Baker College’s Allen Park campus to graduate more than 500 on June 10

Baker College’s Allen Park campus will honor 534 graduates at the 2017 commencement ceremony, 10 a.m., Saturday, June 10, at the USA Hockey Arena (formerly Compuware Arena), 14900 Beck Road, Plymouth Township.

“It is with great honor that we present the 2017 class of Baker College of Allen Park graduates,” said Kristine L. Barann, CPA, Baker College of Allen Park president. We’re proud that they chose Baker College to prepare them to fulfill their goals as so many others have done since the college was founded in 1911.”

Shatara Quatesa Gbeminiyi, of Westland, will address graduates as the student speaker. The Westland resident is graduating cum laude with an associate degree in health information technology. She sees her education as a steppingstone to the future versus being a step between high school and the real world. She will also note that the challenges of college have shaped the graduates – helping them “become stronger, wiser and more refined.”

Ashley Howe, of Wyandotte, will receive the William Anthony Mason Service Award in recognition of her outstanding citizenship, activism and scholarship. She will receive a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and has been named to the President’s List 12 times for a 4.0 GPA.

“Watching Ashley grow into a leader, mentor and advocate for others demonstrates what it means to live up to one’s full potential,” said June Rogers, Ph.D., director of the criminal justice program. “Though she had been out of school for six years, she jumped in and made an impact in the college as well is in the lives of other students.”

Graduates who were student ambassadors or are current or veteran members of the military will wear special cords in acknowledgement of their support of the college or service to their country. Student ambassadors will be wearing silver and burgundy cords. They have positively represented the college, assisted students and staff at campus events, and mentored new students. Students who are current or veteran members of the military will be wearing a special red, white and blue honor cord.

Baker College of Allen Park staff members among the graduates are:

• Admissions Advisor Lucas Goyette, of South Rockwood, an MBA in marketing.
• Surgical Technology Clinical Coordinator Mark Massenburg, of Detroit, a bachelor’s degree in health services administration.

For more information about Baker College career programs, contact Steven Peterson in the admissions office at steven.peterson@baker.edu, 313.425.3700 or 800.767.4120, or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1911, Baker College grants doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as certificates in diverse academic fields including applied technology, business, education, engineering, health science, information technology and social science. Baker College has on-ground campuses throughout Michigan and offers online programs that can be completed 100 percent online without ever visiting a campus. In 2016, the Online Learning Consortium recognized Baker College Online with the OLC Quality Scorecard Exemplary Endorsement, the highest ranking for online higher education programs. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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