The members of the C of O Sigma Tau Delta chapter attending the four-day National Conference alongside club sponsors Dr. Charity Gibson, associate professor of English, and Dr. David Pedersen, assistant professor of Humanities. Back row, left to right: Dr. David Pedersen, senior Julia Giesey, senior Heaven Fisher, senior Jenna Carey, junior Michael Thompson, freshman Ian Hearn. Front row, left to right: senior Ty Robinson, senior Abigayle Money, sophomore Bonnie Van Wormer, senior Abby Vance, junior Verve Reposar, Dr. Charity Gibson.

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — Members of the College of the Ozarks national English honors society attended the Sigma Tau Delta 2022 Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, from March 30 to April 2.

Ten C of O students were accompanied by Dr. Charity Gibson, associate professor of English, and Dr. David Pedersen, assistant professor of humanities, to the conference in order to attend sessions critiquing the literary works of students from around the world, ranging from literary analysis to creative poetry.

Five of the students presented on a variety of topics at the conference, where they were able to gain excellent experience as well as receive critical feedback of their literary works in a public setting.

At the end of the conference, senior Ty Robinson received an Honorable Mention in the conference poetry contest.

Experiences like this conference are what teach us how to interact with the world on which we are about to embark,” said senior Jenna Carey, student president of the campus Sigma Tau Delta chapter. “Trips outside of the Gates of Opportunity are what remind us that C of O is not a retreat from the world but a preparation to be poured out on it.”

The English department received a grant from The Work Colleges Consortium (WCC), which helped fund the club’s trip to the National Conference. The WCC is made up of a group of distinctive, student-centered liberal arts colleges promoting the purposeful integration of Work-Learning-Service while helping to reduce the cost of education. There are nine work colleges in the United States who make up the WCC, including College of the Ozarks.

The $3,000-grant, when paired with additional departmental funding, allowed the English Department to finance their trip to a national conference, which included airfare, accommodations, food, and registration for all 10 students and two faculty members.

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

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