ORANGE BEACH, AL – This October 16th, 2009 more than 1,200 graduates and guests from around the globe will travel to Pensacola, Florida to attend the annual Columbia Southern University (CSU) graduation ceremony. Alumni will meet their classmates for the first time as they celebrate this special milestone. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at the National Naval Aviation Museum, the world’s second largest air and space museum.
Graduates represent countries as far as Kenya, Germany, and Bermuda and cities as close as Pensacola, Navarre and Orange Beach. The largest number of graduates, 42, will come from Vietnam.
“Graduation is a particularly meaningful event for students who have never had the opportunity to meet their classmates or faculty members,” said CSU President, Robert Mayes. “It’s an incredible experience to witness online learners from all of the world coming together to commemorate their educational journey.”
The ceremony will be held in the 10,000 square foot museum atrium with a quartet of McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk jets suspended above in their famous diamond formation. This 300,000 square foot museum of steel and glass attracts approximately one million visitors a year and features more than 150 aircraft.
Chief Dennis Rubin, Fire Chief for the District of Columbia, will serve as the keynote speaker. His agency is the nation’s first responder, responsible for safeguarding the U.S. Capitol, the White House, and other precious landmarks, schools, businesses and homes. As chief, he is responsible for overseeing more than 2,000 employees. Chief Rubin’s fire and rescue service experience spans more than 35 years.
CSU, one of the nation’s first completely online universities, offers degree programs in popular fields including business administration, fire science, criminal justice, occupational safety and health, marketing, information technology and more. With a record enrollment of over 18,000 students, this local university based in Orange Beach, Alabama is among the most rapidly growing universities in the U.S.
In 2008, CSU was recognized as one of the top 20 schools for military education by Military Advanced Education. Schools selected are considered the best of the best in military education based on the number of military students enrolled, number of military contracts, and amount of accessible financial aid and scholarships for members of the military.
Other activities such as an alumni meeting and graduation reception are also scheduled for CSU graduates and guests. For more information, please call 1-800-977-8449 or visit www.columbiasouthern.edu.
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