Nontraditional Students Celebrated Among 2011 Graduates

by Lori Johnston

Nontraditional students are being recognized this spring not just for earning their degrees, but for standing out among the student body. Adult students are being bestowed honors, awards, and even the opportunity to represent their class on the stage at commencement ceremonies all over the country.

Here's a look at four of those students...

Bainbridge College
Student: James C. Ulmer
Honor: Outstanding Graduate Medallion recipient
Degree: Associates in Electronics Technology

Why he went to college: After Ulmer, 57, was laid off in 2006 and then in 2008 he went to the Georgia college, according to The Post-Searchlight. Ulmer, who had a 4.0 GPA, is already looking to the future, as he told the paper: "Awards are fine, but what I want is a job."

Eastern Kentucky University
Student: Mary Rachael Hamm
Honor: Commencement speaker
Degree: Bachelor's in English

Why she went to college: She quit high school, then worked at Wal-Mart and got married at 22 before deciding to go to college, according to The Eastern Progress.

She told the paper she didn't think she would be chosen to speak because she is a non-traditional student. "I understand it's a lot harder to be a non-traditional student because you have more responsibilities. My speech is aimed at those people who may think they will never have the opportunity to go," she told the paper.

Youngstown State University
Student: Kim Taylor
Honor: Commencement speaker
Degree: Geography

Why she went to college: Taylor, a wife and mom, told the student newspaper for the Ohio school that she didn't feel ready for college when she was in her early 20s. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA, even though she worked full-time in college.

Philadelphia University
Student: Michael Johnson
Honor: Commencement speaker
Degree: Graduated from the school's Accelerated Behavioral Health and Science Program

Why he went to college: After working more than 20 years as a counselor, Johnson, 43, desired to pursue education from the School of Health and Science. He won a competition to speak at commencement. He told his classmates:

"It was not an easy decision to come back to school. To say I had anxiety is to put it lightly. Balancing family life, a full-time job and other numerous responsibilities, school seemed like a gigantic undertaking. And as you know, it was ... As students, we have proven that we can collaborate to tackle projects and achieve goals. As graduates, we have an obligation to take the skills, education and knowledge we've gained here at Philadelphia University and apply it not only to the empowerment of ourselves, but to the enrichment of our society."

If you're finishing up your first year or just considering going to college, let these non-traditional graduate students inspire you!