ASU and EAC celebrate the spring 2019 graduating class from ASU@TheGilaValley

Contributed Photo/Courtesy EAC: EAC Deans, Dr. Janice Lawhorn, left, and Dr. Phil McBride, far right, were on hand for commencement ceremonies for ASU in Tempe last week, along with 2019 ASU graduate, Dakota McBride and his mentor, Duane Roen, Dean of Integrated Sciences and Art at ASU.

Contributed Photo/Courtesy EAC: EAC Deans, Dr. Janice Lawhorn, left, and Dr. Phil McBride, far right, were on hand for commencement ceremonies for ASU in Tempe last week, along with 2019 ASU graduate, Dakota McBride and his mentor, Duane Roen, Dean of Integrated Sciences and Art at ASU.

By Kris McBride

Thatcher — Arizona State University graduates completed their bachelor-degree journeys this month without leaving the communities of Thatcher, Safford, and surrounding area. The majority of the graduates made the trip to ASU’s Tempe campus to participate in the university’s commencement ceremony at Sun Devil Stadium as well as to participate in their ASU college graduation ceremony.

The 10 graduates were part of ASU’s College of Integrative Arts and Sciences and earned their degrees in organizational leadership at ASU@TheGilaValley, a partnership between ASU and Eastern Arizona College. Once students complete their associate degrees at EAC, they have the opportunity to pursue their bachelor degrees from ASU through classes delivered at EAC in person, online or hybrid.

One of the graduates who made the trip to Tempe, Dakota McBride, leaves EAC and ASU with parting advice for new transfer students. “If you go into it with a willingness to learn and be impacted, you will grow far more than you may think,” McBride said.

At ASU, we believe in meeting students where they are and providing resources and opportunities for them to succeed. This includes offering degrees, close to home, that are in demand in the communities they reside in.

The seamless transfer pathways established by ASU and EAC simplify the path toward an undergraduate degree. The Transfer Admission Guarantee helps students plan their college coursework to ensure a smooth transition to ASU and maximize transfer credits. The AAS to BAS program is ideal for students with AAS degrees who want to earn bachelor’s degrees. The five bachelor degree options at ASU@TheGilaValley include:

  *   Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Leadership (BAS)
  *   Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership (BA)
  *   Bachelor of Arts in Education in Secondary Education (BAE)
  *   Bachelor of Arts in Education in Special Education and Elementary Education (BAE)
  *   Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Now with summer upon us, it’s a great time to plan for the fall semester, whether you want to begin taking classes at EAC or are ready to transfer to ASU. For more information, visit admission.asu.edu/transfer/eastern-arizona.