It's time to celebrate for the Class of 2014

Thirty eight different states were represented by the members of the 2014 graduating class from Bryant & Stratton College Online. Students from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii, including an overseas military spouse formed the 380-member graduating class of 2014.

Of those 380 graduates, 117 made their way to various graduation ceremonies to walk across the stage to celebrate earning their degree. A testament to the hard work and dedication that it takes to earn a degree was highlighted by the impressive number of students who made lengthy trips to any of the Bryant & Stratton ceremonies. Trips from Dayton, OH to Buffalo, NY and even from Texas to Wisconsin didn’t keep graduates from coming to celebrate their achievement with their classmates.

The group that joined the Buffalo-area graduates were treated to a terrific commencement speech from fellow graduate Marc Brooker along with a rousing address from Darius Pridgen. The City of Buffalo Common Council President is a familiar face at Bryant & Stratton’s graduation ceremonies as 2014 marked the third time Pridgen delivered the commencement address. In addition, Kimberly Bullock was named the recipient of the 2014 Campus Director award for Online.

After the speeches and awards had been handed out it was time for the graduates to walk the stage and the group from Online led off the festivities. Walking across the stage officially capped the journey that each graduate took from their first day of classes until graduation. It also represented the close of graduation weekend, something that kicked off on Friday evening with the 2014 Graduate Reception. The reception is an event that allows graduates to meet their classmates and the Bryant & Stratton faculty and staff members who helped guide them through school.

For many, this is the first time they’re able to put a face to the name who they spoke with in discussion boards in class or perhaps the advisor who was with them throughout their time here. The reception is also the time when military students are presented with their cords and honor students are presented with their Alpha Beta Gamma honor stoles. In total, 27 graduates joined the festivities surrounding the Buffalo graduation and we hope to see just as many, if not more, walking the stage in 2015.

Pictures of the Buffalo ceremony and from other graduates can be found on the Bryant & Stratton College Online Facebook page. Congratulations, once again, to each and every one of our 2014 graduates.