College of the Ozarks Archives

College of the Ozarks security bill to be heard by Missouri House committee on Monday

January 25, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation that would allow a private college in southwest Missouri to employ police officers on-campus will go before a House committee Monday in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Jeff Justus, R-Branson, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on March 12, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The bill from State Rep. Jeff Justus, R-Branson, will be heard Monday at noon by the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.

It’s called the “Private College Campus Protection Act.” Last year’s bill would have allowed any of Missouri’s private college or universities to employ police officers on-campus, but the bill stalled.

Justus has rewritten the language so that the new bill only applies to College of the Ozarks, which is located in Point Lookout.

College of the Ozarks Operation Head for Crisis Management Kurt McDonald traveled to Jefferson City last February to testify for the bill, saying it’s about response time.

McDonald notes Point Lookout is about 30 minutes away from Taney County Sheriff’s deputies in Forsyth. He testified in February that the bill is needed because of what he calls the too-often threat of an active shooter, and emphasized his respect for Taney County Sheriff’s deputies.

“I don’t want to be the person that calls a parent in the loss of a student, and this is a way that we can put another level of protection by being our own first responders,” McDonald testified in 2019.

Bill supporters say it would ensure campus safety and would require a professionalism for College of the Ozarks campus security. Under the bill, officers would have to take an oath of office and finish police training to obtain a peace officer license.

Justus’ bill is House Bill 1282.

This year’s bill includes a location description for “private college” or “private university” within five miles “of any city of the fourth classification with more than 4,000 but fewer than 4,500 inhabitants and located in any county of the first classification with more than 50,000 but fewer than 70,000.”

These provisions only apply to College of the Ozarks.

Double digit jump in Missourians getting college certificate or degree

December 27, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The percentage of students graduating from Missouri’s colleges and universities has increased by about 15% since 2011. A state press release says the largest increases come from Missouri’s community and technical colleges, which graduated 26% more students in 2018 than in 2011.

Double digit increase in number of Missourians getting college certificate or degree

Public universities have graduated nearly 19% more students during the same period. Private college graduation numbers increased by 0.60% during that time.

Five schools have increased graduation rates by more than 10 percentage points since 2011; Fontbonne University, Saint Louis University, State Technical College, College of the Ozarks, and Ozarks Technical Community College. Seventeen other institutions have seen at least a 5% increase.

Since 2011, the number of Missouri’s minority students getting a certificate or degree has jumped by 38%.

“More students who start college are working hard and completing their degrees,” said Zora Mulligan, commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. “Several institutions are breaking down barriers to degree completion and those efforts are making a significant advance in improving graduation rates.”

In 2011, Missouri set a goal to have 60% of working-age adults hold a high-quality certificate or degree by 2025. U.S. Census estimates and wage data say nearly 54% of Missourians have a college degree or certificate.

Missouri Congressman Long and House Agriculture Committee chair to tour Ozarks (AUDIO)

August 19, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A southwest Missouri GOP congressman is bringing in a key Democrat on Capitol Hill for this week’s farm tour across the Ozarks.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long (second from right) visits Edgewood Farms in Purdy in August 2018 (file photo courtesy of Congressman Long’s office)

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, conducts the farm tour every August. Long’s guest this year is House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota.

Long says Peterson, a founding member of the Democrats’ “Blue Dog” Coalition, understands agriculture.

“He’s a buddy of mine and he’s what I call a DINO, because he’s a Democrat in name-only, he votes pretty much like Republicans,” Long says. “But Collin is going to come down and be on our ag tour with us, which is really exciting for people.”

Long says they’ll be visiting several farms, and rural broadband is expected to be a main topic during the tour.

“Springfield and then we go out to Rogersville and then down to College of the Ozarks (in Point Lookout), so we do a east side, west side rotate every year and this is our east side of my district year,” says Long.

Long tells Missourinet farmers in his district are excited that Peterson is visiting. Long’s district includes Springfield, Joplin, Bolivar and Branson.

He and Peterson just returned from Brazil, where they toured a massive soybean and cotton farm. Long says Brazil is “ramping up production” of soybeans.

Peterson’s committee has jurisdiction over numerous issues, including the farm bill, disaster assistance and international trade.

Long spoke to Missourinet at Thursday’s governor’s ham breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. He describes the state fair as one of the best in the nation.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, which was recorded on August 15, 2019 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia:

College of the Ozarks women pick up big win in opening round of NAIA D-II championship

March 11, 2016 By Bill Pollock

Brandy Uchtman, photo credit–John Hyatt

One of the all-time winningest programs at the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships, College of the Ozarks (Mo.) avoided the upset that two No. 2 seeds had already fallen victim to at the 2016 event, presented by Mercy Medical Center and Seaboard Triumph Foods. The Lady Bobcats rode a career high 29 points from senior forward Brandy Uchtman to an 85-68 win over Friends (Kan.) inside the Tyson Events Center on Thursday.

Head coach Becky Vest’s battle-tested squad bumped its overall season record to 28-4 and has advanced to Friday’s second-round action in Sioux City, Iowa.

[Read more…]

College of the Ozarks women come up short in NAIA D-II title game, falling to undefeated Saint Francis-Indiana

March 19, 2014 By Bill Pollock

The Lady Bobcats saw their magical run in the NAIA tourney come to an end in the championship game. (photo/Bobcats athletics)

Top-seeded Saint Francis (Ind.) capped a perfect season with a 75-68 win over No. 7 seeded College of the Ozarks (Mo.) in the title game of the 2014 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship. The title is the first-ever for the Cougars, who previously finished runner-up in 1999.

In the first half, neither team had more than a six point advantage. Saint Francis had a 37-36 lead into the half. Following a combined 0-for-8 start from the field by both teams to open the second half, a 7-0 run gave Saint Francis a 44-36 lead with 16 minutes left in the game. College of the Ozarks brought the Cougars’ lead back to three, 55-52, on a basket by Maggie McMenamy, however Saint Francis answered once again with a 3-pointer by Emily Montgomery to make it 58-52 with under eight minutes to play. A 10-3 run by Saint Francis gave the Cougars the momentum and a 65-53 lead with under three minutes remaining. The defense for Saint Francis shined during the stretch, holding College of Ozarks without a field goal for more than six minutes.

The Bobcats ended the night shooting 40.7 percent (24-for-59) from the field. College of the Ozarks ends the season with a 27-10 record.

2014 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship All-Tournament Team

First Team

Michelle Piepenburg, Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)
Tiesha Stokes, Davenport (Mich.)
Brooke Ridley, Saint Francis (Ind.)
Alice Heinzler, College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
Skylarr Shurn, Saint Francis (Ind.)

Second Team

Alli Engbertson, Northwestern (Iowa)
Jamie Van Kirk, Hastings (Neb.)
Ashlynn Muhl, Morningside (Iowa)
Emily Walker, College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
Jenelle Wilson, Saint Francis (Ind.)

College of the Ozarks women do it again. Pull off fourth upset and will now play for the NAIA championship

March 18, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Do the Bobcats have one more left in them? After four upset wins, College of the Ozarks plays for the national title in NAIA D-II. (photo/NAIA.org)

No. 7 College of the Ozarks became the lowest seed to ever reach the NAIA Division II women’s national championship game since 2003, as the Bobcats knocked off top-seeded Davenport (Mich.), 75-72, in the semifinals. The victory is the fourth-straight for College of the Ozarks in this tournament since losing in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals on March 1.

College of the Ozarks is making its NAIA record 20th appearance in the national championship, and fifth appearance in the title game.

The Bobcats will play No. 1 Saint Francis (Ind.) on Tuesday, (March 18). Tip off is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.

The game came down to the final two minutes and change. A pair of free throws gave Davenport a 70-67, but College of Ozarks sophomore forward Brandy Uchtman nailed a three-pointer at the top of the key. The Panthers regained the lead moments later on a Kelly Dineen jumper in the lane, 72-70.

Then, freshman guard Alice Heinzler, a Republic, Mo., hit a three-pointer to give College of the Ozarks a 73-72 lead with 12 seconds left on the clock.

Davenports attempt to tie fell off the mark and the Bobcats sealed the victory with a pair of Emily Walker free throws.

Heinzler lead all scorers with a career-high 27 points on 7-for-14 shooting. She was also 5-for-8 from beyond the arch and 8-for-8 at the free throw line. Joining Heinzler in double figures for College of the Ozarks was Kayla Kepler with 14 points and Uchtman with 13 points.

“My kids have tremendous heart,” said College of the Ozarks head coach Becky Vest. “They’ve worked all year for this. They went through two-a-days in the fall for moments like these. They went through tough practices for moments like these. It was just a tremendous team effort.”

The Bobcats snapped the Panthers 29-game winning streak, which was second to only unbeaten Saint Francis’ (Ind.) 37-game streak, the opponent for tonight.

College of the Ozarks women pull off their third straight upset. The Bobcats are in NAIA’s “Fab Four”

March 17, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Ozarks guard Emily Walker. (photo courtesy/NAIA)

The seventh-seeded College of the Ozarks (Mo.) recorded its third-straight upset, beating No. 1 seedNorthwestern (Iowa), 90-69, in the quarterfinals of the 2014 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship. The Bobcats are the lowest seed to reach the semifinals since the current tournament format was established in 2003.

The Bobcats set a new NAIA championship record with 40 free throws in the contest. Senior guard Emily Walker, who entered the quarterfinals averaging only 8.5 points per game at this year’s national championship, led the Bobcats with 22 points. The Nixa, Mo., native connected on only three field goals, but was 15-for-16 at the free line. Freshman guard Alice Heinzler from Republic, Mo., finished with 21 points, freshman guard Jeana Raper, also from Nixa, scored 16 points and junior guard Kayla Kepler, from Fair Grove, Mo., ended with 15 points.

Overall, the Bobcats shot 40.8 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from three-point range and 87.0 percent at the free throw line.

The margin of defeat is the largest championship history for Northwestern, which has previously reached the at least the semifinals in six-straight seasons.

The Bobcats will face No. 1 Davenport (Mich.) Monday at 8 p.m. CDT. That semifinal contest will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

College of the Ozarks men see their good fortunes run dry at NAIA Tournament

March 15, 2014 By Bill Pollock

The College of the Ozarks fell in the second round to Bethel, Ind. (photo/NAIA)

Bethel College (Ind.) got into the quarterfinals by beating College of the Ozarks 67-64 in the second round of the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship. The 2014 event is being played at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo.

Bethel flew out to a quick 11-4 advantage before the Bobcats went on a commanding 11-0 run, capped off with a three-pointer from Derek Daniels to claim a 15-11 lead with 13:23 remaining in the first half.

College of the Ozarks increased its lead to eight (23-15) with 9:26 remaining after a basket by Cameron Paschke, but the Pilots owned the final seven minutes of play using a 20-4 spurt featuring a bucket at the buzzer from Bethel’s Michael Mislan to capture a 37-27 lead at intermission.

[Read more…]

College of the Ozarks women pull off NAIA upset to advance to second round for 11th straight year

March 14, 2014 By Bill Pollock

The Lady Bobcats advance to the second round of the NAIA D-II national touranment (photo/NAIA.org)

For the second time in as many days a No. 7 seed upended a No. 2 seed, as No 7 College of the Ozarks (Mo.) downed No. 2 Saint Xavier (Ill.), 68-43, in the first round of the 2014 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship, in Sioux City, IA. The Bobcats, who had lost three of their last five games entering the event, advance to play the winner of No. 3 Mayville State (N.D.) and No. 6 Cornerstone (Mich.) at 12 p.m. on Friday.

College of the Ozarks entered the championship as one of the NAIA’s most experienced teams, with 20 trips in the 23-year history of the event. With the win, the Bobcats advance to at least the second round for the 11th-straight year, with their last first round loss coming in 2003 against Grand View (Iowa), 74-72.

Freshman guard Alice Heinzler led all scorers with 18 points in the game. The Republic, Mo., native has scored in double-digits 24 times this season, including a season-best 28 points against fellow national championship qualifier Oklahoma Wesleyan in the semifinals of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.

College of the Ozarks pulls off major upset in opening round of NAIA D-II men’s national tournament. Women play this morning at 8:30

March 13, 2014 By Bill Pollock

College of the Ozarks men advance to the 2nd round. (photo/NAIA)

College of the Ozarks pulled off the biggest upset of day one at the NAIA Division II National Championship as they knocked off the No. 2 seed College of Idaho 88-84 Wednesday night in the first round, held on the Bobcats home court in Point Lookout, Mo.

Ozarks shot nearly 61% of its field goals while making 31-51 shots and the Bobcats made 13-20 field goals in the second half. Alex Santiago scored a game high 24 points for the Bobcats and was one of four players in double figures for Ozarks. Nathane Simniok added 17 points and had 12 rebounds with two blocked shots. Santiago and Simniok combined to go 15-17 from the field.

Ozarks, as the host school of this event, is guaranteed a spot in the tournament. The Bobcats are making their 18th appearance in the National Championship and improved its first round record to 11-7. This is the second year in a row they beat a heavily favored team. Last year, they topped No. 3 seed Northwood (Fla.) last season.

Ozarks is now 22-10 and will face Bethel (Ind.) on Friday, March 14 at 7:30 pm. College of Idaho bows out of the field with a 28-6 record.

In day two of the first, the No. 7 College of the Ozarks women (23-9) face No. 2 Saint Xavier (Ill.) (27-5), at 8:30 a.m., Thursday morning.

Story courtesy of NAIA.org