Kaplan University celebrated the graduation of its summer 2011 class during a ceremony Aug. 6 at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago.
Shawnna Sanders of Richmond Hill received an Associate of Applied Science degree in health sciences.
Laura Lowe, also of Richmond Hill, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology.
The Kaplan University’s summer 2011 class included more than 7,200 graduates who earned degrees online. More than 1,000 of them traveled from around the country to attend the ceremony, meeting face-to-face for the first time. Others watched from home via a live webcast.

Mercer University
Mercer University President William D. Underwood recently conferred degrees during the May commencement for the university’s Macon Campus. Those receiving degrees included:
- Jordann Marie Hall of Richmond Hill, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the College of Liberal Arts.
- Malerie L. Sherrod of Ellabell, who earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering with a specialization in environmental engineering from the School of Engineering.
The ceremony included more than 2,700 attendees and more than 500 participants from the College of Liberal Arts, Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, School of Engineering, Tift College of Education, Townsend School of Music and College of Continuing and Professional Studies.
In all, the university held four ceremonies in May in Macon and Atlanta and conferred more than 1,700 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.