The Free Society programming at Hannibal-LaGrange University is focused on promoting the ideals of a free society. We focus on three foundations of a free society, which are democratic form of government, free market economic systems, and cultural institutions, like the church. The speakers we bring to campus and events we host emphasize concepts within these three foundations, often viewing them through the lens of a Biblical worldview, which is central to the mission of Hannibal-LaGrange University.

Free Society programming offers a scholarship for incoming and current students studying Business. One student from each class is selected each year to receive the $3,000 scholarship. Scholars are required to attend all Free Society events and give input and feedback on speakers. Events are free to the public and beneficial to all students studying Business.

For more information on how to apply for the Free Society Scholarship contact freesociety@hlg.edu.

Free Society events are made possible and in partnership with the Moorman Foundation.

Dr. Ben Carson

March 13 at 7pm

Mabee Sports Complex

General Admission Tickets – $15 until February 28, $20 afterward

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., is Founder and Chairman of the American Cornerstone Institute, a new think tank / do tank whose mission is to promote the 4 founding principles which are cornerstones of our country: faith, liberty, community and life as well as pursue common sense solutions that challenge conventional groupthink. He most recently served as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For nearly 30 years, Secretary Carson served as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, a position he assumed when he was just 33 years old, becoming the youngest major division director in the hospital's history. In 1987, he successfully performed the first separation of craniopagus twins conjoined at the back of the head. He also performed the first fully successful separation of type-2 vertical craniopagus twins in 1997 in South Africa. Dr. Carson received dozens of honors and awards in recognition of his achievements including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Dr. Carson authored eleven books, five of which he co-wrote with his wife Candy. T Carson was born in Detroit to a mother with a 3rd grade education and a father who was a bigamist. After finding out her husband had another family, she left him and raised Carson and his older brother on her own working multiple jobs to support their family. Secretary Carson was raised to love reading and education. He graduated from Yale University and earned his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School. He and his wife are the proud parents of three adult sons and eight grandchildren.

For more information, email freesociety@hlg.edu or call 573.629.3260.

Tickets go on sale February 1st at 8am.

Get Tickets

Free Society U Podcast

The Free Society U podcast is an opportunity for to have a deeper conversation with our guests on a variety of topics that may come up during their presentation. The casual layout allows the speakers to share more details about their perspective on encouraging a free society.

You can find the episodes on the Free Society YouTube page.

Upcoming Events

Spring Semester 2024

Alexander Mallory – TBD

Past Events

You can watch any of our past speakers on our YouTube channel.

Spring Semester 2024

Riley Gaines – Free Society Speaker Series – 1/31/2024
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey – 3/1/2024

Fall Semester 2023

Dirk Deaton – Constitution Day – 9/21/2023
Free Society Movie Night – The Hong Konger – 0/2/2023
Dr. Tawni Ferrarini – “Democratic Socialism versus Capitalism”
Free Society Speaker Series – 11/9/2023

Spring Semester 2023

Free Society Event: Finance Feud – 3/6/2023
Free Society Movie Night – The Birth of Freedom – 3/7/2023
Dr. Tawni Ferrarini – Free Society Speaker Series – 3/23/2023
Free Society Reading Group – 3/26/2023
Free Society Scholarship Presentations – 4/17/2023
Yeonmi Park – Free Society Speaker Series – 4/25/2023

Fall Semester 2022

Tri-State Development Summit at Culver Stockton College – 9/16/2022
Dr. Doug Richey – Constitution Day – 9/19/2022
Cindy O’Laughlin – Free Society Speaker Series – 10/11/2022
Free Society Movie Night – Poverty Inc. – 11/7/2022
Free Society Reading Group – 11/20/2022

Spring Semester 2022

Rachel Ferguson – “Black Liberation Through the Marketplace”
Free Society Speaker Series – 2/22/2022
Scott Hall & Kayla Meier – Free Society Foundations Lecture – 3/3/2022
Free Society Reading Group – 3/5/2022
James Whitford – “The Pervasive Problem of Misguided Compassion” –
Free Society Speaker Series –3/22/2022
Hannah Stolze – Free Society Speaker Series – 4/18/2022
Cassidy Winters – Free Society Speaker Series – 4/22/2022

Fall Semester 2021

Jeffery J. Ventrella – Constitution Day Speaker Series – 9/7/2021
David Roland – Constitution Day Speaker Series – 9/16/2021
Free Society Movie Night (10/26/2021) – “What is an Entrepreneur?”, “The Conditions for Entrepreneurship” and “The Impact of Entrepreneurship”.
Free Society Reading Group – 11/6/2021
Scott Hall – “Does the Bible Teach Socialism?” – Free Society Lecture – 11/19/2021

For more information about Free Society or the Speaker Series at HLGU, email FreeSociety@hlg.edu or call 573-629-3260.