POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — Former Vice President Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States, is the fourth featured speaker to be announced by College of the Ozarks as part of The National Symposium on Patriotic Education, to be held via livestream Sept. 16-17.

The purpose of the Symposium, which is hosted by The William S. Knight Center for Patriotic Education at College of the Ozarks, is to revive historic American values and virtue on the eve of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. Pence joins other speakers, including Dr. Ben Carson, former United States Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House press secretary, and Edward Graham, assistant to the vice president of Programs and Government Relations for Samaritan’s Purse.

To register, visit: https://cofo.edu/nspe

“There are many who talk about what is wrong with America,” said College President Jerry C. Davis. “At C of O, we believe there is much that is right with our country. We intend to take a leadership role in patriotic education by helping students of all ages learn about liberty, sacrifice, free enterprise, and service. Respect for these critical building blocks of our nation has eroded, and we intend to help restore that respect.”

In 2000, Pence launched a successful bid for his local congressional seat, entering the United States House of Representatives at the age of 40.  His colleagues unanimously elected him to serve as chairman of the House Republican Study Committee and House Republican Conference Chairman. In this role, Pence worked to make government’s role smaller, effectively reduce spending, and return power to state and local governments.

In 2013, Pence left the nation’s capital when Hoosiers elected him the 50th governor of Indiana.  As governor of Indiana, Pence increased school funding, expanded school choice, and created the first state-funded Pre-K plan in Indiana history. He made career and technical education a priority in every high school.

Former President Donald Trump selected Pence as his running mate in July 2016. After winning the votes of the American people, they entered office on January 20, 2017.