North St. Louis County Resident Speaks at WGU Missouri Commencement

Normandy resident Arnold Hogue delivered remarks at WGU Missouri’s commencement ceremony, which was held Saturday, June 25, at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in St. Louis. Hogue received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

Hogue, who is the youngest of 12 children, currently works for ABB in St. Louis, installing and repairing transformers, and he hopes to further his career. After attempting to complete his bachelor’s degree at a few different institutions, Hogue made a promise to his ailing infant son, who passed away in 2012, that he would succeed in becoming a college graduate. After initially learning about WGU Missouri in the summer of 2013, Hogue registered and began his coursework the following year. Addressing the crowd, Hogue shared the trials he has faced in his life and how his degree will help him pursue a better future.

“The past two years have been unrelenting, unforgiving and downright agonizing at times,” said Hogue. “But, somewhere in the midst of all the obstacles I faced, I always remembered the promise I made to my son, and that promise kept me from losing sight of my educational dreams. The staff members at WGU have coached me into the professional I’ve become, and throughout my journey, they continued to believe in me and encourage me to strive for excellence. This has been the perfect university for me.”

Hogue was one of five graduates from North St. Louis County who walked in the June 25 commencement. The other five graduates include:

• April Allen, of Bel-Ridge, MBA in Management and Strategy

• Lisa Blumenkemp, of Overland, Master of Science in Management and Leadership

• Ashley Collier, of Bridgeton, Bachelor of Science in Business Management

• Talia Hopkins, of Florissant, Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Mathematics Education

Hogue was joined by two other student speakers, who shared stories of their educational journeys with WGU Missouri during the ceremony. They included: Justine Eubanks, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, from Owensville, Mo. and Janine Lange, M.S. Nursing Leadership and Management, from Imperial, Mo. Governor Jay Nixon served as the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

“This commencement marks a turning point in the lives of WGU Missouri students,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “Our graduates have invested countless hours to earn their degrees, advance their careers and build better lives for their families. These students are more than your typical college students. They are a testament that working adults can indeed accomplish their educational aspirations, and they’re leading the way for more Missourians to reach this milestone.”

WGU Missouri Commencement by the Numbers:

· WGU Missouri graduates represent nearly 100 cities across the state and more than 50 counties.

· 166 undergraduate and 122 graduate degrees are being conferred.

· The average age of the graduates is 38; the youngest grad is 21; the oldest is 66.

· 92 percent of the graduates are over the age of 27.

· 43 percent of the graduates represent the first generation in their families to complete college.

· Degree distribution by college:

o College of Business – 109

o College of Health Professions and Nursing – 101

o College of Information Technology – 25

o Teachers College – 53

WGU Missouri’s online, competency-based model allows students to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. As a result, many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing faster and saving money. Tuition is charged at a flat rate of $2,890 per six-month term for most programs, regardless of the number of courses completed. On average, students are able to complete a bachelor’s degree in less than three years, many while holding a full-time job and raising a family. The online model also enables students to enroll and study from anywhere across the state, and complete coursework at a schedule that works best for them. For more information, visit missouri.wgu.edu.