College of the Ozarks and First Place! Invites Community to Hear Dr. Hal Urban Speak on “Old Fashioned Goodness” January 12, 2012
By: Alexis Schields

*****Time Change Update 1/5/2012******

To accommodate more educators, the time for Hal Urban’s presentation on “Old-fashioned Goodness” has been changed to 3:30-5 p.m. on Jan. 12.

College of the Ozarks and First PLACE! invite all area teachers, administrators, support staff and community members to hear from Dr. Hal Urban on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Royal Oak Forum of The Keeter Center. This special event will inspire attendees with what Dr. Urban describes as “old-fashioned goodness.”

“Our community is doing a great job at fostering good character in young people,” said C of O Dean of Character Education Sue Head. “Dr. Urban’s message will resonate with these individuals who are dedicated to making a difference.”

His message focuses on what good character means and on “old-fashioned goodness,” which includes having a positive attitude, respect and kindness, thankfulness, honesty and integrity, life-long learning and hard work. While Dr. Urban says that he may not have a “magic formula” or “quick and easy” way to becoming rich and powerful, he can offer a time-honored formula for living a life of meaning, friendship and joy.

Dr. Urban was a teacher for 36 years and taught full time at Woodside and San Carlos High Schools and part time at the University of San Francisco. In addition to his numerous accolades, he won a “Distinguished Teacher Award” at San Carlos High and was “Teacher of the Year” twice at Woodside High. In October of 2005, Dr. Urban received the “Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award in Character Education” at the Character Education Partnership annual conference.

Launched in 2005, First PLACE!, is a partnership among The Keeter Center for Character Education at College of the Ozarks and the public schools of Stone and Taney counties to foster a community where character is highly valued and intentionally taught. As part of First PLACE!, The Keeter Center for Character Education offers materials and workshops that aid in character education and breaking the poverty cycle.

This workshop is free of charge and open to the public. To register, please contact The Keeter Center for Character Education, (417) 690-2242.

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.

College of the Ozarks Students Accompany WWII Veterans/Pearl Harbor Survivors to 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Ten College of the Ozarks students will accompany five WWII veterans (two of which are Pearl Harbor survivors) to the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor next week. The group, which will set out on this historic journey Sunday, will spend four days in Oahu, visiting the Punchbowl National Military Cemetery, touring Ford Island, witnessing the USS Arizona in its watery grave, and attending the Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary events.

Two of the veterans, Guy Piper and Clarence Pfundheller, are Pearl Harbor survivors, so the anniversary events will have special meaning to them and their student travelers. Veterans Parke Piper, George Beden and Bruce Heilman all fought in the Pacific Theatre and will be able to share their stories about engagements at Okinawa, the Phillipines, Midway and the recovery effort at Hiroshima following the atomic bombing.

After Oahu, the group will travel to the Okinawa to see the sites of perhaps the bloodiest battle of the Pacific. Following Okinawa, they will go to Japan to visit the Peace Museum and Atomic Dome in Hiroshima.

“From this trip, I expect to learn nothing less than how little I knew about true sacrifice and service,” says College of the Ozarks junior Chelsea Kliethermes. “It will be the ultimate opportunity to travel alongside some of our nation’s heroes and learn their stories.”

Since June 2009, College of the Ozarks (a small, Missouri work college) has been sending its students with WWII veterans to European and Pacific battle sites to learn about history from the men who lived it. The students are devoted to learning each veteran’s story, so that their legacy will live on, their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

During the trips, two or three students pair up with a veteran and document the trip by journaling, keeping up a group blog and recording the veterans stories, as well as significant moments on the trip, by using a flip-cam or digital voice recorder. Students report learning more during one of these two-week trips than they learned in 12 years of pre-college schooling. Moreover, they vow to pass on to their children what they learned.

This trip and others like it are about history and making history. Generation gaps are bridged, emotional wounds (of the veterans) healed, and what may have been a superficial patriotism transformed into unwavering love of country and our nation’s veterans.

Invitation To Join the College for Christmas Card to the Community

By: Jacob McCauley

College of the Ozarks will present Christmas Card to the Community on December 11, at 7 p.m. in the Williams Memorial Chapel. The event is a traditional, Christian worship service that features Christmas music performed by the College’s Chapel Choir, Chorale and Handbell Choir.

Themed “Emmanuel-God With Us,” the service will feature hymns and traditional carols with opportunities for congregational participation. The music will be accompanied by a live orchestra and combined C of O choirs.

The program also will include scripture readings and student solos. “At Christmas Card to the Community we have the opportunity to combine the major ensembles for a total of over 100 student musicians singing and playing,” said Dr. Bruce Gerlach, professor of music.

College of the Ozarks invites the public to share in this annual Christmas service. A light reception with cookies, fruitcake and hot cider will immediately follow the service in the Fellowship Hall of the Chapel. Tickets are not required; seating is limited. For more information please contact Public Relations at 417-690-2212.

Jazz Christmas Concert at the Keeter Center
By: Matt Farmer

College of the Ozarks Music Department will present a Christmas jazz concert on Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m., in the Royal Oak Forum of The Keeter Center. This free concert is open to the public and will feature the C of O Jazz Band and Ensemble.

The event will feature arrangements of popular favorites like Vince Guaraldi’s “Charlie Brown Christmas” and traditional Christmas songs, including “Jingle Bells.”

“The Jazz Band really enjoys the Christmas season,” says C of O junior music major Andy Petry. “The students have passion for Christmas music and will put on a great concert for the community.”

No tickets required. For more information, call the Music department at 417-690-2244.

College of the Ozarks Theatre Department Presents “Everybody’s Girl”
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

The College of the Ozarks Theatre Department will present its winter production of the comedy “Everybody’s Girl” on December 2, 3 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and December 4 at 2:30 p.m. in Jones auditorium.

This witty comedy, by John Patrick, is the story of an eccentric widow living in a town called Harmony, whose activities range from being mayor to running the local home for wayward girls. Due to the unlikely incident of a Japanese duck landing in her back yard, she comes into small recognition—however, enough recognition for a newspaper man to come out and do a story.

When he finds out she has five sons in a prison camp in North Vietnam, he decides this is his chance for fame and a fast buck, and he launches a campaign to have her named “Mother of the Year.” But this fine distinction is hilariously corrupted when it is revealed she was never married.

Tickets are required to attend this production. Adult tickets are $10, senior citizens and non-C of O students are $8 and children are $6.

To make reservations, please call the Jones Theatre Department at (417) 690-2626.

College of the Ozarks to Celebrate Homecoming 2011
By: Sarah Unruh

College of the Ozarks will kick off its 2011 Homecoming celebration, themed “Life is Good…to be continued,” Thursday, November 3. Events run through Sunday, November 6. Alumni and the public are invited to participate in and/or observe many activities, including a 5K run/walk, basketball games, student activity booths and the C of O Homecoming Parade.

“The concept behind “Life is Good…to be continued” is that life is good here at College of the Ozarks, and life is good after graduation,” said C of O Alumni Director Angela Williamson. “We have much to be thankful for and we want this year’s theme to reflect an optimistic outlook on life in general.”

The C of O Lady Bobcats will take on Lindenwood University, Fri. Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Keeter Gymnasium. The C of O Men’s Basketball Team will play Hannibal-LaGrange University, Saturday Nov. 5, at 3:15 p.m. in the Keeter Gymnasium. The public is invited to attend both of these games; tickets may be purchased at the box office.

Events on Saturday, Nov. 5, such as the 5K Run/Walk at 7 a.m. and the student activity booths open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., are open to the public. The 5K entry fee is $20, and applications are available at www.cofo.edu/alumni. For questions on the run/walk, please contact Assistant Professor of Physical Education Don Hoeck at (417) 690-2571.

Those who cannot attend the morning Homecoming events are welcome to come to the Homecoming Parade. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, and will take place along Opportunity Ave.

“Homecoming is a wonderful time to unite past and present students,” says senior English major Lindsey Hardin. “It celebrates C of O’s history, and I love getting to hear the alumni stories from when they went to college here.”

For more information regarding the Homecoming 2011 events, please contact the College of the Ozarks Alumni Office at (417) 690-2208. To see a complete list of events for Alumni, visit www.cofo.edu/alumni.

2011 Homecoming Schedule of Events
“Life is Good… to be continued”

Thursday, November 3
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Alumni Registration, Alumni Center
8 p.m. Homecoming Queen Coronation, Jones Auditorium

Friday, November 4
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Alumni Registration, Alumni Center
10 a.m. Alumni Golf Game – Murder Rock Golf Course
7 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Lindenwood University, Keeter Gymnasium

Saturday, November 5
7 a.m. 5K Run/Walk, Keeter Gymnasium
8 a.m. Alumni Breakfast, Dobyns Dining Room, The Keeter Center (tickets required)
9 a.m. Alumni Association Annual Meeting, Royal Oak Forum, The Keeter Center
9 a.m.-noon Alumni Registration, Good Memorial Center & Alumni Center
10 a.m. Student Activity Booths Open, Activities Field
1 p.m. Alumni Memorial Service, Williams memorial Chapel
2 p.m. C of O Parade, Opportunity Ave.
3 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Hannibal-LaGrange University, Keeter Gymnasium
6 p.m. Alumni Banquet and Meritorious Awards Recognition, Youngman
Agricultural Center (tickets required)

Sunday, November 6
11 a.m. Chapel Service, Williams Memorial Chapel

The Biggest Loser Contestant Abby Rike to Speak at College of the Ozarks – November 8, 2011
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

“The Biggest Loser” contestant Abby Rike will share her inspirational story at College of the Ozarks on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at 7 p.m., in Jones Auditorium.

Rike faced an unfathomable tragedy in October 2006. She lost her beloved husband, five-year- old daughter, and two-week-old son in a fatal car crash, but chose to forge ahead in life, realizing there was more living to do.

In 2009, Rike began her journey on NBC’s hit reality series “The Biggest Loser,” weighing in at 247 pounds. She lost a total of 100 pounds, weighting in at 147 pounds at the show’s finale.

Rike says she feels compelled to share with others her experience. She continues her healthy lifestyle and serves as a living example that even in your darkest hour, there is always hope.

For further information, please contact the Public Relations office at (417) 690-2212 or e-mail [email protected].

Veterans Grove Plaza Dedication Rescheduled for 3:30 pm on November 10, 2011

Veterans Grove Plaza Dedication has been rescheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The Veterans Grove Plaza is an expansion of Veterans Grove that displays flags representing each branch of the military, as well as the American Flag.

Veterans Grove honors World War II veterans who have participated in Patriotic Travel with C of O students. Each Veteran is honored with the planting of a Sugar Maple, which is aligned with others to create the same unique pattern of the marble crosses at the American cemeteries in Europe. Next to each Sugar Maple is a bronze marker with a Veteran’s name.

Veterans Mr. Andy Anderson, Mr. John Primerano and Mr. Louis Rabesa, who traveled with C of O students to Europe this summer with the Patriotic Education Travel Program, will have trees dedicated in their honor, during the Veterans Grove Plaza Dedication on Thursday.