CORVALLIS, Ore. — More than 200 Extended Campus students from around the world graduated this year from Oregon State University, a record number that reflects the continued growth in Ecampus and the demand for online courses and OSU programs.
“Online education and its ability to meet the educational needs of contemporary students is a growing success,” said Scott Reed, vice provost for outreach and engagement at OSU. “Our graduates increasingly demonstrate that education can happen anywhere, not just in a university classroom.”
The top three undergraduate degrees for the class of 2010 were liberal studies, 75; natural resources, 46; and environmental science, 29. This year’s graduating class includes students from 35 states and six countries – the furthest away being in Singapore. Ecampus is now delivering more than 700 accredited OSU courses via the web, video/DVD, and other technologies.
More than 40 of the new graduates traveled from as far away as Massachusetts for a reception and to attend graduation. For most, this was their first visit to the OSU campus.
Dave King, associate provost of Ecampus, said that “the stories of our Ecampus students are always fascinating to me.”
“You can imagine the extra effort most people have to put in when they are working full time, caring for others or whatever keeps them place-bound,” King said. “Giving them an opportunity to continue, and in the case of our graduates actually finish this part of their education, is very rewarding.”
William Bradford and Shannon Sims were among the graduates to attend.
Bradford, a graduate from Cambridge, Mass., received his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, an accomplishment that at one point he did not think he would live to see. In 2005 he was in a serious accident that required 32 surgeries and years of painful recovery. For him, an online education was his only answer to finally receive the degree he had started nearly 20 years earlier. And he now plans to continue his education, pursuing a master of divinity degree at Harvard University.
“Ecampus is a great way to gain access to an education that may be physically and geographically impossible,” Bradford said. “In addition, the psychological benefit of taking classes was enormous. It allowed me to focus on something other than my own pain and recovery.”
Shannon Sims, a graduate with a master’s degree in adult education, wondered how she could obtain her degree while working a full-time job during the day, and coming home to her family at night. Situations like this lead many students to pursue their education online instead of the traditional classroom setting.
“I am a full-time faculty member at Rogue Community College, as well as a wife and mother to a very busy 10-year-old son,” said Sims. “It would have been impossible to get my master’s degree any other way. And completing my master’s in adult education has made me a leader in my organization. I apply the concepts I’ve learned in this program to my work every single day. It also opens many doors for me in the world of human resources and organizational education.”
More information about Ecampus undergraduate, graduate and professional programs can be obtained by calling (800) 667-1465, or online at ecampus.oregonstate.edu.
Among the graduates this year from OSU Ecampus were:
OREGON
Albany:
- Shawn Dawson, MAT
- Jim McKnight, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Mary Miller, MAT in Elementary Education
- Stephen White, B.S. Natural Resources
Aloha:
- Kimberly Robinson, B.S. Liberal Studies
Astoria:
- Aaron Gasser, B.S. Liberal Studies
Bandon:
- Canada Converse, B.S. Liberal Studies
Beaverton:
- Lisa Dianatkhah, B.S., Liberal Studies
- Todd Harrison, Master in Adult Education
Bend:
- Emmanuel Miller, B.S. Political Science
- Kaaren Provence, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Kelly Ruebush, B.S. Natural Resources
- David White, Education
- Tanya Wray, Master in Adult Education
Boring:
- Rachel Rawson, B.S. Liberal Studies
Brownsville:
- Amber Cordova, B.S. General Agriculture
Canby:
- Tracey Grisham, Education
- Tami Parsons, B.S. Political Science
Coos Bay:
- Michael Brumit, Master in Adult Education
Coquille:
- Angela Robinson, B.S. Liberal Studies
Corbett:
- Danielle Erb, B.S. Natural Resources*
Corvallis:
- Mona Beach-Bernardi, MAT
- Jesse Freeby, B.S. Liberal Studies
- David Honzay, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Aida Mercado, MAT
- Caeley O Shea, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Donna Shaw, Education
Damascus:
- Corinne Fisher, B.S. Liberal Studies*
Dayton:
- Mandy Galvan, B.S. Liberal Studies
Eagle Point:
- Shannon Sims, Master in Adult Education*
Fairview:
- Megan Pankey. Master in Adult Education*
- Sean McCaffey, B.S. Political Science
Glide:
- Kristine Keizer, Master in Adult Education *
Gresham:
- Michaela Jonson, B.S. Liberal Studies*
- Daniel Sause, B.S. Liberal Studies*
Happy Valley:
- Caroline Cordes, Education
Hillsboro:
- Heather Nebrich, Master in Adult Education*
- Rebekah Sudie, B.S. Natural Resources
Hood River:
- Kathyrn Anderson, B.S. Liberal Studies
Independence:
- Kathryn Cheval, Education
- Shawna Meekins, B.S. Liberal Studies
Istanbul:
- Stephanie Holtman, Education
Jefferson:
- Chelsie Martin, MAT
Keizer:
- Keare Blaylock, B.S. Environmental Science
- Steven Prine, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Christina Wagner, B.S. Liberal Studies
Klamath Falls:
- Adeena Klein, B.S. Liberal Studies
Lakeside:
- Raeth Morgan, B.S. Environmental Science
Lebanon:
- Jan Mills, Education
Lincoln City:
- Brian Martineau, B.S. General Agriculture
- Stephanie Colliander, B.S. Natural Resources
Mulino:
- Brittney Herbison, B.S. Liberal Studies
Newberg:
- Stasey Norstrom, B.S. Liberal Studies
Newport:
- Dann Cutter, B.S. Environmental Science
- Mary Crommett, B. S. Liberal Studies
North Bend:
- Star Sequoia, Master in Adult Education*
O Brien:
- Kira McBride, B.S. Liberal Studies
Ontario:
- Raymond Lock, B.S. Natural Resources*
Oregon City:
- Patrick Provant, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Teresa Wicklund, Education
Otis:
- Ericka Klein, B.S. Liberal Studies
Phoenix:
- Erin Bergesen, B.S. Environmental Sciences
Powell Butte:
- Susan Spurgeon, Education
Redmond:
- Steven Housden, B.S. Liberal Studies
Roseburg:
- Melissa Olson, Education
St. Helens:
- Patrick Bright, B. S. Natural Resources
Sandy:
- Jerry Renfro, Master in Adult Education
Scotts Mills:
- Mary Amick, Master in Adult Education
Sherwood:
- Alexandrea Goranson, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Matthew Hegerberg, B.S. General Agriculture
Tigard:
- Jennifer Block, B.S. Liberal Studies
- Meghan Keysboe, B.S. Political Science
Tillamook:
- Janet Satter, B.S. Natural Resources
Veneta:
- Alisa Johnson, Education
West Linn:
- Marla Christensen, B.S. Liberal Studies*
- Heather Masterson, Master in Adult Education*
- Rebecca Pershing, B. S. Liberal Studies
WASHINGTON
Aberdeen:
- Albert Molinet, B.S. Natural Resources
Curtis:
- Danielle Craig, B.S. Natural Resources
Darrington:
- Kraig Kidwell, B.S. Natural Resources
Dupont:
- Andrea Goff, B.S. Liberal Studies
Friday Harbor:
- Noreene Ignelzi, Master in Science Education
Moses Lake:
- Kara McDaniel, B.S. Natural Resources
Olympia:
- Robert Wohlers, B.S. Natural Resources
Seabeack:
- Anja Huff, B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife
Spanaway:
- Isaac Bean, Master of Health Physics
Washougal:
- Emilie Goodling, B.S. Liberal Studies
White Salmon:
- Roston Bartlett, B. S. Liberal Studies
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Editor’s Note: Student’s whose names are marked with an asterisk* have more detailed information about them and a photo available online, at http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/about/learn-more/students/graduation2010/default.htm
