SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Dec. 14, 2023 —Drury University will offer free admission to current and retired law enforcement officers, and a guest, during two basketball games at the O’Reilly Family Event Center on Tuesday, December 19. The special Law Enforcement Appreciation Night is a way to show support and thank officers from area agencies.
“We’re excited to host the brave men and women who serve and protect our communities every day,” said James Ackerman, Senior Associate Vice President for Drury GO. “We hope to see and meet officers from all across the region to have some fun and learn about all that Drury GO has to offer.”
Drury GO has a long-standing relationship with members of law enforcement. In 2021 the Badge to Bachelor’s scholarship program was launched to help support law enforcement officers and their families. Badge to Bachelor’s is a degree completion program designed to give law enforcement officers pathways and resources to continue their college education through Drury GO. Included in these resources is a $500-$600 renewable scholarship per semester that can be used by the officer and any of their dependents.
“Not only do we offer the Badge to Bachelor’s scholarship, but Drury is also home to the Drury University Law Enforcement Academy,” said Ackerman. “We offer full-time and part-time opportunities for professional training to those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.”
In May, Drury GO launched a mirror Law Enforcement Academy in the West Plains area, providing access to training alongside students on the Springfield campus. Since its inception, Drury has seen record enrollment within the academy and became the sole provider of law enforcement academy training in a nine-county region.
Applications are now open for the spring 2024 Law Enforcement Academy that begins on January 16. More information about the academy and the Badge to Bachelor’s scholarship will be available at the upcoming basketball games.
The men’s team will play Southern Arkansas University at 4 p.m., and the women will play Missouri Southern University at 6 p.m. Law enforcement officers must show their credentials at the gate to enter.
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Media Contact: Jasmine Cooper, Executive Director of University Communications and Media Relations, Office: (417) 873-7390, Email: JCooper020@drury.edu
