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                         May 24, 2002

West Point honors community graduates

Photo and story by Kathy Eastwood
Staff Writer

The U.S. Military Academy’s Army Education Center honored fifty-seven graduates at the annual Graduation Recognition Day May 15, at the West Point Club here. All graduates earned degrees ranging from Associates to Masters.

Romona Kausch, the MACOM-level Director of Education, welcomed the graduates and spoke of the difficulties of attaining a degree.

"It takes determination to continue with every-day life, work and family to go on to higher education," Kausch said.

Enlisted soldiers, their families and civilian employees here work hard each day with little time to concentrate on higher education, Kausch explained. When the ever-increasing cost of higher education is added to the equation, it can make this goal unmanageable.

Sgt. First Class Tim Armstrong, TAC NCO for Cadet Company F2 attended Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies and plans to teach when he retires.

"Some enlisted members take college classes to get promoted. I am taking classes to pursue future civilian employment after my retirement from the Army," Armstrong explained.

He agreed with Kausch that being a soldier sometimes makes it difficult to achieve your personal goals.

"As an enlisted member, it is very difficult to attain a degree due to deployments, field problems and simply not having enough time," he said. "The higher your rank, the harder it is to complete a degree."

Assistant USMA Men’s Soccer Coach Drew Hoffman received his Masters in counseling from Long Island University.

"The LIU program is very worthwhile," he said. "It enabled me to get a Master’s degree in about one year, did not cost nearly as much as some other programs and the courses were offered here at Thayer Hall."

Hoffman said the flexibility of LIU’s schedules was great.

"The evening class times allowed me to work a full day and attend practices," he said.

Graduate Craig Nakutis, (B.S. Magna Cum Laude, Mount Saint Mary’s), spoke about how he has traveled from post to post and to Korea, but was never offered the help and support he has received here in attaining a degree.

"I never thought it could happen, this couldn’t be, but here at West Point, I was able to get my degree through the accelerated adult learning program here," Nakutis said. "The instructors, tuition assistance programs, counselors and family have been extremely supportive of our goals."

The Army Education Center, part of the Army’s Continuing Education System, promotes lifelong learning opportunities with an eye to sharpening skills and increasing the competitive edge of the Army, Ed Center officials here said.

"Many programs affiliated with the center provide a cost and time effective way for one to carry on with their educational goals," they explained. "Those goals can be achieved through local colleges and universities or through computer-based training we offer here."

For information on the educational opportunities offered through the Army Education Center, including computer-based courses, contact Ramona Kausch, Education Services Officer, at (845) 938-3722.