Bellevue Resident Earns Dual Degrees from WGU

Tremayne LaMont, a resident of Bellevue, was recently recognized for earning his Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance and Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University (WGU). LaMont, who completed his undergraduate degree in February and his master’s degree in August, participated in the nonprofit, fully online university’s commencement ceremony in late August, where he and thousands of other 2020 graduates were recognized and celebrated for their achievements.

LaMont does contract work for the State Department and U.S. embassies around the world, a position that requires him to work 12-hour shifts, six days a week. He thought going to school, while living in a different country almost every year, would be impossible until 2018 when was living in Ankara, Turkey, and learned about WGU from another student. After researching the university and learning more about WGU’s competency-based learning model, which allows students to complete their coursework at their own pace and advance as soon as they prove they have mastered the subject matter, he decided to enroll. He found WGU’s flexible, affordable program worked well with his schedule as he continued to move around the globe.

LaMont completed his bachelor’s degree in February 2020 while he was working in Berlin. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, LaMont continued to work in Germany and decided to pursue his master’s degree, which he completed in August.

“I just want to thank WGU,” he added. “I finished my bachelor's in 18 months and my master's in four months and four days. Over the last two years, I obsessed over schoolwork, and it was well worth it as it already has paid off.”

Since the beginning of 2020, more than 30,000 individuals have earned degrees from WGU, most of them while working full-time jobs and raising families. In its 23-year history, WGU has awarded more than 197,000 degrees and has celebrated with ceremonies held multiple times per year, usually in cities across the country. The August commencement ceremony was held virtually in place of previously planned in-person celebrations.

For more information about the university or its programs, visit wgu.edu.