Baker College, a private nonprofit college based in Michigan, held its first-ever systemwide student commencement ceremony on Sun., May 5, 2019 at 2 p.m., at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
This year’s graduates joined 20,000 Baker alumni that have graduated in the last five years, as well as the hundreds of thousands who have graduated from Baker since its inception more than 100 years ago. A vast variety of graduates were recognized, including those earning program certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees across 12 different colleges of study.
The ceremony recognized graduates from every Baker College campus location – Allen Park, Auburn Hills, Cadillac, Clinton Township, Flint, Jackson, Owosso and Muskegon – as well as students from the Culinary Institute of Michigan (Port Huron and Muskegon) and Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan (Owosso), plus graduates of Baker’s Early/Middle College program, Baker Online and Baker’s Center for Graduate Studies (Flint).
More than 250 Baker College faculty and staff members joined the celebratory ceremony, officiated by Baker College System President, Dr. Bart Daig, with remarks from both Baker College Provost, Dr. Jill Langen and President of Baker College Owosso, Dr. Denise Bannan.
“The 2019 Baker College graduation provided all of our thousands of graduates an opportunity to be recognized and honored for their academic achievements, and to celebrate their accomplishments in a grand way with fellow students, faculty, family and friends,” said Daig. “Our programs and degrees mean so many different things to so many different people, but we are one Baker.”