麻豆视频

Eastern Florida Awards First Bachelor's Degrees

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The first students to receive Bachelor's Degrees from 麻豆视频 were awarded diplomas and praised for their leadership Thursday during a landmark graduation ceremony.

About 1,260 students were eligible to walk across the stage at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the Melbourne campus during two afternoon ceremonies that marked Fall Commencement.

Among them were 12 students who earned Bachelor's Degrees, a first in the college鈥檚 54-year history and a milestone for Eastern Florida which became a state college last year to provide four-year programs.

The Bachelor's Degrees are meeting 鈥渁n important need in our region by providing students the opportunity to stay close to home to advance their education and their careers,鈥� said college President Dr. Jim Richey.

鈥淭his educational opportunity not only benefits the individual but also their families and the larger community in which we live.鈥�

The first recipients are 鈥渢ruly leading the way for the college and the hundreds, if not thousands, of additional Bachelor's Degree graduates who will follow in the coming years,鈥� said Richey.

He went on to honor students receiving Associate Degrees and College Certificates for their 鈥渉ard work and determination, and by achieving goals that seemed impossible.

鈥淭he fact you are here today speaks to the strength of your character and the true power of your dreams,鈥� he said.

Before the ceremony, the Bachelor鈥檚 graduates and their families gathered for a reception with Richey and members of the college鈥檚 Board of Trustees to mark the special occasion.

The students included Crystal Watkins, 27, of Titusville, who works as a neurological technician and earned a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Health Care Management.

She said the degree 鈥渋s going to kick-start my career as a physician鈥檚 assistant鈥� and that she transferred to Eastern Florida from UCF as soon as the program began in 2013.

鈥淭he classes were awesome and the program was convenient because I could go to work and school at the same time,鈥� said Watkins. 鈥淭he community needs these programs. They鈥檙e a perfect fit.鈥�

Another graduate was James Shirley, 28, of Viera, a Coast Guard veteran who used his GI Bill to help him earn a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in General Business Management.

鈥淭hese programs make it a lot more affordable鈥� for students to return to college, said Shirley, who wants to land a management position in a growing company. 鈥淗opefully, they鈥檒l be more of them.鈥�

Also graduating was Ericka Ross-Murray, 43, of Palm Bay, who received a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Health Care Management.

She works as a patient care specialist in a surgical center and said the degree will allow her to move into management positions throughout the health care industry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very fulfilling to get my degree and it鈥檚 definitely going to be a major plus to help with my career,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t will give me a lot of options and I鈥檓 really glad the college is offering them.鈥�

The Bachelor鈥檚 graduates participated in a 3:30 p.m. ceremony that included graduates from the Melbourne and Palm Bay campuses.

An earlier noon ceremony featured graduates from the Titusville and Cocoa campuses.

鈥淵ou have earned this distinction through your hard work and determination, through long hours and late nights, and by achieving goals that seemed impossible,鈥� Richey told the noon graduates.

鈥淢y admiration for you is immense and I congratulate you on your important achievement.鈥�

Both ceremonies were webcast live and will be rebroadcast on WEFS-TV on Thursday, January 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m. WEFS can be viewed over-the-air on channel 68.1 and on Bright House cable channels 9, 455 and 1068. The webcast archives can be .

Eastern Florida currently offers nine Bachelor's Degree tracks in Business, Health Care and Computer Information Technologies.

About 830 students are enrolled in the programs with courses available on all four of the college鈥檚 campuses and online.

In all, Eastern Florida offers more than 100 degrees and programs in serving Brevard County and the East-Central Florida region.

For more information, visit easternflorida.edu