School of the Ozarks serves with Convoy of Hope for annual service project

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — On March 3, School of the Ozarks students traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to serve at Convoy of Hope. The School has seen the immense impact Convoy of Hope has made domestically and internationally and desired to serve alongside the organization. This is the second year for the School to serve with Convoy of Hope in this way.

Through former S of O students who currently work at Convoy of Hope, the administrators and teachers learned about the founder, Hal Donaldson. He interviewed Mother Teresa who challenged him to find ways to give with intent. From that seed, a worldwide organization now flourishes.

The citizenship goal of School of the Ozarks encourages students to engage in community service projects throughout the year, like partnering with Convoy of Hope. Throughout their day serving, the students packed boxes pf personal hygiene kits, repaired damaged kits, and sealed and loaded the kits onto pallets to be sent around the world.

“I think our students were amazed to discover the many ways to use the gifts and talents God has given us without necessarily traveling to do foreign missions,” said Dr. Brad Dolloff, dean of School of the Ozarks. “They were able to see how mathematical abilities, manual skills, technological abilities, agriculture, engineering, and many more skills and trades can be used to help meet needs around the globe.”

Rorie Christenson, sophomore at S of O, reflects on how the simple task she performed with her peers would impact those who receive the hygiene kits.

“Though I couldn’t physically witness the faces opening the bags I zipped shut, with each fold of a towel, each close of a bag, I could picture the bright eyes of the individuals I prayed for — the people who wouldn’t take for granted what we so easily do,” Christenson said. “Because of Convoy of Hope, I was able to give hope to others.”

S of O senior Olivia Cobb was reminded while visiting Convoy of Hope of God’s command to care for those who need it most.

“Convoy of Hope showed us the devastation in the world and how it requires God’s light, which can be demonstrated through common people like us,” Cobb said. “We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and Convoy of Hope portrays this beautifully.”

S of O plans to continue to serve with Convoy of Hope and learn more about the importance of the work they are doing with disaster relief and climate-controlled greenhouses.

To read more about Convoy of Hope, visit https://convoyofhope.org/

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.