Zoe Johnson of Carthage, Missouri, is crowned Miss Hard Work U. in the College of the Ozarks 2024 Homecoming Honors Ceremony on Oct. 31. Johnson is a senior nursing major.

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — Zoe Johnson of Carthage, Missouri, was chosen as Miss Hard Work U. during the College of the Ozarks 2024 Homecoming Honors Ceremony on Oct. 31. This year’s theme was Grateful Hearts Gather Here.

Johnson is a senior nursing major and works in the Armstrong McDonald Nursing Clinic as a medical assistant in the pharmacy. After graduating from College of the Ozarks, she plans to become a medical missionary overseas.

The top 10 Miss Hard Work U candidates join hands on stage during annual Homecoming Honors Ceremony.

Johnson’s court included first runner-up Abigail Mugabi, sophomore nursing major, of Kampala, Uganda, and Kigali, Rwanda. The second runner-up was Morgan Wood, senior accounting major, of Kearney, Missouri.

Thirty-nine C of O workstations nominated candidates for Miss Hard Work U. The candidates worked together to host “What Not to Wear,” an event serving female students at the College by providing tips on how to dress for different body types, skin tones, hair colors, and more. The event was sponsored by the Vanek Center for Vocation and Callings and included a free fashion consultation from Dillard’s personnel.

Votes by the student body determined the top 10 candidates from the workstation nominations. Then, the top five were selected based on a culmination assessment of the student body votes, essay responses, and panel interviews. These candidates answered questions onstage during the Honors Ceremony in front of judges and the student body. The judges crowned Miss Hard Work U. and her court based upon the previous culmination of scores and the impromptu Q & A. The top three received a scholarship for their outstanding representation of the College.