For the past six years I have enjoyed being academic advisor for Yuki Ikeura. As she completes her final courses for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Letters, Arts & Sciences and graduates in May, I have been given this opportunity to share her accomplishment with the faculty and staff of the World Campus who were instrumental in helping her earn this degree.

In 1996, Yuki was working in a private English school in her hometown of Hiroshima, Japan. Several of her co-workers were completing graduate degrees via distance learning programs. They encouraged her to pursue a baccalaureate degree. She felt strongly about completing her education while continuing to work and live in Hiroshima. After researching schools in both the United Kingdom and the United States, she chose what she found to be the best, Penn State.

She started in the fall of 1997 and never looked back. She believes that what made it work for her was the support she received from Penn State: "Penn State has the students' best interest at heart and does everything possible to help them overcome problems."

Yuki completed over 40 courses through the World Campus including English 15, Science, Technology, and Society 101, Speech Communication 475, Art 1, Labor and Industrial Relations 100, and Math 26.

After graduation Yuki plans to attend graduate school in the United States. As a citizen of Hiroshima growing up with reminders of the horrors of war, she feels compelled to work in an atmosphere where she can help others. Her goal is to work for UNICEF, and a graduate degree in public policy and foreign affairs will make that possible.

Yuki is the first World Campus student to complete her entire B.A. degree through our program. This accomplishment demonstrates maturity, self-discipline, and the ability to work independently. These qualities have helped her establish the foundations for a successful career. I am confident she will make a difference with the knowledge she has gained and the values she has brought to this learning. She is a credit to herself, to her family, and to the World Campus.