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CORVALLIS, Ore. -- More than 200 Extended Campus students from around the world graduated this year from Oregon State University, a record number that reflects the continued growth in Ecampus and the demand for online courses and OSU programs. 

"Online education and its ability to meet the educational needs of contemporary students is a growing success," said Scott Reed, vice provost for outreach and engagement at OSU.  "Our graduates increasingly demonstrate that education can happen anywhere, not just in a university classroom."

The top three undergraduate degrees for the class of 2010 were liberal studies, 75; natural resources, 46; and environmental science, 29. This year's graduating class includes students from 35 states and six countries - the furthest away being in Singapore. Ecampus is now delivering more than 700 accredited OSU courses via the web, video/DVD, and other technologies.

More than 40 of the new graduates traveled from as far away as Massachusetts for a reception and to attend graduation. For most, this was their first visit to the OSU campus.

Dave King, associate provost of Ecampus, said that "the stories of our Ecampus students are always fascinating to me."

"You can imagine the extra effort most people have to put in when they are working full time, caring for others or whatever keeps them place-bound," King said. "Giving them an opportunity to continue, and in the case of our graduates actually finish this part of their education, is very rewarding."

William Bradford and Shannon Sims were among the graduates to attend.

Bradford, a graduate from Cambridge, Mass., received his bachelor's degree in liberal studies, an accomplishment that at one point he did not think he would live to see.  In 2005 he was in a serious accident that required 32 surgeries and years of painful recovery. For him, an online education was his only answer to finally receive the degree he had started nearly 20 years earlier. And he now plans to continue his education, pursuing a master of divinity degree at Harvard University.

"Ecampus is a great way to gain access to an education that may be physically and geographically impossible," Bradford said.  "In addition, the psychological benefit of taking classes was enormous. It allowed me to focus on something other than my own pain and recovery."

Shannon Sims, a graduate with a master's degree in adult education, wondered how she could obtain her degree while working a full-time job during the day, and coming home to her family at night. Situations like this lead many students to pursue their education online instead of the traditional classroom setting.

"I am a full-time faculty member at Rogue Community College, as well as a wife and mother to a very busy 10-year-old son," said Sims. "It would have been impossible to get my master's degree any other way. And completing my master's in adult education has made me a leader in my organization. I apply the concepts I've learned in this program to my work every single day. It also opens many doors for me in the world of human resources and organizational education."

More information about Ecampus undergraduate, graduate and professional programs can be obtained by calling (800) 667-1465, or online at ecampus.oregonstate.edu.

Among the graduates this year from OSU Ecampus were:

OREGON

 Albany:

• Shawn Dawson, MAT
• Jim McKnight, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Mary Miller, MAT in Elementary Education
• Stephen White, B.S. Natural Resources

 Aloha:

• Kimberly Robinson, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Astoria:

• Aaron Gasser, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Bandon:

• Canada Converse, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Beaverton:

• Lisa Dianatkhah, B.S., Liberal Studies
• Todd Harrison, Master in Adult Education

 Bend:

• Emmanuel Miller, B.S. Political Science
• Kaaren Provence, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Kelly Ruebush, B.S. Natural Resources
• David White, Education
• Tanya Wray, Master in Adult Education

 Boring:

• Rachel Rawson, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Brownsville:

• Amber Cordova, B.S. General Agriculture

 Canby:

• Tracey Grisham, Education
• Tami Parsons, B.S. Political Science

 Coos Bay:

• Michael Brumit, Master in Adult Education

 Coquille:

• Angela Robinson, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Corbett:

• Danielle Erb, B.S. Natural Resources*

 Corvallis:

• Mona Beach-Bernardi, MAT
• Jesse Freeby, B.S. Liberal Studies
• David Honzay, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Aida Mercado, MAT
• Caeley O Shea, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Donna Shaw, Education

 Damascus:

• Corinne Fisher, B.S. Liberal Studies*

 Dayton:

• Mandy Galvan, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Eagle Point:

• Shannon Sims, Master in Adult Education*

 Fairview:

• Megan Pankey. Master in Adult Education*
• Sean McCaffey, B.S. Political Science

 Glide:

• Kristine Keizer, Master in Adult Education *

 Gresham:

• Michaela Jonson, B.S. Liberal Studies*
• Daniel Sause, B.S. Liberal Studies*

 Happy Valley:

• Caroline Cordes, Education

 Hillsboro:

• Heather Nebrich, Master in Adult Education*
• Rebekah Sudie, B.S. Natural Resources

 Hood River:

• Kathyrn Anderson, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Independence:

• Kathryn Cheval, Education
• Shawna Meekins, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Istanbul:

• Stephanie Holtman, Education

 Jefferson:

• Chelsie Martin, MAT

 Keizer:

• Keare Blaylock, B.S. Environmental Science
• Steven Prine, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Christina Wagner, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Klamath Falls:

• Adeena Klein, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Lakeside:

• Raeth Morgan, B.S. Environmental Science

 Lebanon:

• Jan Mills, Education

 Lincoln City:

• Brian Martineau, B.S. General Agriculture
• Stephanie Colliander, B.S. Natural Resources

 Mulino:

• Brittney Herbison, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Newberg:

• Stasey Norstrom, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Newport:

• Dann Cutter, B.S. Environmental Science
• Mary Crommett, B. S. Liberal Studies

 North Bend:

• Star Sequoia, Master in Adult Education*

 O Brien:

• Kira McBride, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Ontario:

• Raymond Lock, B.S. Natural Resources*

 Oregon City:

• Patrick Provant, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Teresa Wicklund, Education

 Otis:

• Ericka Klein, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Phoenix:

• Erin Bergesen, B.S. Environmental Sciences

 Powell Butte:

• Susan Spurgeon, Education

 Redmond:

• Steven Housden, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Roseburg:

• Melissa Olson, Education

 St. Helens:

• Patrick Bright, B. S. Natural Resources

 Sandy:

• Jerry Renfro, Master in Adult Education

 Scotts Mills:

• Mary Amick, Master in Adult Education

 Sherwood:

• Alexandrea Goranson, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Matthew Hegerberg, B.S. General Agriculture

 Tigard:

• Jennifer Block, B.S. Liberal Studies
• Meghan Keysboe, B.S. Political Science

 Tillamook:

• Janet Satter, B.S. Natural Resources

 Veneta:

• Alisa Johnson, Education

 West Linn:

• Marla Christensen, B.S. Liberal Studies*
• Heather Masterson, Master in Adult Education*
• Rebecca Pershing, B. S. Liberal Studies

  WASHINGTON

 Aberdeen:

• Albert Molinet, B.S. Natural Resources

 Curtis:

• Danielle Craig, B.S. Natural Resources

 Darrington:

• Kraig Kidwell, B.S. Natural Resources

 Dupont:

• Andrea Goff, B.S. Liberal Studies

 Friday Harbor:

• Noreene Ignelzi, Master in Science Education

 Moses Lake:

• Kara McDaniel, B.S. Natural Resources

 Olympia:

• Robert Wohlers, B.S. Natural Resources

 Seabeack:

• Anja Huff, B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife

 Spanaway:

• Isaac Bean, Master of Health Physics

 Washougal:

• Emilie Goodling, B.S. Liberal Studies

 White Salmon:

• Roston Bartlett, B. S. Liberal Studies

 -30-

Editor's Note: Student's whose names are marked with an asterisk* have more detailed information about them and a photo available online, at http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/about/learn-more/students/graduation2010/default.htm