Kelsey Neal earns undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis

2014 Jun 25

Kelsey Neal, daughter of Charles and Ann Neal of Miami, Okla. (74354), earned an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis on May 16. Neal graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in economics and finance and a minor in text and tradition.

Neal received the NISA Scholars in Arts & Sciences Economics Award. She was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honor society .

Neal was among the more than 2,800 students who received degrees at the university's 153rd Commencement ceremony, which was held in Brookings Quadrangle on the Danforth Campus. Tony La Russa, who is being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame July 27 and is considered one of the best managers in baseball history, delivered the Commencement address. La Russa, also known for his tireless animal rescue work and for instilling in his players an interest in giving back to their communities, received an honorary doctor of humanities.

Neal graduated from Miami High School.

Washington University is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research, and it draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 110 nations. The total student body is nearly 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

The approximately 3,400 faculty teach in seven schools: Arts & Sciences, Brown School, Olin Business School, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, School of Engineering & Applied Science, School of Law and School of Medicine. Twenty-three Nobel laureates have been associated with Washington University, with nine doing the major portion of their pioneering research there.

The university offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.