Vasey Academy continues strong graduation rate

For the second year in a row, the Vasey Academy is awarding degrees to 90 percent of its students. The Vasey Academy is a scholarship program for underrepresented minority students at the Trulaske College of Business. Students are typically accepted into the program their freshman year after an application process. From there, they take a management course before they embark on a four-year journey with their fellow academy members.

The focus of the program is improving outcomes for minority students, many of whom are first-generation college students. Membership in the Vasey Academy awards students access to special networking opportunities, additional scholarships, peer mentoring and field trips to influential area companies.

Led by Daryl Smith, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Management Department, the Vasey Academy boasts a wealth of success measures. In addition to an impressive graduation rate, members average an ACT score of 24, a 3.21 GPA, a retention rate of about 95 percent, and job placement of approximately 90 percent. Viewed together, the Vasey Academy is preparing some of the brightest students at Mizzou.

“Each year, I am so proud to watch members of the Vasey Academy walk across the stage at graduation and receive their degrees. As we follow their success as alumni, we are proud to watch them excel in their careers and go on to earn additional degrees. This is a very impressive group of individuals that I am proud to teach and mentor,” said Smith.