A group of graduating students made history at Georgian’s University Partnership Centre (UPC) convocation ceremony Oct. 27. They were part of the first graduating class of the Bachelor of Science in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The graduates all hold diplomas from Georgian’s Aviation Management program. They successfully graduated from a degree completion program offered by Embry-Riddle at the Barrie Campus, through a partnership with the UPC.

Embry-Riddle, based in Daytona Beach, Florida, is the world’s largest fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace studies. Earlier, Georgian Aviation Management graduates could obtain advanced standing towards an Embry-Riddle degree but had to travel to the United States to study.

Now, the degree completion program is offered in Barrie on a part-time basis. That means graduates can earn their degrees without having to put their careers on hold to go back to school.

Graduates receiving their degrees hail from across southern Ontario, from Barrie and Collingwood to Toronto, Mississauga and Richmond Hill.

Dr. Bernard D. Cordial Jr., Dean of Academic Affairs, Embry-Riddle, praised the partnership with Georgian.

“The educational partnership between Georgian College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is unique in that a graduate secures a solid, hands-on technical Aviation Management diploma from Georgian College first, prior to completing the theoretical based upper-level university courses leading the student toward a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,” said Cordial.

Dr. Cherylyn Cameron, Associate Vice President, UPC, said the members of the first graduating class are paving the way for other students to achieve similar academic and career success.

“All these graduates are doing wonderful things with their education,” said Cameron. “We are very excited about the results of our agreement with Embry-Riddle and hope to continue the program with even greater numbers of students.”

Pictured: The first graduates of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Bachelor of Science in Technical Management degree completion program at Georgian, shown here with Cherylyn Cameron, Associate Vice President, University Partnership Centre (front left); William Vadnais, Director of Academics, Eastern Region, ERAU Worldwide (back right); Dr. Bernard D. Cordial Jr., Dean of Academic Affairs, Eastern Region, ERAU Worldwide (second from right); and Barbara Marshall, former Dean, Business and Management Studies, Georgian.