Name: Derek McGinnis
Hometown: West Plains, MO
Currently Resides: West Plains, MO
Occupation: Real Estate Agent & Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator
All Degrees and Certificates Received: Associate of Arts in General Studies, Missouri State University-West Plains, 2017; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, Missouri State University, 2019
Derek McGinnis built a firm foundation for his future at MSU-WP
Several factors went into Derek McGinnis’ decision to attend Missouri State University-West Plains following his graduation from West Plains High School in 2015.
“First, it was close to home, which was very important to me, as I have close connection with family,” he explained. “Second, it seemed like a smarter financial decision than attending a four-year university. Being straddled with debt can often place a tremendous burden on young professionals. Finally, I knew that if I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree, I would have no problem transferring the credit to many of the local four-year institutions, including Missouri State in Springfield.”
It proved to be a fortuitous decision. “The convenience of being able to learn in a familiar environment close to home helped me build the foundation to eventually branch out and seek further educational and professional opportunities in Springfield,” he explained. “The lower cost of education allowed me to pursue my goals without the burden and pressure of excessive student debt.”
Joining PBL-FBLA opened the door to many opportunities
Once on campus, Derek joined the Phi Beta Lambda-Future Business Leaders of America (PBL-FBLA) student organization, an organization in which he was very active throughout his time at MSU-WP.
“This organization opened up many opportunities for me, including a leadership position as the vice president of communications for PBL-FBLA for Missouri,” he said. “I was lucky enough to be able to network with many like-minded individuals who had a passion for business. In a lot of ways, this experience inspired me to pursue my current career fields.”
Derek also found success in state and national PBL-FBLA competitions while at MSU-WP. These competitions tested members’ abilities in a variety of business-related skills. “My greatest achievement was winning first place in both the public speaking and impromptu speaking competitions at the 2016 PBL-FBLA National Leadership Conference,” he said.
“I had a very positive experience at Missouri State-West Plains.”
Derek’s experiences at MSU-WP not only impacted his career trajectory, but they also gave him many of the skills he needed to become successful at that career. In just a couple of years, he’s become one of the top real estate agents in the area, which he calls his greatest professional accomplishment to date.
“Although I have always been true to myself, Missouri State University-West Plains opened my mind up to new ways of thinking and gave me the confidence to pursue my passions through further education,” he said. “My degree has given me the skills to communicate with clients and ultimately help some of them pursue their dream of home ownership. I’ve been fortunate to help welcome many people from out-of-state into our local community. I’ve also been fortunate to help many individuals in selling their property and planning out the next stages of their lives.”
Because of his positive experience at MSU-WP, Derek has no qualms about suggesting the campus to prospective students. “I would highly recommend MSU-WP for anyone looking for an affordable institution with instructors and staff who truly care about their students and want them to strive to achieve more.”
And his advice for those students? “Use your first year or so to really explore your passions. Ultimately, you may not know what you want to do forever, but college can be a great time to learn about yourself and your strengths. Think critically about who you are, not who others want you to be.
“Finally, be bold and always push yourself to be the very best version of you!”