For many students who grow up amid poverty and addiction, college can feel distant or unattainable. For senior public relations major Madie Lewis, higher education was a lifelong dream that once seemed out of reach — until she discovered it was possible.
Lewis grew up navigating instability caused by addiction within her family and spent parts of her childhood moving between homeless shelters. As a freshman in high school, she entered the foster care system, learning to adapt to new homes, schools and expectations. While the experience was difficult, Lewis's faith in the Lord remained a constant source of strength.
“When I entered the foster care system, I already had a strong relationship with the Lord,” Lewis said. “His faithfulness and protection are what kept my joy and stability during that time.”
Despite her circumstances, Lewis never let go of her desire to attend college. That hope became tangible during her junior year of high school when she learned about College of the Ozarks.

“I had always wanted to go to college, but it never felt possible,” Lewis said. “I had no financial resources, and a four-year degree felt out of reach until I heard about College of the Ozarks.”
After learning about the College, Lewis scheduled a campus tour. What she expected to be an informational visit quickly became something more personal.
“I remember walking around campus and feeling an overwhelming sense of peace,” Lewis said. “It felt like home, and I knew God was leading me exactly where I needed to be.”
Motivated by that conviction, Lewis committed herself fully to the admissions process. She worked diligently to meet requirements, viewing each step as both an opportunity and a prayer.
“It was my ultimate goal,” Lewis said. “I worked endlessly and trusted the Lord to open the door if it was His will.”
That door opened in the summer of 2022, when Lewis arrived on campus as a student. Since then, College of the Ozarks has become more than a place of learning — it has become her community.
“The Lord placed the exact people I needed in my life here,” Lewis said. “From classmates and professors to work supervisors, they invited me into their lives and cared for me in ways that truly felt like family.”

As a first-generation college student, Lewis recognizes the significance of her journey. Lewis believes earning a degree is not only a personal achievement, but a step toward changing the trajectory of her family’s story.
“From a young age, I knew I wanted to change the path I was born into,” Lewis said. “I told myself that if I worked hard and relied on the Lord for strength, I could break a very broken cycle.”
Lewis credits College of the Ozarks’ commitment to its mission — and the people who carry it out — for helping students like her build a future rooted in purpose, hope, and hard work.
Now approaching graduation, Lewis remains passionate about sharing how God has guided her through each season of her life. She hopes her story will encourage others who have experienced foster care or instability to believe that their circumstances do not define their future.
“I wouldn’t change the life God has given me,” she said. “It shaped who I am and led me to the people I needed.”
Lewis will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and is preparing for life beyond campus. She plans to marry her fiancé, whom she met during her freshman year, and hopes to remain in the Branson area, where she can give back to the community that helped shape her journey.