News Release
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Laurie E. Bick-Jensen
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320 DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
19720
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laurie.e.bick@wilmu.edu
Wilmington University Class of 2016 Receives Degrees at Annual Commencement Ceremonies
Wilmington University awarded a total of 4,300 degrees in seven graduation ceremonies to graduates of the Class of 2016. In January, traditionally the University's largest commencement each year, 2,359 degrees were awarded. In a ceremony at the University's Georgetown location in Sussex County on May 18, 229 degrees were awarded to graduates who took classes at that site.
On Sunday, May 22, 1,803 degrees were awarded to graduates in ceremonies at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.
Wilmington University's Class of 2016 is one of the largest graduating classes in the University's history. The graduates will become part of an alumni network of over 41,000 domestic and international graduates. Wilmington University total enrollment is more than 21,000 students, one third of whom take classes exclusively online.
The ceremonies at the Chase Center were streamed live over the Internet and allowed families to join the graduates on their special day regardless of distance or ability to travel.
Each ceremony featured a student speaker specially selected by the University for exemplary academic performance and service to the community:
Georgetown
Jennifer D. Wightman
Jennifer received a Master of Education in Special Education on May 18 during commencement at the University's Georgetown location. She lives in Smyrna, Delaware, and is the mother of a special needs child. Jennifer is experienced in Applied Behavior Analysis and has an interest in helping all children reach their learning potential. She completed her degree program with a 3.97 grade point average.
New Castle County
Paulette Mason
Mason, who spoke at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony, was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. She also received the academic award for the Master of Science in Management program. Mason maintained a 4.0 grade point average while completing her degree program. Throughout the course of her studies, Mason also cared for her daughter, a U.S. Army soldier, who was critically wounded in Afghanistan. She contributes her time to several veterans support organizations.
James C. Parrish
Parrish, a Freshman Seminar adjunct instructor at Cumberland Community College, was awarded a Master of Science degree in Administration of Human Services. He is the adoptive father of four boys who made national headlines due to the cruel abuse they suffered at the hands of foster parents. Today, they serve as his motivation in working with children and "at-risk" youth. Parrish completed his degree program with a 3.85 grade point average.
Maria Fernanda Velasquez Loayza
A database administrator and web developer for a finance company in Newark, Delaware, Velasquez Loayza is originally from Ecuador. During her time at Wilmington University, she helped many other international students to acclimated to University life as a Peer Mentor. She maintained a 4.0 grade point average as she earned her Master of Science degree in Information Systems Technologies with a concentration in Internet and web page design from the College of Technology
About Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the second fastest growing doctoral institution in America 2003 – 2013 by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education, affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention are hallmarks of the University that enable greater student success in their chosen careers. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit our website: www.wilmu.edu.
