Tri-Lakes Education Briefs
- Submitted to Branson Globe
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Branson Schools
Branson Schools: Students, staff and community spotlights
Branson High School’s Educators Rising students secured two first place wins and two second place wins during their first year of competing.
Branson High School and Branson Junior High Foreign Language Departments competed against eleven other Missouri schools in the Warrensburg Annual World Language Competition. Our students representing Spanish took first place overall! Students competing in French also achieved many great individual placements.
Students in Buchanan Intermediate’s Pirate Challenge gifted program created a portrait of Superintendent Dr. Swofford using only Rubik’s Cubes!
The Branson Junior High Speech and Debate Team competed in the Fair Grove Speech and Debate Tournament and secured third place overall with several individual achievements.
Congratulations to our Golf Pirates who finished second at the 2025 Reeds Spring Invitational with a team score of 317!
This was the year for the 56th Annual Kindergarten Circus! Music teacher Timothy Wright produced this year’s circus at both Buchanan Elementary and Cedar Ridge Primary. “Following the performance, we have been reviewing and discussing our performance, while watching a recording of the circus during class,” said Wright. “This is my favorite part, as the students get to watch excitedly and celebrate all of their hard work paying off!”
Our gifted junior high students had an incredible trip to the Capitol, where they learned about the bill-making process, attended a House debate, and enjoyed a private tour of the building. They also had the chance to meet several individuals involved in gifted education.
Branson High School Student Council will serve as President of the Missouri Association of Student Councils for the 2025-2026 school year. The MASC State Convention will be hosted at Branson High School during spring 2026. BHS STUCO Advisor Todd Koon was named the 2025 MASC High School Advisor of the Year.
Congratulations to the Basketball Pirates that received post-season honors!
Former Branson High School Baseball Coach Steve Lael was honored during opening weekend. Head Coach Kirk Harryman presented him with a bat and ball. Coach Lael’s first pitch of the season was a strike!
Our thanks to Skaggs Foundation for their generosity and support of our schools!
College of the Ozarks
College of the Ozarks hosts Spring 2025 Career Expo
College of the Ozarks hosted 124 organizations during the spring Career Expo on April 2, 2025, in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex. The Vanek Center for Vocation & Callings hosts this biannual event with the primary goal of providing an atmosphere where students can begin securing internships, employment, or graduate school admissions.
The organizations in attendance included an array of employers and graduate schools located in the Ozarks region and beyond. Organizations from the following areas of study attended: accounting, marketing, hospitality, nursing, engineering, agriculture, computer science and numerous others. Some of the businesses in attendance included Sky Ranch, Big Cedar, Branson Bank, Silver Dollar City Theme Park and Beachner Grain.
College of the Ozarks to host First Responder Appreciation Day, April 11
College of the Ozarks will honor the unwavering dedication and bravery of local first responders at the 2025 First Responder Appreciation Day on Friday, April 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. The event will take place on the College campus and is open to the public.
The event will feature a parade of emergency vehicles beginning at the main entrance of the College and concluding at the Hook Activity Center, where the formal program will take place. Following the procession, an award ceremony and reception will take place in the Hook Activity Center, where attendees can enjoy refreshments and camaraderie.
The keynote address will be delivered by Branson Fire Chief Ted Martin, a proud alumnus of College of the Ozarks. Additional remarks will be given by Dr. Marci Linson, Vice President of Vocational Activities and Dean of Administration.
Hollister Schools
Hollister Tiger Theatre Company presents ‘Seussical: The Musical’
The Hollister Tiger Theatre Company invites the community to their Spring Musical production of “Seussical: The Musical,” a vibrant and imaginative show perfect for the entire family!
Performance dates and times: Friday, April 11 – 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 12 – 2 to 4:30 p.m.; and 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 13 – 2 to 4:30 p.m. Hollister High School Auditorium. Admission is $8 for students and $12 for adults. Tickets sold at the door only. Cash only. No presales.
Hollister Winter Guard and Winds conclude season with strong performance
The Hollister Winter Guard and Winter Winds wrapped up their 2025 competitive season with outstanding performances at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) Championships held on March 29 at Ozark High School. The event featured more than 100 groups from across four states.
The Hollister Winter Guard competed in the Scholastic AA division and placed sixth.
The Hollister Winter Winds earned top honors as the Winds Scholastic A Silver Medalist, showcasing the group’s continued excellence and growth.
Reeds Spring Schools
Reeds Spring Elementary School Learners of the Month
Second grade, left to right: Aiden Morey, Hope Wolfe, Declan Pemberton, Bennick Bittle, Ronald Vanhooser, Lulu Conner, Titus Smith (Photo submitted)
Third grade, left to right: Harley Wilken, Maelinn Harmon, Jacob Welton, Harper Utt, Hannah Dempsey, Otis Cortez (Photo submitted)
Fourth grade, left to right: Hudson Birlew, Isaiah Littleton, Rockell Bailey, Kamden Tyler, Zane Bizal (Photo submitted)
Reeds Spring senior recognized for academics
Reeds Spring High School senior Joel Keithley has earned an Honorable Mention in the Missouri Scholars 100 Program. This initiative recognizes outstanding academic achievement and honors Missouri’s top 100 graduating students.
Schools across the state nominate students. To qualify, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.750, a minimum ACT score of 29, rank in the upper ten percent of their class, and be enrolled in high-level mathematics, science, English and foreign language courses. Good attendance, citizenship and participation in school activities are also essential.
Reeds Spring Winter Guard impresses at state
Winter Guard performed at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association State Championship, earning an impressive eighth-place finish.
Alongside the students’ incredible achievement, parents Renee and Kevin Waters were recognized with the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award!
Third Reeds Spring robotics team invited to world championship
A Reeds Spring Middle School robotics team has received an at-large bid to the world championship. Asher Williams, Nate Waters and Jameson Staugaard will join two other RS Robotics teams in Texas for the VEX IQ Robotics World Championships in May!
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