Ozarka College unveils academic mace

— Ozarka College administration announced the arrival and unveiling of a new college ceremonial artifact, the Ozarka College Academic Mace. An academic mace is a tradition for colleges and universities that dates back to the first universities founded in the Middle Ages. The mace symbolizes authority, learning and scholarship, history, reputation and values.

After options were discussed by Ozarka College leaders, the decision was made to commission a local artist to design and construct the mace. Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael DeLong led the planning and completion of the mace. Wright Pillow, wood-turning artisan and friend of the college who served as the primary architect and first executive director of the Arkansas Craft School, donated his craftsmanship toward the mace and stand.

Pillow, a retired theological educator and minister of education and pastor, admits he has always had an appreciation of things made of wood from the time he spent in his father’s wood shop.

He was introduced to wood turning at Arrowmont Craft School in Gatlinburg, Tenn., where he took courses in wood turning from Nick Cook and Bobby Clemmons, as well as several teachers at the Campbell Folk School.

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