Author: Ashton Hockman (Ashton Hockman)

Emerson Whittemore will receive the Oreon E. Scott Senior Legacy Award. Drake University will award 1,319 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at its 2026 spring commencement ceremonies. Drake will host the undergraduate ceremony at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, and the graduate and doctoral ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. Both ceremonies will take...

Drake University bid a fond farewell to Griff II during a formal retirement and “Changing of the Harness” ceremony at Old Main today. The event honored Griff II’s more than six years as the University’s beloved live mascot while also appointing his successor, Griff III.  Drake University President Marty Martin presided over the event, ceremonially removing the harness around Griff II and placing a custom-fitted “Griff III” harness around the one-year-old English Bulldog, marking...

This summer, Drake University will offer students of all ages a myriad of opportunities to immerse themselves in a college campus environment. Students can explore their diverse interests, develop their athletic skills, and prepare for their academic futures across fields such as vocal performance, healthcare, journalism, faith, business, and athletics. Below is a list of...

Drake University is proud to announce Anisa Hansen as the University’s next Associate Provost for Campus Equity & Inclusion. Stepping into the role on July 1, Hansen will succeed Terrance Pendleton, who has served in the position for the last three years and plans to return full-time to his faculty role as an Associate Professor...

The roar of the crowd, the splash of paint, and the world’s most elite athletes returning to Des Moines—it can only mean one thing. The 116th Drake Relays are officially here. Whether you’re here to witness world-class athletes compete, return to your old stomping grounds to reconnect with fellow alumni, plan out your Relays week...

Drake University announced today that former U.S. Ambassador to China and longtime Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will conclude his service as the University’s Ambassador-in-Residence. Ambassador Branstad, a distinguished alumnus of the Drake University Law School, has served in the residency role since November 2021. During his tenure, Ambassador Branstad leveraged his decades of public service...

Nominations for the 2026 Iowa Character Awards presented annually by The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University are now open. The Iowa Character Awards honor individuals, organizations, or communities who consistently demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship. Since 2005, the organization has recognized more...

Drake University Director of Athletics Brian Hardin has been named a winner of the 2026 NACDA Athletics Director of the Year Award, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced on March 16. Hardin is just the second Drake Athletics Director to earn this award, which was first presented in 1999. Hardin joins Sandy Hatfield Clubb,...