School of the Ozarks takes field trip to Missouri Capitol building

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — On Feb. 27, School of the Ozarks seventh graders took their annual trip to Jefferson City, Missouri, to meet with government officials and tour the Capitol building. This trip helps students gain a better understanding of government while experiencing the inner workings of our Missouri House of Representatives.

Students had an opportunity to sit in the gallery and enjoy the representatives’ discussion and the process of voting on bills. Additionally, they were able to meet with Taney County Representative Brian Seitz and Stone County Representative Burt Whaley.

Seitz took them to the upper dome of the Capitol building which overlooks the Missouri River and the capital city. Additionally, Seitz stayed and visited with the students as they were led on a tour through the Capitol building.

“It is a blessing to cooperate with our Taney County Representative, Mr. Brian Seitz, while planning and executing this trip,” said Jennifer Carey, assistant professor at School of the Ozarks. “Representative Seitz welcomes our students each year, makes them feel at home in their state capitol building, and treats them with kindness and respect. He makes time for the kids, shares what it is like to be a representative in the state of Missouri, and takes them on a tour throughout the building, including his own office.”

Burt Whaley met the seventh graders outside the gallery, introduced himself, explained how he represents his constituents, and answered the students' questions about Missouri government.

Will Burney, a School of the Ozarks 2023 graduate currently interning with the Missouri Senate, met with the students at the Capitol and shared the impact the Jefferson City trip had on him as a School of the Ozarks seventh grader.

"It was this trip that got me interested in government service,” Burney said. “I'm here today serving as a Senate intern because of what I learned on this trip."

“This trip supports our academic, cultural, patriotic, vocational, and Christian pillars,” Carey said. “It shows students their government in action and encourages them to get involved in serving others. As a teacher, I have led students on trips to our Missouri State Capitol for 20 years. The hospitality of Representative Seitz is unlike any I have experienced. He truly loves his constituents, and he supports College of the Ozarks and School of the Ozarks because he shares the same mission and vision for our students. He recognizes the importance of providing a Christ-centered education for the next generation. We are blessed to get to spend time in such a beautiful building learning about our culture in a welcoming environment. It is my hope that students will remember the service of their representatives and senators, the beauty of the architecture, and the fellowship they shared on this trip. These experiences provide students with fond memories and inspiration for future leadership and bravery to stand up for ‘truth, goodness, and the American way.’”

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 2024 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.