Clarksville, Ark. ---The University of the Ozarks will celebrate "Ozarks Magic" during Alumni Weekend 2003, scheduled for April 10-13.
The magic theme will permeate the weekend with such events as a family magic show following the alumni picnic on Friday, according to Ozarks Alumni Director Reba Pridgin ’81. "In the words of our president, Dr. Rick Niece, ‘I love being an educator, and I love the magic of education,’ " Pridgin said. "Magic can be described as an extraordinary influence of power and education can be the greatest extraordinary power of influence in a person’s life. It can be the greatest magic. We want to celebrate the influence of our Ozarks education, the magic of education and the magic of Ozarks." Alumni Weekend 2003 will have several new twists this year, starting with the golf tournament at the Chamberlyne Golf Course in Danville being moved from Friday to Thursday. The change will allow golfers to participate in more Alumni Weekend events. This year’s golf outing will be held in conjunction with a dinner and roast that evening honoring former Ozarks President Dr. Fritz Ehren ’53. Among the other new events this year will be a Saturday afternoon reunion of alumni who have had careers in education. The reunion will be held in Walker Hall, the impressive new home of the university’s Dr. Wiley L. Hurie Teacher Education Division. "We all have experienced the extraordinary influence of being transformed by the education we received at Ozarks and many of us were able to help transform the lives of young people as we became educators," Pridgin said. "We have hundreds and hundreds of alumni who have spent their careers in the education field and we want to honor and recognize them." Also new for Alumni Weekend 2003 is the Alumni Lecture Series featuring Dr. David Hosley ’59, who spent 11 years working with the U.S. Space Shuttle program. Hosley will speak to the campus community and alumni at 3 p.m. Friday in Walker Hall. Saturday night’s entertainment will include a 1970s-style dance with Ozarks business professors and brothers, Drs. Robert and Randy Hilton, providing the music. The classes of 1978 and 1993 will hold special reunions during the weekend. One of the highlights of the reunions will be the opening of a 25-year time capsule by the Class of 1978 on Saturday afternoon. The Class of 1953 will be inducted into the university’s prestigious 50-Year Club during the traditional 50-Year luncheon on Friday. Traditional events such as the 5K Run, Alumni Awards Luncheon, Bridge Party, President’s Reception, Pancake Breakfast and Memorial Service also return this year. The University Theatre’s production of "Agnes of God" will be performed at 7:30 Friday and Saturday evening in the Walton Fine Arts Center. Anyone who plans to attend any of these events is encouraged to register as early as possible. For more information on Alumni Weekend activities, please contact the Alumni Office at (479) 979-1234.
Topics: Alumni