SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A renewed investment from the Hatch Foundation is helping Ozarks Tech expand student engagement opportunities that build community on campus and support student success.
Since 2022, Ozarks Tech has increased student programming from eight events annually to 30 events during the 2025-26 academic year. Support from the Hatch Foundation helped fund seven off-campus experiences, including trips to popular regional attractions like Wonders of Wildlife, Silver Dollar City, and Gardens Aglow.
“We’re excited to renew our support for this initiative,” said Hatch Executive Director Erin Danastasio. “Springfield has so much to offer, and it’s meaningful to help Ozarks Tech students experience it firsthand. These opportunities build connections on campus and throughout our community, and we hope they inspire students to see Springfield as a place to build their future.”
The events significantly exceeded participation goals, drawing 1,824 students compared with an initial target of 550 participants. The program’s success led the Hatch Foundation to approve a second grant, allowing Ozarks Tech to again offer more student engagement opportunities during the 2026-27 academic year.
Institutional data shows students who participated in at least one engagement activity had a retention rate of 78%, compared with 65% among nonparticipants. Engaged students also demonstrated higher course completion and success rates.
“An engaged student is a successful student,” said Chancellor Hal Higdon. “We know that students are more likely to persist when they feel connected to the college community. Investments like this help students achieve success not only at the college, but after they graduate.”
The college actively encourages students to help shape future programming through the Student Engagement Network, a student-led organization that helps identify and plan activities based on student interests.
The Hatch Foundation, a Springfield-based family foundation founded in 2020, supports initiatives that strengthen communities and improve quality of life throughout the Ozarks. Its investment with Ozarks Tech helps introduce students to the broader Springfield community while also encouraging them to build a stronger sense of belonging on campus.
Both outcomes align with Ozarks Tech’s efforts to improve student retention, persistence and overall success.
