SPRINGFIELD, Mo., December 16, 2023 — On Saturday, December 16th, Drury University held a commencement ceremony for 162 students and on Thursday, December 14th, 29 students graduated from the Drury University Law Enforcement Academy, bringing the week’s graduation total to 191.
Commencement celebrates an important and special milestone for graduates of all Drury programs including, evening and online program, Drury GO, the College of Graduate Studies and the traditional residential day school. During the 2023 winter commencement ceremonies there were 124 graduates from Drury GO (including 29 from the Law Enforcement Academy), 46 graduates from day school and 21 graduates earning a master’s degree.
Reconciliation, change & hope
Former Drury President Todd Parnell ‘69 served as commencement speaker.
“This is about a Drury University liberal arts education, like the one that you’ve earned and we celebrate today,” Parnell told graduates. “It will serve you well over the years, I promise you that.”
Parnell, a 1969 Drury graduate, retired as Drury’s President in 2013 after serving in the role since 2007. He is the co-founder and retired CEO of THE BANK in Springfield, MO; civic leader; award winning author inducted into the Missouri Writers Hall of Fame in 2012; environmental advocate as co-founder of the Upper White River Basin Foundation and retired Chair of the Missouri Clean Water Commission; and an eighth generation native of the Ozarks.
During commencement he spoke to graduates about reconciliation, change and hope, echoing back to his inauguration speech from April of 2008, as he became Drury’s 16th president.
“I think reconciliation, change and hope are just as relevant today and the world you inherit,” he said. “How will you reconcile differences? How will you embrace change? How will you share hope? I make that challenge to you today.”
Record number of Drury Law Enforcement Academy graduates
Drury’s Law Enforcement Academy held its commencement ceremony on Thursday, December 14th at Stone Chapel. This was a record number of graduates since the academy’s founding in 1982. This year Drury launched a mirror academy in the West Plains area. Four of Thursday’s graduates competed the mirror academy.
Twenty-one of the recent graduates were hired by area agencies including Cedar County Sheriff, Christian County Sheriff, Douglas County Sheriff, Lawrence County Sheriff, Ash Grove PD, Ava PD, Bolivar PD, Branson PD, Cassville PD, Fair Grove PD, Sarcoxie PD, Springfield PD, Willard PD and Winona PD.
Saturday’s ceremony took place at Drury’s O’Reilly Family Event Center and can be viewed online at drury.edu/commencement.
Photos of Saturday commencement.
Photos of Law Enforcement Academy graduation.
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Media Contact: Jasmine Cooper, Executive Director of University Communications and Media Relations , Office: (417) 873-7390, Email: JCooper020@drury.edu
