College of the Ozarks Students Win First Place at 2012 Missouri Academy of Science
By: Austin Plummer

Two College of the Ozarks students won first place awards at the 2012 Missouri Academy of Science meeting held on April 14 at the University of Missouri—Columbia. Matt Lawson won first place for Best Oral Presentation in the chemistry section, and Heather Hula won first place for Best Oral Presentation in the biology section.

The Missouri Academy of Science (MAS) is a meeting that provides undergraduates a chance to present their research in front of peers and compete against other schools. Research projects are presented orally or by poster.

College of the Ozarks was one of the many colleges and universities to present at MAS. C of O students competed against students from Lincoln University, University of Missouri-Columbia, Evangel University, Cottey College, Westminster College, Rockhurst University, Southeast Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University and many more.

College of the Ozarks requires all biology and chemistry majors to take three consecutive semesters of research. This entails each student choosing a research project provided by the professors. From there, they conduct a review of literature and perform an experiment. Students work countless hours on research to achieve their main goal. During the last semester, each research student gives an oral presentation at the Missouri Academy of Science.

Next year, the MAS meeting will be held at College of the Ozarks.

ANDY WILLIAMS MOON RIVER THEATRE
announces 3rd Group of Artists for The Finalists LIVE!

BRANSON, MO—April 2012— You saw them on TV and you voted to make them famous… Now see them live in Branson this Summer! The Finalists Live! Branson’s hottest summer show features 15 Top 10 Finalists from American Idol®, all to perform live on stage at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, May 14-August 18.

We are now announcing group three, performing July 23- August 18. This group includes Ruban Studdard, Winner in Season 2, as well as Bo Bice, Runner-Up to Winner Carrie Underwood in Season 4. Also performing is Vonzell Solomon, 3rd Place in Season 4 and Katie Stevens from Season 9 and RJ Helton from Season 1. The show will be hosted by Pete Peterkin, a 2009 Finalist from Americas Got Talent®.
The previously announced first group includes Lee DeWyze, the 2009 Winner of American Idol®; Blake Lewis, the Beat Box performer who was runner up in 2007; Elliott Yamin, who finished at the number three slot in 2006; Branson’s very own Kimberly Caldwell, from 2003 and host on the Oxygen and TV Guide Channels; and, even Thia Megia from last year’s show. They will be performing May 14-June 16. The 2nd group performs June 18-July 21 and includes Diana Degarmo, runner up in 2004 and current actress in the CBS program “The Young and the Restless”; Scott Savol, fifth place from season 4; Siobhan Magnus, who placed 6th in season nine; Ace Young, from season 5 in 2006; and Alexis Grace, who performed in season eight.

The Finalists Live! is the hot new show you won’t want to miss!
For more information, contact Kathe at 417-334-1800 or [email protected]

Spring Handbell Spring Concert Features Local Choirs
By: Turner Brock

College of the Ozarks Handbell Choir, along with the First Presbyterian Church of Branson and the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Kimberling City, will present a spring concert at The Keeter Center Royal Oak Forum on May 3, 7 p.m.

The concert will include sacred pieces, hymns and gospel music.

“We urge you to attend this delightful night of beautiful handbell music,” said Handbell Director Marilyn Droke.

This event is free to the public; seating is first-come, first-serve. For more information, please call the College of the Ozarks Music department at (417) 690-2244.

Initial planning is currently underway for Christian Action Ministries’ 4th Annual Gospel Sing Off on Sunday, September 2nd. CAM today announced that Sight & Sound Theatres will again be the hosting theater for this year’s event, as it has been since the first Sing- Off. “We’re extremely grateful to have the continuing support of Sight & Sound for our food ministry in Taney County,” said CAM Board Chairman Jack Burke. “Sight & Sound has proven to be one of our greatest benefactors since they moved into the Branson community.”

Burke also said that support for this year’s Sing Off has been off to a fast start. “SIX and Branson Tourism Center have already signed on as our Key Sponsors, which covers the costs of the prize purses for the winners and printing of programs and promotional material. Additionally Silver Dollar City has committed to providing our winner with three half-hour shows the following day during closing festivities for the Country Gospel Picnic on September 3rd.”

Solicitations for sponsorships has already begun and within a few weeks entries will be accepted from gospel groups and singers that wish to compete. The top ten will be selected to perform before a panel of celebrity judges at the Sing Off. Tickets will be available closer to the event through both Sight & Sound and Branson Tourism Center.

According to Burke, “The demand on our pantries in both Branson and Forsyth has increased dramatically over recent years and the Sing Off is our only annual operational fundraiser. I’m praying that we’ll be able to fill every seat in the house as we raise our voices in praise of God and in support of the needy in our area.”

For more information, contact the CAM offices at 417-334-1157 or visit www.christianactionministries.org.

Contact: Jack Burke, 1-800-451-8273, [email protected]
Pat Davis, [email protected]

Dutton Theater Shows – Week of April 9 – Performances Monday Through Friday then On the Road Again!

Another Week of Great Shows!: If you didn’t get a chance to catch our opening weekend last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, hang on tight because we have a week of great performances for you.

Duttons are on this week Monday – Thursday at 8pm and George is on Tues and Thurs at 2pm with an 8pm show on Friday. All kinds of things going on here. Both shows have been met with RAVE reviews for the new season, so be sure to get your piece of the action and come on over for some GREAT entertainment! Do it soon or you will have to wait a week to catch The Duttons. Heck, since The Duttons are going out of town on Friday, lets throw in a preview here of the wee, of April 16, so you will know what is coming….

On the Road Again

Duttons go EAST: Just when the dust had settled in Branson from our arrival, The Duttons get to take off for the wilds of the East Coast. Do you have a tour company or a travel agent you would like to see the show? Give us a call and we will see what we can do about getting them tickets. The tour schedule is as follows:
Sat April 14, Charleston, WV
Tues April 17, New London, CT
Wed April 18, Warren, OH
We figured since we have been out west all Winter, it was time to give the east coast a try. Watch out New England, here we come!

Another Stylin’ Season at Abby’s Tourist Trap
Branson Souveniers, Ice Cream and MORE!: I don’t know about everyone else, but when I travel I HAVE to have a t-shirt from the location I visit. It is sort involved with that smug look you can give people that says, “Oh yeah, I’ve been there.” and the shirt does it for you! What better place to pick up your shirts, postcards, and other Branson paraphenalia then Abby’s Tourist Trap, located right next to the Dutton Family Theater. She has t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, toys, keychains and souveniers GALORE. Plus, just this week Abby added fresh baked cobbler to her snack menu joining the scrumptious selections of cookies brownies and the best soft serve ice cream money can buy! Come on over and let your inner tourist SHINE and get that t-shirt so everyone knows where you have been.

Mount Pleasant Winery invites everyone for their weekly “Friday Wine Down” event from 5 pm to 7 pm. This week they are featuring Mary Ann Daversa, most recently the Musical Director/Keyboardist for The Lennon Sisters Christmas Show. She will be playing the musical arrangements of well-known jazz pianists of the 20th and 21st Century.

Mount Pleasant Winery
3125 Green Mountain Drive
Branson, Missouri 65616
417-336-9463

This year Rural Missouri, a statewide publication of Missouri Electric Cooperative, reaching more than over 500,000 rural homes in Missouri, announced its list of “favorites.” This served as the 11th annual Best of Rural Missouri Readers Choice contest. Individuals cast their votes by e-mails, phone calls, and letters for the best restaurant, best barbecue, best coffee shop, best museum and more. The Ralph Foster Museum was voted the “Best Museum” of Missouri.

The Ralph Foster Museum is dedicated to the history of the Ozarks region. Named in honor of the late Ralph D. Foster (radio pioneer and philanthropist), it 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, 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. The cost of admittance is $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and ages 18 and under are free. For further information, please contact the Museum at (417) 690-3407.

College Of The Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO 65726
(417) 690-2212

For More Information: Elizabeth Andrews Hughes, Public Relations

The Children’s Art Show will open this month at College of the Ozarks Ralph Foster Museum in Edwards Art Gallery. This annual exhibit, displaying the talent and creativity of local school children’s art, will run April 16 – May 18, 2012.

The art, chosen by area school teachers, includes pen and ink drawings, crayon sketches, acrylic paintings, paper mache creations and imaginative sculptures.

“It is just refreshing to see art made by children,” says Director of Ralph Foster Museum Annette Sain. “This is a great way to broaden people’s understanding and opinion of what art actually is.”

The Ralph Foster Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. General admission prices are $6 for adults and $5 for seniors; high school age students and younger are free. Parents of the children participating in the art show will receive free admission.

For more information, please contact The Ralph Foster Museum at (417) 690-3407.

College Of The Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO 65726
(417) 690-2212

For More Information: Elizabeth Andrews Hughes, Public Relations

The College of the Ozarks Music Department will host a student music recital on April 11, at 4 p.m., in the Gittinger Recital Hall. The recital will include performances from student soloists and ensembles, instrumental and vocal.

“We have recitals to give students who have been training in a studio setting an opportunity to apply what they have learned in a public performance,” says C of O music instructor Gregg Busch. “It also provides the public the opportunity to share in the experience of students learning and view the talent at College of the Ozarks.”

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
Point Lookout, MO 65726
(417) 690-2212

For More Information: Elizabeth Andrews Hughes, Public Relations

Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive!

3562 Shepherd of the Hills, Branson MO
Friday, March 30, 2012
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Bloodmobile in parking lot

Go to www.redcrossblood.org, and enter zip code 65616 to find the blood drive listed.

Be sure to bring photo Id or donor card.
Be sure to eat prior to donating blood.
Refreshments served following blood donation.
Thanks for being a blood donor!

Don’t miss the Giant-Screen adventure, Rescue – now playing during the 19th Annual IMAX FilmFest!

Take action and save lives! Explore the difficult & inspiring work of those serving & saving others in the face of natural disasters. Follow a naval commander, two pilots, and a volunteer technician as they train for action. When an earthquake strikes Haiti, the audience is swept along, joining with the worldwide effort.

With every ticket sold to Rescue, a donation is made to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief to help those affected by disasters close to home and anywhere in the world.