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The Honorable Alexis M. Herman Addresses More Than 1,000 Kaplan University Online Graduates at Live Commencement in Chicago

The Honorable Alexis M. Herman, America's 23rd Secretary of Labor and the first African American to hold the post, today told Kaplan University's summer 2011 graduating class to be optimistic about the future and what their degrees mean in today's workforce. She addressed more than 1,000 of the University's online students who traveled to Chicago from around the country for the commencement. The ceremony, the largest in the University's history, celebrated the graduation of more than 7,200 online students. Secretary Herman told the graduates that those with degrees fare better in a tough labor market. She cited the Labor Department's most recently reported 9.1 percent unemployment rate comparing it to the four percent unemployment rate among college graduates. (Photo: Business Wire)

"What's not reported in the news is that the unemployment rate for those with college degrees is four percent. This number confirms what we have always known," Secretary Herman said during the ceremony at Chicago's Arie Crown Theater. "What you know will directly influence how far you go and education matters more than ever. It is the great equalizer."

The commencement celebrated the achievements of more than 7,200 Kaplan University online students, thousands of whom watched the ceremony via a live webcast from their homes around the country. More than 1,000 of the graduates met their peers and professors face-to-face for the first time during the graduation celebration.

While serving as the country's first African-American Secretary of Labor, Herman led the effort to institute a global child labor standard, moved people from welfare to work with dignity and launched the most aggressive unemployed youth initiative since the 1970's. During her tenure, unemployment in the country reached a 30-year low and the nation had the safest workplace record in the history of the Department of Labor.

Wade Dyke, D.Phil., president of Kaplan University, praised all of the students for their hard work and encouraged them to seek professional advancement.

"You now have a competitive edge. You have your degree. You can enter a new field or advance in your current career," Dyke said. "While the economy has made things tough, your country is counting on you to remain competitive. Your education will help you do that."

Awards were presented to students and faculty, including graduate Jennifer Scott Michael of Pensacola, Fla., who earned a bachelor's degree in communications and was recognized for her soon-to-be-published essay, "The Kaplan Moment that Inspired Me." The Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Award was presented to Jennifer Claire, MS, from the School of Health Sciences, and the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award was presented to Dorothy Williams, Ph.D., from the Department of Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Kaplan hosts two graduations per year for its fully online students; one in Chicago and the other in South Florida. The University also has 11 campuses in Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland and Maine that host graduations throughout the year.

About Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher education. It strives to help adult students unlock their talent by providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. The University, which has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago, is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (www.ncahlc.org) and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Kaplan University serves more than 61,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 11 campuses in Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland and Maine, and Kaplan University Learning Centers in Maryland, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and Florida.

Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education, which serves more than 92,000 students online and through more than 70 campus-based schools across the United States. Kaplan Higher education schools offer a spectrum of academic opportunities, from certificates and diplomas to graduate and professional degrees, including a juris doctor degree. Kaplan Higher Education is part of Kaplan, Inc., a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan, Inc. is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), and its largest division. For more information about Kaplan University, visit http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6822125&lang=en

Kaplan University
Stacey Kovalsky, 954-515-3651
Cell: 954-562-0214
skovalsky@kaplan.edu
Michele Pore, 312-385-2801
Cell: 312-502-7534
mpore@kaplan.edu