Springfield Business Journal Names College of the Ozarks Professor One of 2011’s Most Influential Women
By: Sarah Unruh

The Springfield Business Journal (SBJ) will honor 2011’s Most Influential Women of southwest Missouri at a luncheon on Oct. 21, at the University Plaza in Springfield, Mo. SBJ named College of the Ozarks Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Kara Swofford one of the 20 Most Influential Women.

Dr. Swofford was selected out of a group of 200 women who were nominated for recognition based on their contributions to improving southwest Missouri business, civic and charitable communities. She was anonymously nominated for the honor. “Upon receiving the congratulatory letter, I was most humbled by the honor,” said Dr. Swofford. Nominees submitted a questionnaire, resume and a letter of recommendation to a panel of independent judges who determined the top 20.

Dr. Swofford’s selection was based on her dedication to go above and beyond the normal expectations of a college professor. She possesses a natural ability to motivate her students to “get involved” in classroom activities and discussions. As part of her curriculum, she collaborates with public school employees to visit her classes, allowing her students to hear about authentic teaching experiences. Dr. Swofford also spends much of her time and effort mentoring young women who are preparing to enter the teaching field. She has helped raise funds to provide appropriate clothes, eye glasses and even hair appointments to prepare young women for the professional world.

Dr. Swofford began her career as an elementary school teacher in the Republic R-III school district. She taught third and fourth grade for six years before moving up to an administration role for a year. She spent four years as an elementary school principal and is now in her fourth year of teaching at College of the Ozarks.

The luncheon honoring this year’s Most Influential Women will include a silent auction to benefit women in need. Cost for the event is $35 a ticket; for more information go to www.SBJ.net.

College of the Ozarks to Host Associates Luncheon
By: Jacob McCauley

College of the Ozarks invites current and prospective Associates to attend the next Associates Luncheon Monday, Sept. 12, at 11:30 a.m., in the Silver Dollar City Parlor of The Keeter Center.

The luncheon will begin with a buffet at 11:30 a.m., followed by a program at noon. College of the Ozarks students will present about the Chorale trip to Europe this summer.

The College of the Ozarks Associates is an organization of individuals and businesses committed to the furtherance of the College in its efforts to provide a higher education for deserving young men and women.

Associates recognize not only the College’s unique contribution to higher education in the United States but the tremendous impact it has had economically and culturally in the Ozarks region.

A variety of student projects are funded through the Associates’ generosity to the College.

In recognition of their services to the College, Associates receive benefits such as invitations to select events held on campus each year. They include certain concerts, lectures, plays, athletic events and other functions.

The cost of the luncheon is $15 per person. Please RSVP by Thursday, Sept. 8 to the Development Office at 417-690-2209 or by e-mail at [email protected].

College of the Ozarks Explores Feasibility of Lab School

College of the Ozarks is determining the feasibility of opening a college preparatory lab school. The new secondary level school would reflect the College’s philosophical views by interweaving a biblical worldview, character education, and patriotism into rigorous academic curriculum grounded in the Great Books.

Dean of Character Education Dr. Sue Head has been charged with researching and creating a framework for a secondary level school that could eventually serve as a model to other colleges and communities. She visited several successful private schools over the summer and gathered “best practices” as part of her study.

“In keeping with the College’s mission and vision, we hope to serve students in our area who seek a challenging curriculum with an intentional threading of service learning and work,” Dr. Head said. “The College was founded as a work school over one hundred years ago, and the new school would reflect the values of the founders.”

The proposed lab school would offer area youth the opportunity of an affordable, quality, Christian education with innovative programming, service learning, and small class sizes.

The feasibility study, which began in April, will conclude in October with a presentation to the College’s Board of Trustees.

College of the Ozarks Announces New Deans

College of the Ozarks recently named Dr. Eric Bolger as Dean of the College and Dr. Sue Head as Dean of Character Education.

Dr. Bolger taught philosophy and religion courses at the College as a full-time faculty member from 1992-2010. He served as the Division Chair of Humanities from 2001-2010 and coordinated two Higher Learning Commission self-studies for the College. Additionally, Dr. Bolger has been the College’s Director of Strategic Planning since 2001.

He received his B.A. in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego, M. Div. and Ph.D. (Old Testament) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Doctor of Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.

Prior to becoming the academic dean, Dr. Bolger served as Assistant Dean of the College for one year. He officially began his position as Dean of the College on June 1, 2011, replacing long-time Dean, Dr. Marilyn Graves, who now serves as the Special Assistant to the President for Athletics.

Dr. Bolger’s duties include overseeing the College’s academic programming and ongoing strategic planning process, the Registrar’s office, college library, and the Child Development Center.

Dr. Sue Head has served as the Executive Director of The Keeter Center for Character Education since 2004. In that position she spearheaded the character education initiative First PLACE!, developed the S. Truett Cathy Poverty Summit, and helps oversee the Patriotic Education Travel Program. Dr. Head also coordinates the Spring Forum and Community Convocations, as well as The Keeter Report publication.

Dr. Head received a B.A. in communication from Vanderbilt University, an M.A. in organizational leadership from Evangel University, and an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

As Dean of Character Education, she will continue overseeing her current duties. Additionally, Dr. Head will conduct a feasibility study for a proposed college preparatory lab school.

By: Ashley Bench

The Ralph Foster Museum will accept paintings for the White River Painting Exhibit Nov. 1– 14, 2011. The Museum hosts this annual juried exhibit to honor the unique Ozarks heritage and to express the Museum’s mission of providing rich, learning experiences about the Ozarks culture through the arts. The White River Painting Exhibit and Sale will take place in the Museum’s Edwards Art Gallery Nov. 15 – Dec. 15.

Artists from throughout the Ozarks region are invited to submit paintings that reflect their personal views of what is important to them about the Ozarks. Themes of paintings might reflect an artist’s impressions about the environment, the beauty of the region, history, family, fishing, agriculture, tourism, community, education, architecture, transportation or entertainment.

A limit of two paintings created within the past 2 years may be submitted at the Ralph Foster Museum from Nov. 1 – 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entry fee is $5 for one painting. Artists may call 417-690-2603 or e-mail [email protected] for guidelines and entry forms.

Dr. Wade Thompson, Art and Design Head of the College of Arts and Letters at Missouri State University, will serve as this year’s juror.

The Awards Ceremony and Gallery Talk will take place on Thursday Nov. 15 at 1 p.m., in Edwards Art Gallery. A reception will follow the ceremony and guests will have the opportunity to purchase paintings.

Christian Financial Advisor, Best-Selling Author Dave Ramsey will speak at College of the Ozarks on October 4, at 7 p.m., in the Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex. The prelude will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are required to this special convocation. There is no cost for the tickets, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. To obtain tickets, please call (417) 690-2240.

America’s trusted voice on money and business, Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert and extremely popular national radio personality. His three New York Times best-selling books-Financial Peace, More Than Enough and The Total Money Make-over-have sold more than six million copies combined.

“The College is honored to welcome Dave Ramsey to campus,” said Dr. Sue Head, executive director of The Keeter Center for Character Education. “His goal of helping people live debt- free dovetails perfectly with the College’s own attitude toward debt. The College is debt- free and we strongly encourage our students to live by the same principle.”
By age 26 Ramsey had established a four-million-dollar real estate portfolio, only to lose it by age 30. Using the wisdom he gained, Ramsey rebuilt his financial life and now teaches others how to be responsible with their money, so they can acquire enough wealth to take care of loved ones, retire with dignity, and give generously to others.
Ramsey offers that life-changing message as host of a nationally syndicated radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show,” which is heard by 4.5 million listeners each week. His also offers his message of hope through a variety of mediums and products. His high school and college curriculums are offered in more than 10,000 schools and educational institutions.
The major convocation featuring Dave Ramsey is part of The Keeter Center for Character Education Community Convocation Series. For more information, please contact Character Education Office at (417) 690-2242.

By:  Shelby Gray

Eighteen College of the Ozark students accompanied by six WWII Veterans, will travel abroad to France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.

The trip, which will last from June 2-16, will provide students with the experience of a lifetime, as the Veteran’s guide them through the lands where they once fought.

The six Veterans going on the trip served in either the battles of D-Day, Berlin, or the Battle of the Bulge. Of the Veterans John Primerano, Lou Rabesa and Andy Anderson will be traveling with C of O students for the first time and will join returning Veterans Bill Kamsler, Bryan Sperry and Ned Knapp.

While in Normandy, the students and Veterans will have an in-depth visit to the Normandy American Cemetery, where they will attend the official commemorations of the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

In Berlin, they will tour the Allied Museum in the former Headquarters of the American Forces, which commemorates the generations of soldiers and their families who protected Berlin during the Berlin Airlift.

The last evening of the trip, the group will visit the site where Germany finally surrendered on May 9, 1945, which is now known as the German-Russian Museum.

This trip is part of College of the Ozarks Patriotic Education Travel Program, whose mission is to educate younger generations about the sacrifices of American soldiers so that their stories will never be forgotten. Since the program’s beginning in 2009, more than 100 students have escorted WWII Veterans to battlefields and American cemeteries in England, France, Germany, Belgium, Tunisia, The Netherlands, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Hawaii.

For more information on the Patriotic Education Travel Program, contact The Keeter Center for Character Education at 417-690-2242.

COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS GRADUATES RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT ITS 104TH COMMENCEMENT

At the 104th College of the Ozarks Commencement, a record number of 338 students received their bachelor’s degrees.

Among the bachelor candidates was the second class to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College’s nationally-accredited Armstrong-McDonald School of Nursing. Two ROTC cadets, Austin Truelove and Brent Turpin, were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army.

The College also awarded three honorary degrees in recognition of outstanding achievement and greater distinction in professional and civic leadership.

In honor of her public service to Missouri and the nation, the College presented United States Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri, 8th District) a Doctor of Public Service.

Dean of the College Dr. Marilyn C. Graves received a Doctor of Laws for her 40 years of dedicated service to College of the Ozarks.

Vice President Dr. Howell W. Keeter, too, was awarded a Doctor of Laws for his 40 years of dedicated service to College of the Ozarks.

Congresswoman Emerson, the first Republican woman to represent Missouri in Congress, gave the Commencement address. She shared with students the importance of preparation and hard work for leadership in the 21st century.

Commencement was held the afternoon of May 8.

College of the Ozarks is a fully-accredited, four-year Christian liberal arts college where students work campus jobs for their college education, allowing them the opportunity to graduate debt free.

Branson Junior High Students of the Month are Hailey LaCroix and Montana Myer.  LaCroix was selected to represent the seventh grade and Myer was chosen as the eighth grade representative. The students were selected for the honor based on outstanding citizenship characteristics and academic
achievement.

The annual levy hearing, as required of all Missouri public school districts, was conducted during the Branson School Board’s monthly meeting held last Thursday.
The board approved a proposal by Dr. Hayter, superintendent, to roll back the levy nine cents (five cents in operating and four cents in the debt service) making it $3.86.  This voluntary rollback will save district patrons $600,000 in taxes for 2010.

“We want to roll the levy back for two reasons,” said Dr. Hayter.  “The district is in a solid financial position; and we know our patrons are facing tough economic conditions.  If we can make ends meet with 9 cents less, then we should – as a district – operate in this manner.”

“This is not to say that an increase may not be needed in the future,” added Hayter.  “But for now, the roll back is the right thing to do.”
As part of its continuing commitment to serving Branson area tourism and the community, the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), is proud to sponsor this press release on this site.