Missouri State University will grant its 14th honorary doctorate to Shawn Askinosie, J.D., founder of Askinosie Chocolate. The nomination was approved today (Dec. 16) by the Missouri State University Board of Governors following recommendations from the Faculty Senate and Interim President Clif Smart.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Missouri State University will grant its 14th honorary doctorate to Shawn Askinosie, J.D., founder of Askinosie Chocolate. The nomination was approved today ( Dec. 16 ) by the Missouri State University Board of Governors following recommendations from the Faculty Senate and Interim President Clif Smart.
Askinosie will receive the Doctor of Public Affairs ( A.P.D. ) during the spring commencement ceremonies May 13, 2012.
“Shawn Askinosie has made extraordinary contributions to the area of public affairs,” said Dr. Paula Kemp, Honorary Doctorate Selection Committee chair. “He is a community leader, an entrepreneur, a role model and an inspiration to students and others.”
Following a career as a successful lawyer, Askinosie founded Askinosie Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer which sources 100 percent of the beans directly from farmers. A neighborhood outreach of Askinosie Chocolate, Cocoa Honors is an 18 month-long cooperative learning project for high school juniors who learn about the “bean to bar” philosophy and gain exposure to different cultures and global business experiences.
In addition, women from the Victory Mission Women’s Shelter, a shelter and educational program housing women in need, are employed by Askinosie Chocolate and they use the money made for field trips and to create special projects to help others in need.
Other community outreach efforts include working with Boyd Elementary and Pipkin Middle Schools, inspiring the children about social entrepreneurship and about a global world beyond Springfield. Askinosie also helped develop a computer lab for the Missouri Hotel homeless shelter which houses about 80 children, who now have a place to study, research and create.
The first Missouri State University honorary doctorate was awarded in 2003. The purpose of the award is to recognize extraordinary achievements by distinguished citizens in hope of encouraging others. Previous recipients are Sister Lorraine Biebel, Harold Bengsch, David Harrison, Pat Walker, Annie Busch, Jim Craig, Nancy Brown Dornan, Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, Jan Horton, Pattie Penny, Calvin Allen, Gordon McCann and Dr. Bert Park.
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