Ceremony celebrated the graduation of 10,000 students
Former NFL coach Tony Dungy today urged Kaplan University's winter 2012 graduates to reach for the unreachable and pursue their dreams.
Tony Dungy urged Kaplan University's winter 2012 graduates to pursue their dreams. (Photo: Business Wire)
"Technology has changed the way we communicate and connect with one another all around the world," Dungy said during the ceremony at Miami's James L. Knight Center. "These improvements are because of people who worked hard and weren't satisfied by how things are usually done on a daily basis. People just like you. People like you, who, dream about what might be possible."
"Don't follow the crowd," Dungy said. "Follow your dreams."
The commencement celebrated the achievements of more than 10,000 Kaplan University online students, thousands of whom watched the ceremony via a live webcast from their homes around the country. More than 1,400 traveled to Miami to attend the ceremony, meeting their peers and professors face-to-face for the first time during the graduation celebration.
Dungy's coaching career spanned 28 seasons in the NFL, including 13 seasons as a head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, respectively. Dungy retired following the 2008 season after making 10 consecutive playoff appearances and leading the Colts to a Super Bowl championship in 2007. A former defensive back, Dungy is one of three men to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a coach. Dungy is currently an analyst for NBC's Football Night in America and was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award in 2010.
Wade Dyke, D.Phil., president of Kaplan University, praised all of the students for their accomplishment and diligence in pursuing a higher education.
"Today marks a tremendous achievement for each of you receiving a degree today," Dyke said. "It's the culmination of hard work and a refusal to quit. We recognize the hours you put into earning your degree, the discipline it took, and your desire to reach this goal. You did it!"
Awards were presented to students and faculty, including graduate Alissa Lee, who earned a bachelor's degree in human services and was recognized for raising $8,000 to fund two mission trips to take supplies to orphanages in the Philippines. The Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award was presented to Nancy Moretti, EdD, from the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award was presented to Craig Owens, MSW, LCSW, also from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Kaplan hosts two graduations per year for its fully online students; one in Chicago and the other in South Florida. The University also has 11 campuses in Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland and Maine that host graduations throughout the year.
About Kaplan University
Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher education. It strives to help adult students unlock their talent by providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. The University, which has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago, is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (www.ncahlc.org) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Kaplan University serves more than 50,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 11 campuses in Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland and Maine, and Kaplan University Learning Centers in Maryland, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and Florida.
Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves more than 74,000 students online and through more than 70 campus-based schools across the United States. Kaplan Higher Education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from certificates and diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a juris doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan, Inc. is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), and its largest division. For more information about Kaplan University, visit www.kaplanuniversity.edu.
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Contacts:
Kaplan University
Quenjana Adams, 773-777-6806/cell 312-485-1562
qadams@kaplan.edu
Michele
Pore, 312-385-2801/cell 312-502-7534
mpore@kaplan.edu