Baker College's Auburn Hills campus celebrates graduates June 17

Baker College's Auburn Hills campus will acknowledge 581 graduates at the 2016 commencement ceremonies Friday, June 17, at The Apostolic Church, 3655 N. Squirrel Road, Auburn Hills.

The first of two ceremonies begins at 4 p.m. for graduates of the health sciences programs.

At 7 p.m., graduates of the business administration, education, human services, criminal justice, early childhood education and technical programs, and of Baker College Online/Center for Graduate Studies will be honored.

“At Baker College, our focus is firmly fixed on providing the quality education necessary for our students to succeed in their chosen careers," said Peter W. Karsten, Ph.D., CPA, Baker College of Auburn Hills president. “As they graduate and move into those careers, we commend them on achieving this milestone.”

At the 4 p.m. commencement ceremony, the student speaker is Salina Tiernan, of Pontiac. She will earn a bachelor’s degree in health services administration.

Tiernan and Scott Hazelwood, of Royal Oak, will be honored as outstanding students representing the health sciences programs. Hazelwood will graduate with an associate degree in respiratory care.

At the 7 p.m. commencement ceremony, the student speaker is Dwayne Parsons, of Davisburg. He will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

Outstanding students in the early childhood education programs are Parsons and three who will receive bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education: Sarah Lackey, of Auburn Hills, Lauren McCall, of Lake Orion, and Shelby Wohlfeil, of Holly.

Outstanding graduates to be recognized for the following programs are:

· Business administration – Tim Peruzzi, of Oakland, bachelor’s in marketing, and Andrew Clark, of Holly, associate in management.

· Technology – Brian Chumbler, of Rochester Hills, bachelor’s in information technology and security; and Kori Steigerwald, of Rochester, associate in interior design.

Several Baker College employees will be earning degrees:

· Ronaldo Tabbilos, of Bloomfield Hills, and Kayleigh Ehlke, Clarkston, health sciences faculty members, will earn physical therapist assistant associate degrees.

· Judith Halvorson, of St. Clair Shores, program director for medical assistant, medical insurance specialist and phlebotomy technician, will receive a bachelor’s in health services administration.

For more information about Baker College career programs, contact Nicole Chirco in the admissions office at 248.340.0600 or nicole.chirco@baker.edu, or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Baker College grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. Every Baker College graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker College was one of the first in the state to offer students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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