Aaron Rouse to Serve as Commencement Speaker

Aaron Rouse will serve as Bryant & Stratton College’s Commencement speaker on Saturday, June 22.

Rouse made history in 2018 as the youngest African American to be elected to Virginia Beach’s City Council.

Born in Virginia Beach, Rouse attended First Colonial High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Virginia Tech. Rouse was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2007 NFL Draft and played for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. After retiring from the National Football League, Rouse returned home to begin his career in public service. He served as a coach and a mentor before founding Rouse’s House, a non-profit organization that serves to establish education as the foundation for today’s youth with a primary goal of exposing youth and families in the community to a broader world of learning.

As a member of City Council, Rouse is a strong advocate for the support of first responders and the military along with their families. He is passionate about the potential growth of Virginia Beach into a strong economic, travel and entertainment location with support to the residents and tourists. His mission is to provide, protect and produce greatness for the great city of Virginia Beach.

Bryant & Stratton College’s Commencement ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, at the Hampton University Convocation Center, 700 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, Va. This year’s honorees are comprised of graduates from the Hampton and Virginia Beach campuses as well as local students completing their online degree programs. Media interested in attending should contact Eric Harrell, state marketing director, at [email protected].

Highlights of this year’s Commencement include the first student-athlete being named Valedictorian (Kaya Cortado, AAS Health Services Administration, Virginia Beach campus) and the first cohort of graduates of the Nursing program (Virginia Beach campus).

About Bryant & Stratton College

Founded in 1854, Bryant & Stratton College has built its reputation and success on a commitment to excellence and high standards. Bryant & Stratton College is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) www.msche.org. Bryant & Stratton College has campus locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Continuing Education department.

For 170 years, Bryant & Stratton College has offered students access to career-relevant education leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and professional certificates in the fields of healthcare, business, criminal justice, design, financial services, hospitality, human resources, paralegal studies and information technology. In addition to access to education, Bryant & Stratton College offers students access to tools to help ensure their greatest chance at success through their Career LifePrep® program. Bryant & Stratton works with students to best map individual career paths – teaching the soft skills employers value most, helping establish valuable professional connections and internships and offering career services support even after graduation. Bryant & Stratton College is committed to helping students succeed in their education and beyond.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit Student Right to Know.