Graduates Start New Life via Second Life

ORCHARD PARK, NY--(Marketwire - May 26, 2009) - Bryant & Stratton College graduates will receive their degrees where they earned them -- online. In what is the first live Second Life college graduation, 150-year-old Bryant & Stratton College will host a fully online, Second Life college graduation ceremony on June 10, 2009. Approximately 40 graduates from Bryant & Stratton's online degree programs have committed to receive their hard earned degrees in their avatar form on the college's virtual campus (http://online.bryantstratton.edu/slgraduation).

"This is an exciting event for Bryant & Stratton and its graduates," says Scott Traylor, Director of Admissions of Bryant & Stratton. "By starting their new life via Second Life, these graduates are continuing their journey down the path of learning, while experiencing new and interactive technologies that help prepare them for a world driven by innovation."

The Bryant & Stratton Second Life graduation will be the first time a college graduation will be fully hosted on Second Life, including the procession, the commencement speaker and the conferring of degrees to students draped in their caps and gowns. Students, who range in age from 18 to 45, will be graduating from a variety of the Bryant & Stratton online degree programs, including business, accounting, paralegal, IT, medical administrative assistant and human resources.

Second Life is an online virtual world where visitors, called Residents, can interact with each other through avatars. Residents can explore, meet other residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services with one another, or travel throughout the world. Second Life has a large, active education community -- with hundreds of higher education members (the likes of Harvard, MIT, Duke, Penn State). Many of these forward thinking universities, including Bryant & Stratton, have set up virtual campuses where students can meet, attend classes, and create content together. In fact, recently Bryant & Stratton hosted its first open house to introduce the college to prospective students in the vibrant 3-D environment of Second Life. The school has already reaped the rewards of its pioneering into Second Life by enrolling its first student that came directly from that open house.

"Over its 150 years, Bryant & Stratton has become known for its outcomes-based, career-focused education delivered with a personal touch," said Doreen Justinger, VP Internet Services at Bryant & Stratton. "Now we are bringing those same attributes to a new generation of students -- the online student."

The Bryant & Stratton Second Life graduation will be held June 10, 2009. While only graduates and their families will be in attendance, those interested in Bryant & Stratton's campus and graduation can explore their island in Second Life, view a video about the graduation, or learn more about Bryant & Stratton College at http://online.bryantstratton.edu/slgraduation.

Editor's Note: Bryant & Stratton Second Life graduates, students and the student who became a student via Second Life are available to speak with reporters about their experiences.

About Bryant & Stratton College

For 150 years, Bryant & Stratton College, the premier accredited private career college, has been helping students develop meaningful career skills in a concise, contemporary and effective manner. Bryant & Stratton offers flexible scheduling at its 15 campuses in four states, including Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia and New York, as well as through its online degree programs. Its focus is on delivering education that upgrades student capabilities and maximizes their marketability in the areas of business, healthcare, information technology, and social sciences. 90% of recent Bryant & Stratton College graduates find placement within their chosen fields. For more information on Bryant & Stratton College, visit http://online.bryantstratton.edu.

Contact Information: Contact: Ron Zwerin 303.949.3050