O’Fallon Resident Receives Bachelor’s Degree from WGU Missouri

David Cupples, a resident of O’Fallon, has graduated from WGU Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. Cupples participated in the nonprofit, fully online university’s commencement ceremony in Mid-February, where he and thousands of other graduates were recognized and celebrated for their achievements.

Cupples spent five years as an EMT, serving the St. Louis community as a first responder, before enrolling at WGU Missouri. He loved helping people in their time of need, but he decided to pursue another career after dealing with back issues his entire life that were becoming increasingly problematic as a result of his job.

He enrolled at WGU last year with all his general education courses already completed and was able to graduate quickly thanks to the university’s competency-based model, which allows students to complete coursework at their own pace and on their own schedule, moving quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn.

“I decided to earn my degree in HR management because there’s a big aspect of helping people reach their full potential, which is something that is part of who I am,” Cupples said. “My degree plan was supposed to take me two-and-a-half years, but I worked really hard and got done in just a little over six months while I was working full time. My WGU program mentor said it was one of the fastest she’s seen someone work through their degree.”

After completing his degree in November, Cupples is now working as an HR representative for St. Louis-based EyeCare Partners, a company he says has lots of room for growth opportunities.

“I am excited for my future in HR, and I have WGU to thank for offering a flexible option while I was working full time,” Cupple added.

There were 691 undergraduate and 665 graduate degree recipients from all 50 states and the District of Columbia who participated in the recent commencement ceremony, which was held virtually in place of previously planned in-person celebrations. Approximately 71% of the graduates come from at least one of the following historically underserved populations: first-generation college students, students of color, rural residents, and/or low-income earners. Graduates earned degrees in business, K–12 education, information technology and health professions, including nursing.

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established in 2013 through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $7,000 per year for most programs.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Nursing College programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and the Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).