Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter will receive the prestigious Drake Medal award.
Drake University will award 1,230 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at its 2025 spring commencement ceremonies. Drake will host the undergraduate ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, and the graduate and doctoral ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will take place in the Knapp Center at 2601 Forest Avenue, Des Moines,and be presided over by Drake University President Marty Martin.
The undergraduate ceremony will include remarks from alumnus Paul LeFort, BAJMC’91, welcoming new Drake graduates into a community of more than 75,000 Bulldogs.
Commencement Speakers
Ashley Dyson, Oreon E. Scott Senior Legacy Award and undergraduate ceremony speaker
Each year at commencement, Drake presents the Oreon E. Scott Senior Legacy Award to an undergraduate student leader who embodies scholarship, leadership, service, and involvement. This year’s honoree is Ashley Dyson, who served as the 2024–2025 undergraduate student body president. Dyson is graduating with a major in politics and history and minors in philosophy and human rights, as well as a concentration in women’s and gender studies. She excelled academically and demonstrated leadership through her service on campus. She was selected to participate in the Adams Leadership Institute and completed 24 weeks of leadership training. Her internship experiences include the State Historical Society of Iowa, the World Food Prize Foundation, and the Iowa House of Representatives. Additionally, she worked part-time as a youth counselor for the City of Coralville (Iowa) Parks and Recreation department.
Lanae Greene, graduate ceremony speaker
Lanae Greene will address graduate students and guests at the commencement ceremony for graduate and doctoral degree recipients. Greene is graduating from Drake University with her Master of Science in Counseling focused on Clinical Mental Health Counseling. After completing her undergraduate degree at Iowa Wesleyan University, Greene embarked on her professional career. Her experience includes working as a senior employment specialist at Children & Families of Iowa, a Neuro Resource Facilitator at Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa, and a Disability Resource Coordinator at Southeastern Community College.
Drake University will award the Drake Medal to Peggy Fisher, FA’70, and Larry Stelter, honoring their significant service and commitment to the University. Together, Peggy and Larry have dedicated more than 30 years to Drake, in support of the University’s commitment to transform lives and strengthen communities. Peggy Fisher, a 1970 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in design, has had a distinguished career, including serving as CEO of the Stelter Company and nearly 20 years on the Drake University Board of Trustees, where she was the first woman to serve as chair.
The couple’s generosity has supported numerous Drake initiatives, including a significant contribution to The Ones campaign of $3.3 million, transformational gifts in support of Drake Athletics, and funding to create the Peggy Fisher & Larry Stelter Endowed Chair of Magazine & Brand Media. Peggy and Larry are recognized as exemplars of servant-leadership, and their unwavering support has created a lasting legacy at Drake University. The Drake Medal acknowledges their enduring commitment and the transformative power of service and philanthropy.
Commencement Schedule, Parking, and Livestream
Friday, May 16
- 3 p.m.: The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Doctoral Hooding and Commencement Ceremony
- 7 p.m.: The Drake Law School Commencement
Saturday, May 17
- 10 a.m.: The 158th Commencement Ceremony for Undergraduate Degree Recipients
- 2 p.m.: The 158th Commencement Ceremony for Graduate and Doctoral Degree Recipients
Drake will stream all four ceremonies at live.drake.edu. Free parking is available in campus lots during the ceremony. For more details, visit the Registrar’s website.