Business CEOs Lend Their Experience and Expertise to Fremont College Graduates

July 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Los Angeles/Cerritos, Calif. – When educator and philanthropist Dr. Sabrina Kay became chancellor of Fremont College four years ago, it was clear to many of her CEO colleagues that she would create a new college based on the needs of today’s rapidly changing workplace and build curricula that meet those needs.

“Corporate America spends $120 billion a year to ‘educate’ its existing workforce in the latest technologies, business systems and models,” Dr. Kay said. “This makes no sense. It is higher education’s duty to give students the educational excellence and skills they need before they enter the workplace. This is why Fremont College partnered with business leaders to develop just-in-time curriculum for the dynamic 21st-century workplace.”

A 37-member team of top business leaders joined Fremont College’s Advisory Board to lend their wisdom, expertise and passion for education to Fremont College students. In the college’s 25th commencement held in Long Beach, these CEOs gathered to offer words of encouragement and congratulations to its graduating class, showing strong support for Fremont College’s educational model.

The commencement keynote speaker, Jarl Mohn, founding president and CEO of Liberty Digital and former President and CEO of E!, MTV and VH1, stated three important things for success: dumb luck, crushing failure and big ideas. He added, “I was so impressed by the number of hands of people that were working either part time or full time while going to Fremont College…you’ve earned your luck. And I think there will be much more of it.”

Frank Baxter, chairman of the board of Fremont College, former ambassador to Uruguay and chairman emeritus of Jefferies & Company, also stated: “Your assets are increased significantly in the marketplace by what you have done. … You're your own marketing department and your own branding department regardless of whether you do something by yourself or for a larger organization.”

Other speakers included Tom Levyn, an attorney and three-time mayor of Beverly Hills; Bob Graziano, former president of the Los Angeles Dodgers; and Dr. Alexander Miric, orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, as well as many others.

However, the most poignant remarks came from Fremont College’s graduating students, who have completed rigorous programs of study and were rewarded with their degrees.

Rose Mizuhara, massage therapy valedictorian, said, “Coming from different backgrounds and lifestyles, we all came to Fremont for different reasons … but we all received the same result: a quality education that will help better our futures and improve our lives.”

Paralegal Studies valedictorian Felipe Lorenzo said: “Since we began school, each one of us has changed, knowingly or unconsciously. We have definitely grown. We have stretched and tested our endurance. It is true that we have gained vast academic knowledge, but along the way we each learned and experienced ‘real-world’ application of our newfound knowledge.”

About Fremont College
Fremont College, an innovator in professional education, strives to close the gap between the traditional classroom and the 21st-century workplace. The College offers an Ivy League–inspired educational system, Professional Action Learning®, that focuses student learning through teamwork, collaboration and practical study while encouraging students to find their passion and talent and give back to the community. With campuses in Los Angeles and Cerritos, Fremont College offers bachelor and associate degrees in four distinct disciplines of study: design, business, legal studies and sports therapy.