Update from College of the Ozarks: Tickets to attend the Sarah Palin Convocation at College of the Ozarks on December 2, are no longer available. The ticket line quickly filled, consuming all tickets available to the public. Due to limited seating, there was a cap on available tickets. “As a charismatic speaker and highly-interesting political figure, Sarah Palin attracts much public interest,” said Sue Head, Executive Director of The Keeter Center for Character Education. “Because of this, the College anticipated that tickets would go quickly.”

Governor Palin is slated to speak at College of the Ozarks December 2, as part of the Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger Community Convocation series, which was developed to attract renowned speakers to share on the topics of character, work ethic and citizenship with College of the Ozarks students and the community alike.

===============================

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin will speak on patriotism, citizenship and civic engagement at College of the Ozarks on Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Keeter Gymnasium. The prelude to the Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger Community Convocation featuring Palin will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The convocation is free and open to the public, but tickets are required to attend this event. Those seeking tickets may call (417) 690-2240. Tickets are limited, and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“Sarah Palin is a great example of an individual who became involved in her small town community and whose efforts and success eventually placed her in the national spotlight,” said Sue Head, executive director of The Keeter Center for Character Education. “We are looking forward to hosting her at the College.”

Palin first made history on Dec. 4, 2006 when she was sworn in as the first female governor of Alaska. In August 2008, Sen. John McCain tapped Palin to serve as his vice-presidential running mate in his presidential campaign, making her the first woman to run on the Republican Party's presidential ticket.

Palin has a long record of achievement and experience in public office. Prior to her election as Governor, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as the mayor of Wasilla. During her tenure, she reduced property tax levels while increasing services and made Wasilla a business-friendly environment, drawing in new industry.

Under her leadership as governor, Alaska invested $5 billion in state savings, overhauled education funding and protected Alaska's natural resources. She created Alaska's Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to provide oversight and maintenance of oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure and the Climate Change Subcabinet to prepare a climate change strategy for Alaska.

During Palin's first year in office, three of her administration's major, proposed pieces of legislation passed—an overhaul of the state's ethics laws, a competitive process to construct a natural gas pipeline and a restructuring of Alaska's oil valuation formula.

Palin arrived in Alaska with her family in 1964, when her parents came to teach school in Skagway. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications- Journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987. She is married to Todd Palin, who is a lifelong Alaskan, a production operator on the North Slope and a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world's longest snow-machine race. They have five children and one grandchild.