The Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts (GOCSD) is proud to announce the upcoming Real World Rising Student Ambassador Summit, a first-of-its-kind regional gathering focused on elevating student voice and shaping the future of real-world learning across the Ozarks. The summit will take place Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Springfield campus of Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) in Lincoln Hall Room 211.
The event will bring together Greater Ozarks Real World Learning (GORWL) Student Ambassadors from districts across the region for a dynamic day of learning, collaboration and problem-solving. Students will participate in classroom showcases, career pathway tours, interactive learning sessions and conversations with local industry and community leaders, all designed to help them reflect on their educational experiences and offer meaningful insights on how schools can better connect learning to students’ future pathways. We are expecting nearly 70 elementary through high school students from across the region at this event!
“This summit amplifies the voices of students, the individuals most impacted by our educational systems,” said Dr. Pam Hedgpeth, GOCSD Executive Director. “Their ideas and perspectives are essential as we work with districts to strengthen the bridge between classroom learning and real-world opportunities.”
As part of the summit, student teams will develop a list of recommendations outlining what impactful real-world learning could look like in their home districts. GOCSD encourages each participating district to schedule follow-up conversations with their student teams to review these ideas, align them with strategic goals, and identify actionable next steps for advancing Real World Learning.