Ozarks Tech presented with 7-figure donation

Ozarks Technical Community college has received a seven-figure donation for its Michael L. Parson Student Union, which is under construction at the Springfield campus.

David and Stacey O'Reilly are the donors behind the gift, the exact total of which was not disclosed in a news release.

"Ozarks Tech provides exceptional opportunities for individuals to receive training and education in a wide range of fields," David O'Reilly said in the release. "It's an invaluable resource for our community, and Stacey and I are thrilled to help provide a beautiful environment for students to pursue their education and their dreams."

An outdoor plaza adjacent to the new student union will bear David and Stacey O'Reilly's names and be called the O'Reilly Auto Parts Plaza, school officials say. David O'Reilly is executive vice chair of the board at O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY), and the family behind the company has made several donations to Ozarks Tech over 25 years, including for the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

The outdoor plaza space named for David and Stacey O'Reilly is intended to serve as a gathering place for the school community, with outdoor seating and green space.

"Their gift helps us create a campus environment where students feel welcomed, supported and inspired to achieve their goals," Ozarks Tech Chancellor Hal Higdon said in the release.

The donation is part of Ozarks Tech's Dream Big. Dream Together campaign to support the Michael L. Parson Student Union, officials say.

The student union is under construction at Ozark Tech's Springfield campus, with completion expected in summer 2026.

Ozarks Tech stakeholders were joined by former Gov. Mike Parson in September for a groundbreaking of the 100,000-square-foot, three-story building at Chestnut Expressway and Sherman Avenue. The state budget signed in June 2024 by Parson includes $46 million for construction of the center, according to past reporting.