BAKER COLLEGE OF ALLEN PARK SALUTES GRADUATES SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Largest graduating class in Allen Park campus history

ALLEN PARK, Mich. – A record 565 graduates from Baker College of Allen Park will be honored at commencement ceremonies, 2 p.m., Saturday, June 7, at Compuware Arena, 14900 Beck Road, Plymouth Township.

“We are looking forward to a congratulatory celebration that recognizes the accomplishments of our students,” said Aaron J. Maike, Baker College of Allen Park president. “Our graduates should be commended for choosing to invest in themselves to gain the skills and training necessary for workplace success.”

The keynote speaker is Michigan Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood. A native of South Korea, Hopgood has been a resident of Taylor since 1976. He served six years in the Michigan House of Representatives before he was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2010. He represents the Downriver cities of Allen Park, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Riverview, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Wayne and Wyandotte. He is the first Korean-American to hold state office in Michigan.

Nicole Buchwald, of Farmington Hills, is the student speaker. She is graduating with a physical therapist assistant associate degree.

This will be the first graduating class with students from the campus’ new opticianry certificate program.

Also included among this year’s graduates is Alicia Scheerhorn, of Rockwood, who is assistant director of admissions for Baker College of Allen Park. She is graduating with a Master of Business Administration.

Katrina Koehn, Taylor, will receive the William Anthony Mason Service Award in recognition for her outstanding citizenship, activism and scholarship. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Health Services Administration.

The following students will receive the Dean's Award in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement, leadership and volunteerism:

·      Tene' Harris, Ecorse, Associate of Business, paralegal

·      Tyresha Brooks, Romulus, Bachelor of Business Administration, accounting

·      Alan Parsons, Allen Park, Bachelor of Information Technology and Security

·      Walaa Hamad, Dearborn Heights, Associate of Applied Science, physical therapist assistant

·      Brenda Hejaij, Dearborn, Bachelor of Health Services Administration

·      Brianna Beesmer, Westland, Associate of Applied Science, human services

·      Rachel Allstetter, Belleville, Bachelor of Human Services Administration

 This will be the last graduating class of Baker College of Allen Park to be congratulated by Maike as president. He will be succeeded by Kristine L. Barann, CPA, when he takes the reigns of Baker College of Owosso as president beginning Sept. 1, 2014.

Maike began his Baker College career at the Owosso campus in 1997. He has helped guide Baker College of Allen Park since it opened in 2003, with student enrollment growing from 397 to nearly 4,000 today in more than 60 career-training programs. He was named president in 2006.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a nonprofit higher education institution, serving more than 35,000 students on 12 campuses and in three satellite locations. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, health sciences, education and human services, and various technical fields, as well as a doctorate of business administration. As a career college, the Baker College system is pleased to report that 97 percent of its available graduates are employed. For more information about Baker College, please check out our website at www.baker.edu.

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