Ottawa University
OU Faculty Take Recruiting Efforts "On the Road"
OTTAWA, Kansas - Ottawa University's faculty and admissions representatives are taking their recruiting efforts "on the road" as part of the High School Partnership Program. Most recently, faculty have been visiting schools in the St. Louis, Missouri, area to conduct a variety of music, theatre and communications workshops in an effort to promote Ottawa University's fine and performing arts, "one of the hallmarks of reputable liberal arts institutions," according to Ina Agnew, director of new market development at OU.
In early January 2007, Choral Director and Assistant Music Professor Annette Oh made presentations at five schools and gave free private voice lessons to 15 students. Three full-tuition scholarships were awarded to students who auditioned during her visits.
Communications Division Chair Shannon Dyer took three students from the forensics team - Aaron Tank, Allison Small and Matthew Prihoda - to perform during her workshops in St. Louis schools in mid-January. In all, she and the students made presentations at three schools and performed in seven classes.
Orchestra Director and Assistant Music Professor Steve McDonald will be visiting St. Louis schools between January 30 and February 2. He is currently scheduled to present in four schools. Theatre Director Jeanne Chinn will be in the St. Louis area February 22-25 to make classroom presentations and participate in the Midwest Theatre Auditions. Previously, she attended the Colorado and Kansas Thespian Conferences where she attended auditions, met with prospective students, taught workshops, and promoted OU to community college professors.
During the OU workshops and presentations, students at conferences or schools are provided a variety of opportunities by the OU faculty, including private lessons, audition preparation tips, master class presentations, rehearsal participation, presentation skills information, and OU program and scholarship information.
"I'm so excited about these efforts," said Chinn. "It makes a real impact on students when the faculty themselves visit their schools and demonstrate what we have to offer here at Ottawa University."
Prior to the visits, Agnew contacts the schools and schedules workshops based on the schools' interests. Anyone wishing to host a workshop can contact Agnew at 314-583-3176, or email her at ina.agnew@ottawa.edu.
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Ottawa University's educational mission brings together a residential campus in Ottawa, Kansas, and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kansas; Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jeffersonville, Indiana; as well as multiple international instructional sites. For more information, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/.
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