Ozarka College Campus News

Child Care Training This Month

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:04 -0600

Ozarka College will offer a course in child care orientation training (CCOT) in July at the main campus in Melbourne. This training is being offered in partnership with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the University of Arkansas. This program is recommended for childcare personnel with little or no training in a child care setting. Graduates from the CCOT course are also eligible to apply for Child Development scholarships applicable for further training offered by Ozarka College. Topics to be covered in this CCOT course include child growth and development, children's health, developmentally appropriate practice, handling emergencies, child safety, communication, observation, assessment/accountability and human diversity. Participants can attend night classes, which will be held on July 27, 28, and 30 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Amy Pinkston, Director of Ozarka Kids Academy, will be the instructor for the CCOT course. Even though this training is provided free of charge, enrollment is limited. To register, call 870-368-7868.

Spring 2009 President's List

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:22:43 -0600

One hundred-seventy-one full-time students qualified for the President's List at Ozarka College for the Spring 2009 semester. This included eighty-eight with perfect 4.00 grade point averages. All others earned at least a 3.50 average. 4.00 students from Fulton County were Lora Crawford of Camp; Tammie Braden, Amy Goad, and Hazel Wilcox of Mammoth Spring; Naomi Anderson, Brittany Boshears, Stacy Layne, Charity Schaufler, and Alice Shrable of Salem. Izard County 4.00 students were Casey Townsend and Steven Walker of Brockwell; Amylena McCoy and Kyle Moody of Calico Rock; Meredith Cole and Courtney Selph of Franklin; Donna Best, Amy Byrd, Shawnda Ramsdell, and Kelsey Tarver of Horseshoe Bend; Kasey Batterton, Erica Biard, Rebecca Bruyette, Katelin Cooper, Lauren Cooper, Eric Darmstaedter, Bridgett Farris, Lindsey Faulkner, April Gist, Damian Hoskinds, Mary Lawrence, Jared Middleton, Sarah Morehead, Kelsey Patterson, Elizabeth Smith, Brent Tyson, and Meagan Vickers, of Melbourne; John Ford and Roy Guiltner of Mount Pleasant; Stephanie Gale of Oxford; Crystal Brokaw of Sage; Charles Treat of Violet Hill; Misty Brewer of Wideman; and Christina Delargy and Sian Wilkins of Wiseman. Those from Sharp County earning a 4.00 were Charles Lunsford of Ash Flat; Jamie Ackerson, Danielle Allgood, Chris Medley, and Telisa VanWinkle of Cave City; Lindy Brindley, Ginger Buster, Kandis Goodwin, Heather Slater, and Whitney Wakeham of Cherokee Village; Alan Smothers and Amanda Wilson of Evening Shade; Gary Golden, Jonathan Gotte, Misty Gotte, John Schneider, Gladys Sparacio, Nina Ellen Thornton, Ashlea Tiberghien, Delisha Williams, and Peggy Williams of Hardy; Sonia Dayberry and Kayla Finley of Sidney; and Alisha Smithson of Williford. Stone County students with perfect grades were Destiny Seaton of Fox; Sandra Barnes, Victoria Cartwright, Peggy Lawrence, Kathy Lovenstein, Julia Reece, John Rogers, Sarah Struthers, Margaret Sumrall, Christina Thompson, Aaron Wilkins, and Muriah Willis of Mountain View; and Kellie Traylor of Timbo. Making the 4.0 list from Drasco in Cleburne County was Ladawna Brewer; from Batesville in Independence County was Virginia Ferguson and Lisa Smith; from Strawberry in Lawrence County was Logan Coles; from Pocahontas in Randolph County was Michelle Erickson; and from Shirley in Van Buren County was Katie Powell and Joseph Sowell. General honor roll students from Fulton County included Phillip Taylor and Jamie Turner of Glencoe; Mandy Madison and James Turnbough of Mammoth Spring; Samantha Corsaut, Heather Godair, Amy Painter and Amy Perkins of Salem; and Regina Snelgroes of Viola. Izard County general honor students included Veronica Indesh and Misty Jackson of Calico Rock; Kathryn Reeves of Franklin; Donna Arnold of Guion; Kristi Coates-Payne of Horseshoe Bend; Charlotte Billingsley, Tatum Bishop, Aaron Dailing, Sarah Moser, Christina Needle, Lori Powers, Terry Sager, Leathyr Spangler, and Jason Thomas of Melbourne; Jackie Coggins of Oxford; and Christopher Smith of Violet Hill. General honor students from Sharp County included Amanda Burgess, Aaron Gregson, Ashley Hall, Patricia Richardson, Sophia Spurlock and Matthew Vaughn of Ash Flat; Amanda Engelhardt, Jamie Fowler, and Dona Levitt of Cave City; Ashlyn Bryant, Jacob Conley, Joshua Gooch, Kristyna Harmon, Amber Moore, Elizabeth Negron, Aaron Wayman, and Alan Wendorf of Cherokee Village; Benita Stewart and Cheryl Weaver of Evening Shade, Shyronn Crider, Gloria Goodman, Christian Huffmaster, Jennifer Oakes, and John Wiggins of Hardy; Kimberly Petersen of Poughkeepsie; and Glenn Lunsford of Sidney. Stone County students making the list included Rosie Hale and Barbara St. John of Marcella; Kristy Adams, Kimberly Barham, Celena Beach, Candace Clark, Patricia Crispell, Rebecca Dixon, Amber Halvorson, Andrew Hayes, Randall Keech, Mandi McClung, Ryan McMahan, Tearsa Muse, Linda Nettles, Doris Panicci, Sherry Prichard, Allene Rackley, Anna Ross, Terry Rutledge, Willie Smith, and Ashley Tinkle of Mountain View; and Shelly Hudspeth and Cheri Taylor of Onia; and Wesley Campbell of Timbo. Qualifying for general honors from Independence County was Karen Brown and Tina Burns of Batesville; and Keisha Strader of Rosie; from Smithville in Lawrence County was Rita Sullivan; from Marshall in Searcy County was Carrie Ragland; and from Shirley in Van Buren County was Rodney Owens and Tarrah Powell. For a list of eligibility requirements see page 67 of the 2008-2009 Ozarka College Catalog found here.

July GED Test Schedule

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:33:37 -0600

The GED Test will be given at Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas on July 1 & 8 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 516 of the Wyth Duke Adult Education Building. The test will also be given at the following locations in July: Mammoth Spring- Simmons First National Bank 9:00 a.m. July 13 & 20 Salem- Fulton County Courthouse 9:00 a.m. July 2 & 6 Mountain View- Ozarka College 9:00 a.m. July 14 & 23 Ash Flat- Sharp County Annex Courtroom 9:00 a.m. July 7 & 21 You must present an Arkansas photo ID, a Social Security Card, and proof of passing Practice Test scores dated within the last year. There is no cost to take the GED Test. However, if you plan on taking the test at any of these locations, you MUST register by calling Ozarka College at 368-7371 or 1-800-821-4335 before the day of the test. Because of increased demographic information needed, it will be necessary to allow two days for the testing.

All About Scrapbooking Class At Ozarka

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:40:32 -0600

The division of continuing education at Ozarka College will offer a class in basic scrapbooking beginning Thursday, July 16th and continuing each Thursday through August 6th, from 6-8PM each evening. This four week non-credit course will provide hands on instruction of the basic techniques used in scrapbooking. Some of the techniques covered in the course will include scrapbook supplies and terminology, picture cropping & matting, stamping, distressing, and much more. Supplies will be provided to complete several projects for each class. Students will need to bring their own pictures. Tracy Cone will be providing instruction on this popular hobby of preserving memories and important family history. Included in the course fee of $40.00 are the supplies to complete a mini-book, cards, and artist trading cards. Space is limited for the class and pre-registration is required by July 6, 2009. To register or for more information regarding this class call Cone at 870-368-7371 or via email, tcone@ozarka.edu. some basic scrapbooking supplies and tools.

Community Invited To Meet Ozarka's New President

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:40:13 -0600

Ozarka College officials announced in May the appointment of Dr. Richard Dawe as President of Ozarka College by the Board of Trustees unanimously. Dr. Dawe will assume the Presidency on July 1, 2009. In an effort to get to know the people of the communities Ozarka College serves, Ozarka will host a reception at each of its locations in July. These receptions will take place from 11AM-1PM as follows: Tuesday, July 14th at Ozarka College - Mountain View; Wednesday July 15th at Ozarka College - Ash Flat; Thursday, July 16th at Ozarka College - Melbourne. Dawe is eager to visit with those who drop by during the event, hopes to convey his vision for Ozarka College and to meet members of the community.

Registration Continues Next Week At Ozarka

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:05:12 -0600

Ozarka College is now registering current or new students for the upcoming Summer II and Fall semesters. Ozarka will hold early registration dates next week as follows: Monday, June 22nd, 9:00 - 4:00 - Ozarka College Mountain View Tuesday, June 23rd, 9:00 - 4:00 - Ozarka College Ash Flat Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00 - 4:00 - Ozarka College Melbourne Anyone planning to enroll as a new student at Ozarka College must take the ACT or Compass Exam. These test scores are required for placement in English, reading, and mathematics. Compass testing will be available during each of the dates mentioned beginning at 9AM, or by appointment. To schedule an appointment call (870) 368-2049 in Izard County, 870-269-5600 in Stone County, 870-994-7273 in Sharp County, or toll free 1-800-821-4335. A photo ID is required to take the test. Summer and Fall course schedules are available online at www.ozarka.edu, or at any Ozarka College location. To request a copy of the schedule please call Admissions at 870-368-7371 or toll free listed above.

Geography Students In Mountain View Plant Trees

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:25:38 -0600

In an effort to help the environment, several students in Courtney Kurpiel's geography class planned and implemented a service learning project to plant trees, replacing ones lost during the destructive weather events that have taken a toll on Mountain View and surrounding areas over the last couple of years. Kurpiel, who has been teaching three years as an adjunct instructor for Ozarka College - Mountain View says the students she has had "never cease to amaze me!" She adds, "Some of the students I have encountered go through incredible hardships, yet persevere to get a higher education and improve their lives. These extraordinary students go even further by looking beyond themselves to give back to their community and environment." One of the themes of the geography class is the physical environment and how it is often damaged by human actions and natural events. While discussing deforestation in class, one student brought up the fact that recent weather events had destroyed several trees and wanted to plant some new trees around the Ozarka Mountain View location. The rest of the class got on board to participate. After getting the approval from site coordinator, Gin Brown and Ozarka's landscape supervisor Dave Rush, who helped plan the location and dug holes for the new trees; the students were able to give back to their community and the environment. The State Forestry Commission generously donated the trees for this student driven project.

Arkansas Craft School Offering Course For K-8 Teachers

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:37:16 -0600

The Arkansas Craft School is offering a continuing education course for classroom teachers July 6 - 10, 2009. The course will be at Ozarka College - Mountain View from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day. The course, limited to 30 participants and designed for K-8 elementary and middle school teachers, will provide a variety of experiences for teachers including guidance in the use of arts and crafts in teaching strategies and hands on skill training in basic craft media. Activities will be directly related to K-8 core curriculum areas with art experiences integrated into all content areas. Teachers will leave the course with developed teaching plans in their teaching subject using art and craft. The course will provide continuing education credit through the Arkansas Craft School and Ozarka College that may be used to meet continuing education/in-service requirements for public school teachers. Instructors for the course, Dustin Mitchell and Dr. Jayme Huff, are outstanding educational practitioners. Dr. Huff holds a BS in art education with a studio art major in painting, and she earned the MA in secondary education and the EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Dakota. She has published numerous articles focused on art and craft in education and is a popular teacher and art education consultant. Dustin Mitchell is art teacher in the Mountain View Public Schools, art instructor at Ozarka College, and a practicing sculptor. He earned the BFA in studio art from Arkansas State University and the MFA in sculpture from Michigan State University. He was a visiting student in the MA Program in sculpture at the Wimbledon School of Art in London, England. Tuition for the course is $250 but all registered classroom teachers will receive a one-half tuition scholarship reducing the fee to $125. Registration forms are available online at www.arkansascraftschool.org or by calling the Arkansas Craft School at 870-269-8397.

Courses Completed For 60+ Series

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:31:21 -0600

Students who completed the series of courses at Ozarka College during this past Spring semester met to receive Certificates of Completion at a luncheon on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. The courses, entitled Active Living Every Day and Healthy Eating Every Day were offered to people over the age of 60 in Melbourne and Horseshoe Bend. These courses were funded through a Health Aging grant funded by the National Council on Aging. The students met at Hawk's Nest restaurant at Coopers Hawk Golf Club where they were treated to salad, turkey and ham wraps, fruit and dessert by the grant funding provided for these programs. Along with the students, Ayers and other staff from the Paul Miller Fitness Center and the college were on hand to congratulate the students for successfully completing the course. The participants received gift bags and were presented certificates. Fitness instructor, Clara Ballard taught the Active Living course this semester at the Horseshoe Bend Senior Center. Five of those students attended the luncheon and were complimentary toward both Ballard and the content of the course. They described the course as "motivating, enlightening and encouraging." Margaret Brasher said, "Clara did a fantastic job teaching us about ways we can improve activity levels in simple ways each day." Fitness Center Director, Holly Ayers says, "Physical inactivity is the cause of major health problems in the United States. These courses, which are set up for students over the age of 60, are geared toward making sustainable behavior changes. The program focuses on helping older adults fit physical activity into their lives in realistic ways." She adds that the coursework offers a unique approach to behavior change and active living specific to our service area. The Healthy Living coursework focuses on healthy eating and nutrition behaviors. Ayers states, "the goal is to empower students to learn to eat a balanced diet while still enjoying foods they like through a habit-changing program which tackles the underlying causes of unhealthy eating and introduces the tools to help people counter them." Both courses will be offered in the Fall Semester. To enroll, contact Fitness Center Director, Holly Ayers at 870-368-2090 or via email: hayers@ozarka.edu. Instructor, Clara Ballard, Jack Cameron, Margaret Brasher, Margaret Gladish, Margaret Park, and Patt Gibson. instructor, Clara Ballard, Karen Chilcutt, Elizabeth Neal, Theda Mae Lawhon, and Geneva Anderson. instructor, Clara Ballard, Ruth Jones, Betty Bell, and director, Holly Ayers.

Fitness Center 60+ Activity Resource Closet

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:21:11 -0600

The Paul Miller Fitness Center at Ozarka College has partnered with the National Council on Aging to offer a Senior Activity Resource Closet through funding from a Health Aging grant. The equipment available includes tennis rackets and tennis balls, FitBall Swiss Balls, exercise and yoga mats, yoga blocks, jump ropes, volleyball yard kits, tetherball yard kits, softball equipment, Frisbee and ultimate Frisbee, flag football kit, aerobic steps, various hand weights, and more to be added at a later time. This service is available to anyone 60 years plus with a valid drivers license or other form of ID. For further information, come by or call the Fitness Center at 870-368-2090. In conjunction with this grant program, two courses will be offered in the Fall Semester. Active Living Every Day and Healthy Eating Every Day will be available for enrollment through the fitness center. To enroll, contact Fitness Center Director, Holly Ayers at 870-368-2090 or via email. hayers@ozarka.edu. A selection of FitBall Swiss balls available in the Resource closet.

Ozarka College Adult Ed Graduates

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:29:45 -0600

The Ozarka College Adult Education Department awarded General Education Development (GED) diplomas during the 2008-2009 academic year to 159 students in and around the Ozarka College service area. These students also had the option to participate in the Ozarka College Commencement Ceremony held on May 14, 2009. From the Fulton and Baxter County areas, the following students received a GED: Heather Kennedy*, Ausha Shaft, and Katie Shankle of Agnos; Dustin McKenzie of Flippin; Chelsea Volbrecht of Gassville; Cesha Causbie of Jordan; Joshua Callaway of Lakeview; Laena Fuller, Bart Greenwood, Chelsea Hammeka, Lisa Jackson, and Margaret Jackson of Mammoth Spring; Anthony Bernal, Thomas Lovelady, Christian Nunemaker, and Joy Thomas of Mountain Home; Jeremy Campbell and Leesa Harrington of Norfork; Kyle Dale, Lacey Hoyer, Jessica Hughes, William Mackey, Brittany Richard, Kimberly Sherman, Alesha Smith, and Melva Wood of Salem; Monica Etheridge, Kerry Johnson, Sarah Mross, and Lacey Taylor of Viola. From the Izard County area, GED's were awarded to: Amber Sanders, Christopher Sanders, Robert Stowers, and Angela Westerman of Dolph; April Barksdale*, Daniel Dwight, Davinda Pennington, Rachel Pool, and Kayla Statler of Calico Rock; Glenn Long III of Franklin; Philip Easter of Horseshoe Bend; Mona Asher, Brayden Conyers, Zacary DeSanto, Robert Ferrari, Morgan Gipson*, Rocky Langford, Gabriel Mizner, Brittany Richardson, Bradley Sittman, James Steiner, and Cole Tate* of Melbourne; Jacob Garner, Maurice Moser, Anthony Vazques, and Craig Ward of Mount Pleasant; Robert Cox and Hope Powell of Pineville; and Shelley Singleton* of Sage. GED graduates from in and around Sharp County are: Bobby Hillis, Josh Moore, Colton Wilson, and William Yarborough of Ash Flat; Jessica Beaudry, Marcus Blevins, Terrie Calderon, and Derek Hester of Cave City; Nathaniel Clouse, Elizabeth Conway, Carol Greathouse, Nicole Hardesty, Adam Heiser, John Huff, Delan Humphrey, Thornton Lester, Tommie Lyons, Christopher Mahl, Jessica Robinson, Tara Wise, and Michael Woods of Cherokee Village; Scott Knappenberger, Robert Phillips, Bryan Swaffer, and William Villari of Evening Shade; Anthony Ditomaso, Jamie Donaldson, Gregory Lowe, Dillon McFarland*, Stacie Seymore, and Jessica Venteicher of Hardy; Brooke Burns*, Amy Niswonger and Derek Smith of Poughkeepsie; Felicia Jennings of Ravenden; Stephanie Marcum and Keith Tuggle of Smithville; Jamie Nash of Strawberry; Levi Beckner* and Heaven Moore of Williford. Those graduating with GED diplomas from in and around Independence and Stone Counties are: James Carlson, Alesia Qualls, Amanda Wilkerson, and Timothy Williams of Batesville; Jericho Phillips of Fifty Six; Carl Geisser,Kirk Harris, and Lucie Ptackova* of Fox; Courtney Tippitt of Heber Springs; Justin Ashley, Dorothy Bozeman, Michael Burns, Shanna Cerna, Patrick Cieminski, Jessica Lemmond, Dusty Lovell, Arlynn Mast*, Lyle Mast, Jeamie McMahan, Erik Misenheimer, Jesse Motes, Megan Nichols, Virginia Powell, Doreen Ramirez, Emily Sanchez, Cindi Shaw-Dixon*, Byron Sweeney, Jessica Taylor, Donovan Thompson, Holly Thompson*, Clinton Tinin, Colter VanHorn, Marissa Wells*, Nicole Whidden, and Douglas Wylie of Mountain View; Mary Bowring, Sandra Gonzalez, and Matthew Swader of Timbo. Others GED graduates were Hannah Tyler of Lepanto; and from Missouri: Tiffany Bettis of Alton; Josi Babcock, Cody Johnston, and Racheal Nelson of Thayer. *denotes those graduates who were eligible for scholarships. Adult Ed held a reception after the Commencement to honor GED recipients and their families. Pictured left to right: instructor, Trish Miller, GED Grad, Mona Asher of Melbourne, and Administrative Assistant for the Adult Ed program, Debbie Yancey. GED Graduate, Amy Niswonger of Poughkeepsie receives her diploma on May 14th.

Fourth Annual Stone County Youth Leadership Class Graduates

Tue, 26 May 2009 17:18:42 -0600

Stone County Youth Leadership participants recently completed the program and a ceremony was held at Ozarka College - Mountain View on May 19, 2009, to recognize the 12 students receiving graduation certificates. The mission of the Stone County Youth Leadership Program is to identify, motivate and train potential young leaders, enabling them to take an active role in their community. This will result in strong leaders who have hope for the future and the tools to influence a positive and progressive community. The program is open to any ninth and tenth grade student attending a Stone County school. Sponsors for the Leadership Program are Centennial Bank, First Baptist Church of Mountain View, First Service Bank, Nana's Place, State Farm Insurance, Stone County Community Resource Council, and Ozarka College. Students completing include (holding certificates left to right standing): Ashley Van Dyke, Samaya Strutton, Marissa Richardson, Kaidee Cruce; and (holding certificates seated): Karissa Harris, Lance Ward, Carrie Henriksen, and Molly Hanlin. Not pictured: Trey Berry, Harrison Henley, Nicole Stewart, and Dylan Stewart. Also pictured are Stone County Youth Leadership program board members: left to right standing: Don Jordon, Michelle Coon, Peggy Tupper, Gin Brown; and seated: Lorraine Jordan. Molly Hanlin, a ninth grade student at Mountain View and daughter of Cindy Rice-Hanlin, was awarded scholarships for her achievements by Peggy Tupper of Centennial Bank, and Gin Brown of Ozarka College.

Ozarka College Holds Graduation Ceremony

Wed, 20 May 2009 16:58:00 -0600

Ozarka College graduates and their guests filled the John E. Miller Auditorium for 2009 Graduation ceremonies held Thursday, May 7, 2009. The ceremony began with an invocation given by Dr. Wright Pillow, M.A., M.Div, D.Min of Mountain View. Ozarka College interim President, Tina Wheelis, welcomed everyone to the event and introduced members of the Ozarka Board of Trustees, Foundation Board members, Ozarka's Administrative team, and other dignitaries who were present for the ceremony. The Commencement address was delivered this year by Izard County native, Kevin Johnson, Director of Public Relations for Bad Boy Mowers and double heart transplant survivor. His moving address admonished the graduates to not let life pass them by, live in the moment, and use their education to seize the day. Ron Helm, Vice President for Student Services, and Dr. T. Wayne Wilson, Adult Education Director presented the class with diplomas awarded by Wheelis, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Mike DeLong, and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Barbara Perryman of Viola. Mathematics Instructor, Rex Whitfield and Automotive Instructor, Larry Wilkes were Grand Marshalls. Phi Theta Kappa and student services staff assisted as ushers, while Sandra Miller played the processional and recessional, Pomp & Circumstance. Ozarka Science instructor, Bruce Dietsche delivered the Benediction. Students completing their studies with an overall grade point average of 3.75 or higher in a certificate or associate degree program are designated as graduating Magna Cum Laude. Achieving this recognition in the Associate of Arts in Teaching program was Andrea Morgan Davis of Hardy, Carlie Heather Qualls of Cave City, Jason Ralph Thomas of Melbourne, Nina Ellen Thornton of Hardy, Theresa Ann Trammell of Mountain View, Charles Allen Treat of Violet Hill, and Kristin Leann Young of Batesville. Graduating Cum Laude (with a GPA of 3.50 to 3.74) in the AAT program was Krista LeeAnn Bedwell of Salem, Elloise Joyce Hanson of Mt. Pleasant, Randi Marie Holland of Horseshoe Bend, Larry R. Howard of Mtn. View, Sylvia Ann Nyitrai of Ash Flat, Donna Claudette Parks of Cave City, and Terry Wayne Rutledge of Mtn. View. Other graduates receiving an AAT degree were Tara Lee Carter of Melbourne, Rachel Beth Cates of Mtn. View, Romona Elyse Colwell of Cherokee Village, Amber Dawn Despain of Ash Flat, Jonathan L. Gotte of Hardy, Misty G. Gotte of Hardy, Larkin Simone Grabbe of Mtn. View, Patricia M. Hess of Mtn. View, Sasha Elizabeth Johnson of Hardy, Tarah Dawn Lopez of Hardy, Michelle I. McCord of Ash Flat, Sandra Helene McNaughton of Hardy, Jennifer Lynn Oakes of Hardy, Tiffany Lateice Redwine of Hardy, Janet M. Rodgers of Mtn. View, and Amber L. Wallis of Marshall. Graduating Magna Cum Laude with an Associate of Arts degree were Misty Dawn Brewer of Wideman, Steven H. Edwards of Calico Rock, Megan Elizabeth Goodnight of Shirley, Rachael Helene Gosser of Mtn. View of Larry R. Howard of Mtn. View, Charles Ross Lunsford of Ash Flat, Jason Ralph Thomas of Melbourne, Lorie Ann Todd of Hardy, Theresa Ann Trammell of Mtn. View, Charles Allen Treat of Violet Hill, and Julie Michele Winkle of Mtn. View. Graduating Cum Laude (with a GPA of 3.50 to 3.74) with Associate of Arts degrees were Eric Alden Darmstaedter of Melbourne, Brenda Kay Dupree of Williford, Melissa Sue Ellis of Hardy, Heather Gwyn Godair of Salem, Kristy Lee Hall of Hardy, Elloise Joyce Hanson of Mt. Pleasant, Jeff Moser of Melbourne, Kimberly R. Petersen of Poughkeepsie, Amanda Briann Roland of Cave City, Heidi Michelle Rutledge of Mtn. View, Colton Don Selph of Franklin, and Johnathan Tyler Wammack of Melbourne. Other Associate of Arts graduates were: Logan Edward Barnes of Brockwell, Ashlyn Brook Bryant of Cherokee Village, Robert M. Butler of Mountain View, Rachel Beth Cates of Mountain View, Alicia Claire Dawson of Hardy, Lauran-Marie DiPierdomenico of Violet Hill, Samantha Ann Equitz of Ash Flat, Thomas Scott Estes of Ash Flat, Nicole Lynn Frealy of Mammoth Spring, Amanda Rochelle Gay of Melbourne, Kari Shalmai Gensler of Melbourne, Patricia M. Hess of Mtn. View, James Bryant Hussung of Hardy, Tennille Johns of Mtn. View, Teresa Leanne Lawyer of Melbourne, Amber Fulbright Lunsford of Ash Flat, Leslie R. Malland of Mt. Pleasant, Frederick Chris Marshall of Mtn. View, Tifanee Ann McCullough of Mtn. View, Kerri Marie Myshrall of Mtn. View, Hannah Rae Paulson of Melbourne, Joshua Alan Michael Pitman of Melbourne, Krystal Dell Rogers of Poughkeepsie, Suzanna Michelle Smith of Cherokee Village, Joseph Dean Sowell of Shirley, Angela R. Stevens of Mtn. View, Casey Charles Severns of Melbourne, Laurie Elizabeth Tharpe of Salem, Nicole Daniell Thompson of Cherokee Village, Michelle H. Thurman of Cherokee Village, James Edward Turnbough of Mammoth Spring, Meagan E. Vannatter of Mtn. View, Amber L. Wallis of Marshall, Brittni Cherron Washington of Melbourne, and Jackie Shannon Womack of Melbourne. Magna Cum Laude graduates within Associate of Applied Sciences were Donna S. Arnold of Guion, Kathryn Rene' Reeves of Franklin, and Alisha Dawn Smithson of Williford in Business Technology; Helen Diane VanCleave of Franklin in Registered Nursing; Celena Joanne Beach of Mtn. View, Terry Yvonne Pennington of Timbo, and Barbara G. St. John of Marcella in Health Information Management. Cum Laude AAS Graduates are Damian Lee Hoskinds of Melbourne, Regina Ann Snelgroes of Viola, and Sian Helen Wilkins of Wiseman in Business Technology; Kathryn Mae Baldwin of Big Flat, Chris Wayne Strader of Rosie, and Keisha Lafaye Strader of Rosie in Culinary Arts; Tina Marie Burns of Batesville in Health Information Management; Tony Dean Chism of Ash Flat, Donna J. Dutton of Melbourne, Kimberly Ann Lowrance of Fox, Sharon K. Qualls of Evening Shade, Ruthie Ann Sheffield of Sidney, and Cheryl Lanette Winchester of Edgemont in Registered Nursing. Other Associate of Applied Science graduates included: Charlene F. Cable of Cherokee Village, Brittany A Davidson of Salem, Samantha Dawn Dennison of Horseshoe Bend, Connie Lynn Maclin of Mammoth Spring, Gregory T. Potts of Melbourne, Patricia Snow Richardson of Ash Flat, Randall Warner Roth III of Fox, Angela Carol Sanders of Melbourne, Janette Arlene Shultz of Melbourne, Clint A. Smith of Salem, Cheri A. Taylor of Onia, and Rachel A. Vannattan of Batesville, in Business Technology; Zona Virginia Buchanan of Salem, Hannah Marie Hardin of Diaz, and Jarret C. Wilson of Gepp in Culinary Arts; Jacquelynn Marie Boyington of Ravenden, Marsha Lynn Clark of Mtn. View, Angie Kay Gibson of Mountain View, Susan Amber Martin of Batesville, Kerri Marie Myshrall of Mtn. View, Lea Ann Whited of Horseshoe Bend, and April Michelle Wilson of Harriett in Health Information Management; Stacy LaGail Carroll of Elizabeth, Carrie Denise Goode of Horseshoe Bend, Katie Beth Jacobs of Ash Flat, Jessica Rochelle Johnson of Melbourne, Melony Ann Martz of Cherokee Village, Laura Lynn McWilliams of Melbourne, Gail Antoinetta Moye of Sidney, Olivia Jean Murphy of Mtn. View, Marisa Paige Rector of Mtn. View, Kimberly Jean Stewart of Mtn. View, and Holly Elaine Thornley of Brockwell in Registered Nursing. A Magna Cum Laude Technical Certificate was awarded in Autmotive Service Technology to John L. Ford of Mt. Pleasant. Additional Technical Certificates were awarded with Magna Cum Laude honors in Licensed Practical Nursing to Sandra Marie Barnes of Mtn. View, Charlotte Ann Billingsley of Melbounre, Ginger Gayle Buster of Cherokee Village, Heather Necole Coleman of Melbourne, Kristina Noelle Coleman of Brockwell, Logan Rochelle Coles of Strawberry, Brenn Elizabeth Dickison of Smithville, Michelle L. Erickson of Pocahontas, Bridgett Benea Farris of Melbourne, Amy Shawn Gay of Mtn. View, Misty Hughes Jackson of Calico Rock, Jean Ann Jackson of Franklin, Leilani Orbe Jackson of Melbourne, Rhiannon Denise Masson of Melbourne, Charity Michelle Schaufler of Salem, Lisa Marie Smith of Batesville, and Gladys Lovella Sparacio of Hardy. Cum Laude technical certificates for Licensed Practical Nursing were awarded to Melanie Kay Bradford of Fairfield Bay, Angela M. Chastain of Imboden, Jodi Martz Engelhardt of Melbourne, Kayla Gene Foster of Norfork, Ashton Jeanette Glenn of Mtn. View, Dexter Waid Holowell of Mt. Pleasant, Darla Gena Lambert of Mammoth Spring, Amanda Elizabeth Lester of Cherokee Village, Corey Damon Masson of Melbourne, Vonda Lynn McGaha of Batesville, LaDonna Ann Qualls of Ash Flat, Robyn Marie Sanders of Salem, Adrienne Elizabeth Taylor of Violet Hill, Chelsea Lanae Tyson of Mammoth Spring, Canea A. West of Ash Flat, Carlisa "Shelly" Whetstone of Cherokee Village, and Stacy Diane Woody of Glencoe. Also receiving technical certificates were Jennifer Lynn Folyer of Horseshoe Bend for Early Childhood Education, and Phillip N. Godwin, Jr. for Automotive Service Technology. Technical certificates were awarded in Licensed Practical Nursing to Kim Kay Adams of Horseshoe Bend, Monica Denise Alphin of Pocahontas, Angela Kay Ball of Oxford, Jaimie Leigh Barnett of Cave City, Tina Christeen Browder of Mtn. View, Sesaley Nichole Bunch of Mtn. View, Holly Marie Chitwood of Mtn. View, Jamie Ellen Dean of Oxford, Brandy Nicole Dixon of Batesville, Victoria Marie Earl of Salem, Kamille Christine Ebert of Melbourne, Teia D. Ellzey of Oxford, Ronda Faye Harper of Ash Flat, Mollie Patricia Hartung-Blain of Mtn. View, Teresa Ann Hightower of Batesville, Jack V. Huffmaster, Jr. of Hardy, Casey Jo Inman of Ash Flat, C. Faye James of Cave City, Crystal Cheri' Johnson of Franklin, Kimberly Anne Jones of Williford, Patricia Jean McCollum of Salem, Carla D. McGranahan of Mtn. View, Cedric Vaughn Morley II of Poughkeepsie, Robert Michael Morrow of Cherokee Village, Lisa Yvonne Murray of Mtn. View, Barbara L. Nieland of Mammoth Spring, Jamie Lee Ogle of Melbourne, Jennifer Ivy Phillips of Fifty Six, Lori Nicole Powers of Melbourne, Felissa Deawn Ranew of Violet Hill, Talisha LeAnne Sharp of Melbourne, Amber Blain Washington of Brockwell, Nathan C. West of Ash Flat, Hailey Jeanice Williams of Pineville, and Brittany Nicole Wilson of Harriet. Receiving Certificates of Proficiency with Magna Cum Laude honors were Sheila R. Case of Sidney, Codi N. Hellums of Violet Hill, Deborah L. James of Batesville, Jessica L. Marks of Strawberry, and Chasity K. Norris of Violet Hill in Early Childhood Development; and Kathryn Rene' Reeves in Accounting. Certificates of Proficiency were awarded with Cum Laude honors to Tammie A. Ennis of Cherokee Village, and Heather E. Rodriquez of Williford in Early Childhood Development; Kathryn Mae Baldwin of Big Flat in Business Management, Regina Ann Snelgroes of Viola in Accounting; and Sian Helen Wilkins of Wiseman in Accounting and Computer Applications. Other graduates awarded Certificates of Proficiency were Patricia M. Cox of Batesville, Jennifer Lynn Folyer of Horseshoe Bend, Sondra E. Webb of Mt. Pleasant, and Jessica M. Wortham of Melbourne in Early Childhood Development; Clint A. Smith of Salem, and Rachel A. Vannattan of Batesville in Accounting; Robert Brewer of Mtn. View, Brittany A. Davidson of Salem, Gregory T. Potts of Melbourne, Patricia Snow Richardson of Ash Flat, Randall Warner Roth III of Fox, and Angela Carol Sanders of Melbourne in Business Management; Samantha Dawn Dennison of Horseshoe Bend, and Connie Lynn Maclin of Mammoth Spring in Computer Applications; and Charlene F. Cable of Cherokee Village in Business Management and Computer Applications. Approximately 159 students received General Educational Development (GED) diplomas.

Dawe Named President

Mon, 18 May 2009 10:22:21 -0600

Ozarka College officials announced this week the appointment of Dr. Richard Dawe as President of Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas. Dawe, a native of the north-Arkansas - southern-Missouri region, will assume the Presidency on July 1, 2009. For the past year Dawe has served as Vice Chancellor of Planning and Organizational Development at Ventura County Community College District, a three college district of 36,000 students in the State of California. Prior to his current position, Dawe spent three years as Dean of Work Education at the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. He served in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator from 1981 to 2004, and retired as a captain. His other experiences include Chief Financial Officer for the United States Transportation Command of the Department of Defense, and faculty member of the Naval Postgraduate School in the State of California. Dr. Dawe received his Ph.D. from Saint Louis University; an M.S. degree in Financial Management from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey; and a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. His education began at a community college, having received an Associate of Arts from Georgia Military College in Blytheville, Arkansas. Dawe states, "There are few, if any more important callings in life than participating in a role that positively impacts those seeking to advance their learning. Having begun my higher education journey in a community college setting, I am strongly driven by the diverse and important mission of Ozarka College and I am ready to contribute to that mission of providing life-changing experiences to an area that I call "home." He and his wife, Chris have two grown children, Richard, Jr. and Stephanie.

Nursing Graduates Honored In Ceremony

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:00:22 -0600

Practical Nursing graduates at Ozarka College were honored at a Recognition Ceremony in the John E. Miller Education Complex on May 5, 2009. Students completing their studies in practical nursing were Charlotte Billingsley of Melbourne; Kristina Coleman of Brockwell; Logan Coles of Strawberry; Bridgett Farris of Melbourne; Kayla Foster of Norfork; Waid Holowell of Mount Pleasant; Jack Huffmaster of Hardy; Casey Inman of Ash Flat; Jean Ann Jackson of Franklin; Leilani Jackson of Melbourne; Misty Jackson of Calico Rock; Amanda Lester of Cherokee Village; Corey Masson of Melbourne; Barbara Nieland of Mammoth Spring; Felissa Ranew of Violet Hill; Robyn Sanders of Salem; Adrienne Taylor of Violet Hill; Chelsea Tyson of Mammoth Spring; Hailey Williams of Pineville; and Stacy Woody of Glencoe. After Ozarka College interim President, Tina Wheelis welcomed guests attending the ceremony; and class member, Jack Huffmaster offered the Invocation; Allied Health Division Chair and instructor, Ruby Johnson opened the ceremony. Awards and honors were presented by Waid Holowell, Jack Huffmaster, Leilani Jackson, and nursing faculty. This semester's Florence Nightingale Award went to Bridgett Farris. This award is given to a student each year who exemplifies the true meaning of nursing with hard work and a true dedication to the profession. Bridgett Farris won first place, and Jean Ann Jackson won second place in theory. Waid Hollowell won first place in clinical; and there was a tie for second place between Corey Masson and Kristina Coleman. Students awarded Blair Atchison as nurse of the year, and Fulton County Hospital as the facility of the year. A slide presentation was given courtesy of Nursing Secretary, Stacy Dale and the Information Systems Department. Then, family honors were offered by the entire class of students to their family members. Nursing faculty, Ruby Johnson, Valerie West, Katie Wilson, and Susan Thielemier presented graduates with caps, pins and lamps. Johnson then offered closing remarks and Darren Ranew offered the Benediction. This group of students, along with all of Ozarka's faculty, staff, and administration, was saddened by the tragic loss of one of their classmates on April 26, 2009. Corey Masson had completed his coursework and was set to graduate this semester. His lamp, nursing bible, and pin were accepted by his wife, Rhiannon Masson, LPN, and his mother, Ruthie Sheffield, RN. For further information regarding Ozarka's 18-month LPN program, or the 11-month programs in Ash Flat or Mountain View, please contact the admissions department at 870-368-7371 or via email, admissions@ozarka.edu.

AAT Graduates Achieve Success At Arkansas Tech

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:22:45 -0600

Ten graduates of Ozarka College's Associate of Arts in Teaching program successfully completed their student teaching experience during the Spring 2009 semester as part of their curriculum to graduate from Arkansas Tech University with their bachelor degrees in education. Ozarka College began an Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree program in 2002. Arkansas Tech agreed to deliver the upper level courses via Internet, allowing students to stay in this area to obtain a four year degree. Ozarka College's AAT Coordinator, Michelle Cooper states, "I am pleased to report that all ten of these students have successfully completed their bachelor's degree this semester and will graduate on May 16 from Arkansas Tech University." Spring 2009 graduates and the teachers they have been student teaching under left to right (front row): Gaila Holowell of Melbourne, teaching at Melbourne Elementary under Sheila Caraway; Andrea Sinclair of Cherokee Village, teaching at Salem Elementary under Andrea Walling; Heather Pruitt of Mountain View, teaching at Mountain View Elementary under Trudy Fraser; Kimberly Linville of Fox, teaching at Rural Special Elementary under Ramona Rorie; Carla Barnett of Fox, teaching at Mountain View Elementary under Tonya Gower; and AAT coordinator and instructor, Michelle Cooper. Pictured left to right (back row): Rae Galbraith of Ash Flat, teaching at Cave City Elementary under Shana Fleetwood; Matthew Kelley of Hardy, teaching at Mount Pleasant Elementary under Jodi Moody; Jamela Hinesley of Mountain View, teaching at Mountain View Preschool under Daphne Goodwin; Kristen Hyslip of Ash Flat, teaching at Salem Elementary under Annette Henley; and Lea Turner of Higden, teaching at Cowsert Elementary in Clinton under Barbara Trapp. Cooper adds, "This program would not be possible without the help of the local schools and teachers who allow our students into their classrooms to learn first hand from their real experiences. Ozarka College, Arkansas Tech and our students appreciate their support for this program and look forward to continuing to build the relationships with them." For more information on the Associate of Arts in Teaching program at Ozarka College, please contact Admissions at 870-368-7371 or toll free 800-821-4335.

Culinary Students Win Medals At Skillsusa

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:22:35 -0600

Nine students from the Culinary Arts Program at Ozarka College competed recently against students from other state vocational-technical institutes and colleges in the 43rd annual Arkansas Association of SkillsUSA 2009 Championship Conference, held at the Hot Springs Convention Center on April 13-15. Ozarka had three students winning medals this year in the competition. Shane Lively of Calico Rock won the Gold Medal in Culinary Arts; Karen Brown of Batesville won Bronze in Commercial Baking; and Jacob Conley of Cherokee Village won Bronze in Dining Room Service. Culinary Arts is a rigorous division of competition where students execute technical cuts on poultry, make a broth then use it for an entr`e; prepare a Caesar salad, rice pilaf, saut`ed chicken, and julienne strips of zucchini and yellow squash, among other preparations. Along with Shane Lively; Glen Lunsford of Sidney, and Mario Romero of Batesville competed in this division. In the Commercial Baking division, competitors had to prepare several baked goods including: apple pie, yeast bread, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, fruit filled coffee ring, French horns, sugar cookies, puff pastries and cake decorating. Along with Karen Brown; Virginia Ferguson of Batesville, and Cheryl Weaver of Evening Shade competed in the baking division. The Dining Room Service competition tests students on their ability of hosting, table setup and serving guests in a full course dining situation. Conley's classmates: Telisa Van Winkle of Cave City, and LaDawna Brewer of Draso also competed in this category. Accompanying the students to the competition was Ozarka College's SkillsUSA Advisor and Culinary Arts instructors, Linda Taylor and Mimi Newsome. Taylor commended the students for their hard work throughout the year. "They put in long days and nights and this event is a culmination for their efforts." She adds, "This group of students represented Ozarka College and their communities very well." All the state level gold medalists are eligible for the National SkillsUSA competition which will take place in Kansas City, Missouri June 22-26. Shane Lively will be attending and competing in that competition. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving high school and college students enrolled in technical, skilled, and service occupations. For information about applying to Ozarka College's Culinary Arts program, contact Ozarka College Admissions at 870-368-7371. Left to right: (back row) Glen Lunsford, Karen Brown, Jacob Conley, Virginia Ferguson, Shane lively and Mario Romero; (front row) Linda Taylor, Telisa Van Winkle, LaDawna Brewer, Cheryl Weaver, and Mimi Newsome.

Upcoming Registration Dates For New Students

Mon, 11 May 2009 10:28:29 -0600

Ozarka College is now registering current students for the upcoming Summer I, Summer II, and Fall semesters. Any student, who has successfully completed a semester at Ozarka, can register online after meeting and planning their class schedules with their academic advisor. Once registered financial aid arrangements must be made. Any new or first time, full time students may register during the early registration dates that will be offered beginning in May and continuing in June and August as follows: Summer I, II, and Fall Registration May 18th, 9:00-4:00 - Mountain View May 19th, 9:00-4:00 - Ash Flat May 20th, 9:00-4:00 - Melbourne Summer II, and Fall Registration June 22nd, 9:00 - 4:00 - Mountain View June 23rd, 9:00 - 4:00 - Ash Flat June 24th, 9:00 - 4:00 - Melbourne Fall Registration: August 11-14th - 9:00-4:00 at all three locations. Anyone planning to enroll as a new student at Ozarka College must take the ACT or Compass Exam. These test scores are required for placement in English, reading, and mathematics. Compass testing will be available during each of the dates mentioned (except August 14) beginning at 9AM, or by appointment. To schedule an appointment call (870) 368-2049 in Izard County, 870-269-5600 in Stone County, 870-994-7273 in Sharp County, or toll free 1-800-821-4335. A photo ID is required to take the test. Summer and Fall course schedules are available online at www.ozarka.edu, or at any Ozarka College location. To request a copy of the schedule please call Admissions at 870-368-7371 or toll free listed above.

Mtn. View Hs CNA Program Concludes

Tue, 05 May 2009 09:58:27 -0600

Ozarka College and Mountain View High School partnered this semester to provide a CNA program for area high school students in their junior or senior year at the Mountain View High School Career Center. Ozarka College adjunct instructor, Elizabeth Tankersley, RN and Partners for Care instructor, Tamra Bevill, RN, successfully obtained full program approval through the Office of Long Term Care for the program. Tankersley expresses her impression of the students she has had this semester as exemplary. "I have been very impressed by these young men and women. I was a little apprehensive at first because of their young age, but they have proven themselves to be highly compassionate individuals and have the outstanding potential to go far in the medical field." Outstanding students were selected for each semester and for the year. Kayla Crymes (sitting right) was selected student of the Fall 2008 semester, Carly Storey (standing left) was student of the Spring 2009 semester, and Lakyn Wrinkle (sitting left) was student of the year. Also pictured standing right: Elizabeth Tankersley. The students who completed the course will now take their board certification exam in upcoming weeks. For further information on this or other health related programs at Ozarka, contact Admissions at 269-5600, or visit online at www.ozarka.edu. Left to Right - back row": Jordan Scroggins, Kylee Houston, Kayla Crymes, and Carly Storey. Middle row: Clifton Middleton, Kerion Buckingham, Jessika Hintson, Kayla Kellams, Megan Mullins, and Cody Wilcox. Front row: Whitney Fossler, Lakyn Wrinkle, Kayla Stewart and Elizabeth Tankersley,

Trio Night Of Stars Awards Party

Fri, 01 May 2009 11:18:58 -0600

The TRiO SSS (Student Support Services) program at Ozarka College held its annual awards event last week in the Culinary Arts Dining Room at Ozarka in Melbourne. TRiO's Night of Stars, held April 23rd, was open to all TRiO students and featured a red carpet and an upscale "mocktail" party for those attending. TRiO Academic Advisor, Karin Brown, who organized the event, states, "In addition to acknowledging their successes, this event gives students an opportunity to learn skills that may help them with future requirements as an employee." After Director of TRiO SSS, Deltha Shell welcomed students and guests; she along with tutor coordinator, Ronda McLelland, and transfer specialist, John Petersen presented the TRiO awards. Organizing the event with Brown was program administrative assistant, Shelia Titus, other the other TRiO staff members. Student awards were presented as follows: Ross Lunsford of Ash Flat- Hall of Fame Eric Darmstaedter of Melbourne - Student of the Year Ellen Thornton of Hardy - Tutor of the Year Margaret Sumrall of Mountain View- Student of the Semester April Gist of Melbourne - Above & Beyond Christina Flores-Ponce of Mountain View - Rising Star Ozarka College Alumni and Former TRiO SSS, Gale Tinsman was the guest speaker for the event. Gale was named as the 2008 AASAP (Arkansas Association of Student Assistance Programs) Achiever of the Year. Gale obtained an Associate of Arts degree from Ozarka College in 2003 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams Baptist College two years later. She was then accepted to Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri, where she will complete her Master's degree later this month. Gale currently works as a case manager for Families Inc. Counseling Service. Ozarka's Culinary Arts Department prepared and served an upscale array of hors d'oeuvres during the reception. Ozarka College's TRiO Student Support Services program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRiO Programs. The 2008-2009 funded award is $278,960. All activities and services offered to the students in SSS are made possible through these grant funds. Announcement made in accordance with Public Law 105-78 Sec. 508. For eligibility requirements or further information, contact TRiO SSS at 870-368-7371.

International Day In Mountain View And Ash Flat

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:11:36 -0600

The Ozarka College Diversity Learning Initiative will be hosting International Day from 11AM-1PM April 29 in Mountain View and April 30 in Ash Flat. All Ozarka College students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate in this fun event which will focus on the country of France.The Melbourne International Day was held on Tuesday with many in attendance. Ozarka's Culinary Arts is preparing French pastries and coffee, which will be available to sample. There will also be an art and artifact display, music and cinema, as well as activities about the language, history and culture of France. There will be a $25 cash drawing at each location for those who participate in this event which is offered at no cost. International Day is sponsored by the Ozarka College Diversity Learning Initiative and the Arkansas Association of Women in Two Year Colleges. Funding for this event is provided by The Office of Student Services and the Ozarka College Foundation. For additional information call 368-7371, extension 2072 or email rwilliams@ozarka.edu. Pictures are from International Day held in Melbourne on April 28th.

Spring Carnival Success

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:44:11 -0600

Over 750 children and adults attended the Spring Carnival held at Ozarka College on April 16th. This event was held in conjunction with the Izard County Hometown Health Coalition to help promote fun without drugs and alcohol. Ozarka students, staff and faculty were on hand to assist with this event. Along with free food and drinks, the National Guard was there with their rock climbing wall and there was a bouncy house, dunking booth, face painting, clowns, and many other games and prizes. The Ozarka Kids Academy provided the games for the event and a grant provided the other activities. An exhibit was also set up with 247 pair of shoes on display to represent the drug and alcohol related deaths in Arkansas during 2007. Funding for this project was provided in part by the Arkansas Collegiate Drug Education Committee Grant.

Current Students Please "be Advised"

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:07:38 -0600

All current Ozarka students should be meeting with advisors to get schedules worked out to register for Summer or Fall. Any student who does not know who their advisor is, please log on to your myOzarka account; or contact the office of student services (368-2024) to find out who has been assigned to advise you. Each advisor will have office hours posted, so please contact them for an appointment. Once you have been advised, you can enroll for classes through the online registration process. The course schedule is available online through the homepage here or in myOzarka. Ozarka wants your registration process to be as smooth and easy as possible. If you are having problems, please contact someone in Student Services or Academic Affairs for assistance at 870-368-7371. Instructor, Cheri McKee-McSwain advises Mountain View student, Matt Newcomb last Spring.

Trio Career Night

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:03:37 -0600

TRiO Student Support Services will hold their Career Night beginning at 5:30 PM tonight, Wednesday, April 22 in the Lecture Hall of the Miller Complex. This event is open to all Ozarka College students and will feature many guest speakers. John Petersen, Transfer Specialist for TRiO has organized this event and states, "this will be a perfect opportunity for students to get information on some key careers from professionals working in these fields locally. Dale Weaver, the Sharp County Sheriff will talk about law enforcement jobs, Coby Ayers will share his experience in Social Work, Sarah Kelly will speak on Speech Pathology and career opportunities in her field, and our own alumni, Michael Vest, will talk about the four year teaching program he is finishing.â�? He adds, "The atmosphere will be informal and each speaker will give those attending a chance to ask questions about their job, including the job situation, salary information or any other candid questions students might have. Those who attended last year said the speakers really opened their eyes to some great opportunities.â�? Contact Petersen today for more information at jpetersen@ozarka.edu or 368-2039.

Be The Next Ozarka College Academic All-Star!

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:28:43 -0600

Ozarka College and the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges (AATYC) present the Arkansas Two-Year Colleges Academic All-Stars scholarship program. One student will be selected to receive a $500 scholarship and represent Ozarka as the All-Star at the AATYC annual conference. The Academic All-Stars program is designed to reward excellence in academics and leadership at each two-year college in Arkansas as well as service to the college and the community. To be eligible, students must expect to be enrolled at Ozarka College through Spring 2010, have completed at least 24 credit hours in pursuit of an Associate degree by the end of the current Spring semester and intend to graduate at the end of Spring or Summer 2010. The student must also currently post a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 out of a possible 4.00 in all credit coursework taken at that college. International students in the United States on student VISAs are eligible to participate. Along with the $500 scholarship, students also may have several other full transfer scholarship opportunities in conjunction with being named as an Academic All-Star. This is a huge opportunity for anyone planning to transfer and could be worth thousands of dollars saved in tuition! The deadline to apply is May 1st. For more information or to obtain an application packet, contact Vice President of Student Services, Ron Helm at rhelm@ozarka.edu, or 368-2027. Pictured is former Ozarka president, Dusty R. Johnston and Jason Thomas with his wife, Julie, after the All-Star Brunch last fall during the AATYC conference. Jason will be transferring to ASU upon graduation from Ozarka this May. He has accepted a full tuition scholarship to attend ASU, which was offered to him for being named Academic All Star. He is pursuing a degree in education and hopes to teach.

Last Chance For Dance Class Beginning Monday

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:19:15 -0600

There is still space available for two non-credit dance classes at the Ozarka Melbourne campus on Monday evenings from April 20 through June 8. This class is being offered through Ozarka College's continuing education department. A course for 'classic two-step' will meet on Monday nights at 6 pm for an hour each week. Following the two-step class, another dance class for 'cha-cha' will begin at 7 p.m. Students will learn basic steps for these dance styles taught by Bob Schrienk, experienced instructor for the Fred Astaire Studio in Ohio. Cost for each student is $45.00 and enrollment is limited. To register for one or both dance classes, contact Karla Rush at 368-7371 or email karla@ozarka.edu.

Each Ozarka Campus To Host Job Interview Workshop

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:55:13 -0600

The Student Success Center will be hosting a job interview workshop open to all Ozarka College students in April. This workshop is offered at no cost and will provide tips on professional appearance, proper attire, and questions to expect during an interview. Each workshop will begin at 11:00 AM and will be offered on April 27 in Melbourne's Success Center located in the John E. Miller complex; April 28 in Mountain View room MV106; and April 29 in Ash Flat's Success Center. As part of the workshop, the Student Success Closet will be open in the Miller Building. Any student who needs professional attire can pick up a suit Free of Charge as long as supplies last on a 'first come, first serve' basis. For more information contact Student Success Coordinator in Ash Flat, Richard Williams at 368-7371, 994-7273 or via email, rawilliams@ozarka.edu.

International Day In Mountain View And Ash Flat

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:52:41 -0600

The Ozarka College Diversity Learning Initiative will be hosting International Day from 11AM-1PM April 29 in Mountain View and April 30 in Ash Flat. All Ozarka College students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate in this fun event which will focus on the country of France. The Melbourne International Day was held on Tuesday with many in attendance. Ozarka's Culinary Arts is preparing French pastries and coffee, which will be available to sample. There will also be an art and artifact display, music and cinema, as well as activities about the language, history and culture of France. There will be a $25 cash drawing at each location for those who participate in this event which is offered at no cost. International Day is sponsored by the Ozarka College Diversity Learning Initiative and the Arkansas Association of Women in Two Year Colleges. Funding for this event is provided by The Office of Student Services and the Ozarka College Foundation. For additional information call 368-7371, extension 2072 or email rwilliams@ozarka.edu. Pictures are from International Day in Melbourne on April 28th.

Ozarka 2009 Graduation Information

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:46:26 -0600

The 2009 Ozarka College Commencement will take place on May 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the John E. Miller Auditorium. For those students graduating, practice will be held in the John E. Miller Auditorium at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday May 7. Graduates will meet in the Lecture Hall at 6:00 p.m. on the night of commencement. Caps and gowns may be picked up May 4-14 at the Ozarka College Bookstore. A photographer will be available in the Conference Room of the John E. Miller Education Complex prior to graduation from 5:00-6:30 p.m. as well as after the ceremony. This year's commencement speaker will be Kevin Johnson. Johnson and his wife, Tammy, and their children Jill and Caleb, live in Melbourne. Johnson graduated magna cum laude from Lyon College in 1985 with a degree in Math Education. He also played basketball for Lyon and was named twice as an Academic All-American and is a member of Lyon's Hall of Fame. Kevin is a double heart transplant recipient who has an inspiring story of survival against the odds. He is employed by Bad Boy Mowers in Batesville. For further information regarding Ozarka College 2009 Graduation ceremony, contact Vice President for Student Services, Ron Helm at 870-368-7371.

Trio Sss Announces Hall Of Fame Student

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:21:11 -0600

The TRiO SSS (Student Support Services) program at Ozarka College has announced Ross Lunsford as the 2009 TRiO Hall of Fame. Lunsford is a freshman at Ozarka and lives in Ash Flat, just a few miles from the Ozarka campus in Ash Flat where he attends classes. Ross, who is 23, was working as a sub-contractor installing light fixtures in schools, but discovered that he was spending more money traveling than he was making. After being hired at a local hardware/lumber company and carrying boards in the lumber yard six days a week, Ross decided it was time to enroll in college. "I enrolled in the first available classes in the Summer of 2008 and got out of that lumber yard just in time!" He learned about the TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program and decided to apply since their services were free. "I had no idea how important the program would be to my success," says Ross. "The support, advice, and reliability of the TRiO staff have helped me enormously. Not to mention, all the wonderful cultural events that are available that provide a useful break from the seemingly long semesters. I plan to continue to take advantage of the services, as long as I can, during my quest to become a veterinarian." According to TRiO Director, Deltha Shell, "Ross is an active participant in TRiO SSS at Ozarka and has attended many transfer trips, cultural activities, workshops, seminars and sought academic, transfer and career advising. The staff of Ozarka College TRiO SSS program was proud to nominate Ross Lunsford to the TRiO Hall of Fame and feels that he is exemplary of the success that their participants display." A statewide TRiO Day was held earlier this year, which included an induction ceremony for all TRiO Hall of Famers. Unfortunately, Lunsford was unable to attend the event. However, he will be featured along with the other Hall of Fame inductees in a bound book sent to government officials in Washington, D.C. Ozarka College's TRiO Student Support Services program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Federal TRiO Programs. The 2008-2009 funded award is $278,960. All activities and services offered to the students in SSS are made possible through these grant funds. Announcement made in accordance with Public Law 105-78 Sec. 508. For more information regarding eligibility requirements for TRiO Student Support Services at Ozarka College contact them at 368-7371.

Spring Carnival Set For April 16th

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:26:17 -0600

Ozarka College is hosting a Spring Carnival in Melbourne from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16th in front of the John E. Miller Education Complex. The Spring Carnival will be FREE to Ozarka College students, their families and the community. Many departments, programs and student organizations will be involved in the event. There will be contests, fun, food and games for children of all ages. Some of the activities will include a bounce house, the National Guard Rock Climbing Wall, face painting, ring toss, and pick up ducks, clowns, balloons and other carnival type activities. Everything at the event will be FREE of charge and open to the public. For further information or questions about this event, contact Jennifer Miller at 368-7371 or jmiller@ozarka.edu. Debbie Yancey with Ozarka Adult Education helped children in and out of the bounce house during the Fall Festival last year. During the Fall Festival last year, Izard County Sheriff Deputy, Ernie Blackley assisted with the children fingerprinting activity.

Ozarka Phi Theta Kappa 2008-2009 Induction

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:48:37 -0600

Ozarka College's Beta Alpha Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), a national honor society for students in two-year colleges, inducted new members during its Induction Ceremony, held the evening of March 10, 2009. After PTK President, Jason Thomas welcomed students and their guests to the ceremony, Ozarka Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mike DeLong congratulated each new inductee on their educational success and leadership thus far and wished them continued success for the future. PTK Vice President, Misty Brewer and Secretary, Jessica Wolford presented the candidates for induction. This year's advisors are Ozarka College instructors: Melissa Martin and Tracie Morris. Students eligible for membership in PTK must have a grade point average of at least 3.50 on twelve hours toward an associate's degree. Membership in Phi Theta Kappa revolves around the four Hallmarks of Scholarship, Fellowship, Leadership, and Service. Following the induction, PTK members and guests enjoyed a reception catered by Ozarka's Culinary Arts students in honor of the new members. The following students were inducted during the ceremony, Patricia Crispell, Eric Darmstaedter, Brenda Dupree, Douglas Face, Audra Fletcher, Heather Godair, Amanda Guy, Kristyna Harmon, Bonnie Henson, Stephanie Lane, Ross Lunsford, Matthew Newcomb, Amanda Roland, Heidi Rutledge, Heather Slater, Alisha Smithson, Sarah Stevens, Kellie Traylor, and Jessica Wolford.

Student Success Center To Host Job Interview Workshop

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:06:18 -0600

The Student Success Center will be hosting a job interview workshop open to all Ozarka College students in April. This workshop is offered at no cost and will provide tips on professional appearance, proper attire, and questions to expect during an interview. Each workshop will begin at 11:00 AM and will be offered on April 27 in Melbourne's Success Center located in the John E. Miller complex; April 28 in Mountain View room MV106; and April 29 in Ash Flat's Success Center. As part of the workshop, the Student Success Closet will be open in the Miller Building. Any student who needs professional attire can pick up a suit free of charge as long as supplies last on a 'first come, first serve' basis. For more information contact Student Success Coordinator in Ash Flat, Richard Williams at 368-7371, 994-7273 or via email, rawilliams@ozarka.edu.

Ozarka Culinary Student Wins Bronze At Nationals

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:40:40 -0600

Ozarka College had three culinary arts students competing at the national level SkillsUSA Conference in Kansas City June 23-27. One of its culinary arts students brought home a bronze medal from the competition. Kathryn Tebbetts of Bryant won third place in the post-secondary Food and Beverage Service competition against 17 other students from across the United States. After winning Gold medals in their divisions at the Arkansas Association of SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, which was held in Hot Springs in April, three Ozarka College culinary arts students competed at the 44th Annual National SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City from June 23-27. This was Kathryn's first time to compete in SkillsUSA. William "Joey" Stender of Ash Flat also competed for the first time in the post-secondary culinary arts competition and finished in the top twenty. Kim Brown of Glenwood competed in the Commercial Baking category and finished in the top twenty. Ozarka College’s Culinary Arts instructors, Linda Taylor and Mimi Newsome, accompanied the students to the competition in Kansas City. Taylor expresses her enthusiasm for the students’ accomplishments. “Just making it to the national competition is a success in itself. We had our first gold medal back in 2005 at that level, which was exciting for that second year student. Now with a first year student winning the bronze at nationals, reflects on the quality of our students and the hard work and effort they put into their training and education.” The SkillsUSA Championships is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. The philosophy of the Championships is to reward students for excellence, to involve industry in directly evaluating student performance and to keep training relevant to employers' needsThis year, there were over 6,000 contestants in 91 separate events during the competitions, with more than 16,000 people drawn to the competition. Categories include health occupations; leadership development; occupationally-related; official demonstration; and trade, industrial and technical which includes the culinary arts contests. For further information of Ozarka’s Culinary Arts Program, the first of its kind in the State of Arkansas, contact Ozarka at 870-368-7371, toll free 1-800-821-4335, or visit the website at www.ozarka.edu.top picture: Bronze Medalist, Kathryn Tebbetts pictured with Randy Prather, Arkansas Director for Skills USA.bottom picture: left to right: Kim Brown, Kathryn Tebbetts, and Joey Stender.