West Liberty University held its December 2012 Commencement ceremonies at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 15, graduating a class of 133. Valedictorian Gloria J. Coffman, Bellaire, Ohio, addressed her classmates, families and guests.
Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Administration, Coffman attended West Liberty’s Highlands Center and graduated from the School of Professional Studies. She is also a fulltime employee of Cardinal Health, located in Elm Grove, Wheeling, where she’s an inventory manager.
“It is such an honor to speak at commencement — a bit overwhelming, but definitely an honor. The whole graduation ceremony was memorable,” she said just after commencement.
“Education is extremely important whether you are 18 or 48. It is never too late to continue your studies. As an adult student with a family and a full time job, completing my degree was important to me; I looked at several colleges for a program that would enable me to complete a bachelor’s degree with a schedule that would fit in to my life and work. WLU was one I looked to because of its reputation but getting a schedule that would fit into my life was a concern. When I saw WLU was offering classes at the new Highlands Center I called and found out programs being offered there that would enable me to complete my bachelor’s degree and the classes were structured towards my work responsibilities. Dr. Thomas Michaud has enlisted an amazing staff including professors from many areas.”
For those of you who opted to continue your education at a later stage in your life and are here with me today, I think you would agree that we are not only grateful for the opportunity WLU has given us but also enriched through the classes we had and the people we met,” she said.
Coffman has worked at Cardinal Health for more than 21 years.
“So much of Gloria’s academic success was due to her discipline and her abilities but also largely due to her being able to find a degree program that complemented and integrated well with her life,” Michaud said. Michaud is the Dean of the School of Professional Studies.
“Adult students like Gloria have to become skilled jugglers, handling work, family and academics. At the School of Professional Studies our aim is to assist and facilitate their juggling, so that they can achieve the academic and personal enrichment they desire,” he added.
Coffman attended class from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., every Saturday for nearly two years and she is grateful for the support of her husband, Butch, and children. She and her husband are parents of three adult sons and four grandchildren.
“My degree from West Liberty University gives me professional leverage and will help me develop as a manager. I know I speak for everyone receiving degrees today when I say thank you to everyone at WLU. We are excited to see where the future takes us as we continue our life journey,” she concluded.
West Liberty University is a forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education. Led by President Robin C. Capehart, West Liberty is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information on WLU, please visit www.westliberty.edu or call 1.866.WESTLIB.
