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NORCROSS, GA. - After all the tassels had been turned, hashtags shared, and ticket stubs tallied, the 2018 Ashworth College Commencement Ceremony was the school’s largest graduation event ever.
The online school’s first commencement ceremony was held on Aug. 4, 2007 in the ballroom of the Hilton Atlanta Northeast with approximately 115 graduates attending the live event. In order to manage the size of that crowd, the event was split into two back-to-back ceremonies–one for college graduates and one for high school graduates.
Comparatively, only 11 years later, the 2018 Commencement Ceremony packed Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre theater and welcomed close to 3,000 graduates and guests from around the world. David Nour, author, global speaker, and CEO of global consulting firm The Nour Group, Inc., delivered the keynote address.
A few academic highlights from the event:
In a LinkedIn post reviewing the experience, Ashworth College President Rob Klapper said, “The commencement ceremony was awe-inspiring. I am so moved by the accomplishments, optimism and unbridled joy of our students. Speaking with so many graduates, and hearing the obstacles they have overcome to earn their certificate, diploma, or degree, reinforced the difference education can make in the lives of our students.”
To highlight the geographic reach of Ashworth College, PCDI Canada, and Madison School of Healthcare, Career Diploma and Career Certificate graduates included:
Degree program graduates included:
“This event is so important to us,” said Ashworth College Chief Academic Officer Christine Jax, “because it brings together students from different parts of the world to celebrate their shared experience of overcoming an academic challenge. It’s something families always want to celebrate together and though all the studies were done online, the physical experience of walking the stage for that diploma helps graduates cement this milestone in their lives.”
Ashworth College hosts its commencement event annually. Graduates of all the online schools under its umbrella are invited to participate regardless of the year they officially graduated. In addition to the ceremony itself, the day-long event typically includes a professional portrait photographer, social media activities, rehearsal time, and a light reception. Information about next year’s event will be made available on www.ashworthcollege.edu/why-ashworth/student-life/graduation/attend-graduation/.
Ashworth College is a nationally-accredited online institution that provides flexible and affordable education to students located around the world. Areas of study include more than 125 career-focused programs in the high-demand fields of healthcare, technology, business, creative services, education, legal studies, and trades. Since its founding 30 years ago, more than 300,000 students have graduated from Ashworth College with diplomas, professional certificates, associate, and bachelor’s degrees. In a 2017 survey done for DEAC, 95 percent of students and graduates of the school’s 20 most popular programs said they were satisfied with their studies and would recommend Ashworth College to a friend. For more information, visit www.ashworthcollege.edu.
Ashworth College is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Media Contact:
Amy Dixon
Ashworth College
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