Winter 2010 Commencement Ceremony

Columbus, Ohio – Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults, will hold its 134rd Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 9, 2010, during which nearly 500* degree candidates will receive their diplomas at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

William B. Ruth will address the graduates.  As a dedicated leader who worked tirelessly for nearly two decades at the Ohio Department of Education, William Ruth helped lay the foundation for a strong and meaningful Adult Workforce Education system in Ohio.

A native of Pennsylvania, Ruth served in the U.S. Army’s Third Armored Division during World War II and participated in five major campaigns, including Normandy. After the war, he utilized the GI Bill to attend Penn State University where he earned his baccalaureate degree, then took a job as a sales representative for the A.O. Smith Corporation and traveled across the United States over the next 10 years. Growing weary of the constant travel and time away from his family, at age 40 Ruth decided to make a career shift and return to his first passion: teaching.

Ruth earned his teaching certification and then his master’s degree at The Ohio State University and developed an award-winning distributive education program at Whitehall High School outside of Columbus. In 1966, he was named the Ohio Department of Education’s Adult Consultant for Distributive Education, then was asked to build the state’s first adult vocational education system. His program was eventually known as P.R.I.D.E. – Program Review for the Improvement, Development, and Expansion of Vocational Education. Through his leadership, funding for and enrollment in adult education in Ohio grew dramatically. The program is still used today – a testament to Ruth’s vision.

Following his retirement in 1984, the Bill Ruth Outstanding Adult Vocational Education Award was established to be given annually in recognition of an individual’s leadership, service, and outstanding contributions to adult vocational education by encouraging leadership and service.

In addition to giving the keynote speech, Ruth will also receive an Honorary Doctorate of Community Leadership from Franklin University during the Ceremony.

Graduating MBA student speaker Amy Jo Newlun will also address the graduates.  Receiving her M.S. in Marketing & Communication, Newlun works as an environmental educator for the “Kids in College” program at Ohio University-Chillicothe. She is an active board member for the Ross County Community Action Commission, the acting Head Start Policy Council Board President, and serves on the advisory board for the Chillicothe Metropolitan Housing Authority.

She previously earned a B.S. in Communication Studies from Ohio University. She resides in Chillicothe with her son, Legend.

* Nearly 800 total students are scheduled to graduate this winter trimester