This weekend, Western Governors University (WGU) will celebrate the dedication and perseverance of 657 new graduates who have earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, marking the fourth in-person commencement of 2022, which is also WGU’s 25th anniversary year. As the uncertainty brought by the recent pandemic significantly affected students and their families, these ceremonies will commemorate the culmination of their inspiring achievements. On Saturday, the new alumni will celebrate their well-earned diplomas with approximately 4,000 family members and supporters at the Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.
Delivering the keynote address will be Maxine Clark, the Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience that has over 400 stores worldwide. In 2022, Build-A-Bear will celebrate its 25th anniversary. In 2013, Clark stepped down from Build-A-Bear to pursue a new passion of helping unleash the potential of women and minority entrepreneurs and to use her entrepreneurial skills to create platforms and places that give access to more St. Louis families. Her latest venture is the Delmar DivINe™, which transformed the historic St. Luke’s Hospital – a neighborhood eyesore – into a multi-use real estate development that opened in late 2021. Clark is also a Founding Managing Director of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis-based accelerator for women led businesses, serves on the Board of Advisors of Lewis and Clark Ventures and as an advisor to the TxO Fund. In 2017, Clark was named to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame and in 2015 was named Women of the Year by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation.
Since the most recent in-person commencement ceremony in September, 2,332 WGU students have completed their degree programs, joining more than 297,000 alumni who have graduated from WGU since its founding in 1997. Some 301 undergraduate and 356 graduate degree recipients from 40 states are expected to participate in Saturday’s ceremony.
Approximately 73% of the graduates come from at least one of the following historically underserved populations: first-generation college students, students of color, rural residents and/or low-income earners. Graduates earned degrees in business, K–12 education, information technology and health professions, including nursing, and many work full time and raise families while completing their programs.
“For 25 years, WGU has served students from across the nation striving to transform their lives and advance their careers through education,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of WGU for the Midwest Region. “Saturday’s commencement ceremony will honor our students’ perseverance as they reach this important milestone they worked so hard to achieve, and we are excited to celebrate their accomplishments together in St. Louis during our silver anniversary year.”
Two graduates will also share their stories. They are:
- Antonio Taylor of Memphis, Tenn., who has a passion for information technology and currently serves as the Director of Technical Services and Infrastructure for Transnetyx. Antonio leads development and IT Infrastructure strategies of major organizations through transformational expansion and change. Antonio is actively involved in leadership and community activities in the Memphis area and currently serves as a board member for SIM Memphis. He earned his MBA in Information Technology Management from WGU in 2018.
- Rebecca Taylor of Yucca Valley, Calif., who worked as a paraprofessional for six years before becoming a special education teacher last year. She currently works as a middle school special education teacher at an online charter school. A 2021 graduate of WGU, Rebecca loved the university’s online model, which allowed her to work, be home with her family, go to school and complete her program in just two years. Receiving her Bachelor of Arts, Special Education and Elementary Education degree and related credentials in an online program motivated her to continue in an online setting with her career.
The combined commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. CST and stream live at http://wgu.edu/commencement. During the ceremony, graduates will use the hashtag #WGUgrad to share on social media how they’re celebrating.
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 135,000 students nationwide and has more than 297,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.
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For more information, contact:
Merisa Ashbaugh
(314)436-9090