When Ryan Veatch was growing up, he always assumed he would become a chemical engineer. In 2009, he came to Missouri S&T with that dream in mind. But like many students, life took unexpected turns. In 2012, Veatch dropped out. But that’s not the end of his story. 

Since then, Veatch has owned his own business, managed a security firm and returned to earn his degree at S&T in information science and technology (IST). He graduates in December at age 34, and is on the path to earning a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). 

A rough beginning 

Growing up in Thayer, Missouri, Veatch was surrounded by science, thanks to his mother Peggy.

“My mom was my high school science teacher,” he says. “I remember coming up to Rolla for the regional science fairs at the university. I’d tag along with her and got really into science through that.”

From 2009 to 2012, Veatch attended S&T’s chemical engineering program while playing football. 

“During that time, a lot happened in my life. It was the perfect storm to hit rock bottom, and I just called it quits on school. It was not my passion,” he says. “Instead, I wanted to just go work 60 hours a week.”

 That’s exactly what he did. Veatch moved to Lake of the Ozarks and worked at the Ed Morse auto company for several years.

“I had no experience,” he says. “They started me off sweeping floors and doing oil changes, then I worked my way up from there.”

That work ethic carried him into entrepreneurship. From there, he started his own business.

Getting down to business

When Veatch lived in Rolla, he was involved in the local Lions Club. A friend and business owner from the club called him and persuaded Veatch to start his own business in the Lake Ozark area. It was called Veatch Bail Bonds.

“It doesn’t always have the best ring to it,” he says. “But I helped a lot of people through drug rehab and drug court. I got to see a part of the world I’d never seen before. I wasn’t out there breaking down doors, I was helping people get a second chance.”

After selling the business, Veatch discovered his interest in security. He worked at the Central Missouri Security firm for six years as operation manager and loved it — enough to continue working there on the weekends while getting his degree in Rolla.

“It was an incredible job,” he says. “It gave me the ability to meet just about everyone who had any sort of business at the Lake of the Ozarks, and I was able to explore almost every facet that the Lake had to offer.”

But once he realized his new passion, he decided it was time to go back to S&T.

A second chance

Veatch applied to S&T in 2023, and was rejected three times.

“The chair of business and information technology, Dr. Cassie Elrod, declined me three times because when I was here I had a 1.7 GPA. There was no reason to let me in,” he says. “After the third time I applied, I got an email from her saying, ‘Ryan, let me do some digging on any options you might have here on campus and get back to you. I’m working on it.’”

From there, he and Elrod chatted over Zoom, and he told her his whole story.

“She decided to let me in the program on contingencies. I was on probation,” he says. “Then I had a 4.0 my first semester back, and it took off from there. She’s been my advisor, she took me in and she’s been an incredible person. I 100% would not have had the opportunity or the ability to even come back without her. I’ll never be able to thank her enough.”

When Veatch was about to graduate, Elrod nominated him for the honor of becoming a student mace bearer for the December commencement ceremony. He was surprised. Veatch was sent the nomination, and it says:

“I am pleased to nominate Ryan as a remarkable example of resilience and determination,” Elrod’s nomination reads. “His journey is a true comeback story, both personally and for S&T. Ryan first enrolled in 2009 as an engineering student. Despite his initial efforts, he faced academic challenges and ultimately left the university. Over the past decade, he built a successful career in industry, gaining valuable experience and insight, wanting to formalize his expertise. Ryan sought re-admission to S&T in the IST program, although his previous GPA did not meet the requirements for readmission, and his application was denied. 

“Ryan didn’t give up,” Elrod wrote. “He reached out to me with respectful and thoughtful requests for a conversation to share his goals. After meeting with him, we developed a plan. He would be admitted to IST provisionally, and if he performed well, we would pursue academic renewal to remove severe or several semesters of past grades from his transcripts. Ryan has since excelled in the IST program and currently holds a 3.1 GPA. His story is a testament to grit, tenacity and the power of second chances. He embodies the qualities we hope to see in every S&T graduate: perseverance, purpose and the drive to succeed.”

A new dream

After Veatch completes his MBA at S&T, he wants to work at a technology company in St. Louis, then move up from there to his dream role: chief information officer.

“It’s a combination of everything I have done. I enjoyed how a business ran, and being able to find a perfect combination of teams and seeing the results. I want to combine that with security into something I enjoy, and that is with technology,” Veatch says. 

By balancing a full course load during the week with weekend shifts at a security firm and keeping himself organized with schedules on a large whiteboard in his apartment, Veatch achieved success at S&T through hard work and determination.

“This was a chance to fix one of my biggest regrets and biggest failures,” he says. “The motivation to do that was driving me forward.”