2018 Commencement Edition New York’s Proprietary Colleges Recognize Academic Achievement The Commencement Edition: Honoring the Class of 2018 Continuing a legacy of conferred more than 3,500 providing an affordable academic success bachelor’s degrees, 3,100 and quality education. for over 100 years, associate’s degrees, nearly This commencement New York’s proprietary 800 master’s degrees and edition features our colleges have been 294 certificates. In total, that member colleges, educating students is over 7,700 individuals showcases student and helping them who made a commitment to achievement and achieve their personal, enhancing their education provides a line of sight to professional and and improving their lives. the faculty who together academic goals. Last year, APC is extremely proud of its make all of those degrees APC member Colleges member colleges’ history of a reality. Berkeley College Graduates Write Their Own Stories Berkeley College celebrated from New Jersey’s first the more than 2,300 and only on-site Licensed students who have been Practical Nurse to Bachelor of awarded Certificates, Science in Nursing program. Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Two hundred and ninety- Master’s degrees during eight graduates received the 2018 Commencement. Certificates, 757 received The ceremony was held Associate’s, 1,248 received at the Prudential Center Bachelor’s, and 58 received in Newark, NJ on May Master’s degrees. 11, 2018 and included the Lachanee Scott happily receives second graduating class of Berkeley College’s Class her Robert Maher award at students receiving a Master of 2018 reflects a diverse the 2018 Berkeley College of Business Administration population of students. The Commencement ceremony on in Management degree, as Class includes more than 140 May 11, 2018. well as students graduating [cont. on next page] 1 military and veteran students, Tough times befell her again and 180 international students Robert Maher Award with her residential situation representing 40 countries. Recipient Exemplifies and familial circumstances. Many students are the first Story of Perseverance There were times when she in their families to earn a considered leaving college college degree. Others are not Among the 2018 Berkeley and going to work full-time native English speakers. Just College graduates is Lachanee because of the struggles she over 31 percent of graduates Scott, this year’s recipient faced, but she persevered. Ms. entered Berkeley as first time, of the Robert Maher award. Scott recalls her saying, “The full-time students, and more The award is an honor given way out of poverty is through than 82 percent identify as to a graduate who has met education.” minorities. The average age of high standards of excellence a Berkeley College graduate in while overcoming personal, At this year’s commencement, 2018 is 29.6 years. professional, or financial Ms. Scott graduated summa obstacles. A resident of cum laude with a Bachelor Michael J. Smith, President of Newark, NJ, Ms. Scott had of Science in Legal Studies. Berkeley College, addressed ambitions to earn a college She is a member of three the graduates saying, “Know degree and eventually become national honor societies, and that the future isn’t written a judge. the founder and president of for us. The future is written the Berkeley College Newark by us. In your heart, you truly Ms. Scott immigrated to the Caribbean Club. Ms. Scott has need to understand that the United States with her older secured a positon as a Records only person you are destined brother at age 13, but their Associate at the McCarter to become … is the person that situation did not work out and & English, LLP law firm and you decide to be.” she returned home to Jamaica expects to attend law school in where she graduated from the near future. This year’s class joins a high school. Ms. Scott and her network of more than 60,000 brother returned to the U.S., Watch video from alumni and receives lifetime and she enrolled in Berkeley Berkeley College’s career assistance. College to pursue her dream. commencement LIM College Celebrates 79th Commencement On May 24, 2018, LIM College celebrated its 79th commencement ceremony, held at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan. The ceremony graduated more than 550 students earning Associates, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. This year’s Commencement also included the College’s first group of graduates to receive Bachelor of Science degrees. This was LIM College graduates express gratitude and ambition on their 2018 [cont. on next page] mortarboards. 2 the largest ceremony since the perfect fit for keynote speaker. generations. The ability to College was founded in 1939. understand, appreciate, and “Our industry is global, empathize with individuals For a college focused diverse, and built upon from backgrounds whose life exclusively on fashion and relationships,” Ms. Outler experiences are different from business, Shawn R. Outler, said. “Today more than yours is essential.” Executive Vice President of ever, we need to develop Licensed Businesses, Food meaningful connections Watch video from Services, and Multicultural with individuals from varied LIM College’s Initiatives at Macy’s Inc. was a cultures, backgrounds, and commencement Monroe College Celebrates More Than 2,600 Graduates Monroe College, a national With such a large graduating The afternoon ceremony, for leader in educating urban and class, the College held two the Schools of Business and international students, held its separate ceremonies to Accounting, Information 85th Commencement on June accommodate all of the Technology, and Hospitality 13, 2018 at Radio City Music graduates and guests. The Management and the Hall. The ceremony conferred morning ceremony, for the Culinary Institute of New Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Schools of Allied Health York, received their keynote Master’s degrees, as well as Professionals, Criminal speech from New York State professional certificates, upon Justice, Education, and Assembly Member Marcos more than 2,600 graduates. Nursing, received their Crespo, who represents the The College conferred 450 keynote speech from 85th Assembly District. Master’s degrees, 1,095 Benjamin Tucker, First Deputy Watch video from Bachelor’s, 1,036 Associate’s, Commissioner of the New Monroe College’s and awarded 50 professional York Police Department. commencement certificates. Monroe College graduates happily pose for a commencement photo at Radio City Music Hall. 3 SVA Student Speakers Offer Encouraging Words To Fellow Graduates On May 7, the Manhattan “Never fold under the societal the graduates to face them, Radio City Music Hall was pressure, and always keep an with poise. He concluded his filled with the School of open mind,” Mr. Dubose said. speech by saying, “I challenge Visual Arts Class of 2018 and “When the world shows you you to broaden your horizons, their guests. There were 1,180 chaos and hatred, channel take action, lose control to graduates receiving their your energy and fight it with gain control, and find your degrees. The diverse class is love.” Mr. Dubose’s speech place in society.” comprised of students from 30 recognized the hardships and Watch video different states, Puerto Rico, battles of racial and societal from SVA’s and 53 countries. challenges, and encouraged commencement Students receiving Bachelor’s degrees were represented Plaza College Celebrates by Student Speaker Ariana Storm Ascher. “What is your 101st Commencement cause, and what will your Ceremony contributions to the art world mean in the context of the art Plaza College celebrated its was then performed by world at large,” Ms. Ascher 101st Commencement on student Sharlene Valvano. asked of her colleagues. She June 24 at Queens College continued on to say, “Don’t in Flushing, New York. Charles Callahan IV, COO feel paralyzed by the many The Schools of Business greeted Commencement avenues you can take. We Administration, Allied Health, attendees. Marie Dolla, Dean are lucky to have so much in and Legal Studies graduated of Academic Affairs and front of us to solve. We notice students from several Dean Lin Loffert introduced things, so use your intuition to programs. Student Speaker Olexa Capili. make an impact”. Jonathan Howe, Dean of The ceremony was introduced Student Life, and Candace For those receiving a Master’s with the procession of Nixon, Director of Student degree, the Student Speaker students, faculty, and staff Advisement closed the was Michael L. Dubose (below). that was accompanied by ceremony by reciting the musical ensemble Wholly alumni pledge for the newest Brass. The National Anthem group of Plaza College alumni. Plaza College Class of 2018 celebrates their achievements. 4 Bryant And Stratton College Celebrates Over 1,000 Graduates Across Its NY Campuses During its 161st graduation season, Bryant & Stratton College celebrated more than 1,000 students who participated in commencement ceremonies across New York State. This year marked the college’s first graduating class in its new Physical Therapy Assistant program. Also of note, the cohort completing the Occupational Therapy Assistant program had a 100% graduation rate! On April 28, 2018 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, the Bryant & Stratton College (BSC) Albany campus conferred 26 Diplomas, On June 1, 2018 at Kodak Performing Arts Center, 114 Associate’s degrees, and 4 Bachelor’s degrees the BSC Rochester campus awarded 27 Diplomas, upon its graduates. The commencement speaker 145 Associate’s degrees, and 7 Bachelor’s was Michael Skiba, PhD, VP of International degrees. The commencement speaker was Counter Fraud Strategies at INFORM. Jennifer Johnson, Anchor, 13WHAM, ABC. On April 28, 2018 at Oncenter Civic Center, the On May 19, 2018 at Hamburg Fair Grounds, BSC Syracuse campus awarded 17 Diplomas, 209 the BSC Western New York campus presented Associate’s degrees, and 20 Bachelor’s degrees. 41 Diplomas, 318 Associate’s degrees, and 77 The commencement speaker was Robert Diano, Bachelor’s degrees.