Download a PDF of the Spring/Summer 2004 Issue

Ozarks awards degreesto the of Class of 2004The University of the Ozarksconferred degrees to 115 seniors duringthe university’s 170th Commencementceremony on Saturday, May 8, on thecampus mall.The university awarded 83bachelor of science, 19 bachelor of artsand 13 bachelor of general studiesdegrees during the event, held before alarge gathering of family and friends infront of Robson Library.On a sunny, warm late springmorning, the River Valley Brass openedthe ceremony by playing Pomp andCircumstance. The university’sWomen’s Select Ensemble, under thedirection of Dr. David De Seguirant,sang The Star Spangled Banner.Among the speakers were ChrisAllen, vice chairman of the Board ofTrustees and Political Science ProfessorDr. Stewart Dippel.The main Commencement speakerwas The Rev. Dr. Robert Bohl, a retiredPresbyterian minister and former4 Today, SPRING/SUMMER 2004moderator of the General Assembly ofthe Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), thehighest elected office in thePresbyterian Church. Bohl is also analumnus and former member of theOzarks Board of Trustees.“I've learnedthat the worldowes its greatestdebt, not to thecomplacent, but tothose who movein the direction oftheir dreams,”Bohl told thegraduates. “I wishwe were able tocrawl inside each Dr. Robert Bohlone of you todayand see what dreams you have started.... And my hope and my prayer and mygreat commendation to you today is todream the biggest dreams you can everthink of and then to spend the rest ofyour life trying to fulfill those dreams.”U of O English and SpanishProfessor Dr. Elissa Heil, whorepresented the faculty, also addressedthe graduates. She told them that theireducation is an ongoing process.“You are graduating today as a lifelearner,” Heil said. “Your generaleducation at Ozarks laid the foundation,not only for your college work, but forlife.”Heil told the graduates to continueto invest in their “educationalportfolio.”“Stay curious about the world,about society, about your communityand about people,” she said. “Hold on toyour curiosity, stay informed and useyour educational background to analyzeand form opinions so that you can makesense of your own place in society andthat of others.”Jessica Kidwell, a senior generalstudies major from Little Rock, waselected by her fellow classmates tooffer greetings from the senior class.“I encourage each and every one ofyou to do that thing you’ve beenputting off, tell that friend that you lovethem, make peace where there is a riftand don’t waste a single moment of lifethat you’re given,” Kidwell said. “Lifereally does pass you by if you are notcareful. Go out and make the most of itevery day.”Among the Class of 2004 werethree graduates who earned SummaCum Laude honors for maintaining acumulative grade point average of 3.85or higher. Those with Summa CumLaude distinction included, EutichaPennington, Debbie Shuffield andNakia Smith.