South University awarding highest number of graduate degrees
Monday, June 15, 2009
South University is awarding more graduate-level degrees than ever before. Nine of the 104 graduates who are eligible to walk across the stage next Thursday, June 18, at the Davis Theater at 7:00 p.m., will earn master's degrees. Eight are earning their Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, and one student is earning a Master of Business Administration.
Twenty-nine students will earn bachelor's degrees in fields ranging from Business Administration to Criminal Justice. Sixty-six students will earn associate degrees in Business Administration, Information Technology, Paralegal Studies, Medical Assisting and Physical Therapist Assisting, the university's most popular program. Justice Tom Parker of the Alabama Supreme Court will provide the commencement address to the nearly 1,200 expected family and friends of South University's class of 2009.
"Graduation is always a good time to reflect on where we are going, and these graduates remind me that South University has evolved in recent years and is becoming more and more students' first choice for a college education," said Victor K. Biebighauser, president of South University. "As always, I am proud of these graduates, who I know worked hard and followed through on their commitment to earn college degrees."
About Justice Tom Parker
Justice Tom Parker was elected to the Alabama Supreme Court in 2004. Prior to his election, he served as the Deputy Administrative Director of Courts, where he served as General Counsel for the Alabama Court System. He also served as the Director of the Alabama Judicial College, where he provided training for new judges and continuing legal education for all the trial judges in the state. Justice Parker served in the Alabama Attorney General's Office under then Alabama Attorney General Jeff Sessions. As an Assistant Attorney General, he handled death penalty cases, criminal appeals and constitutional litigation. He has extensive experience in writing appellate briefs and with oral arguments before the Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals. Justice Parker graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, and received his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville, Tennessee.
About South University
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels with campuses located in Columbia, S.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; Savannah, Ga.; Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla.
Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu.