Michael Parson, the 57th Governor of Missouri, will give the commencement address at Ozarks Technical Community College’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 18, at 5 p.m. Great Southern Bank Arena on the Missouri State University campus is the site for the commencement ceremony.
“Governor Parson is no stranger to OTC. We’ve had the pleasure to host him at the college multiple times throughout his career in state leadership,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, OTC chancellor. “I look forward to hearing the wisdom he will share with our graduates after more than three decades in public service.”
Governor Parson was sworn in as Missouri’s governor on June 1, 2018. He previously served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Missouri from 2017–2018.
Governor Parson served six years in the U.S. Army and was the Sheriff of Polk County from 1993–2005. He served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005–2011 and the Missouri Senate from 2011–2017.
Governor Parson’s commitment to workforce development initiatives like MoExcels and the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant aligns with OTC’s mission.
The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant pays for the education of underemployed adults seeking training for occupations that are key to the state’s economic growth. At OTC, programs like nursing, welding and manufacturing qualify for Fast Track funding.
MoExcels funding facilitates the development and expansion of employer-driven education and training programs and initiatives to substantially increase educational attainment. The MoExcels grant program was a vital funding source for the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The Plaster Manufacturing Center is the state’s first advanced manufacturing training facility. It opened its doors in August of 2022.
Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson live in Bolivar. Together, they have two grown children and six grandchildren. He was raised on a farm in Hickory County and graduated from Wheatland High School in Wheatland, Mo. He is a small business owner and a third-generation farmer who owns and operates a cow-calf operation near Bolivar.