Gearing Up for Honor America

What a busy week it's been! After making it back from my conference in Baltimore, my feet haven't stopped running. This Sunday is Honor America, and preparations are keeping everyone in my office occupied. There are so many details to think about, especially with gathering equipment for the musicians who will perform for the event. This year a bluegrass band, cajun band, 50's group and symphony are included in the musical lineup. Another thing that has taken a lot of time to organize is a special tribute for the veterans and military that will take place on Sunday. The College has invited all the local veterans chapters to participate in the tribute, and so far more than 60 veterans have agreed to help out. I know that attendees always look forward to the fireworks at this event, but I believe that the veterans will outshine any firework. You often hear many complain about the commercialization of holidays like Christmas and Easter. Unfortunately, Independence Day has fallen victim to commercialization too. What I hope to achieve with this year's Honor America is to remind guests what we are really celebrating and honoring. Fireworks are great, but that's not what Fourth of July is about.

Contradictions Galore in Baltimore

It has been rather interesting to hear what members from news organizations like USA Today, US News & World Report, Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal and more had to say about the state of their profession. One would say "we are having to reinvent everything." Another would say "we will be fine; it's not business as usual, but we are fine." I heard everything from blogs would soon be a thing of the past to blogs were the new way to promote your institution. One other contradiction I heard, and I know that my colleagues heard too was that members from the national media don't want called or for that matter even e-mailed (heaven forbid twice), but they care about what stories we have to tell. One gentlemen from a university in Florida said to a panel of reporters, "So what I hear you say is that you don't want us to pitch to you." They sheepishly backtracked, but it was obvious to the room they felt like PR people were car salesmen.
But I digress, now an update about what the national media said about Hard Work U. US News & World Report said they were interested in covering the work college philosophy, as they should be. Dee Dee Thomas from NBC Today Show raised a brow at the concept and wanted to hear more--will follow up later. And Mary Beth Marklein let my pitch fall to the floor with a resounding thud--USA's loss. There are great things to be told about College of the Ozarks, if they will only listen.

Away from home

Well, I just made it to Baltimore for the Media Conference. One thing is for certain; Branson is a long-way from Baltimore, literally and figuratively. The towering buildings, city smells, and hoards of people are so different than those of my quaint hometown. Thank God I live in the country! This is sure to be an exciting week, though, and hopefully I will be able to peak someone's interest about the College. Check back and I'll give you an update.

I leave Sunday for the 2009 College Media Conference in Baltimore. This will be the third year for me to attend this highly informational meeting. Each year, I learn something about how to best promote my institution. Generally, members from the national press will speak and try to give insight on what the media are looking for. They all say the same thing--breaking, hard-hitting news or something unique. It is my fortune that I work for one of the most unique colleges in the nation. Students don't pay tuition, instead they work at on-campus jobs, giving them the opportunity to graduate debt free. The work program is unique, no doubt, but the College has some of the most precious students in higher education. Many are the first to attend college in their family. Some have fought adversity in many ways to get to where they are today. One such student is Sarah Metallo. This young woman who, as a toddler, was devastated by a rare, airborne bacterial infection. With both legs amputated below her knees, her left hand with only a thumb and one finger, and her right missing a pinky and most of the three other fingers, attending college, let alone working her way through college was a heck of a mountain to tackle. But Sarah's successfully doing just that. She's will begin her senior year at Hard Work U, working a campus job 15 hours a week just like everyone else. Sarah wants to be treated just like the other students and hasn't asked for an easy job. A matter of fact, she spent two semesters in the stained glass and candle department, using her malformed hands to create perfect artistic pieces. Ambitious to the max, she wants to go into radio. I have no doubt she will be a success. Sarah is a testament to perseverance and hard work.

KY3 Story on Summer Work Program

'Hard Work U' sees interest spike in summer work program
by Kristin Nelson, kY3 News
Story Published: Jun 18, 2009 at 6:49 AM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM CDT

Visit ky3.com to view story.


POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Keeping the College of the Ozarks campus beautiful requires a lot of hard work but, when Anastasia Wagner graduates, she won't have to sweat her finances.
"I will walk out with my diploma and zero debt, not a dollar owed by that point in time," said Wagner.

Wagner, a junior at College of the Ozarks, has been pulling landscaping duty for three years now. It's part of the school's summer work program, which is growing in popularity.

"Times are really tough for a lot of families out there and they're having trouble meeting that cost of room and board, and the summer work program here is just a great deal," said Chris Larsen, dean of Work Education.

For three months, 40 hours a week, students work off the cost of their room and board for the entire school year. With 200 more applicants than the school needs, however, many students were turned away.

"We want to see students actually earn what they're getting," said Larsen.

Altogether, there are more than 80 jobs that students can do for the summer work program, including milking cows, giving bus tours and making fruit cakes.

"They're going to leave here with a work ethic they wouldn't get in a lot of other places," said Larsen.

That helps students like Wagner weed out possible debt.

"It's really good because I can do whatever I want as soon as I graduate," said Wagner.

Sign of the Times?

Two local tv news stations have done stories on the "popularity" of the College's summer work program. As soon as I got to the office today, KY3 reporter Kristin Nelson called to say she and camerman were on their way down to cover this story. I guess this is just another sign of the times that the country's in a recession.
Every summer the College gives students the opportunity to work for the upcoming year's room and board. Students work 12, 40-hour weeks at on campus jobs, ranging from a fruitcake and jelly kitchen to running a four-star restaurant, to offset this expense. Before this year, the College was able to accept all students into the summer work program. However, with the present economy, the Dean of Work was flooded with summer work applications--more than 700 to be exact. The College accepted 450 students in the the summer program and offered those who did not make in a chance to rent dormrooms at a very inexpensive rate so they could work off-campus jobs to save up for room and board. Since there are normally a bounty of jobs in the tourism mecca of Branson, located two miles from the College, around 150 students opted for the rental program. KY3 plans to air the story tomorrow during the 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. newscasts.

Back in early May, Governor Mike Huckabee visited College of the Ozarks and gave the Commencement Address. One thing he said stuck with me. He told the graduates "Don't use all your water on too little of fire." That advice may be hard to follow through on, since most people (and when I say most I mean especially me!) tend to overreact as if the sky was falling when they are confronted with any little crook in the road. I hope that the graduates can remember that sound advice when fires come their way.

On a side note, Huckabee was quite impressed with the College and even told his ABC Huckabee Report audience about it the day after he returned from his visit. I briefly met him while taking pictures of him with some of the College dignitaries in the greenroom before he went on. He was extremely pleasant and down to earth. After I had taken his picture with the others, he stopped his conversation with the College President and offered to have his picture made with me. In my job, there have been several occasions where I have been able to meet well-known people, such as Huckabee. My two favorite, by far, are Governor Huckabee and the late Tony Snow.

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On the note of history...

College of the Ozarks is known for its famous fruitcakes, which is quite unusual for institution of higher education. A matter of fact, visitors come from all over to sample and see the cakes being made.

S of O Fruitcakes had their beginnings in the mid 1930s. Not long before Christmas, the girls in the Home Economics Department and Mrs. Annabelle McMaster were making fruitcakes.

One day, then President, Dr. R. M. Good, attracted by the spicy fragrance, stopped by the department and saw some of the cakes set to cool. He asked Mrs. McMasters for fruitcakes to send to some of The School’s good friends. Dr. Good promised to buy the department its first electric stove if they received any contributions in response to the fruitcakes. They got their stove, and the S of O fruitcake tradition was begun.

Currently students, under staff supervision, start making fruitcakes in January each year. By Christmas time, more than 30,000 pounds of fruitcake are made and sold, or sent to donors, in expression of appreciation for their interest in the College. Famous guests such as Lady Margaret Thatcher and President George Bush Sr., have eaten these tasty treats.

It's interesting when you work for a place that has history. My institution has been around 102 years, and Ifind bits and pieces of the school in the most inconspicuous of places. For example, you may (or may not) remember the Trixie Belden Mystery Series (kinda like Nancy Drew). Today, Erin Hayes (ABC Correspondent and C of O alum) told me that her niece had just finished off Trixie Belden Mystery #11 The Mystery of Bob White Cave. In it she found several pages where Trixie met a girl who went to The School of the Ozarks, which C of O was called pre-1990. The story told all about The School and went into detail about how the girl worked on campus to cover her education. I wonder if the author visited the school while she was writing the book? What moved her to include the school? Will I ever know? And what mystery will be presented to me tomorrow?

The other day one of the students working for me walked up to me and asked if I had heard about that timeshare place on the other side of town, where you could get $100 for free. She went on explaining how all you had to do was watch a short video and listen to a 30 minute presentation and they would hand you a hundred dollar bill. I asked her if she had done it? She said no; you have to be over 25. (I wish I wasn't old enough to do it!)
What she didn't realize is that she already has money in her hands. She is one of 450 student working off the upcoming year's room and board during the summer. Students taking advantage of this sweat equity work 12, 40-hour weeks to pay off room and board. Campus jobs range from working in landscaping to operating a 4-star restaurant/lodge to running a summer camp for underprivileged are kids.

If you missed the ABC spot on the veterans and C of O students trip to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, check it out. It's a must-see. Link below:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7769932

ABC World News Features C of O Students

Tonight a story about the 20 College of the Ozarks students and ten veterans making the trip to Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of D-Day will run on ABC World News with Charles Gibson at 5:30 p.m. (central). A few weeks ago, ABC Correspondent Erin Hayes interviewed students Eden Doss and Benjamin Wilson and veteran Buster Simmons on campus about the journey. This week, Hayes met up with the group in France to follow the story. It will be featured as the “person of the week” segment, which will be during the last segment of the broadcast, barring any breaking news.

College of the Ozarks will host the 20th annual Honor America Celebration the evening of Sunday, June 28 on campus. With great music, food, children’s activities, Uncle Sam and dazzling fireworks, I can't think of a better way to begin Independence Day festivities.

It all begins with a kids activities and a picnic, where guests can purchase barbecue items at 4:30 p.m. The music kicks off at 5 p.m. with the Southwynns Bluegrass Band followed by the 50’s at the Hop at 6 p.m. and Cajun Connection at 7 p.m.

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra will perform a patriotic concert at 8:30 p.m. This old-fashioned Fourth-of-July event will end with an elaborate fireworks display.

Prior to the patriotic concert, there will be a special tribute to the military and veterans.

To truly honor America is to honor the men and women who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom, and the College continues to do this in every aspect.

Unlike some patriotic events, Honor America is FREE. The only hitch, if you can call it that, is that tobacco products, alcohol, fireworks and pets are strictly prohibited.