In the picture from left to right: Shonna Hawks Admissions Representative, Marci Linson Dean of Admissions, Michael Lewis Admissions Representative.

The 43 Annual American Advertising Federation awarded the College of the Ozarks viewbook, an information publication for prospective students, with the Gold ADDY® Award (the highest award), Best of Category ADDY®, which considers all materials submitted and Judges Choice Award ADDY®. The viewbook also accrued the highest rated points of any entry in the competition. There were more than 300 total entries submitted in this year’s competition.

The ADDY® awards competition is a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation. It is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.

The viewbook publication is produced by the Office of Admissions through Corcoran Communications, a company that provides marketing services for the education community.

“We are very honored to partner with Corcoran on our design and content efforts,” Dean of Admissions Marci Linson said. “It is an added bonus when your hard work is rewarded by the professional advertising industry.”

For more information, contact the C of O Admissions Office at 417-690-2636.

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.”

College of the Ozarks to Sponsor Blood Drive
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

On Thursday, February 16, 2012, the Bonner Community Service Program at College of the Ozarks will sponsor a blood drive for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. The blood drive is from noon to 6 p.m., in the Keeter Gymnasium.

Each donor will receive a free t-shirt for his/her contribution. Every donation has the potential to make a difference in someone’s life.

For more information, please contact the C of O Bonner Community Service Program at 417-690-3450 or e-mail Director of Bonner Program Nancy Finn at [email protected]

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 of the Ozarks Inducts Alumni Athletes into Sports Hall of Fame
By: Austin Plummer

College of the Ozarks will induct three of its alumni athletes into the College of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame on February 4. Cara Painter, Ralph Hagewood and the late Chris Waller will be honored during the C of O vs. Southwestern Christian University games; the women play at 3 p.m. and the men at 5 p.m.

Painter was a three year starter in basketball for the Lady Cats from 2003-2006, after transferring from Oklahoma State University. She finished her career with 1,755 points, 925 rebounds, 163 three-point shots made, 257 free-throws made, and 329 blocked shots. Painter had an 87.2 career free throw percentage and a 44.4 career three-point percentage. Her conference honors included 1st Team All-Conference all three years and MCAC Player of the Year her senior year. Nationally, Painter was named 3rd Team NAIA All-American both her junior and senior years. She also led the nation in rebounding and blocked shots her senior year. Her number 44 was retired in 2006.

Hagewood was a four year letterman in track and field from 1966 to 1970. His hard work enabled him to become a fine sprinter, and he was able to score in the 100 and 220 yard dashes, the 440 and the 880 yard relays, high hurdles, long jump, discus and pole vault. At one time, Hagewood was the school record holder in the pole vault at 14 ft. 6.5 in. He was All-Conference and All-District for three years, and he was the first athlete from School of the Ozarks to qualify for NAIA National Competition, a feat he accomplished three times. A strong leader and competitor, Hagewood entered any and all events that would help the team.

Waller was a four year letterman in basketball from 1997-2001. He ended his career with 810 points, 268 rebounds, 140 assists, and a 50.4 field goal percentage, 43.5 three-point percentage, and a 77 free throw percentage. He was named 1st Team All-Conference his senior year and an NAIA Academic All-American his junior and senior years. He was the winner of the MCAC A. O. Duer Award his junior year and was named C of O’s Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete his senior year.

For more information please contact the Sports Information office at (471)690-2393.

NOW SHOWING—Special Exhibit on the “Iron Lady” Featured at Branson Meadows Cinema for “The Iron Lady” Movie Premiere January 20-22

“The Iron Lady” is making a second appearance in the Ozarks—this time in the form of a movie. The real “Iron Lady,” Lady Margaret Thatcher, made her first appearance in 1997, visiting College of the Ozarks to speak to students and community members about “Free Enterprise and Work Ethic.”

To celebrate the life of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the premiere of the movie “The Iron Lady,” a special exhibit will be on display at the Branson Meadows Cinema January 20-22.

Full of historical pictures, memorabilia, and photographs of Lady Thatcher at College of the Ozarks, the exhibit tells the story of Great Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister and her special visit to the Ozarks.

All patrons to the cinema are invited to view the exhibit, located in the cinema’s lobby, at no charge.
Following the movie’s premiere weekend, the exhibit will be displayed at the College of the Ozarks Keeter Center.

For more information on the “Iron Lady” exhibit, please contact the College of the Ozarks Public Relations Office at (417) 690-2212. To find out show times of “The Iron Lady” at the Branson Meadows Cinema, please call (417) 332-0464 or click on the link below.

Branson Meadows Schedule for January 20-26, 2012.

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].