WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The Driscoll family from Brandsville received this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award during Missouri State University Alumni Association’s annual spring picnic for alumni and friends Thursday, May 4, at the West Plains Civic Center exhibit hall.
Normally, the award recognizes a Missouri State University alumnus who has made extraordinary achievements in his or her personal and professional endeavors and has shown notable success in his/her profession or business, loyalty to the university and outstanding contributions to society. This year, university officials said, they chose to present the award to a family of alumni who have made an impact on the university and in their respective communities.
“It’s been several years since this award has been presented, so the committee decided to present several awards this year!,” said Rachel Peterson, director of development and annual giving at MSU-WP. “The Driscoll family are the perfect alumni to honor. Of the seven who attended, I was lucky to work with four – Joe, Amanda, Mike and Rosemary – during their time as students. Not only were they successful as students and following graduation, they continue to stay connected with Missouri State-West Plains and support our students. Steve and Cathy built a special family and our campus is the better for it.”
Steve and Cathy’s Story
Parents Steve and Cathy Driscoll, who own and operate St. Michael’s Nursery in Brandsville, both took advantage of additional educational opportunities through Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).
Steve re-enrolled at the university to pursue a degree in respiratory therapy. Although he successfully completed the degree in 2010, he decided to return to his garden center, nursery and landscaping business. He continues to support the university by assisting groundskeepers with campus beautification.
Cathy, an international board-certified lactation consultant, also enrolled in a course at MSU-WP for professional development while employed at Ozarks Healthcare. The course helped Cathy and other hospital professionals during the computerized transition of medical records. Cathy retired from Ozarks Healthcare in December 2021 with the gratitude of thousands of new mothers for her guidance.
Jim’s Story
Children Jim, John, Joe, Mike and Rosemary, as well as daughter-in-law Amanda (Stuart) Driscoll, also attended MSU-WP. Jim took his first college courses at the campus in 2001 and 2002 before transferring to Missouri S&T where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree. He is a licensed professional engineer in Missouri and director of pre-construction for Kadean Construction in St. Louis. While at MSU-WP, he participated in community productions at the Avenue Theater, including South Pacific and Annie. Jim and his wife, Kate, have two children and now call Weldon Spring home.
John’s Story
John attended MSU-WP in fall 2011 to summer 2012 before transferring to MSU in Springfield where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Cultural and Regional Geography. He is currently a captain in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Joe’s Story
Joe attended MSU-WP beginning in 2005 and immediately got involved in a variety of activities and organizations. He was a Student Ambassador and was a member of the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program, the Grizzly Cheer Team and the steering committee for the first ever Welcome Week. He graduated from MSU-WP in 2007 with an Associate of Arts in General Studies degree with a Specialization in Honors and transferred to MSU in Springfield where he received one of the first Citizen Scholar Awards in 2008. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Finance with an Economics minor in 2009 and a Master of Business Administration in 2010. He currently serves as senior vice president-commercial banking at UMB Bank in Springfield and has taught as an adjunct instructor for MSU-WP and Drury University in Springfield.
Amanda’s Story
Joe’s wife, Amanda, graduated from MSU-WP with an Associate of Arts in General Studies degree in 2008. She completed her degree quickly after having earned several college credits in high school. While at MSU-WP, Amanda was a Student Ambassador. She and Joe have four children and reside in Nixa.
Mike’s Story
Youngest brother Mike graduated from MSU-WP in 2017 with an Associate of Arts in General Studies degree. Like Joe, he participated in the Darr Honors Program and was a member of the Student Ambassadors and Grizzly Cheer Team. Following graduation, Mike joined the U.S. Army and served four years. In May 2022, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in psychology. He will begin medical school at St. Louis University in August.
Rosemary’s Story
Rosemary began her educational journey at MSU-WP in fall 2016. Following in Joe and Mike’s footsteps, she, too, participated in the Darr Honors Program and served as a Student Ambassador. She also took advantage of the university’s China Semester Study Away Program, spending a semester at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian studying and working as an intern for the university’s campus there.
After graduating with her Associate of Arts in General Studies Degree in 2018, Rosemary transferred to MSU in Springfield where she received a bachelor’s degree in English literature in December 2020 and a master’s degree in 2022. While at MSU, she wrote for the university’s Mind’s Eye magazine and other publications. She currently works as a second-grade teacher and recently accepted a position teaching English at Springfield Catholic High School.
For more information about the annual Alumni and Friends Picnic or the Distinguished Alumni Award and how to nominate an alumnus, call the MSU-WP university advancement office at 417-255-7240.