Kaplan University Holds Commencement for Graduates Earning Online Degrees

CHICAGO, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaplan University held its summer commencement ceremony for more than 1,400 recipients of online degrees on Saturday morning, July 1st, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown in Chicago, Ill. Graduates and their families traveled across the country, from Florida to Washington state, to attend the ceremony. Online degrees including certificates, associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees were awarded in paralegal studies, business administration, information technology, criminal justice and education, among other fields.

Kaplan University recognized more than 20 graduates with Academic Excellence Awards based on cumulative grade point averages of 4.0. The Kaplan University Award was given to Brenda Shultz, a 50 year-old grandmother from Bremerton, Washington who earned her associate's degree online in information technology. Shultz turned to online education as a single mother unable to commute to a traditional university to work toward her degree, and was overwhelmingly selected by the University faculty and staff as an exemplary graduate.

"Kaplan University provides access to higher education for students all around the world, from a military base in Iraq to a small Arkansas town," said Kaplan University President Andrew S. Rosen. "The ability to earn an online degree has eliminated geographical barriers for our students, and today our graduates celebrate their successes together-many meeting for the first time."

More than 150 online educators and deans attended the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the graduates. Criminal justice professor Andrew Carpenter, Nursing instructor Barb Gunderson and paralegal faculty member Penny Lorenzo each received the Outstanding Faculty Award for their tireless commitment to their students and colleagues.

Dr. Richard H. Ward, a noted expert on transnational crime and terrorism, delivered the commencement address. Dr. Ward serves on the advisory board of Kaplan University's Graduate School of Criminal Justice and is currently the dean and director of the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University in Texas. A former New York City police detective, he has also served as an administrator at numerous universities and colleges, including the University of Illinois at Chicago.

For those who could not attend, the commencement video will be available online at http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/ .

Kaplan University, based in Davenport, Iowa, is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The University currently serves more than 26,000 online and on-ground students.

About Kaplan Higher Education and Kaplan, Inc.

In addition to Kaplan University, Kaplan, Inc.'s higher education division includes Concord Law School and more than 75 campus-based locations. Kaplan Higher Education offers master's, bachelor's and associate's degrees, as well as certificates designed to provide students with the skills necessary to qualify them for employment in fields such as business, criminal justice, education, fashion and design, health care, information technology, legal and paralegal studies. Kaplan is a leading provider of educational and career services to students, schools, professionals and businesses worldwide. For nearly 70 years, Kaplan has helped millions of individuals achieve their educational and career goals. Kaplan is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company . For more information about Kaplan, please visit http://www.kaplan.com/ .

Note to editors: Kaplan is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company .

Press contact: Caitrin Muldoon, cmuldoon@kaplan.edu, tel. (954) 515-3773/cell (850) 449-3667