The Lincoln School Project has been named a Rising Star award winner in the 2026 Ozarks Alive Rock Picking Awards, recognized for its early success and expected long-term impact on understanding and sharing the Ozarks region.
The local initiative was one of nine individuals and organizations chosen from more than 50 applicants. Dennis Lancaster of West Plains, retired chancellor of Missouri State University-West Plains, was among the judges who selected this year's recipients.
The awards recognize people and organizations working to preserve and share Ozarks culture, drawing their name from the tradition of “rock picking” fields familiar to many in the region.
“Ozarks Alive’s Rock Picking Awards were designed to recognize the individuals and groups doing impactful work to help us better understand our region’s culture,” said Kaitlyn McConnell, founder of Ozarks Alive. “I am thrilled with these honorees, who are making an impact on the region today and into the future.”
The 2026 winners will be recognized during Ozarks Alive’s Rock Picking Party on Nov. 15, at the Library Center’s Hatch Auditorium in Springfield.
“This event will recognize our 2026 honorees, but it’s also open to the public as a celebration of broader Ozarks culture,” McConnell said. “I hope people with an interest in the Ozarks will choose to attend, meet new friends and come away inspired by the work being done right here in our region.”
The awards program is supported by Century Bank of the Ozarks, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the Shepherd of the Hills and the Story House Bookstore.
Ozarks Alive is a cultural preservation project founded by McConnell in 2015 to document the people, places, history and culture of the Ozarks.
