Cottey Welcomes Students for 135th Opening of School

The annual rite of fall begins as new students move to Cottey College and Nevada. First-year students begin arriving Friday, August 17, followed shortly thereafter by the arrival of the second-, third-, and fourth-year students on Sunday, August 19. The citizens of Nevada and surrounding communities are to be advised of the increase in pedestrian traffic on Austin Boulevard and are asked to exercise caution.

To help Nevada merchants extend greetings to the families and students, the College sent “Welcome Cottey” signs to every business in town. Businesses are encouraged to post the welcome signs in their storefronts or other prominent location.

Orientation activities will include a Cottey Community Partner Fair at the Franklin P. Norman Community Center, from 6-8 p.m., Saturday, August 18. The Partner Fair, which is funded by a grant through Missouri Campus Compact, allows students to become familiar with area businesses and churches as well as service organizations and clubs that would like to recruit students for volunteer opportunities, service learning projects, local internships, and undergraduate research. Businesses, churches, and civic organizations are encouraged to showcase their products and services through displays, promotional materials, samples, giveaways, and demonstrations.

For more information on Cottey volunteers and interns or to register for the 2018 Cottey Community Partner Fair, contact Renee Hampton, coordinator for career planning and experiential learning, at 667-6333, ext. 2184, or email rhampton@cottey.edu. The registration deadline is Wednesday, August 15, at 5 p.m.

Classes will begin on Tuesday, August 21.

Opening Convocation will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, in the Haidee and Allen Wild Center for the Arts Auditorium. Dr. Nyoko Muvangua, Cottey Class of 2001, will be the honored speaker at Opening Convocation.

Dr. Muvangua, born and raised in Namibia, focused on economics and philosophy as her areas of study at Cottey. After earning her Associate in Arts degree, Dr. Muvangua transferred to Smith College in Massachusetts where she earned her undergraduate degree in economics. In 2007, she earned her law degree, and in 2010, she earned a Ph.D. in legal philosophy.

In South Africa, the legal profession is divided into two branches: attorneys and advocates. An attorney is the first contact for legal advice and will refer a client to an advocate for specialized expertise in various areas of the law. Dr. Muvangua chose to become an advocate, and after completing her education, moved to Johannesburg where she worked as a legal researcher at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, which is the final court of appeals for constitutional matters. She was later admitted as an advocate of the High Court of South Africa. The High Court hears appeals from lower courts.

Dr. Muvangua received the Outstanding Young Alumna Award from the Cottey College Alumnae Association in 2016. Dr. Muvangua was recognized for her achievements in the legal system in South Africa.

Immediately following Dr. Muvangua’s address, students will participate in one of the oldest traditions on campus, the Signing of the Cottey Book.