Sinclair to award record number of associate degrees

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Graduates are earning more than 7,300 degrees and certificates this year.

The college is also seeing a record of 47 high school students completing their associate degrees through the College Credit Plus program.

“We are in the midst of a global crisis that has impacted the lives of millions of students around the world,” said Steve Johnson, president of the college. “I am incredibly proud of our graduates who have had to work extremely hard, overcoming a number of unexpected hurdles to complete their education through this ongoing pandemic. These individuals will go on to serve as nurses, firefighters, police officers, accountants, IT coders and automotive technicians, right here in the Miami Valley.”

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Sinclair’s class of 2020 also includes a record number of graduates among the following demographics

• African Americans: Over 19% increase since last year and over 34% over the past 10 years

• African American women: Over 23% increase since last year and over 26% over the past 10 years

• Minorities: Over 20% increase since last year and over 47% over the past 10 years

• Military affiliated: Over 11% increase since last year and over 2,567% over the past 10 years

• Women: Over 13% increase since last year and over 36% over the past 10 years

The college will have more than 700 health sciences graduates completing certificates and degrees this month. Nursing students and respiratory therapy graduates will join health care working starting their career on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

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“The value of academic partnerships such as that between Sinclair College, Premier Health and other health care partners will be realized in the coming weeks and months as never before,” said Trish Wackler, vice president of education, learning institute at Premier Health.Premier Health is proud to have played a role in helping these students fulfill their goals and dreams of becoming nurses and respiratory therapists, and we are grateful to have them join their health care colleagues here in southwest Ohio in responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic.”