JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is hosting the annual Consolidated Graduation Ceremony at the Frontier Theater, on JBER, Alaska, May 4, 2018, at 1 p.m.
The ceremony honors all service members, dependents and civilian employees who have earned their General Equivalency Diploma up to Ph.D.
“The ceremony combines graduating service members from residential and non-residential schools, and provides them the opportunity to be recognized by coworkers, peers, friends and family,” said Eva White, Education Services specialist.
Residential schools include Wayland Baptist University, University of Alaska Anchorage, Central Texas College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
“The ceremony allows members attending a non-residential school to enjoy graduation here instead of having to fly down to the Lower 48,” White said.
For many non-residential graduates, this can be their only opportunity to partake in a graduation.
“I chose to graduate at the Consolidated Graduation ceremony for various reasons; it allowed my family and friends to be in close proximity, I could invite more than five people, and I was surrounded by people who came from the same environment and had experienced similar struggles,” said Raquel Wood, a military spouse and recent graduate of UAA. “Being able to celebrate and have a connection with other graduates was an overwhelming feeling.”
The ceremony will feature an invocation, guest speaker, commencement address, presentation of diplomas, and the Army Woodwind Quintet.
“The best part of the ceremony is seeing the happy faces of the graduates, and the people there to celebrate with them,” White said. “There’s lots of energy and excitement throughout the event.”
For more information, contact the JBER Army Education Center at 384-3902.