Graduate Spotlight
Donna Smith
As a former track athlete, Donna Smith looked at college like a race. All she needed to do was wait for the starting pistol to go off. She started off strong, and then: life happened. She joined the military, went to basic and advanced training, and welcomed her first daughter into the world. Each time, she would pick up from where she left off and keep moving forward. In the meantime, her husband (boyfriend at the time) completed his degree. Knowing how important it was to Donna to earn her degree, the two made a pact to see each other through the obstacles that lay ahead.
Christopher Walker
I never thought I could be this close to receiving a college degree. Having a degree is very important to me and my future, It will give me more opportunities and more options. It will definitely set me apart from my peers when it’s time to get promoted. I would like to thank my wife, children, friends, mentors, A Co team, and the staff at Grantham University for pushing me to further my education. Grantham University has afforded me the opportunity to become the first college graduate in my family. A quality education can never be replaced.
Jose Castillo
I have always wanted to graduate from college and this has always been a strong feeling I have had. Why now so late? It is NEVER too late! I have three children who I preach education to and it is hard for me to expect them to take me seriously when I have not practiced what I have been preaching. Grantham has allowed them to see the late hours I put in and when they complain about their homework, I just tell them to “Look at Dad!!!”
Frank Beaz
Frank Baez comes from a career military family. His father is a member of the Army and most recently, redeployed from a one year deployment in support of Operation New Dawn. His mother is a full-time concessionaire in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and his brother is currently a freshman at The Citadel. His family is who he credits for most of his strengths and successes.
Frank’s career in the military is full of astonishing stories of dedication and strength; however, to hear him tell it, he is just another soldier doing his duty.
Mr. Shelly J. Mathis
Mr. Shelly J. Mathis is currently stationed in Afghanistan pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Shelly’s educational journey did not start while serving his country overseas. It started in 1989, when a young man, Shelly, was awarded a band scholarship that paid a portion of his college education; student loans and grants were used for the rest.
Lindsey Halley
Master Sergeant Lindsey Halley started her college career traditionally, right after she graduated from high school. Like a lot of college students, though, she never finished her degree.
“I joined the Army, became a wife and mother, traveled and went about the business of living,” MSG Halley said. Read More…
Noel Frias
As Americans, we sometimes take all of our freedoms for granted. The youngest child of eight, Noel Frias, was aware of this freedom at a young age. As a young boy growing up in Manila, Philippines, Frias would watch American commercials on TV and dream about life in America. The happiness and success depicted in the commercials inspired him and shaped his dreams.
Eventually, Frias did move to America with his parents. He had the drive to be successful and he knew that education would be a part of how to reach that success. Read More…
La’Tiki Gray
Chief Warrant Two La’Tiki N. Gray began her education at Grantham University at the same time her son, Jarquarius Peterson, was starting his college education. She decided that now was the time to accomplish a goal she set when she graduated from high school.
CW2 Gray has been serving in the Army for 14 years and is a Supply System Technician. She plans to serve our country for another six years and then retire. By the time she retires, she will have earned both her bachelor’s and master’s from Grantham University. Read More…
Alen Schulze
Schulze earned an associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree at Grantham
Master Sergeant Alen S. Schulze made the decision to pursue a degree eight years ago when he was a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. He strongly believes in the importance of an education.
Grantham’s Military Scholarship program was his main motivation for enrolling because the scholarship aligned with this tuition assistance funding and included the cost of books and software. However, it quickly became apparent to MSG Schulze that Grantham was the right fit for him… Read More
James Frazier
Grantham University graduate, First Lieutenant James Frazier, always knew he would “eventually” complete his education once the money and opportunity arose. “As I started a family, it became even more important to earn my degree,” said LT Frazier. He not only wanted to fulfill his goal, but set a good example for his children. It is important to him that his children know that “they can be anything they want to be” and understand the importance of a college education. But LT Frazier knew that it would be best to lead by example. Read More…
Richard Krohn
Retired Master Sergeant Richard Krohn like many High School seniors graduated with no definite plans. Shortly after, he joined the Air Force to have a job and this is how his journey to where he is now began. He wasn’t planning on making the Air Force a career, but realized that “meaningful work that pays enough to support a family” isn’t the easiest thing to come by. When he was ready to retire from the Air Force, he had a similar realization. “When I started looking for a job, I once again found that there just weren’t that many jobs available that I liked and paid well that didn’t require a degree,” said Richard. “Finally, after 22 years of putting it off, I made the choice to work on my degree.” Read More…
Chief John Harris
Former Command Chief Master Sergeant John M. Harris has served in the Air Force and Air National Guard for 26 years. Furthering his education was always important, but life intervened. After deploying in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom and recovering from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Chief Harris was able to realize his goal. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Grantham University in May 2008 with a 3.81 GPA and is planning to graduate with his MBA in 2010.
During his appointment as Command Chief Master Sergeant, one of his responsibilities was to encourage Airmen to fully utilize all of the benefits available to them, including educational benefits. Chief Harris believes that if he could finish his degree with a hectic travel schedule, family responsibilities, hurricane seasons, and while preparing for retirement, anyone can do it. Read More…
Trung Nguyen
Graduate, Trung Nguyen, Traveled from Vietnam to the United States for a Chance at a Better Life
Mr. Trung Nguyen, the second of four children, was born in Vietnam in 1972, while North and South Vietnam were still at war. Trung’s father was a lieutenant in the Army, who was arrested by the communists and sent to a concentration camp in 1975. Fortunately, he was released after just a few months. Read More…
Wanda Covington-Ragsdale
Wanda Covington-Ragsdale obtained her “ultimate goal” when she achieved her MBA in Information Management from Grantham University on September 20, 2010. As a former enlisted member of the United States Air Force, earning this degree took longer than she planned due to frequent moves. Wanda found that each time she relocated, she would have to switch colleges, and sometimes this resulted in losing transfer credits and having to start over. Luckily, she found a solution when she discovered Grantham University. Read More…
Michael Critchlow
Grantham University student, Michael Critchlow, was born in Newark, New Jersey, making him one of the first generations in his family to grow up outside of Trinidad and Tobago. Now working in Washington, DC, Critchlow thinks, “to be competitive you have to be able to match up in person and on paper.”
He places a great deal of value on a college education and understands that continuing education is the best way to remain competitive in the job market and make it through the current economic situation. He feels there is no need to settle for less in life. “Now that I have earned my degree, I will continue to strive for more,” said Critchlow. Read More…
Justin Mosley
Iowa native, Technical Sergeant Justin Mosley, graduated from Warsaw High School in Warsaw, Illinois, with an athletic scholarship offer to a state university. TSgt. Mosley declined the scholarship, and instead, decided to serve his country by joining the United States Air Force. While some may think that he didn’t make the right choice, his decision did not negatively impact his educational goals. “I decided to get a degree early in my military career so I would set myself up for success in the future,” said TSgt. Mosley. With that, he took advantage of the military friendliness and flexibility of Grantham’s 100% online degree programs. “I chose Grantham University because of its flexibility with working with students,” he commented. “Online learning was a big bonus for me, because I tend to perform better if I can set my own pace.” Read More…
Anastasia Stevenson
Anastasia Stevenson, born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, is the youngest of 10 children, and the first in her family to receive a college degree. In 2009, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management from Webster University-Saint Louis. But, Stevenson didn’t stop there; she continued on in her educational journey and completed her Master of Science degree in Information Management – Project Management with distinction at Grantham University in July 2010. Read More…
David Soucy
Education – the key to making a difference - that’s the way David Soucy, retired military veteran and current Grantham University student feels. However, achieving his educational goals has been more challenging at times than he expected.
While in the military, David decided to further his education, so he could use the knowledge and experiences to help improve society. “I researched Grantham University and found that the school had a lot to offer, including online degrees…this was great because I was working a full time job, raising a family and giving time to the military” said David. Read More…
Judy Guy
Grantham University graduate and Air Force Veteran, Judy Guy, was constantly told she was not smart enough to go school. She proved to herself and to those who doubted her that she was not only smart enough to go to school, but to complete her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Grantham University.
A victim of sixteen years of abuse, Judy overcame many obstacles to complete her degree. One of the biggest challenges was lack of time. Judy heard about Grantham through a friend and thought that she would give it a try, even with her demanding schedule. However, she didn’t just try; she was successful and found that Grantham’s flexible learning format fit her busy schedule. Read More..
Charles Diamond
On March 16th, Grantham University held the first of several celebrations honoring the University’s upcoming 60th anniversary of providing a high quality online education that is accessible and affordable. The University, which was founded on January 2, 1951, plans to host similar events throughout the year to honor its students and alumni in their local communities. The theme of the 60th Year Celebrations is “Serving Those Who Serve – 60 Years of Excellence. Be a Part of It.”
On the evening of March 16th many area students and alumni gathered along with members of the Grantham University Board of Governors, staff, and members of the military voluntary education community at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel in Rosslyn, Virginia. Several students received academic awards, and recent graduate, Mr. Charles Diamond, was presented with his Bachelor of Science degree in General Studies. Mr. Diamond graduated Cum Laude… Read more…
