POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks is continuing the groundbreaking CitizenTrip® that began in 2019 as part of their Patriotic Education Program. Once again, College of the Ozarks will send 150 students on a three-day, two-night intensive trip to Washington D.C., at no cost to the students, Oct. 4-6. Students also will visit New York City and pay homage to those killed in the tragic events of 9/11.
“The College is pleased to take a leadership role in making sure each of our students visits the nation’s capital,” said College President Jerry C. Davis. “Young people do not inherit knowledge of our exceptional country and its foundational principles; these things must be taught. Reading about places is one thing but visiting them is quite another. Friends across America are making it possible for a new generation of young people to understand the sacrifices which have been made for all of us.”
Sgt. Maj. USMC (Ret.) Eddie Neas will join the students on the trip. While at the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he will give the students an account of his time as a machine gunner with the First Marine Division during the Vietnam War.
This year’s CitizenTrip® will include stops at Arlington National Cemetery, Museum of the Bible, the White House, the United States Capitol, the National Archives Museum, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students also will visit the National Mall, which includes the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Constitution Gardens, Washington Monument, and World War II Memorial. During the New York City portion of the trip, students will visit the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
The patriotic goal of College of the Ozarks is to encourage an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibility, love of country, and willingness to defend it. The CitizenTrip® is an integral part of fulfilling the patriotic goal. The CitizenTrip® is a capstone opportunity for students that have demonstrated an understanding of the patriotic goal through the patriotic education courses.
On Constitution Day, Sept. 17, the College opened and dedicated The William S. Knight Center for Patriotic Education.
“The William S. Knight Center for Patriotic Education is a hub for the College’s many patriotic offerings, including the CitizenTrip®,” said Dr. Marci Linson, vice-president for patriotic activities. “The vision of The Knight Center is to revive historic American values and virtue in youth, and for students to experience our nation’s capital in-person is an excellent way to work toward that vision.”