FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2009

SUBJECT: COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS TO WELCOME GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN DECEMBER 2

            Governor Sarah Palin will speak on patriotism, citizenship and civic engagement at College of the Ozarks December 2, at 7 p.m. in the Keeter Gymnasium.  The prelude to the Leonard B. and Edith Gittinger Community Convocation featuring Governor 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.”

            Sarah Palin first made history on December 4, 2006 when she was sworn in as the first female governor of Alaska. In August 2008, Senator 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 Governor 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.

            Sarah Heath 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.

#                    #                    #