Navy Office of Community Outreach visits School of the Ozarks on student orientation day for Navy We

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — Today, the Navy Office of Community Outreach attended School of the Ozarks student orientation day as part of the Navy’s signature outreach program, Navy Weeks. Navy Weeks provides communities with an opportunity to interact with Navy service members and to learn more about the Navy.

As part of its weekly all-school morning flag assembly, School of the Ozarks students and staff heard from sailors about a patriotic hero who made a significant contribution to the history of the United States. After the assembly was dismissed, 9^th – 12^th grade students engaged in a more in-depth discussion about the Navy, its importance, and potential career opportunities for students who may be interested.

The Navy will visit 15 locations throughout the country as part of the outreach program in 2025. A typical Navy Week includes interactions with 50-100 sailors via school visits or volunteer events, as well as live music from Navy Music and performances from the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard.

“Navy Weeks highlight our talented sailors and create opportunities for public discussions on the Navy’s pivotal role in fighting for our freedoms,” said Lt. Cmdr. Miranda Williams, the Navy Week program manager, in a press release from the Navy. “Every day, Navy personnel are training and operating with the most advanced ships, submarines, aircraft and weapons systems to ensure they are ready to protect America’s interests around the world when called. We are excited to bring some of those talented sailors directly to Americans during the 2025 Navy Week season.”

The Navy Week visitation upholds the School’s Patriotic Pillar, which is to encourage an understanding of American heritage, the value and responsibility of living in a country that has a constitution, a love of country, and a willingness to defend it. Dr. Brad Dolloff, dean of School of the Ozarks, reflected on the value of the experience for the School.

“What an amazing opportunity to have sailors from the United States Navy on campus to present colors at our Monday morning flag ceremony and to share stories with our entire student body about the men and women who serve to protect us every day,” Dolloff said. “We are blessed to have them at School of the Ozarks and honored to pray for those who put themselves in harm’s way on our behalf.”

For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and fiscal responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award 2024 and the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.