December 10, 2021
哥伦比亚,年代.C., December 10, 2021 – The tests are taken, the essays are edited, the grades are in, and the tassels have been turned. The finish line has been reached. Graduates gathered alongside their families and friends to celebrate the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. With 196 total 研究生s—120 研究生 students and 76 under研究生 students— 哥伦比亚大学 has much to celebrate. Well over half of the 研究生 students (75) are receiving a Master of Education in Trauma-Informed Education, a program providing candidates with an understanding of how childhood trauma, 心理健康, and poverty impact students’ ability to learn. Keynote speaker 牧师. Becky Shirley (哥伦比亚大学 Class of 1984) addressed and advised 研究生s to embrace the fullness of life as they enter this next chapter, taking with them the values instilled in them over the last four years. The 研究生s entered Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center as students, and they exited as alumni. Regardless of their new titles, the hope is that these 研究生s recognize 哥伦比亚大学 will always be home.
许多学生, 父母, 爷爷奶奶, and support systems will hold December 10 near and dear to their hearts for years to come, but none so much as Natasha Seymore, graduating with a master’s degree in 业务 Administration with a Concentration in Hospital Administration. She grew up on 哥伦比亚大学 Drive, right next door to her grandmother and grandfather, former President of 哥伦比亚大学, Dr. 拉尔夫T. Mirse. For Natasha, this milestone symbolizes a promise kept. The life-long healthcare professional, 妻子, and mother utilized the 在线 MBA Program, which made fulfilling this promise a possibility for her at age 50, living in Clinton, SC, while working full-time in Greenwood, SC, and managing a family. Natasha has had every reason NOT to fulfill the promise she made to herself and to her grandfather, but today she received her diploma after maintaining nearly a 4.0 grade point average. After nearly 40 years, 哥伦比亚大学 called her home.
Natasha is not alone. She stands alongside 195 other 研究生s – under研究生, 研究生, 在线, 晚上, and day students alike, as they celebrate the immense relief and joy of a job well-done. President of 哥伦比亚大学 Tom Bogart remarks, “今天, 哥伦比亚大学 sent forth a new class of professionals, prepared to take hold of their careers and live lives of impact, and we could not be more proud. The legacy they have left with us is unmatched.” This time of year, many are called home for the holidays. 然而, as we send our 研究生s into the world, we hope they know that their home is 哥伦比亚大学...not just during the holidays, but always.