Commitment Reaps Rewards for College Class of Working Adults

More than 85% of the 697 students who will receive degrees during Charter Oak State College graduation ceremonies on June 4 are working adults who made personal commitments to advance their education while maintaining responsibility to their jobs and families.

The vast majority of the graduating class of distance learners, whose average age is 40, currently holds full or part-time positions in a broad spectrum of employment environments including business, industry, government and the fields of health, education and public safety. Women make up 57% of the class – the largest in the College’s 33-year history -- while more than one-fifth of the degree recipients represent the African American, Latino, Asian and American Indian communities. About one-third of the members of the class of 2006 reside outside of the state of Connecticut.

Connecticut Superior Court Judge, Carmen L. Lopez, will receive the honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, during commencement exercises to be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Welte Auditorium on the campus of Central Connecticut State University. Judge Lopez currently presides over civil matters in New Haven’s Superior Court. She had previously served in the Waterbury District Juvenile Court where she oversaw a special domestic violence docket and coordinated the judicial system’s participation in a federal program serving court-involved girls and young women.

Charter Oak, which has earned national recognition as the college that offers “degrees without boundaries,” was created by the Connecticut legislature in 1973 to help adults pursue their learning objectives. The College has awarded more that 8600 associate and bachelor’s degrees since its inception. This year’s graduating class includes students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Japan. The Japanese student, Riri Morioka, will travel from her home town, Niigata, to participate in the commencement ceremony. Three members of the class of 2006 are members of the U..S. military who earned their degrees while serving with their units overseas. Historically, more than 50% of Charter Oak graduates have gone on to master’s and doctorate programs.

To learn more about graduation activities, please visit the Graduation FAQs page.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2006

CONTACT: Chuck Albert, 860-832-3860 calbert@charteroak.edu