COMMUNITY CONVOCATION

In 1999, Dr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Gittinger endowed the Community Convocation Series, which enabled speakers such as Lady Margaret Thatcher, Franklin Graham, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Dave Ramsey, Former First Lady Laura Bush, and Amy Grant to share their life experiences with the College of the Ozarks family and friends. Many of the speakers have risen from humble beginnings and inspire College of the Ozarks students to pursue high goals.

The Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger Community Convocation Series hosts internationally-renowned speakers, recognized for their character and leadership. Speakers provide a keynote address reinforcing institutional values, and often assist the College with honoring others who through their own citizenship, character, and success serve as role models.

SPRING FORUMS

The Center hosts a forum each spring. In this gathering, prominent national leaders discuss important issues. Forum themes rotate among the topics of character, citizenship, and the work ethic, which are core values of College of the Ozarks. Occasionally, there are special topics featured. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors participate in the exchange of ideas during lectures and small group discussions. Thanks to a generous endowment from the Thoreson Foundation, the Center invites cadets from each of the nation’s U.S. Military Academies at the annual forum. Along with College of the Ozarks students, their discussions focus on the importance of character in developing leadership skills.

Former forum speakers include Former President George W. Bush, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Steve Forbes, and Harris Faulkner.

Charles Krauthammer

"The primary value of America has always been liberty. In Europe they value solidarity over enterprise. They value government protection, regulation, taxation, and security. In America we value liberty, dynamism, social mobility, enterprise, innovation, risk — in a word, individualism."

Dr. Ben Carson

"If all of our colleges were like this one, we would straighten our country out in two seconds."

Former First Lady Laura Bush

"The outstanding teachers and professors at the College of the Ozarks are developing servant leaders who will contribute to their communities."

Louis Zamperini

"I could have become bitter about what happened to me, but if I've learned one thing in life, it's 'All things work together for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose'"

Dave Ramsey

"I've been blessed to walk around this campus since early this morning... [and] meet some really sharp young people who... have the confidence that comes with the dignity of having actually worked and accomplished something already."

Sarah Palin

"Students here [at College of the Ozarks] understand the meaning of work ethic and patriotism, and I just pray to God that more Americans will capture this, will feel it, will taste it—will know what this school exemplifies"

Honorable Newt Gingrich

"If every campus in this country were run with the efficiency, the work orientation, and the student involvement that this college is run with, higher education in America would be 50 percent less expensive, and the students would be 50 percent better educated."

Ben Stein

"You know, you call it Hard Work University here, and I would say you’ve got just about everything right.  It’s Good Values University.  It’s Character Development University.  It’s Respect for God University."

Zell Miller

"I grew up knowing the importance of a good work ethic. My mother always said, 'Hard work never hurt anybody.'"

Mike Krzyzewski

"This is my first time here (at College of the Ozarks). I am absolutely blown away. I can see there is a lot of care here."

Elizabeth Dole

"I feel a different spirit on this college campus, a Christian spirit where students gain a knowledge about each other."

Lady Margaret Thatcher

"The education that you get at College of the Ozarks is not only an education or a qualification for a degree; it is an education for life."