Embry-Riddle Set To Graduate Its Largest Fall Class In School History

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Daytona Beach, FL - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach is getting ready to graduate its largest fall class in the school's history, and the university will invite a former aviation executive, Robert M. Chiusano, to speak at the commencement ceremony. ERAU plans to graduate approximately 518 students, representing the Colleges of Aviation, Arts & Sciences, Business, and Engineering. The main graduation ceremony will take place on Monday, December 18 at Ocean Center, beginning at 10 AM. Ocean Center is located at 101 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona. Out of the more than 500 students in the fall graduating class, 94 students will be receiving master degrees and ten students will be receiving doctorates. The doctoral graduates represent the fields of Aviation, Engineering Physics, and Human Factors. The ten ERAU students who are slated to graduate with doctoral degrees in Aviation are Erik R. Baker, Stephen Curran, Jing Yu Pan, Casey E. Richardson, Timothy A. Sestak, and Gregory Stephen Woo. Engineering Physics doctoral graduates are Yafang Guo and Samuel Jamie Kitchen-McKinley. Tracy Litzinger and Kristen Webster will receive doctorates in Human Factors. The Fall 2017 graduating class also includes 24 students receiving military commissions: 12 from Air Force ROTC, seven from Navy and Marine Corps ROTC, and five from Army ROTC, according to a release from the university. ERAU has chosen Robert M. Chiusano as the commencement speaker for the main ceremony. Chiusano has formerly served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Commercial Systems at Rockwell Collins, a leader in aviation and high-integrity solutions for commercial and military customers. Chiusano has a B.S. in Engineering from the State University of New York, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa, and is currently Chairman of the Board of Winnebago Industries. He is also the author of the book, Mediocrity is Not an Option.

(Photo of Chiusano courtesy ERAU)

A live stream broadcast of the ERAU commencement will be available online starting on the day of the event for those who are not able to attend. You can find that link here. Below is a schedule of additional events surrounding the ERAU commencement ceremony, courtesy of ERAU: Friday, Dec. 15: Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony – Cadets of the Eagle Battalion will take the oath of office to commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army at 10 AM in the Henderson Welcome Center. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony. Sunday, Dec. 17: Master's Hooding Ceremony – The ceremony will be held at 10 AM in the ICI Center. Dr. Shawn Doherty, an associate professor in Embry-Riddle’s Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, is the featured speaker. A reception immediately following the ceremony will be held for students and their guests. Air Force ROTC Commissioning Ceremony – Detachment 157 will commission its cadets as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force. The ceremony begins at 1 PM in the ICI Center followed by a reception. Monday, Dec. 18: U.S. Navy/Marine Corps ROTC Commissioning Ceremony – The NROTC Battalion will host its fall commissioning ceremony at 3 PM in the Henderson Welcome Center. Graduating midshipmen will take the oath of office to commission as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony. For more details on the ceremonies, go here. Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.