Spring Commencement Speakers
Day School Commencement Speaker: John Beuerlein
Drury will honor long-time trustee John Beuerlein ’75 with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at the Day School commencement ceremony. Beuerlein is a general partner with investment company Edward Jones. He served on the Drury Board of Trustees from 1992-2011, he was Board Chairman for four years from 2007-2011, and he is currently an emeritus trustee at Drury. He will give the commencement address to the Day School graduates.
“John’s leadership during a time of presidential transition at Drury and during a time of economic uncertainty in the country was invaluable,” said Drury President Todd Parnell. “Now, as an emeritus trustee, John’s experience and perspective are steadying influences for the board and Drury’s administration.”
Besides his work on the board of trustees, Beuerlein and his wife Crystal Tinlin ’75 have been generous donors to Drury. The Beuerleins, together with Edward Jones, made the naming gift for Drury’s Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship as well as the Edward Jones Scholarships for Minority Students. The Beuerleins have also donated to and visited the Hem Sheela Model School in India, which was founded by Drury Professors Rabindra and Protima Roy.
In 2001, Beuerlein received Drury’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and, in 2008, Beuerlein was inducted into the Breech School of Business Hall of Fame.
CCPS Commencement Speaker: Sen. Bob Dixon
Bob Dixon is a member of the Missouri State Senate. He was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002, where he served four terms. In 2010, he was elected to the Senate.
Senator Bob Dixon is decidedly centered in Springfield, Missouri – the area he represents in the Missouri state Senate. He attended high school at the Christian Schools of Springfield, graduating in 1987.
In 1997, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Drury University. Several years later, he returned to Drury and in 2009, graduated with a Master of Education in Human Services. He resides close to Drury in historic Midtown with his wife, Amanda and three daughters: Grace, Rose and Olivia.
In addition to his legislative duties, Senator Dixon is a Relationship Manager for Heartland Payment Systems, a payroll and bankcard transaction processing company. He also previously worked at two Springfield banks, where he received various commendations for his dedication to customer service.
Senator Dixon served as a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Standing Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Cultural Affairs and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Criminal Justice Task Force. He also represented the House for five years on the Internet Cyber Crime Task Force; a panel he helped establish which awards grants to local law enforcement agencies.
Dixon is a member of numerous civic organizations, including the Chambers of Commerce in Rogersville, Springfield and Strafford Area; Missouri Farm Bureau; James River Basin Partnership; North Springfield Betterment Association and the Kiwanis Club of Springfield-North. Senator Dixon also serves on the Board of Trustees of The History Museum for Springfield-Greene County, the Board
of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Dogwood Trails Council, Inc. and the Board of Associates of New Covenant Academy.
Related Links:
Commencement FAQsCommencement Information
