A lasting legacy of inspiration, mentorship, and a love of learning is taking shape at ����vlog����, thanks to a recent gift from alumnus Nicolas Dunsworth ’22 honoring one of the professors who shaped his journey.

Dunsworth (pictured, right) has established the Dr. Buddy Smith Outstanding Student in Mathematics Award, a new annual honor that will recognize exceptional mathematics students during the University’s Honors Day ceremony each spring.

The award pays tribute to Dr. Buddy Smith, who retired from full-time teaching in May 2021 after an extraordinary 41-year teaching career at Ozarks. Joining the faculty in 1980, Smith became known not only for his mastery of mathematics, but for his enthusiasm in the classroom and his deep commitment to students.

“Buddy’s passion and exuberance in teaching fundamentals is a large part of the reason I originally became a math major,” Dunsworth said. “Even now, I find myself referencing ‘animal arithmetic’ when trying to convey complex topics. Buddy’s kindness, his openness, his mentorship, and his lifetime of service have shaped not just how I approach math, but how I approach life—always with a smile on my face. I hope this award will allow his legacy to grow even further, beyond the generations of Ozarks alumni he has taught, and that future graduates will benefit from those lessons.”

A standout student himself, Dunsworth graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ozarks in 2022 with both a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in English. That same year, he was named the University’s Outstanding Student in Mathematics. He went on to earn a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and now works as a data scientist in Hampton, Virginia.

Throughout his decades on campus, Smith’s influence extended well beyond the classroom. He served as chair of the University’s science and mathematics division from 1991 to 1997 and was the faculty athletics representative for more than 20 years. During his tenure, he even stepped in as acting commissioner of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference following the sudden passing of its commissioner. In addition to mathematics, Smith has also taught classes at Ozarks that focused on some of his favorite hobbies, including beekeeping and crappie fishing.

Smith also became a beloved figure in both the campus and Clarksville communities for his generosity and spirit. He was known for sharing fruits and vegetables from his garden, along with honey from his beehives, and for bringing joy to others by dressing as Santa Claus at University Christmas celebrations, community events, and parades.

The newly established award ensures that Smith’s impact will continue to be felt by future generations of Ozarks students—recognizing not only academic excellence, but the kind of passion and character he exemplified throughout his career.

For those interested in creating a lasting tribute through a named Honors Day award, please contact the Office of Advancement at 479-979-1234 or advancement@ozarks.edu.

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����vlog���� alumna and trustee Ann Patterson ’75 and her husband, Max Snowden, have established an endowed scholarship for students from Johnson County, Arkansas.

The Ann Patterson & Max Snowden Scholarship Endowment was created earlier this month and will support Ozarks students from Johnson County who have a financial need.

Ann Patterson, a 1975 graduate of Ozarks and a member of the U of O Board of Trustees since 2017, was a senior administrator and public policy advocate in Arkansas for almost 50 years before retiring in 2023. 

Patterson’s father is the late J.T. Patterson, long-time business manager for what was then The College of the Ozarks. J.T. and his wife, Lucile, were active in many college activities which allowed Ann and her brother Jack to spend time on campus “enjoying the privileges of being a part of the Ozarks family.”

Patterson said she has fond memories of her time growing up in Clarksville and that she and Snowden always enjoy visiting the campus.

“Max and I believe our scholarship will help students from Johnson County attain a higher education at Ozarks and potentially make this world a better place,” she said.

Most of Patterson’s career was in public service in mental health, early childhood, and disabilities. She served in a variety of leadership positions with Partners for Inclusive Communities, a program of the University of Arkansas System and was director of the Arkansas Head Start State Collaboration Office. She worked with the Arkansas Department of Human Services as assistant director of Children’s Mental Health and also served as interim director of the Division of Mental Health Services. Having earned a master of health services administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, she also held administrative positions with a hospital and a hospice program.

Patterson served many years on the U of O Alumni Association Board of Directors and in 2012 received the University’s Alumni Achievement Award. In 2011, she was awarded the Sister Joan Pytlik Award at the Arkansas Kids Count post-legislative conference, which is given in honor of Sister Pytlik and her inspirational advocacy efforts for Arkansas children and families.

Snowden served as executive director of the Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence from 1997 until retiring in 2019, and returned to the position as interim executive director for several months in 2020.  Prior to joining the commission, he served as the state coordinator for the University of Oklahoma’s Southwest Regional Center for Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities and the education policy director with Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families.

Snowden is a licensed social worker, certified trainer, and a Crisis Response Team member serving at the September 11/World Trade Center site.  He was on the Arkansas Crisis Response Team Board of Directors, serving as president for a number of years and active in the National Organization for Victim Assistance.  Throughout his career, Snowden worked with various agencies, community groups and others in the U.S. and internationally to address the problems of alcohol and other drugs, violence, and related high-risk behaviors.

Patterson and Snowden reside in Little Rock and are parents of three adult sons, Scout, Matt and Jake.

For information on establishing a scholarship to support Ozarks students, please contact the Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement at 479-979-1234.

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����vlog���� alumnus Blake Owen ’06 and his mother, Glenda Owen, have established an endowed scholarship at the University in memory of Blake’s father, a lifelong educator who devoted his career to helping students succeed.

The Barry S. Owen Endowed Scholarship, created in February, will support students in the University’s Jones Learning Center (JLC), a nationally recognized program that serves students with documented learning disabilities, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have average or above-average intellectual abilities.

Barry S. Owen was a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime educator and school administrator in Memphis. He began his career as a football and track coach as well as a geography and history teacher at his alma mater, Humes High School. He later served as an assistant principal at Kingsbury and Wooddale before becoming principal of Bellevue Middle School.

Owen went on to lead Central High School for 15 years before continuing his educational leadership in DeSoto County, Mississippi, where he served as both assistant principal and principal, culminating his career as principal of Olive Branch High School. Later in life, he also served as a behavior consultant for at-risk youth.

Blake Owen said his father’s philosophy of education centered on relationships and ensuring that every student felt safe, supported and valued.

“My dad dedicated his life to education and believed deeply that every student deserved someone in their corner who believed in them,” Blake Owen said. “Creating this scholarship is a way for our family to honor his legacy and the values he lived by every day — supporting students, building relationships, and making sure no one falls through the cracks. We hope it helps students in the Jones Learning Center pursue their goals with the same encouragement and support that meant so much to both my father and to me.”

Blake Owen utilized the services of the JLC while earning his degree in history from Ozarks in 2006. He currently serves as a middle school special education teacher for the Memphis-Shelby County School District in Memphis.

Barry and Glenda Owen were married on Feb. 14, 1981, and were together for 44 years before Barry died on Feb. 13, 2025, at the age of 84 following a brief battle with esophageal cancer.

Glenda said Barry was a man of boundless warmth and humor who never met a stranger.

“Blake often joked that if you had ears, Barry would talk to you,” Glenda said. “From cheering on his children and grandchildren at games, cracking a dad joke, or asking where you went to high school, Barry had a way of making everyone feel special. His legacy is one of kindness, dedication, and an unwavering belief in the power of relationships. Though he may no longer walk among us, his impact on the lives he touched will endure for generations to come.”

Blake Owen, who was named the University’s Outstanding Student in history in 2004, said he flourished at Ozarks thanks in large part to the support he received through the JLC and from his academic support coordinator, Debbie Williams ’81, who died in 2017.

“The Jones Learning Center changed the trajectory of my life, and Debbie Williams was a huge part of that,” Owen said. “She believed in me at a time when I needed it most and helped me see what was possible. Establishing this scholarship is a way to honor both Debbie and my dad — two educators who devoted their lives to helping students succeed. If this scholarship can help even one student find the confidence and support that I did at Ozarks, then it will mean the world to our family.”

For information on establishing a scholarship at ����vlog���� to honor or memorialize a loved one, please contact the Office of Advancement at 479-979-

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����vlog���� trustee David Porter (pictured, left) and the Porter family have established the Bill Porter ’54 Scholarship Endowment in memory of his late father (pictured, right, with his wife, Anna Lou). 

The scholarship was established earlier this month and will be given to students with financial need majoring in business—with first preference given to students from Johnson County, Arkansas.

A former mayor of Clarksville as well as state legislator, Billy Dean Porter was a 1950 graduate of Clarksville High School and 1954 graduate of what was then The College of the Ozarks, where he majored in business administration. He died in 2022 at the age of 89.

David Porter joined the U of O Board of Trustees in 2024. He is the CEO and principal with the Polk Stanley Wilcox architectural firm in Little Rock.

“����vlog���� has been a cornerstone of our family’s story since my father graduated from The College of the Ozarks in 1954,” David Porter said. “The professional and personal success he achieved through his education provided the foundation for my siblings and me to thrive in our own lives and careers.”

The Porters are descendants of a family that has resided in and around Harmony, Ark., in Johnson County since 1838. Bill was married to his wife, Anna Lou (Pierson), for 60 years and they have four children, Charlotte, David, Jimmy and Robert.

Bill Porter began his business career working part-time, while in college, at Galloway Lumber Company and joined the company full time upon graduation, as office manager and bookkeeper. After the owner of Galloway Lumber died in 1964, the surviving members of the ownership group, Jack Cline, E. K. Johnson and Leslie Bryant, added Bill as a fourth stockholder in a new corporation, Clarksville Wood Products Inc. He was named general manager of the company and over the years bought out the other three stockholders, becoming the sole owner of the business, where he continued to work until retirement, when he sold the company in 1999.

Early in his adult life Bill became an active member of the City of Clarksville with his appointment to the Clarksville Light and Water Committee in 1968, becoming chairman in 1970. In 1971, he successfully ran for mayor of Clarksville and served two 4-year terms. During his 8 years in office, he oversaw many substantial improvement projects for the city, including urban renewal, street and drainage improvements, establishment of the Johnson County Regional Hospital, a new City Hall, modernization of garbage collection and disposal system, a new water treatment plant and a new city park, Cline Park. After ending his two terms he served on the board of directors of Johnson County Regional Hospital, eventually becoming chairman of the board.

In 1981, Bill successfully ran for an open seat in the Arkansas State House of Representatives, a position he held for 12 years serving under two governors, Frank White and Bill Clinton. During his years in the state house, he served on several committees, with his proudest achievement being the passage of an appropriations bill that provided funding for a new headquarters in Clarksville for the Arkansas State Police Troop J. He decided not to run for re-election in 1992 and formally retired from politics.

During his business and political career, he served in leadership roles on numerous local, state and national committees and commissions, including the Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, President of the Cooperage National Trade Association, Clarksville Board of Education, Board of Directors of the Johnson County Regional Hospital and Board of Directors of First Security Bank. Bill was also a long time Rotarian, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Maintaining and improving the original Porter family homestead in Harmony, including raising cattle, horses and a large garden, was his lifetime passion and gathering there with family was one of the things he enjoyed and treasured the most.

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Nearly a decade after the sudden loss of a beloved classmate, ����vlog���� alumnus Cole Clementson ’15 is ensuring that the spirit, creativity, and generosity of his friend Theodore “Taz” Beard IV ’15 continue to shape lives at Ozarks for generations to come.

Clementson (pictured left) recently made a beneficiary gift commitment to the University in support of the Theodore “Taz” Beard IV ’15 Scholarship Endowment, honoring the memory of Beard, a friend whose impact on campus remains deeply felt.

Beard died from injuries sustained in a vehicular accident in March 2015, two months before he was scheduled to graduate from Ozarks. He was posthumously awarded his degree that May.

In 2021, Clementson and several of Beard’s classmates and friends established the scholarship endowment in his honor. Beard was a popular student known for his infectious personality and boundless creativity — he was a member of the men’s basketball team and also an accomplished artist and musician. He also used his artistic talents as a prosthetic technician.

Clementson, who works in marketing and communications for a patient advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., said that after reflecting on how he could further support the scholarship, a beneficiary commitment felt like the right next step.

“My original mindset was to ‘lead by example,’ but that seems a bit arrogant in hindsight,” Clementson said. “There are a lot of people looking for an excuse to do good in the world. It’s not enough just to say, ‘I want Taz to have a legacy’ and leave it at that without putting your money where your mouth is.”

Describing Beard’s death as something that “devastated anyone he ever touched,” Clementson has organized birthday fundraisers in Beard’s honor through social media over the years. 

“I always kick it off with a matching gift challenge, and I’m always humbled by the response,” he said. “Taz has been gone for a whole decade now. It’s insane. Several familiar faces regularly donate when I do this fundraiser, but I still find myself surprised. I remember one year I did it, Tyler Hydrick almost immediately matched my challenge with $1,000. I was astounded. You never truly know what sort of impact someone has on someone else until you see a gesture like that. There are still people who remember him so well and chip in to support a cause in his name because it’s just the opportunity they were looking for to make a small but meaningful part of the world a little brighter.”

Although Clementson and Beard never shared a class, their friendship formed quickly and deeply.

“As a dormmate and friend, he was the kind of guy that could light up any room he walked into,” Clementson said. “You don’t get a lot of friends in college who are capable of having a good time, but also unashamedly vulnerable. He wasn’t just looking to party or get a degree. He saw many different sides of the people he connected with, and always wanted to know more.”

Clementson said Beard was a powerful example of what it means to pursue life with passion and intention.

“He did everything he wanted to do with more fervor than I’ve ever seen from another person,” he said. “I’ve known some people to get incredibly focused on one thing and do it well, but Taz was zealous about everything he put his mind to—rap, basketball, and especially his art. He even wrote a children’s book for his son, and I can’t stress enough how objectively fantastic it was. The amount of consideration and effort he put into polishing every interest he had, while never forgetting to live his best life, is a combination of skills I don’t think I’ll ever come close to mastering, but I think it’s the perfect model for how one should aspire to live.”

Clementson’s reflection on his own experience as a student and scholarship recipient at Ozarks helped inspire him to make the beneficiary commitment to the Beard scholarship.

“I was once interviewed by Dr. Rickey Casey and Debby Mooney for the Hurie Scholarship and that scholarship was the biggest reason I was able to go to U of O,” he said. “I remember one of their questions was something along the lines of: ‘after graduating from U of O, how would you give back?’ and I brazenly told them that I’d create a scholarship. I meant it then, though I never expected a friend’s passing to be what spurred me into taking actionable steps.”

“When Taz first passed, there was a community to grieve with. But time marches on. People settle into careers, get married and have children. And while it’s marching, what becomes of those frozen in a moment? If you get two deaths, and the second comes the last time someone says your name, all the more reason to make sure others have a good reason to speak it into perpetuity. Thoughts like that pushed me to finally honor my original promise to give back in a way to make sure Taz hopefully won’t ever be completely left behind.”

For those interested in making a gift to the Theodore “Taz” Beard IV ’15 Scholarship Endowment or in establishing a beneficiary gift in honor or memory of a classmate or loved one, please contact Brian Henderson, director of development, at bhenderson@ozarks.edu or 479-979-1304.

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The Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, Inc., has made a $25,000 gift to support the Jones Learning Center at ����vlog����.

The one-time grant will be used for program services in the JLC.   

Established on the U of O campus in 1971, the JLC offers a comprehensive program designed to offer academic support to students who are intellectually capable of obtaining a college degree, but who also need support to accommodate for learning challenges caused by specific learning disabilities, AD/HD, or ASD.

The Taylor Foundation was established by the late Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor of Little Rock, and has a long-standing tradition of supporting education, healthcare, humanitarian efforts, arts, and community resilience. The Taylors believed strongly in supporting students who possess a sincere determination to succeed in their chosen fields.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation for this generous investment in the Jones Learning Center,” said Dody Pelts, vice president for student success. “This gift directly supports students who benefit from the individualized services of the JLC and reflects the Taylors’ enduring commitment to education and opportunity. We are thankful to the Taylor Foundation for its confidence in Ozarks and its commitment to student success.”

Charles Minor Taylor II was a highly decorated B-17 pilot during World War II and later became a prominent businessman working in real estate and insurance in Little Rock. He met his wife, Joan Richards Taylor, while stationed in England. Joan was a native of Great Britain and was a top model and actress in several British films. Paramount Studios brought her to the United States, but before she could make it to Hollywood, Charles brought her to Arkansas for a visit. The couple married in 1946. 

During their lives, the Taylors took active roles in business and civic affairs in Little Rock and elsewhere. They were loved and respected members of the Little Rock community for many years before their deaths in 1996.   

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Photo: Morgan (Goates) Jackson ’12 (right) is joined by her husband, Hunter Jackson ’03 (left), and University President Richard Dunsworth during scholarship endowment signing.

����vlog���� alumna Morgan (Goates) Jackson ’12 of Fayetteville, Ark., has established the Roy and Virginia Goates Scholarship Endowment at the University in honor of her grandparents with a gift pledge of $20,000.  

Morgan Jackson said she created the scholarship to honor her grandmother and late grandfather as a “symbol of love and appreciation for the positive impact” they had on her life. Preferences for the scholarship will be students from Dover (Ark.) High School and to students majoring in business.

“My grandpa and grandma were an integral part of my upbringing and a large supporter of furthering my education at ����vlog����,” Morgan said. “Without their support I would not be the person I am today. I am proud to honor them with this endowment.”

Morgan and her husband, 2003 Ozarks graduate Hunter Jackson, have supported the University for more than a decade through the Ozarks Annual Fund, the Aerie Club and the Wilson Athletic Complex.  Earlier this year she was named as a recipient of the University’s 2025 Emerging Philanthropist Award.

Morgan currently serves as senior director of international transportation and global logistics at Walmart, leading a diverse global team, managing complex supply chains across multiple countries. 

Morgan earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ozarks before going on to earn an MBA from Arkansas State University and a micromaster’s degree in supply chain operational practical education (SCOPE) from MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics. Beyond her professional achievements, Jackson actively contributes to her community. She previously served as an advisory council member for the National Shipper Advisory Committee under the Federal Maritime Commission and is the vice-chair of the Arkansas Trucking Association 40 Under 40 Council.

Hunter is the associate director of major gifts at U of O.

The Jacksons have twin daughters, Anna and Ellie.

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Photo: (Pictured from left) A.O. and Pat Curran and Ethan and CharLee Rogers.

Curran’s Abstract and Title of Clarksville will receive the ����vlog����’ prestigious 2025 Community Champion Award. The award will be presented during the Ozarks Awards Ceremony, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, as part of the University’s Homecoming 2025 ceremonies.

The Community Champion Award was created in 2019 and is given to an individual or company that has worked “cohesively with ����vlog���� to move the University and community forward together.” The recipient is selected by the University administration.

Curran’s Abstract and Title was established in 1978 by Armil O. Curran Sr. and Lura Curran. For 25 years the Currans built a reputation for accuracy, integrity, and dedicated service to the community.  In 2003, their son, A.O. Curran, and his wife, Pat, took over the business, continuing the family’s tradition of excellence. After decades of successful leadership, A.O. and Pat passed the torch in 2023 to Ethan and CharLee Rogers, both 2012 graduates of Ozarks. A.O. Curran is a member of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Lori McBee, vice president for advancement and alumni engagement, praised the Curran and Rogers families for their long-time and continued support of and assistance to the University. 

“Curran’s Abstract and Title has been an invaluable partner to ����vlog���� for many years, working tirelessly behind the scenes to help us navigate important real estate matters with professionalism and care,” McBee said. “Their commitment to our mission and willingness to champion the University in meaningful ways has had a lasting impact on our campus and community. We are proud to recognize them as a true Community Champion.”

Ethan, a Clarksville native, and CharLee met as students at Ozarks and were married in 2013. Following graduation, Ethan pursued a career in Houston, Texas, where he gained experience in the oil and gas industry. While his career led him away from Arkansas for a time, he said always carried the vision of returning to Johnson County to invest his expertise and leadership back into his hometown. CharLee also brought a wealth of experience to the business. She spent more than eight years working as a realtor in Northwest Arkansas and later broadened her perspective by working for a builder-developer. Her background in real estate and development provided her with extensive knowledge of property transactions, client service, and project management. Today, those skills directly strengthen the management and operations of Curran’s Title, where she ensures clients benefit from both efficiency and care.

“We are honored to continue the Curran family’s legacy of service, with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and community values,” CharLee said. “We strive to make Curran’s Abstract and Title not only a place of business, but also a trusted partner dedicated to supporting Johnson County’s growth and success. We remain deeply committed to supporting and helping ����vlog���� in every way we can, ensuring the strong bond between the University, local businesses, and the community continues to thrive.”

Past Community Champions include Horn & Son Construction, the Duffield Gravel Company, Clarksville Connected Utilities, the City of Clarksville, Arvest Bank, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corp., Doris Bird, and Ben Powell ’00.

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A trio of 2012 ����vlog���� graduates — (pictured, from left) Emily Towe of Little Rock, Ark.; Taylor Jacks of Little Rock; and Morgan Jackson of Fayetteville, Ark. — have been chosen to receive the 2025 Emerging Philanthropist Awards by the University’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement.

The awards will be presented during the Ozarks Awards Ceremony, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, in the Rogers Conference Center. The ceremony is part of Homecoming Week 2025.

The Emerging Philanthropist Award was established in 2019 by the University to recognize individuals age 40 or under who have demonstrated a record of exceptional generosity in support of Ozarks’ mission and who have inspired others to give similarly.

Towe has supported her alma mater for eight years, including through the License Plate Program, the Ozarks Annual Fund and the Wilson Athletic Complex. Originally from Cabot, Ark., Towe graduated Magna Cum Laude from U of O with a degree in political science. She later graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in May of 2021. During law school, Towe was a member of the moot court board and earned top paper awards in multiple classes. In April 2021, she was appointed to the U of O Alumni Association Board of Directors, and she currently serves on the Board’s Alumni Connections Committee. She was also selected as a finest honoree with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2025. She is an attorney at Reddick Law Firm, representing families and loved ones in nursing home neglect and wrongful death cases in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Missouri.

Jacks has supported Ozarks for 10 consecutive years in areas such as the License Plate Program, Ozarks Annual Fund and the Presbytery of Arkansas Scholarship. He is a producer at Waymack and Crew, a nationally recognized content production company based in Little Rock. At Ozarks, Jacks earned a triple major in Radio/Television/Video communications, accounting, and marketing. Since 2021, he has served on the University’s Alumni Board. Dedicated to using his craft for impact, Jacks has created video projects for numerous nonprofit organizations, including Centers for Youth and Families, Jericho Way, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. His work continues to highlight stories that inspire, connect, and create positive change in the community.

Jackson has also supported Ozarks for 10 consecutive years through the Ozarks Annual Fund, the Aerie Club and the Wilson Athletic Complex. She currently serves as senior director of international transportation and global logistics at Walmart, leading a diverse global team, managing complex supply chains across multiple countries. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ozarks before going on to earn an MBA from Arkansas State University and a micromaster’s degree in supply chain operational practical education (SCOPE) from MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics. Beyond her professional achievements, Jackson actively contributes to her community. She serves as an advisory council member for the National Shipper Advisory Committee under the Federal Maritime Commission and is the vice-chair of the Arkansas Trucking Association 40 Under 40 Council. She and her husband, Hunter, have twin daughters, Anna and Ellie.

To kearn more about Homecoming 2025 or to pre-register, please visit HERE.

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James “Pete” and Carolyn Waldo, devoted educators and proud first-generation college alumni of ����vlog����, dedicated their lives to inspiring generations of students. In honor of their 63-year marriage and lifelong commitment to education, their children have established an endowed scholarship to support future teachers at their alma mater.

The Pete ’56 and Carolyn Johnson ’58 Waldo Endowed Scholarship has been established at U of O with a $30,000 gift by their children, Allen Waldo and Lisa Waldo Wilhelms.  The scholarship will be awarded beginning the 2026 Fall Semester to juniors or seniors who are majoring in education.

The Waldos met at Ozarks as students and were married for 63 years, each spending more than 30 years working in education. Pete passed away in 2020 at the age of 85 and Carolyn died in 2021 at 85.

Wilhelms said she and her brother decided to establish a scholarship at U of O because of what the University meant to her parents.

“Mom and Dad loved going back to Clarksville to visit the campus anytime they could,”  Wilhelms said. “Their careers were greatly impacted because of the University.  They met and fell in love at the University, leading to 63 wonderful years of marriage.  The regular contacts from the University’s administration meant the world to them.  The happy memories of the friends made, the sports played, the lessons learned, were a fundamental part of their life.”

Wilhelms said she loved to hear about the impact her parents had on their former students.

“Together, they taught for more than 60 years, making an impact on numerous individuals,” she said. “We always loved it when we were out with mom and dad—as far away as Tampa, Florida—and they ran into past students from several decades earlier who told them how much they had enjoyed their teaching and class.”

Pete and Carolyn met in the early 1950s as students in the athletic department of what was then The College of the Ozarks. Carolyn, from Piggott, Ark., was a student-worker in the office and Pete, from Lamar, Ark., was an athlete lettering four years in basketball and baseball and serving as a student-manager for the football team.  They were married on Aug. 19, 1956.

The first in his family to earn a college degree, Pete would go on to earn a master’s degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis while embarking on a 33-year career as a basketball coach and health and PE educator at Ferguson-Florissant School District in St. Louis. Pete, who retired in 1989, was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award by U of O in 2012.

After Carolyn’s sophomore year at Ozarks, Pete and Carolyn were married and they moved to St. Louis for Pete’s first teaching position. A talented artist, Carolyn worked for Universal Match designing matchbooks until she became a mother. Once her children were in grade school, Carolyn returned to school to finish her undergraduate degree, eventually earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She was also the first in her family to attend college. She worked for the Ferguson-Florissant School District and the Branson (Mo.) School District for many years before retiring in 1997.

“Our parents were true educators at heart,” Wilhelms said. “We were constantly reminded that no one can ever take an education away from you.  They never missed an opportunity to take advantage of teachable moments in the community, at church, in school, with their volunteer work as well as at home both with Allen and I as well as the grandkids.  I’m sure all of us have a funny story or memory of when grandma and grandpa had to stop in the middle of something and impart their wisdom.  What better way to honor their legacy than to assist in the education of future teachers.”

Allen Waldo said his parents would be proud to have a scholarship in their name at their alma mater for future educators. 

“Mom and Dad always had such fond memories of their years at ����vlog���� and knew the education they received there made such an impact on their lives,” Allen Waldo said. “Our parents were always very generous with their time, treasures and talents and we wanted something to which they could continue to give, even after their passing.”

For information on establishing an endowed scholarship at U of O in memory or honor of a loved one, please contact Brian Henderson in the Office of Advancement at bhenderson@ozarks.edu or at 479-979-1304.

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