Office of Public Relations
Missouri Baptist University
One College Park Drive
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141-8698
314.392.2307 / fax 314.392.2265
www.mobap.edu / pr@mobap.edu
For Immediate Release
RE: Congratulations MBU Class of 2007
Congratulations MBU Class of 2007
May 2, 2007
Missouri Baptist University again made history May 1 at its thirty-fifth commencement, conferring more than 600 degrees—the most ever—inside The Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
Dennis Bakke, co-founder of Imagine Schools—the second largest operator of public charter schools—delivered the keynote address, urging graduates to take professional risks in an effort to further glorify Christ.
Marking a major MBU milestone, the University yielded its first graduating class from the Educational Specialist program, which began in January of 2006. Twenty-nine Educational Specialist degrees were conferred. Unique to the field of education, the Educational Specialist degree gives students the opportunity to complete a degree that falls in the middle of a master’s and doctoral degree.
In addition, MBU conferred one Certificate in Business Administration; one Certificate in Sport Management; seven Writing Certificates in English; two Associate of Science in Business Administration degrees; 68 Bachelor of Arts degrees; 10 Bachelor of Professional Studies degrees; 154 Bachelor of Science degrees; 73 Bachelor of Science in Education; one Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degree; 41 Master of Business Administration degrees; and 231 Master of Science in Education degrees.
About Dennis Bakke: Before launching Imagine Schools, Bakke co-founded The AES Corporation in 1981 and served as its president and CEO from 1994 to 2002. He helped build the international energy corporation into a multi-billion dollar company with 40,000 employees in 31 countries.
Bakke is also the author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, “JOY AT WORK: A Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job.” The book is about two of Bakke’s passions: creating the most fun workplace in human history and teaching the world the real purpose of organizations.
He has held positions in the U.S. federal government's Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. Dennis received an MBA from Harvard University, an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Eastern University and an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarian Service from University of Puget Sound.
« Coffeehouse opens for business
News Archives
Henry receives Distinguished Professor Award »
Missouri Baptist University is a premier Christian university in Saint Louis, offering graduate and undergraduate studies in over thirty specialized fields and nine degrees. MBU's education and fine arts programs are nationally known in addition to business, religion, administration of justice, and more. MBU is one of the fastest growing higher education institutions in Missouri with an enrollment of over 4,500 students at five locations in the bi-state region — West County, Lincoln County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and the new Illinois extension at Lewis and Clark Community College.
# # #
