WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Jacque Yates has lengthy had a ardour for public service. Her journey sparked an curiosity in pursuing a graduate diploma, and she or he earned her grasp’s in public well being from Purdue International in 2021.
On Saturday (Aug. 13), Yates supplied the keynote deal with to 1,212 Purdue International graduates who took half in in-person and digital graduation ceremonies at DAR Structure Corridor in Washington, D.C.
A local of Gary, Indiana, now serving residents in Dallas as a program analyst lead for the CDC Basis, Yates instructed the graduates to concentrate on the current.

A brand new graduate celebrates her Purdue International diploma at graduation ceremonies Saturday (Aug. 13) in Washington, D.C. (Purdue International photograph/Hannah Graber)
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“I would like you to concentrate on the goals and concepts that fueled you all through this journey,” mentioned Yates, whose husband, James, can be a Purdue International alum. “Give attention to that feeling you felt whenever you efficiently accomplished your first project. Give attention to the arrogance that overcame you whenever you had been notified of your candidacy for commencement. Take all of that and I would like you to carry it with you to each job interview, make sure that it’s current throughout each presentation, make it your official plus-one at each networking occasion.
“As a result of that’s what will let you stand tall as a Purdue International graduate. That may provide help to discover the chance in each impediment. The prepare of life will solely carry you so far as the tracks you may have laid earlier than it. A level from Purdue International allotted me a basis of abilities that I’ve discovered to be transferable throughout disciplines.”
Two in-person ceremonies and a digital one occurred over the course of the day. Levels had been awarded from the faculties of enterprise and data expertise, schooling, normal schooling, well being sciences, nursing, social and behavioral sciences, and Harmony Legislation College. There have been 563 bachelor’s levels, 405 grasp’s levels, 135 affiliate levels, 90 certificates and 19 doctorate levels (11 Physician of Nursing Follow, six Juris Physician and two Govt Juris Physician).
The graduates reside in all 50 states – together with 69 Indiana residents – plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, in addition to Bermuda, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Guam, India, Japan, Thailand and the UK. A complete of 234 graduates are affiliated with the navy. Six workers of Purdue West Lafayette, Purdue Fort Wayne, Purdue Northwest and Purdue International are amongst those that earned a Purdue International diploma or certificates by way of the Purdue International schooling profit.

Chancellor Frank Dooley addresses Purdue International’s latest graduates throughout graduation ceremonies on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Dooley spoke to roughly 630 Purdue International graduates who took half in in-person ceremonies and about 580 who participated just about. (Purdue International photograph/Hanna Graber)
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Chancellor Frank Dooley addressed the graduates – 632 of them in-person and 580 just about.
Dooley famous that over 9,000 Purdue International college students are affiliated with the navy, together with almost 5,100 lively obligation, Nationwide Guard and reserve members serving worldwide. Virtually 50% are the primary of their household to attend faculty, and about 60% care for a kid or different dependent.
“What you may have all completed is so exceptional,” Dooley mentioned. “You accomplished your schooling whereas coping with every part that life throws your means, together with a pandemic. It takes a whole lot of laborious work and dedication to get the place you’re at present, and try to be proud.”
Laquinta Pollard, from Austin, Texas, obtained a Purdue International diploma for her Grasp of Science diploma in human companies and in addition carried out the nationwide anthem.
Saturday marked Purdue International’s 14th graduation since its formation in 2018 and the third within the nation’s capital.
Within the days previous to graduation, Purdue International hosted varied digital celebratory occasions, together with a photograph sales space, toast, commencement “shout out” board and social media actions.
Greater than 11,000 Purdue International college students have graduated within the final 12 months.
The following Purdue International graduation is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Elliott Corridor of Music on the Purdue West Lafayette campus.
About Purdue International
Purdue International delivers customized on-line schooling tailor-made to the distinctive wants of adults who’ve work or life expertise past the classroom, enabling them to develop important educational {and professional} abilities with the help and adaptability they should obtain their profession objectives. It presents customized paths for college students to earn an affiliate, bachelor’s, grasp’s or doctoral diploma, based mostly on their work expertise, desired tempo, navy service, earlier faculty credit and different issues – regardless of the place they’re of their life journey. Purdue International is a nonprofit, public college accredited by the Greater Studying Fee. It’s affiliated with Purdue College’s flagship establishment, a extremely ranked public analysis college situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue College additionally operates regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest Indiana, in addition to serving science, engineering and expertise college students on the Indiana College-Purdue College Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. For extra data, go to purdueglobal.edu.
Author/Media Contact: Tom Schott, [email protected]
Sources: Frank Dooley
Beth Smith
Jacque Yates