While most people spend weekends relaxing, a group of determined professionals finished their Professional BBA at the College of Business Administration at Florida International University (FIU). The class of 70 graduates, the largest in the program’s history, was recognized at a celebration dinner this spring at Texas de Brazil.
“I chose the program for the convenience of having school only on Saturdays,” said Lily Guerrero (PBBA ’11) an IT Analyst at MasTec. “I had the freedom to study during the week, while maintaining a full-time job.”
At the dinner, Guerrero was presented with the Classroom Leadership Award from Associate Dean Clifford Perry, PBBA program director.
Rosita Gonzalez (PBBA ’11) was valedictorian and the class voted for Brian Schriner to receive the “Best Professor Award.”
A special certificate of achievement was presented to Maria Page (PBBA ’11), who had surgery on both hands but with help from her nine-year old son Kevin managed to complete her studies.
The celebration dinner included a video made by the students as well as the presentation of appreciation gifts to Program Coordinator Angie Letona (BA ’05), Program Assistant Neda Augusto and Student Assistant Luis Irizarry.
This was the 28th session for the Professional BBA Weekend program, a part-time, accelerated BBA for working professionals who have earned an Associate of Arts degree in a Florida public institution or 60 college credits but never completed their degree. The college also offers a Sunrise program of early morning weekday classes. In both programs a group enters at the same time and takes all courses together.
Degree is especially important to class valedictorian.
When Gonzalez began the PBBA program, she was a manager and analyst for a large equipment company, the culmination of a successful 18-year career. But when the local office closed last year, she lost her job.
Gonzalez continued her studies and knows that having a degree opens up more job possibilities.
“The fact that I was proactive in preparing myself to better compete in today’s global job market definitely mitigated the negative impact the company’s closing had on me,” she said.
The next Professional BBA program begins October 1, 2011.
