BGSU's December graduating class includes 1,001 candidates

Bowling Green State University celebrated its 293rd graduation with two ceremonies December 14-15 at the Stroh Center.

The December Class of 2018 graduating class includes 1,001 candidates. Among the undergraduates, 87 were presented associate degrees and 687 bachelor's degrees. Of those, 165 have received honors for their high grade-point averages. The 218 graduate students included 205 candidates for master's degrees and 13 for doctoral degrees.

BGSU students come from all around the world. This graduating class includes 61 international students representing 17 countries. There is also a wide range in overall age, with degree candidates from 18 to 66.

Commencement for the Graduate College and the colleges of Business; Health and Human Services; Musical Arts; Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering; and BGSU Firelands was held December 14. The colleges of Arts and Sciences and Education and Human Development commencement was held December 15.

Addressing the candidates December 14 was BGSU alumna Maryrose Sylvester, who is a 1988 graduate of the procurement and production management (supply chain management) program in the College of Business. She also was awarded an honorary degree, a Doctor of Business Administration. Sylvester is president and CEO of Current, a startup within GE that blends advanced LED technology with networked sensors and software.

Addressing the candidates December 15 was BGSU alumna Jan Heppe, who received a Bachelor of Arts in home economics in 1974. Her career included various senior management positions in both department and specialty stores, including Gimbels and Burberry Ltd., a British international luxury brand, where she had held the positions of senior vice president of retail, chief operating officer and president of the Americas Region. She is currently a director on the board of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance and is the chair-elect for the Bowling Green Foundation Board of Trustees. This spring, she will be serving as an executive in residence for the University's Apparel Merchandising and Product Development program.