The College of the Ozarks Music Department will host a student music recital on February 22, at 4 p.m., in the Newman Recital Hall. The recital will include performances from student soloists and ensembles, instrumental and vocal.

“These recitals are a great way for students to gain experience in a professional setting,” says C of O music department student worker Andy Petry. “As the semester progresses audiences can expect the students involved in the concerts to grow and become better performers.”

Students will be allowed priority seating for the event, but any seats left open will be available to the public free of charge. For more information, please call the Music Department at (417) 690-2244.

College of the Ozarks Keeter Center Culinary Team Members Win “Best” at Chocolate Competition

C of O Keeter Center Kitchen Supervisors Nancy Frew and Chris Freeman received first place awards at the “Art and Romance of Chocolate” show and competition. The event was held at the Brick City Gallery in Springfield, Missouri, on January 22, 2012, and was sponsored by the Friends of the Springfield Art Museum.

Participants representing 18 different restaurants, candy shoppes and bakeries competed in six different categories. College of the Ozarks won first place in two out of the six categories. Frew won the “Best Dessert” award for her Chocolate Coconut Butter Cake, often found on the dessert buffet at Dobyns Dining Room’s sunday brunch.

“This is the second year in a row the Dobyns Culinary Team has won the “Best Dessert” award in this competition,” says Executive Chef Robert Stricklin. In addition, Freeman sculpted a two-foot tall replica of the Eiffel Tower using Barry Callebaut semi-sweet Belgian chocolate. The original edible art, made completely from chocolate and for show, won the award for “Best Chocolate Showpiece.”

Chef Stricklin also recruited three culinary arts majors as volunteers to assist with The Keeter Center display. They served 200 guests, who enjoyed chocolate-themed treats. Students Hannah Burke from Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Eva Creech from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Alyssa Long from Mt. Vernon, Missouri, served a steady stream of guests.

“The show and competition, which served as a great opportunity to promote The Keeter Center as a dining destination, gave the culinary team members the opportunity to sharpen their skills through competition,” says Chef Stricklin. “It also gave students the opportunity to learn skills in catering, special event operations and guest service.”

For more information, call Associate Professor of Hotel and Restaurant Management Jerry Shackette at (417) 690-2119 or e-mail [email protected].

Student’s Dream To Be An Author Becomes Reality

Veteran John Primerano with Cailin Casey during Pariotic Education Trip to France, Belgium and Germany.

Senior Cailin Casey says that she has always wanted be an author of fiction books. These days, she says all she wants to write about are real heroes. Last spring, Casey and 16 other College of the Ozarks students accompanied six WWII Veterans to battle sites in Europe as part of the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program, which is designed so that students learn about history and sacrifice from the men and women who lived it. During the trip she became inspired, so much, that upon her return, she wrote a short book about stories the Veterans shared with her.

The book, Twice as Brave, is a collection of the true stories of six WWII Veterans, Andy Anderson (5th Engineers Special Brigade), Bill Kamsler (102nd Infantry Division), Ned Knapp (75th Infantry Division), John Primerano (101st Airborne), Lou Rabesa (Army Air Force), and Bryan Sperry (75th Infantry Division).

EXCERPT (Casey, page 1): “Below John Primerano’s dangling boots were 450 feet of nothing but air. All the guys had told him, ‘You don’t want to get hung up in the trees.’ The distance between his feet and those tall poplars was becoming steadily shorter. Before the jump, he couldn’t pass up the treat of a whole tin of peaches and sat with his buddies beneath the wing of the plane and ate every bite. Those peaches were more appetizing going down than coming back up all over his jumpsuit. Still it seemed he was headed right for those trees. In moments, he was sure his chute would be caught in them and he would be stuck like a feather in a barbed wire fence.”

Individuals interested in obtaining a copy of the book may purchase one for $9.99 at The Keeter Center Gift Shop at College of the Ozarks (417) 690-2110. Casey is donating all of the proceeds to the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program. On May 12, from 1-3 p.m., the College plans to host a book signing event for Casey at The Keeter Center. Book clubs or other groups may request her to share about Twice as Brave at one of their meetings by calling (417) 690-2276.

Twice as Brave may be small (less than 50 pages), but is the beginning of something much bigger for Casey. One of the Veterans John Primerano, whom she accompanied on the trip, asked Casey if she would write his biography. She accepted his offer and will begin writing his memoir this summer, after she graduates from College of the Ozarks. “I always thought I would write fiction,” Casey said, “but sometimes truth is more fascinating than fiction.”

Ralph Foster Museum To Host Area Appreciation- February 1-11, 2012
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

The Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks will host area appreciation with free admission from February 1-11, for the residents of Boone, Carroll, Christian, Greene, Stone and Taney counties.

The Ralph Foster Museum is dedicated to the history of the Ozarks region. The museum is named in honor of the late Ralph D. Foster (radio pioneer and philanthropist) the museum houses thousands of objects representing archaeology, history, firearms, antiques, numismatics, natural history, fine arts, geology and mineralogy.

Among other things, the museum houses the original Beverly Hillbillies car, Music Hall of Fame, and Rosie O’Neil’s Kewpie Doll Collection and one of the largest gun collections in the country.

The Ralph Foster Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For further information, please contact the Museum at 417-690-3407.

College Deans Share On How Hard Work U Operates
By: Austin Plummer

College of the Ozarks Dean of Development Tim Huddleston and Dean of Work Education Chris Larsen will speak at an upcoming convocation that will address how the College operates. The convocation will take place January 31, at 7 p.m. in Jones Auditorium.

Dean Huddleston will share on the impact gift income has on the College, and Dean Larsen will talk about the importance of the Work Education Program and work ethic.

Students will be allowed priority seating for the event, but any seats remaining will be available to the public free of charge. For more information, please call the Public Relations office at (417)690-2212.

College of the Ozarks Hosts Associates Luncheon
By: Sarah Unruh

College of the Ozarks invites current Associates and those interested in becoming a member to attend the next Associates Luncheon on Monday, January 23, at 11:30 a.m., in the Silver Dollar City Parlor of The Keeter Center.

The Luncheon will include a buffet beginning at 11:30 a.m., followed by a program at noon. Dr. Janice Williams, Director of the Nursing Program, along with several nursing students, will share about the Nursing Program.

The College of the Ozarks Associates is an organization comprised of over 350 individuals and businesses committed to the furtherance of the College’s interests and its efforts to provide higher education for deserving young men and women.

Associates seek to advance the objectives of the College through friends and corporate relationships. The Associates not only recognize the College’s unique contribution to higher education in the United States, but also the tremendous impact it has had economically and culturally in the Ozarks area of Southwest Missouri.

The cost of the luncheon is $15 per person. Please RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 18, to the Development Office at 417-690-2209 or e-mail [email protected].

College of the Ozarks Student Wins Second at the 2011 Young Farmers and Ranchers Collegiate Division Discussion Meet at Annual Missouri Farm Bureau Federation Meeting

College of the Ozarks student Noble Carpenter (of Rocheport) won second place at the 2011 Young Farmers and Ranchers Collegiate Division Discussion Meet at the 97th annual meeting of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation, Dec. 4 at Lake of the Ozarks.

During the meet, students were asked to discuss the question “How do we capitalize on the growing world demand for agricultural products?” The topic/question was one of five contestants researched.

Carpenter competed against students from Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri, Truman State University, Northwest Missouri State University and Southeast Missouri State University chapters. There are a total of seven chapters throughout the state.

For second place, he received a plaque and cash award of $200 from the Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

University of Missouri student Beth Nordwald won first place and Truman State student Casey Davis won second in the competition.

College of the Ozarks Named A Choice Employer
By: Matt Farmer

College of the Ozarks is one of the top baccalaureate colleges in the area; it is also one of the best places to have a job. Springfield Business Journal ranked C of O 3rd among employers with between 100-300 employees in the Springfield-Branson area this year. Springfield Business Journal’s Choice Employers made its debut in 2006 as “Best Places to Work.” The name has changed, but the mission is the same. Its mission is to honor local companies that have exceptional work environments.

“College of the Ozarks has been nominated for the last five years,” says Employee Resources and Insurance Director Vicki Wrosch. “This is the first year we’ve been recognized. It is very exciting. The College has excellent benefits, more than many employers in the area.”

The College offers 100 percent health insurance premiums for full-time employees, tuition reimbursement, on-site childcare, inexpensive on campus dining, free admission to College events, extra paid vacation during the holidays, and a 403(b) retirement plan.

“Our 403(b) is the most celebrated benefit among staff, without a doubt,” says Public Relations Director Elizabeth Hughes. “Employees contribute 5 percent of their salary, and the College double-matches that with 10 percent.”

The Springfield Business Journal used a 32-question online survey to determine how well employers treat employees in five key areas: family friendliness, incentives, people development, corporate culture and civic engagement. College of the Ozarks had the highest possible score for civic engagement and the second highest score for people development, family friendliness and corporate culture as compared to similar-size firms.

For more information, please call the Public Relations office at (417)690-2212.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

1. Always be aware of your surroundings.
2. Minimize shopping at night or alone; you are more susceptible to being victimized.
3. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
4. Minimize the items you carry in your purse or wallet; only carry what is absolutely needed.
5. Be sure to put valuables out of sight (ie. packages, purses, mobile phones, etc.) Place them in the trunk or carry them with you.
6. When walking in any parking lot, shopping center, etc., walk confidently with your head up, make eye contact, and have your keys ready.
7. Drive defensively and courteously.
8. Report all suspicious activity.
9. Trust you instincts.
10. Practice patience and have a safe shopping experience.

“Dies Vivendum Est” On Display At Boger Gallery

By: Austin Plummer

The Boger Gallery at College of the Ozarks currently is displaying the exhibition “dies vivendum est.” The exhibit runs through October 11 in the Boger Gallery, located on the ground floor of the Jones Learning Center.

“Dies vivendum est” is an exhibit of the Racela collection of 19th century photography, which ranges primarily from the 1840s to the 1880s. This collection is made up of many forms of early photography including daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes, along with paper albumen prints.

Some of the most powerful photographs in the collection are those from the Civil War. These incredible photographs give us a small view into the lives of the people during this difficult time. Every photograph in the collection is unique and has its own story to tell.

This Boger Gallery event is sponsored by the College of the Ozarks Art Department, and financial assistance is provided by the Missouri Arts Council. Boger Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 1-5 p.m. weekends. For more information contact Richard Cummings, Boger Gallery Director, at 417-690-2268 or e-mail [email protected].