Public Invited To Attend Student Music Recital March 28
By: Austin Plummer

The College of the Ozarks Music Department will host a student music recital on March 28, 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 the students to show their talents,” says C of O music department student worker Amber McDowell. “There will be a variety of pieces performed for everyone to enjoy.”

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.

Boger Gallery Presents Michael Ashley’s “Home,” Ceramics Inspired By The Ozark Mountains

By: Kearstin Mattox

The Boger Gallery at College of the Ozarks will feature the exhibit “Home,” a collection of works by ceramic artist Michael Ashley. The exhibit runs from March 27 through April 24 in the Boger Gallery, located on the ground floor of the Jones Learning Center.

Ashley’s work is inspired by childhood memories and playing by the riverside in the Ozark Mountains. His functional and utilitarian vessels are meant to appear as if they just have been pulled from the river, with surfaces aged by current, silt and time.

“To me this show is about coming back to the landscapes and rivers I grew up in,” said Ashley. “I want people to see that I take the colors and textures of the Ozarks with me everywhere I go.”

A workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 3, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in the Art Annex. Ashley also will present a lecture on April 3, in the Gittinger Recital Hall at 7 p.m.; a reception will follow in the gallery. All events are free and open to the public.

This Boger Gallery event is sponsored by the College of the Ozarks Art Department, and financial assistance is provided by the Missouri Arts Council. Boger Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m weekdays and 1-5p.m. weekends, while school is in session. For more information, contact Richard Cummings, Boger Gallery director, at 417-690-2268 or e-mail [email protected].

By: Jacob McCauley

Dr. Temple Grandin, renowned speaker, author, animal scientist, and Autism advocate, will speak on livestock handling at College of the Ozarks on March 28, 2012, at 7 p.m., in Jones Auditorium.

Grandin, born August 29, 1947, in Boston, Massachusetts, was diagnosed with autism in 1950. She was later placed in a nursery school that would teach her how to speak and other basic skills. “I can remember the frustration of not being able to talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not get the words out, so I would just scream,” said Grandin. At the age of four, Grandin began making significant progress and attributes that to her mentors.

After graduating from a boarding school designed for gifted children, Dr. Grandin studied at Franklin Pierce College to earn her degree in psychology in 1970. In 1975, she received a master’s degree in animal science from Arizona State University, and in 1989, she received a doctoral degree in animal science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Today, she teaches at Colorado State University and consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling and animal welfare. She has appeared on television shows such as “20/20,” “48 Hours,” CNN’s “Larry King Live,” “PrimeTime Live,” the “Today Show” and has been featured on National Public Radio.

The convocation is free and open to the public. Students are allowed priority seating. For more information on the convocation with Dr. Grandin and other special guests at College of the Ozarks, contact the Public Relations Office at (417) 690-2212.

Guitarist and Songwriter Tony Melendez to Perform
By: Ashley Bench

Tony Melendez, Christian guitarist/songwriter, will perform at College of the Ozarks on Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m., in the Jones Auditorium. Melendez composes and performs a variety of contemporary and traditional, instrumental and vocal pieces.

Melendez, known worldwide for his amazing talents, began composing music and playing the guitar at a young age. Born without arms, he taught himself to play the guitar with his feet and overcame all the odds. “His talent speaks to the glory of God,” says C of O sophomore Kait Varghese. “The fact that he is using his incredible talents as a witness shows that Christ truly gives us strength to accomplish the impossible.”

Melendez’s talents caught the attention of many, which gave him the opportunity to perform in various avenues, including two performances for Pope John Paul II. He became highly involved with the Church and thrives on sharing his faith with others through music ministry. Today he still composes and produces with his company “Toe Jam Music,” giving all the glory to God.

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 Christian Ministries office at (417) 690-3446.

College of the Ozarks Associates Luncheon
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

College of the Ozarks invites current Associates and those interested in becoming Associates to attend the next Associates Luncheon on Monday, March 26, 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. During the program, the C of O landscaping department will share spring planting and lawn care tips.

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.

The Associates seeks to advance the objectives of the College through friends and corporate relationships. The Associates not only recognizes the College’s unique contribution to higher education in the United States, but also the tremendous impact it has economically and culturally in the Ozarks area of southwest Missouri.

Luncheon cost is $15 per person. Please RSVP by Thursday, March 22, to the Development Office at 417-690-2209 or e-mail [email protected].

College of the Ozarks President Jerry C. Davis was named President of the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities (AAPICU) during the Association’s annual meeting held February 23-25, 2012.

Dr. Davis has served in the college presidency for over three decades, among the longest tenures in the United States, and continues to serve as President of College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri.

Called “Hard Work U.” by The Wall Street Journal, College of the Ozarks is a four-year college where all students earn their education by working, rather than paying tuition. Each student works 15 hours each week and two 40-hour work weeks at an on-campus job. College of the Ozarks has become a thriving, four-year, nationally recognized institution committed to a five-fold mission of encouraging academic, Christian, cultural, vocational, and patriotic growth in its students.

Numerous national publications, including Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Kaplan Newsweek, The Princeton Review, and the Young America’s Foundation, consistently recognize College of the Ozarks as one of the best colleges in the nation. In recent years, the College has been featured on Fox News, ABC, and CBS news segments.

Prior to College of the Ozarks, Dr. Davis was President of Alice Lloyd College in Kentucky. Among his many professional memberships are serving on the board of the Marine Military Academy and as a peer review team chair for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

President Davis is the author of several books and articles and has received much recognition, including The Missourian Award–given to Missouri’s most outstanding leaders.

Dr. Davis and his wife, Shirley, have been married for 46 years. They have three grown children, eight grandchildren, and one “on the way.”

President Davis may be reached at 417-690-2470 or [email protected]. For more information on AAPICU, visit www.aapicu.org.

By: Austin Plummer

Senior music major Jenna Dunnam will present her senior recital in the Newman Recital Hall of the Gittinger Music Building on Sunday, March 11, at 3 p.m.

Her recital will feature a mixture of vocal talent and piano repertoire. She will perform a variety of styles and genres, including works by Schumann, Mozart, Webber and Mark Hayes.

“I’ve learned more at C of O than I ever bargained for; most of which is not what I learned in the classroom. I couldn’t ask for better, godly professors in my degree,” said Dunnam.

Dunnam will graduate in May with a degree in general music. The senior recital is a prerequisite for the completion of the music major.

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 sustained minor damage from last night’s storm, limited to a few downed trees and tree limbs. However the campus phone service has been interrupted due to the storm damage to the Branson area at large. Currently, the most effective way to reach staff, faculty and students is by e-mail or cell phone.

The College family sends prayers to those in the area who were affected by the storm.

Exhibit “Celebrating 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts” to Open at Ralph Foster Museum

By: Turner Brock

The Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks will feature a special exhibit for the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts beginning March 12, the official Girl Scouts anniversary day. The exhibit will display Girl Scout uniforms, patches and booklets throughout history.

Local Girl Scouts Troop 10244 help put the display together. “This is a great way to remind people that the Girl Scouts have been around [for a while],” said Annette Sain, Ralph Foster Museum director. “This is a way to help enrich the community.”

The exhibit will be on display at the Edwards Art Gallery, located on the first floor of the Ralph Foster Museum.

The Ralph Foster Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is free for high school and younger, adults are $6, and senior citizens are $5. For more information, please contact Annette Sain at 417-690-3407.

College of the Ozarks Presents “Little Women”
By: Ashley Bench

College of the Ozarks’ departments of Theatre and Music will present the spring musical, “Little Women,” at 7:30 p.m., on March 2, 3, 5 and 6. A Sunday matinee will begin at 2:30 p.m., on March 4.

Produced by a special arrangement with Music Theatre International, “Little Women,” with music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, effectively displays the hardships of a family of four sisters and their mother, the Marches, during the civil war. Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the March family develops a bond that can never be broken and learn to have a hopeful endurance with every situation life brings. Playwright Allan Knee seeks to touch the hearts of many through the emotional heartaches and the joys of each sister.

C of O sophomore Matt Matney will play the part of Mr. Laurence, a wealthy neighbor to the March family. “For years young women have read the stories of Jo and dreamed of being one of the March sisters in ‘Little Women,’ and I think that’s one of the best concepts of this musical,” says Matney. “It takes the classic story so many young girls connect with and combines it with a beautiful score that adults will enjoy as well. It truly is a family event that intrigues several generations of avid readers and theatre patrons.”

Regular adult tickets are $15. Tickets for senior citizens are $13, students are $13 and children 12 and under are $11. C of O Associates will receive free admission to one performance upon presentation of their Associates Card. Guests of Associates are $5.

The Keeter Center’s Dobyns Dining Room is offering a special dinner and show package for $35 per person. Guests will enjoy a three-course dinner and be provided with preferred seating for the production. On Friday and Saturday only, there will be a special dessert reception during intermission for the guests who purchased the dinner and show package. The Keeter Center is also offering a special lodging package that includes tickets to the show.

For further information or to make a reservation for the dinner and show package or for more information on the special lodging package, please call The Keeter Center at 690-2146 or visit the website at www.keetercenter.edu. This production is open to the public and requires advance ticket reservations by calling the Theatre Box Office at (417) 690-2626.