By: Ashley Bench

The Keeter Center will host the annual Yuletide Feast at 6 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Dec. 1.

This year’s Yuletide Feast will include a traditional hot wassail toast, caroling at the fireplace, and boar’s head processional into Dobyns Dining Room Room. While guests enjoy a traditional Renaissance dinner, College of the Ozarks Chorale will perform a Christmas concert.

Come celebrate for only $28.95 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, call (417) 690-2146 or for online reservations go to www.keetercenter.edu.

Tuesday, November 6, at 9 a.m. Veterans Week will begin at College of the Ozarks with an appearance from the Special Forces A-Team. The A-Team will provide a 30-minute lecture and demonstration on weaponry, with a second lecture at 10:30 a.m., held in The Keeter Center’s Royal Oak Forum. School groups are welcome. For group reservations, contact Amy Unruh at (417) 690-2276 or [email protected].

Saturday, November 10, at 2 p.m., College of the Ozarks will honor 14 American Veterans by dedicating Sugar Maple trees in their honor to the Veterans Grove. Veterans Grove honors World War II Veterans who have participated in Patriotic Travel with C of O students. The 14 men honored in this year’s ceremony travelled with students to the Philippines, Pearl Harbor and Japan, or former concentration/death camps in Europe.

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.

From 3-5 p.m., a World War II mini-reunion will be hosted in the Royal Oak Forum featuring a live performance of the United States Air Force Band of Mid America: Shades of Blue. Cookies and punch will be provided, and guests are encouraged to attend the premiere showing of “A Patriotic Education: To Remember. To Pass It On. And Never to Forget.,” a documentary about students accompanying Veterans to the Philippines and various destinations in Europe. The premiere showing will start at 4 p.m.

All the events are free and open to the public. For more information, please call The Keeter Center for Character Education Office at (417) 690-2242.

By: Haley Jones

Artists throughout the Ozarks region are invited to submit paintings to the White River Painting Exhibit at College of the Ozarks Oct. 29–Nov. 7. Paintings should reflect the artist’s personal views of what is important to him/her about the Ozarks. Award-winning “plein air” painter Mr. Garry McMichael will serve as this year’s juror. Monetary awards will be awarded for the top three, as well as for honorable mentions.

Paintings may be submitted in most any medium on which there has been “some pigment pushed around.” Entries should be original and completed within the last two years and not the product of a painting workshop. Artists are limited to submitting two entries. Entries must not have been previously exhibited in the Ralph Foster Museum’s past White River Painting exhibits.

The paintings may be delivered to the Ralph Foster Museum between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday–Saturday. The entry fee for each painting is $5. The exhibit will run from Nov. 8–Dec. 15.

Artists interested in learning more may visit www.rfostermuseum.com or contact Museum Curator Jeanelle Ash at (417) 690-2603 or by e-mail, [email protected].

While fall brings focus to football and pumpkins, many C of O students have already set their sights on Christmas by joining Samaritan’s Purse with its annual Operation Christmas Child (OCC) project. This year the organization hopes to distribute its 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox in more than 100 countries.

College of the Ozarks is preparing for the annual Operation Christmas Child party, where the students will wrap and send out hundreds of boxes to children in need. “It’s a really great way to let a kid know that you do care about them even though you are thousands of miles away,” said sophomore Anna Renyer.

Shoe boxes are wrapped and filled with simple items most people take for granted, including toothpaste, toys and school supplies. OCC then hand delivers the shoeboxes to hurting children around the world suffering from poverty, disease, war and natural disaster. For many of these children, the simple shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.

Anyone can participate in Operation Christmas Child this season. Samaritan’s Purse will collect gift-filled shoe boxes at more than 2,700 drop-off sites in all 50 states during National Collection Week, Nov 12–19.

For many years College of the Ozarks has participated in Operation Christmas Child. “As a relay station for our area, we are looking forward to this year being the best ever in community participation and hope others will join us,” said LeNeve OCC Relay Coordinator at C of O.

The College of the Ozarks Christian Ministries Office is the designated OCC Relay Center in this area. Please bring your shoe boxes to the Williams Memorial Chapel parking lot on the C of O campus from November 12-19, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m. to noon on Monday.

For more information on packing an OCC shoebox please visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ or call the C of O Christian Ministries office at 417-690-3446.

By: Chelsea Kliethermes

College of the Ozarks will kick off its 2012 Homecoming celebration, themed “Focused on Opportunity,” Thursday, November 1. Events run through Sunday, November 4. 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 ‘Focused on Opportunity’ is to remind alumni of the wonderful opportunities they had as students,” said Director of Alumni Affairs Angela Williamson. “Through the work program, classes, and all of the opportunities the college offers, students are better equipped to face the world outside the campus Gates of Opportunity.”

The C of O Lady Bobcats will take on Baker University, Fri. Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., in the Keeter Gymnasium. The C of O Men’s Basketball Team will play Graceland University, Saturday Nov. 3, 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. 3, 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. 3, and will take place along Opportunity Ave.

“We look forward to the homecoming activities each year,” said sophomore business major Nicole Dilg. “Not only does it allow us to spend time with friends, but is an opportunity to reminisce with C of O Alumni.”

For more information regarding the Homecoming 2012 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

2012 Homecoming Schedule of Events
“Focused on Opportunity”

Thursday, November 1
6 p.m. Bobcats vs. University of Saint Mary, Keeter Gymnasium
8 p.m. Homecoming Queen Coronation, Jones Auditorium

Friday, November 2
7 p.m. Lady Bobcats vs. Baker University, Keeter Gymnasium

Saturday, November 3
7 a.m. 5K Run/Walk, Keeter Gymnasium
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.
3:15 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Graceland University, Keeter Gymnasium

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

The convocation featuring author and co-founder of Wellspring International Naomi Zacharias scheduled for October 22, at 7 p.m. has been canceled, due to unforeseen circumstances.

Instead, the Christian convocation that evening will feature C of O students leading a worship service to kick-off the campus “Mission Emphasis Week.” The worship service, which is open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. on October 22, and will be held in Jones Auditorium.

C of O alumnus and Bridge of Faith Church Pastor John McGwire also will share during the worship service.

For more information, please contact the Christian Ministries Department at (417) 690-3446.

By: Turner Brock

Naomi Zacharias, author of The Scent of Water: Grace for Every Kind of Broken, will speak at College of the Ozarks, at 7 p.m. on October 22, 2012, in the Jones Auditorium. She will share how individuals can impact the lives of others in need around the world.

Zacharias graduated from Wheaton College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business/economics. She joined her father, Ravi Zacharias, to launch Wellspring International, an initiative devoted to efforts of helping at-risk women and children. She has ministered to women in the red-light districts of The Netherlands, children affected by HIV/AIDS and living in foster care in Asia and women in prison in South Africa.

Students will be allowed priority seating for the event, but remaining seats will be available to the public free of charge. For more information, please contact Christian Ministries at 690-3446.

By: Morgan Sowell

On Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, College of the Ozarks Christian Ministries will sponsor a blood drive for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. The drive will be held from noon to 6 p.m., in the Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex in the Keeter Gymnasium at College of the Ozarks.

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 College of the Ozarks Director of the Community Service Program Nancy Finn in Christian Ministries at (417) 690-3454.

By: Chelsea Kliethermes

School of the Ozarks volleyball team will play its first home game against Blue Eye on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at 5 p.m. in the Howell W. Keeter Gymnasium on the College of the Ozarks campus.

“I am impressed with our team’s sportsmanship, fighting spirit and the manner in which they represent our school,” said Patriots Head Coach Charlie Warfield. “The future looks bright for our young patriot team!”

In addition to volleyball, School of the Ozarks students compete in track and field, cross country and basketball. The first home game for junior varsity boys and girls basketball is December 6, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. The varsity boys basketball team plays on December 18, 2012, at 6 p.m. and the varsity girls play on January 7, 2012, at 6 p.m. Schedules for track and field and cross country are still pending.

School of the Ozarks, a college preparatory lab school for grades 9-12, provides a unique education by interweaving a biblical worldview, character education and patriotism into rigorous academic curriculum grounded in the Great Books. The School also mirrors College of the Ozarks in that students are not charged tuition, but instead are asked to invest a little sweet equity into their education.

Home games are free of charge. Community members may attend all S of O games. Schedules are available online at www.cofo.edu.

By: Ashley Bench

Renowned apologist Dr. J.P. Moreland will present “Loving God with the Mind” at College of the Ozarks on Monday and Tuesday, September 24 and 25, at 7 p.m., in the Jones Auditorium.

Featuring highlights of Moreland’s recently published book, The Kingdom Triangle, Moreland will discuss the purpose for life and how to fulfill those purposes in a Christ-honoring way.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Moreland on our campus, as he is one of the foremost Christian apologists,” said Dean of Christian Ministries Dr. Justin Carswell. “He will help students learn how to live a life that flourishes.”

Currently, Moreland serves as a Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University in La Mirada, California. He has spoken and debated on over 175 college campuses around the country. Moreland has earned four degrees, authored and co-authored 30 books, co-planted three churches, served with Campus Crusade for Christ and worked as a bioethicist for PersonalCare Nursing Homes.

The “Loving God with the Mind” presentation is free and open to the public. C of O students will receive priority seating; remaining seats are available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. For questions or more information, contact Christian Ministries at (417) 690-3446.