OZARK MOUNTAIN LEGACY LAUNCHES YOUTH CHARTER INITIATIVE

Citizens from across OMC gather to discuss our preferred Youth Culture in OMC

Over twenty passionate individuals from across Ozark Mountain Country gathered last week to discuss our ideal Youth Culture to help our area youth succeed. Teachers, coaches, pastors, police, parents, superintendents, young people and young at heart gathered at the God and Country Welcome Center, in Branson, with one common goal: to deliver our Ozark Mountain Legacy Values to our next generation – in a way that speaks the language of our youth, shows them that we really care and invites our youth to participate in this important community process.

Inspired by the book, The Youth Charter – by William Damon, Jory Rolf, Legacy Administrator, envisioned our community coming together to be more intentional and cooperative in helping our young people: build a stronger sense of purpose, experience a greater sense of community and community values and to become the most effective future leaders of our area and country.

The YOUTH CHARTER is an approach that brings together all adults who are in positions to influence young people – parents, teachers, town officials, police, clergy, sports coaches, club leaders, counselors, news media, employers and our area youth – in a quest to cooperatively define our community’s ideal standards for successful youth development.

The next Legacy Youth Charter Meeting will be July 21 from 6:30-8:00pm at the YMCA in Hollister. The Legacy Youth Charter Catalyst Team invites you to participate in this very important and impactful next step meeting. Young people are invited to attend.

For more information visit www.ozarkmountainlegacy.org

To RSVP, please call 417/598-1314 or email: [email protected].

By: Shelby Gray

College of the Ozarks Ralph Foster Museum will host an exhibit celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts. The exhibit will focus on the history of the Girl Scouts in the Ozarks region.

The Ralph Foster Museum is currently seeking loaner Girl Scout memorabilia such as scouting uniforms, badges, photos and stories relating to the Girl Scouts, Brownies or Daisies.

The exhibit will open March 12, 2012 and will run through October 2012 in the Edwards Art Gallery of the Museum. For more information about the exhibit or about loaning memorabilia, please contact Annette Sain at the Ralph Foster Museum at (417) 690-3407 or [email protected].

By: Shelby Gray

Carrying irrigation pipes, picking vegetables or milking cows is just part of a typical day for a summer C of O student working to pay for his/her room and board. While other college students spend their summer days sleeping in, C of O students are working campus jobs.

The Summer Work Program (SWP) is a room and board scholarship opportunity that provides students the option to work either a 6 or 12 week session during the summer to pay room and board for the following year. Students working six weeks can cover the room and board for the fall semester, and students working all 12 weeks can work off an entire year’s room and board. Additionally, by participating, students receive room and board during the summer program.

Junior Renay Renyer, assigned as a counselor at the College’s summer camp for area children, is just one of the many students who rely on the program every year. One of six siblings, she is the third Renyer to attend College of the Ozarks. She and her younger sister are currently participating in the SWP. Renyer said that with such a large family, money for room and board would be hard to come by. “If it weren’t for the Summer Work Program, I would have to stay at home and work a summer job,” she said. “I don’t know how I’d be able to pay the difference.”

The number of students working varies slightly each year. Each summer the College accepts roughly 500 students, about one third of its student body. Numbers are based on the College’s need for labor, so that all students involved will have a job to do.

Students who demonstrate the most financial need, based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), receive first consideration for the scholarship that equates to roughly $2,800 dollars per six weeks. The scholarship money can only be applied toward room and board.