2008 Commencement (Graduation) Ceremony

Grantham University will hold a Commencement Ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday, June 21st, 2008. All graduates, past, present and soon-to-be, are invited, along with their families, to participate in commencement activities and to celebrate their success with fellow alumni, faculty and Grantham staff.

Students who are enrolled in their last two (2) courses as of May 1, 2008 are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony. (Please note: Participation in commencement does not imply, or assure degree conferral. Degrees are conferred when all requirements, including financial, have been met.)

For more information and to register, visit: http://www.grantham.edu/graduation2008/grad08-b.htm.

Student Spotlight - Staff Sergeant Alvin Arguello

Grantham student Staff Sergeant Alvin Arguello has served with the Air Force for over 12 years and is currently stationed at Lajes Field in Azores, Portugal serving as a Non Commissioned Officer in charge of Personnel Security. As an Air Force Security Forces member, he has had the opportunity to see the world (110 different countries) including the Great Wall of China and the pyramids of Egypt. SSgt Arguello describes his last duty assignment as the “most exciting” because he served as a Security Forces Phoenix Raven protecting Air Force assets including U.S. military aircraft, U.S. Department of State and CIA missions, prisoner movements and escorting VIP’s.

When he isn’t traveling the world, SSgt Arguello is busy working on earning his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a Specialty in Homeland Security. He chose this major to broaden and improve his knowledge of his current career field.

When asked why distance learning worked for him, SSgt Arguello responded, “My former assignment made it very difficult to complete a degree at a traditional campus, and distance learning has made it happen. I can work at my own pace and be virtually anywhere in the world to do it.”

In September of 2007, SSgt Arguello earned an Associate degree in Criminal Justice and is working towards his bachelor’s.

SSgt Arguello’s favorite class at Grantham so far has been American History because of his interest in the government. After he graduates, he plans to use his degree to improve his skills in the military and to become a better-rounded mentor for his troops. When his military career is over, he would like to become a college professor in the field of criminal justice.

New CCAF Degree Added to AU-ABC Program

In July 2007, Grantham University announced its partnership with the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) in support of the Air Force's Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative Program (AU-ABC). This program allows CCAF to partner with military friendly academic institutions, such as Grantham University, who will accept all CCAF degree program credits in one or more of its bachelor degrees.

This month, it was announced that Airmen holding an associate degree in Restaurant, Hotel & Fitness Management (8A200 and 3MOX1) can now transfer into the Business Administration program at Grantham.

To learn more about the AU-ABC program, Airmen can visit: http://www.grantham.edu/other/au_abc.php or log into the Air Force portal and browse through the available degree programs.

Grantham University would like to congratulate the following recent graduates:

Faculty Spotlight - Tanya Klatt

Global Faculty Member Tanya Klatt began teaching at Grantham University in October 2006. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Master's Degree in Children's Literature from Eastern Michigan University. When she started on the path towards earning her bachelor’s degree, she first majored in graphic design, but, after working at a local daycare, education became her passion.

Klatt worked in a variety of early childhood settings and elementary classrooms for ten years before she married and began her adventure as a Navy spouse. While stationed in Japan, Klatt worked as an Ombudsman for 300 families aboard the USS John S. McCain. Soon after, she was hired to teach beginning composition courses for a college associated with Yokosuka Naval Base.

Currently, Klatt teaches English Composition II (EN 262), English Composition I (EN 101) and English Composition II (EN 102) at Grantham. Klatt’s favorite part of teaching at Grantham is helping military students achieve their educational goals. “My husband was in the Navy for many years, so I have a great deal of respect for students who make a commitment to learning while enlisted in the military,” said Klatt. “My military students are very goal orientated, and I appreciate their hard work. I am truly amazed at their tenacity and their ability to submit quality assignments while deployed or prepping to deploy to a war zone.”

Grantham student Sergeant Doug Letz was so impressed after taking a course with Klatt that he sent his Student Progress Representative an e-mail complimenting her. He said, “I am writing to you today about an awesome English 102 instructor, Tanya Klatt. She has been so helpful and very willing to work with me at every level. She is very fair, and she cares enough to want you to always excel and do better.”

At this time, Klatt resides in Illinois with her husband, two year-old daughter, and two “attention starving” cats. When she isn’t spending time with her daughter, Klatt creates works of art. She is considered a mixed-media artist, meaning that she creates paintings and collages with paper, fibers, found items and acrylic paint. She was recently featured in a show hosted by Isabella’s Gift, an organization to benefit children’s cancer research at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Klatt’s paintings have also been in juried shows, galleries, and art fairs in Detroit, Japan, and Illinois.

2008 Kansas City AIDS Walk

Grantham University employees take pride, not only in serving our student body, but also in giving back to the communities in which we work. This year we would like to extend an invitation to all of our Kansas City area students who would like to participate with Grantham employees in the Kansas City AIDS Walk on Saturday April 26th, 2008.

We will meet before the walk to distribute T-Shirts and water to all participants, and then we WALK! With each step, together we can help raise money and awareness for local organizations that provide valuable assistance to those affected by HIV/AIDS. We would love the opportunity to get to know you better while giving back to our shared community. To sign up, ask questions, or to get more information, please contact:

• Amanda Allbee - aallbee@grantham.edu or 1-800-955-2527, EXT 122
• Adam Schneider - aschneider@grantham.edu or 1-800-955-2527, EXT 185

Want to participate but can't be there? You can still help by making a monetary donation! Please visit: www.firstgiving.com/grantham.

We look forward to taking life changing steps with you on April 26^th!

Reminder - New Student Payment Site

With Grantham University's new Student Payment Site, making payments is even faster and easier. Grantham University students now have the ability to pay their invoices online with Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit cards. There are two ways to pay your invoice online:

1. To have your information automatically populate in the payment form:
• Visit: https://www.grantham.edu/student_site/log/into
• Enter your Username and Password and click "Sign In"
• Click on the "Make Payment" link on the left-hand side of the page
• Fill out the form and click "Make a Payment"


2. To access the payment form without logging into the Student Site:
• Visit: https://www.grantham.edu/student_site/log/into
• Before entering your Username and password, click on the "Make Payment" link on the left-hand side of the page
• Fill out the form and click "Make a Payment"

If you have any questions, please contact Grantham's Accounts Payable Representative at (800) 955-2527, ext. 303.

LightEdge Solutions Expanding Sales Force in Several Locations

Have you been thinking about a career change? Have you ever thought about working in the field of Sales? LightEdge Solutions is seeking to hire new graduates or soon-to-be graduates as Account Development Representatives in Kansas City, MO; Phoenix, AZ; Omaha, NE; Minneapolis, MN; and Peoria, IL. This position’s primary responsibility is to identify and develop small to medium business selling opportunities.

LightEdge Solutions is a provider of fully-managed network and business services, voice services and hosting for small and medium sized businesses in the Midwest and Southwest. LightEdge is dedicated to technology leadership and best-in-class service and support. With its Service-on-Demand offering, LightEdge provides fully-managed network and business application services, allowing businesses to focus on their core business, gain competitive advantage and scale for growth.

For more information and to view other job postings please visit: www.hirequalitysolutions.com.

Upcoming Events

April 6th – Louisiana Air National Guard 159th Fighter Wing Family Day
April 15th – Twentynine Palms Education Fair
April 23rd – Visit to Travis AFB
April 24th – Andrews Air Force Base Visit
April 24th – Visit to Fort Campbell
May 13th – Education Fair at Whiteman AFB
May 28th – Education Fair at Scott AFB

Quote of the Month

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. "

~ Aristotle