily from 1970s and 1980s soul, pop and slow-dance ballads. The result is an album that is polished, emotionally warm and sonically cohe

The mention of a cheerleader probably invokes visuals of the all-American, happy-go-lucky, girl-next-door type who is always happy to support the team under those Friday night lights. Jo Spencer, however, is not quite a picture-perfect part of the cheer squad in Jill McCorkle’s 1984 novel “The Cheer Leader.” This story is about so much more than football games. Rather, this novel is about the maddening nature of what it means to live up to the standards of womanhood in the So

Troy’s popular music band, POPulus, will be releasing a new single this month in a genre the members haven’t previously explored: bluegrass. The band will be releasing a cover of the song “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” this Friday, May 1. Bluegrass is a genre that has inspired students in the band. “I’m a fiddle player, and I’ve grown up on bluegrass and classic country music,” said Chase Dawson, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Phoenix, Arizona who is playing the fidd

Troy K-EDU Center introduced students to the Korean alphabets through bracelet making at the K-Wave Day last Wednesday. Students focused on greetings and introductions as those are the most basic parts of any language and some of the most useful phrases to someone who isn’t fluent. According to Minsol Kim, the assistant director of the K-Center, the organization’s goal for the event was to give students the tools they needed to communicate with international students and othe

An array of beads was scattered across the lab table in the Math and Science room 212 last Thursday for a bracelet making night. Students from the Troy Beta Beta Beta (Tri Beta) chapter, a biological honor society, made colorful and creative bracelets to sell for a future fundraiser. There was a mix of lettered and colored bead with the students being able to decide how they wanted the bracelets to look. Some were Earth Day themed, some had words and others were just colors.

Troy’s Frequency Choir put on a powerful and emotional concert at the Johnson Center for the Arts on Monday. The theme, “Love Notes,” featured a mix of genres including jazz, Broadway and pop, giving the audience a little bit of everything while tying it all together through the idea of love and connection. “I think it embodies the love of music and the connection we can all have with it,” said Avery Foster, a freshman biomedical science major from Albertville, Alabama. “Musi