Student Handbook

Ambassador Insider: Check in with Cheyanne Davis,

Ambassador Insider: Check in with Cheyanne Davis, a senior Student Ambassador here at Ozarks, as she dives into her favorite parts of being an ambassador and reflects on one her favorite spots on campus — the photography studio!

Did you know Ozarks offers photography as a minor? That’s right, and this spring a few students, including Cheyanne, got to take a trip to California to fully put their photography skills to the test. 📸

Don’t miss the final 3 performances of John Proc

Don’t miss the final 3 performances of John Proctor is the Villain at University of the Ozarks!

Catch this thought-provoking 2022 play by Kimberly Belflower, happening May 1-3 at 7 PM in the Walton Fine Arts Center’s Black Box Theatre. Tickets are $10 for the public, and FREE for U of O students, faculty, & staff!

This play dives deep into high school life during the 2018 #MeToo movement, where reading The Crucible is only the beginning of a bigger conversation about power, abuse, and accusations.

Featuring an amazing student cast and crew, and directed by Dr. Macy Jones, rumor has it, it’s a must-see performance you won’t forget!

May 1-3 | 7 PM | Walton Fine Arts Center - Black Box Theatre. Get there early to get your seat!

Episode 4 of Campus Conversations is here! Catch L

Episode 4 of Campus Conversations is here! Catch Logan Wilson—student & Clay Target athlete—sharing what it’s like to chase big dreams while staying rooted at Ozarks 🦅🦅🦅

Sunday Stories - Moudy Stolz, a senior and an exce

Sunday Stories - Moudy Stolz, a senior and an excellent member of the Eagles shooting sports team, reflects on his time here at Ozarks.

“I’ve come a long way in the 4 years I’ve been here,” Moudy said. Moudy is majoring in health science with minors in physical education and American studies. While he finished his degree in the fall, he wanted to attend the spring semester so he could compete at nationals for shooting.

“It was so worth it,” he said, as he scored nearly perfect in some of the events. “We’re all really close,” he explained, reminiscing about nicknames and pranks they pulled on each other, and the origins of the mysterious language that only the shooting team knows. “It’s not just a team,” he said, “It’s a brotherhood.”

For Moudy, this brotherhood started in his first semester at Ozarks as his teammates supported him with his transition to college; “We would lock ourselves in the library,” he said, and they held each other accountable to keep their grades up.

“I think the biggest challenge was just moving away,” he said. He also struggled with “Adjusting to not being in high school anymore.” He explained, “You don’t have to be in a classroom 8 hours a day, but you have to delegate your time to studying, and that was super hard.”

Growing up in Barling, Ark., Moudy used to play football until he was injured, and decided to try shooting sports instead. While at a state shooting competition, he met Lance Brown, head men’s clay target coach for Ozarks. Moudy had other schools vying for his attention, but it was coach Brown’s willingness to be available to Moudy that made him say, “That’s the man I want to shoot for.”

Moudy’s last trip to nationals with his team was “bittersweet,” he said. “I shot some of my best scores, but it was sad. I was not ready for that to end,” he said.

“You’re gonna meet some of the best people you’re ever gonna meet here, and you’re gonna have a lot better time than you think you will. And watch out– it flies by super fast.”

Feature produced by Communications Studies major Phoenix Mertin

Happy Easter from University of the Ozarks! Wishi

Happy Easter from University of the Ozarks!

Wishing you a joyful day filled with hope, renewal, and all the beauty of spring. Whether you’re near or far from campus, may your heart feel at home today.

That spring time feeling at Ozarks 🌷💜

That spring time feeling at Ozarks 🌷💜

Congratulations to the University’s Pet Buddy Te

Congratulations to the University’s Pet Buddy Team! Competing against colleges and universities from throughout the state, the U of O business student trio of Gabriel Mendoza, Daniella Ugarte, and William Guillen took home first place in the small business elevator pitch category and third place in the small business plan category on Wednesday at the prestigious ACC Capital Governor’s Cup competition held at the Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center. The students’ prospective business, Pet Buddy, is an eco-friendly business concept that takes used clothing items and turns them into pet items, such as toys and beds. The ACC Capital Governor’s Cup is an annual collegiate business-plan competition among students from the state’s colleges and universities. The Pet Buddy team is the first team from U of O to place in the competition. Jon Langlois, assistant professor of business, is the group’s advisor. A large group of U of O students and faculty attended the awards ceremony on Wednesday to support the Pet Buddy team.

Sunday Stories: Drue Lindsey is a second-semester

Sunday Stories: Drue Lindsey is a second-semester senior at Ozarks who embraces his calling to be a teacher and a leader- and he is busy. “Between taking people on rock climbing trips for Ozarks Outdoors, helping to coach the Scranton Highschool Basketball team, to helping residents in the dorms - it’s a lot,” Drue said.

Drue grew up in Mountain Home, Ark., where he attended high school. “Sports are big for me,” he said. ‘We have a saying there, ‘I bleed blue and gold,’” a sentiment of school spirit that Drue carried with him to Ozarks. Drue had several offers to wrestle at different schools, but he chose Ozarks because of its small environment. He wrestled for a year but decided to leave the team. Though he originally came for sports, he found it was the RA position that “reeled” him into Ozarks. “Becoming an RA, getting close to my residents, and especially my co-RA-workers,” he said, “That’s really what kept me here.”

Drue was very involved in high school, so coming to college, he wanted to take a step back, but the director of residential life at the time had other plans. Seeing Drue’s energy and involvement at events, he asked Drue to apply to be an RA. fter the deadline, “When he didn’t get my application,” Drue said, “He came to me personally and asked, Why didn’t you apply?!” Even though applications were closed, he reopened them specifically for Drue. “That was shocking to me,” Drue said.

Everywhere he goes, he is beloved by his students; He was voted conselor of the year at Camp Chen-A-Wanda. “It wasn’t planned at all,” Drue explains. He sat down with a friend at lunch one day who told him about the camp and convinced Drue to try it. “So, I went, and it was the time of my life.” He is currently finishing an internship coaching 7th grade, junior high, and senior high basketball at Scranton. “It was emotional,” He said. “After all the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve been through together, to see it come to an end.” His students thanked him for coaching them, and there were more than a few tears shed at the end of the basketball season.

It is these kinds of lasting impacts and connections that Drue wants to leave with his students.

Ambassador Insider: Senior student ambassador Rand

Ambassador Insider: Senior student ambassador Randi Jo, who is also the social media team lead, takes us just off campus to the Spadra Nature Trails. These trails wind throughout town and provide a perfect place for walking, riding bikes, and enjoying time outdoors. Listen in as she talks about why she enjoys these trails and what being an ambassador means to her!

Sunday Stories: Katelyn Willetts, a junior English

Sunday Stories: Katelyn Willetts, a junior English major, is combining her love of storytelling with an entrepreneurial spirit to build a future in editing.

“Since I first learned to read, it’s been a natural thing for me,” she said. “I’ve always just loved getting lost in a story, connecting with characters, and going with them on their journey.”

Stories helped Katelyn through difficult times, inspiring her to “understand how [stories] work, what makes them powerful, and what gives them their influence.” She added, “I want to work with stories myself so I can help make a difference in other people’s lives, just as stories have made a difference in mine.”

Rather than writing, Katelyn wants to edit. “I like working with the building blocks that other people have,” she said. “My career goal is to help authors refine their stories and to help make them the best that they can be!”

Her entrepreneurship minor is a nod to her roots. “I come from an entrepreneurial family,” said Katelyn, who grew up at her family’s trout fishing resort in Flippin, Ark. “It was a great place to grow up” she said, chuckling about stories of catching fish with the dock manager. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Though she values those roots, she’s forging her own path. She’s already freelanced by editing a friend’s memoir and completed an internship with author Brock Eastman and Crimson Pulse Media.

Minors in psychology and history also support her goals. “Psychology is about how people, or characters, think,” and “History is the story of the world,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the LENS program, I probably wouldn’t have taken so many minors!”

As she heads into her final year, Katelyn is eager to keep growing her editing experience and sharing her love for stories.

Feature produced by Communications Studies major Phoenix Mertin

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