CTU graduate, celebrated athlete, businesswoman, wife and mother will
inspire students with her story of perseverance
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Colorado
Technical University (CTU) is pleased to announce that Olympic
Silver Medalist, World Champion and CTU alumna, Noelle Pikus Pace, will
provide the commencement address at its June 2015 graduation ceremony in
Denver, CO.
After 15 determined years, Noelle finally reached her goal of standing
on the Olympic podium last year. At the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, she
earned the Silver Medal on behalf of the United States, years after
taking time off to start a family and earn her Master’s of Business
Administration (MBA) at CTU.
Noelle’s accomplishments are many, including being the most decorated
American athlete in the history of skeleton. While striving for
victories in her sport, she knew that she needed a strong educational
foundation to help her succeed and support her family when her
competition days came to an end.
“I knew my Olympic career would not last forever,” Noelle says. “Getting
my MBA was as much about earning an advanced degree as it was about
safeguarding my future and achieving another dream. The courses at CTU
gave me a practical, well-rounded business foundation from which to
grow, so I could take the next step in deciding what my business would
be and how I could and did turn that dream into a reality.”
“Noelle’s dedication to achieving her goals exemplifies the
characteristics of a CTU graduate and our mission,” said Andrew Hurst,
president of CTU. “We’re thrilled that our graduates will have the
opportunity to hear Noelle share her story and know they will leave
inspired and proud to be a CTU graduate, ready to take on the world with
their new degree.”
How did she do it all? Having barreled down runs at 90 mph with her face
inches from the ice, Noelle doesn’t back off from a challenge. But she
says, achieving her dreams was a team effort. “Juggling all these things
doesn’t work without a strong support system in place. My husband,
Janson, is the core of my support system. He knows my dreams and works
alongside me to achieve them.”
“Of course, my parents are also integral components of my support
system. Their influence started early in my life when they instilled in
me the importance of higher education,” Noelle added. “Even though I
excelled in sports, school always came first. I'm grateful for the
opportunity I had to receive my masters and hope to never stop learning."
Commencement Events
CTU’s 2015 commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, June 13, 2015 at
1 p.m. at the Colorado Convention Center’s Bellco Theatre in downtown
Denver. From July 2014 to June 2015, more than 5,200 students will have
completed their Doctoral, Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate degrees.
Roughly 1,000 of those students and their family members will attend the
ceremony, adding to the university’s 80,000 graduates.
Graduates, family and friends who are unable to attend in person can
view a live webcast of the ceremony by visiting CTU’s YouTube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/ctuniversity).
About Colorado Technical University
Founded in 1965, Colorado Technical University (CTU) provides higher
education to connect students to what matters most in reaching their
professional goals. CTU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate
programs taught by real-world faculty members who enrich the curriculum
with their industry experience and prepare students for today’s
challenges and the hard-hitting problems of tomorrow. CTU’s
personalized, online learning system allows students to control what,
where, when and how they learn. Students can also learn and connect on
campuses in multiple cities. With the help of faculty, industry
professionals and more than 70,000 graduates, CTU students can also grow
a powerful professional network to use their entire career. For more
information, please visit www.coloradotech.edu.
CTU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.ncahlc.org.
CTU is also a member of the Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO)
network of universities, colleges and schools. For more information,
visit www.careered.com.
CTU cannot guarantee employment or salary. Find disclosures on
graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at http://www.coloradotech.edu/financial-aid/student-disclosures.
Colorado Technical University
Melissa Balsan, 224-293-5990
[email protected]
Source: Colorado Technical University