College of the Ozarks hosted its 117th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex on the College campus. The ceremony honored 327 graduating students: 61 Bachelor of Arts, 249 Bachelor of Science, and 17 Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

College of the Ozarks hosted its 117^th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex on the College campus. The ceremony honored 327 graduating students: 61 Bachelor of Arts, 249 Bachelor of Science, and 17 Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

The top five majors of the graduating class were psychology, nursing, family studies/social studies: marriage and family, accounting, and business administration. 

Chris Boyett, retired PepsiCo executive, spoke at the commencement in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex.

Chris Boyett

Chris Boyett, retired PepsiCo executive, spoke at the commencement in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex.

Chris Boyett is a 1986 graduate of College of the Ozarks and spent over three decades in the CPG industry, retiring from PepsiCo and the corporate world in May 2022.  Chris spent 24 years with PepsiCo in a variety of executive roles, including leading PepsiCo’s DSD Beverage business at Walmart for nine years and PepsiCo’s total Beverage business at Costco for three years.  Prior to that, Boyett held a variety of marketing and sales leadership roles within PepsiCo.  Chris was awarded the Walmart Team Legacy Award in 2014, the PepsiCo Chairman’s Award in 2015, and the True North Award in 2018.  He is also a former Ring of Honor winner and a Rules of the Road Role model winner. He was widely recognized as a teacher, coach, and developer of talent at PepsiCo and in the Rogers, Arkansas office.  Prior to Pepsi, Boyett spent five years in brand management with Hershey Foods and three years with Kraft and Del Monte.  After graduating from College of the Ozarks, Boyett began his career at Baird, Kurtz, and Dobson in Springfield, Missouri, before leaving and earning his MBA at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business.

Boyett has been active in the local Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri communities since retiring.  He volunteers two half days weekly at Feed the 479 in Springdale, a Cross Church ministry.  He is adjunct teaching a class this Spring in the College of the Ozarks Business Department after having co-taught two Big Questions classes at the College in 2023.

Officer Candidate Esther Schieffer is a Piano major. She commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard and will be branching Signal Corps.

The GOLD Candidates

Every year during commencement, officer candidates are commissioned as part of the ceremony. This year, the following were commissioned into the U.S. Army:

Officer Candidate Esther Schieffer is a Piano major. She commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard and will be branching Signal Corps.

Dr. Lamae Koogler, associate professor of hotel and restaurant management, received The Eugene Charles Wittick Teaching Excellence Award at the graduation ceremony.

The Eugene Charles Wittick Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Lamae Koogler, associate professor of hotel and restaurant management, received The Eugene Charles Wittick Teaching Excellence Award at the graduation ceremony.

The Eugene Charles Wittick Teaching Excellence Award honors those professors who have demonstrated outstanding teaching ability and who have had a major impact on the lives and careers of their students. Honorees have shown exceptional interest in their students, have set an example compatible with the goals of College of the Ozarks, and have attempted continually to improve their teaching.

Koogler has been a standout faculty member at the College for 10 years. She has an outstanding reputation as an excellent professor, as well as an expert in her field of hospitality management. She carries all the administrative responsibilities for her department and annually advises 50 to 60 students majoring in her department.

“Lamae Koolger is the perfect example of a servant leader,” said Eric Bolger, vice president for academic affairs and provost. “She is at the College for students, and does everything in her power to help, encourage, and train them. She has a big impact on their lives.”

Dr. David Parrish, associate professor of history, received The Mildred Letton Wittick Professional Achievement Award at the graduation ceremony.

The Mildred Letton Wittick Professional Achievement Award

Dr. David Parrish, associate professor of history, received The Mildred Letton Wittick Professional Achievement Award at the graduation ceremony.

The Mildred Letton Wittick Professional Achievement Award honors faculty members for their professional accomplishments, which may include research, publications, performance, creative productions, and service to professional organizations.

Dr. Parrish has been exceptionally productive professionally since joining the College in 2014. Most noteworthy is his publication of a book in 2017 titled “Jacobitism and anti-Jacobitism in the British Atlantic World, 1688-1727.” He also has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on related subjects. He is a significant international voice in his research field.

“Dr. Parrish mixes a commitment to developing as an effective classroom teacher with attention to expertise in his discipline,” said Eric Bolger, vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Students benefit from his thoughtful and intentional approach to teaching and his deep knowledge of history. He is a great mentor for our students.”