WGU Texas to Honor Nearly 900 Graduates at Commencement Saturday

HOUSTON, Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For Chad Welch (Georgetown), the journey to earn his Bachelor of Science in Information Technology began at 44 years old, after years spent dreaming of having a college degree to match his IT experience, and months before he would be diagnosed with cancer. On Saturday, November 8, 2014, Welch will walk across the stage of the Bayou Music Center in Houston at WGU Texas' third annual commencement ceremony as a cancer survivor and college graduate.

Like all WGU Texas graduates, Welch's personal journey to earning his degree is unique—but his story and the stories of his fellow graduates share common themes of hard work, determination, and the need for a flexible university education that fits the life of a busy working adult.

In addition to four student speakers, including Welch, the event will feature a commencement address from Paul Hobby, founder and managing partner of Genesis Park, L.P. Hobby currently serves as Chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership. The commencement begins at 9:45 a.m.  

"Receiving a higher education set the foundation for my career, and it's pivotal to our economic growth that we provide Texans with the opportunity to further their education," Hobby said. "The need for a highly educated workforce continues to grow, and WGU Texas helps by offering an affordable, flexible solution for earning an accredited degree."  

WGU Texas's online, competency-based model allows busy adults to earn their degrees without sacrificing work and family obligations. Students apply prior learning and experience to move quickly through what they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. In many cases, this allows students to accelerate their progress toward a degree, saving both time and money.

Since WGU Texas launched in 2011, the student body has grown to over 5,700, with new students enrolling each month. During Saturday's ceremonies, the university will confer 561 undergraduate and 321 graduate degrees in business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions.

"This commencement is especially meaningful because it celebrates 882 students who have invested countless hours to finish their college degrees and improve their careers," said Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Chancellor of WGU Texas. "We couldn't be prouder of their achievements, and we are excited for the future of the 2014 graduating class."

One of the four graduates delivering a commencement speech, Amanda Smith (Kilgore), wanted to go back to school to advance her career. As a busy mom to two young children, Baxter needed the flexibility and affordability of WGU Texas's model to earn her Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

For graduate speaker Victor Villegas (Farmers Branch), WGU Texas provided the opportunity to overcome a difficult past and achieve his goal of earning a Masters of Education in Learning and Technology. Villegas now hopes to encourage others to reach their full potential. 

While pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at WGU Texas, Yovaletta Sullivan (Houston) learned that she needed to have brain surgery. With the support of her mentors, Sullivan realized her own strength and completed her degree while in recovery from surgery. She is now healthy and pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management at WGU Texas.

While WGU Texas students graduate throughout the year—as soon as they've completed their coursework —the commencement ceremony allows students to share this victory with family, friends, and faculty mentors who supported their journey.

About WGU Texas
As the state's only online, competency-based university, WGU Texas offers accredited bachelor's and master's degrees in today's high-demand fields. WGU Texas' model is unique—rather than earning degrees based on time spent in class, students advance toward their credential at their own pace by demonstrating competency. Most degree programs are charged at a flat rate of $3,000 per six-month term.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of WGU, which is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Learn more at texas.wgu.edu  or call 1-877-214-7011.

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SOURCE WGU Texas

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