LEAVENWORTH, Kan., May 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- May is
synonymous with graduation, and it's also National Military
Appreciation Month. In the spirit of both, the University of Kansas is celebrating its largest
graduating class in the history of its programs in the city of
Leavenworth.
In only one year, the number of graduates from KU's off-post
Leavenworth programs more than
tripled to 30 students, most of whom are active members of the
military. Fort Leavenworth is home
to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), in which
mid-career officers spend a year furthering their education and
training to develop their skills and rise in the ranks. During this
year, these officers may complement their training with civilian
studies. Two such officers are Sam
Diehl and Peter Frischholz,
who graduated from KU's Master of Science in Business and
Organizational Leadership program during the ceremony in
Lawrence on May 13. Diehl shared his story with the crowd as
a featured speaker during the School of Business ceremony on
May 11.
"This program complements the CGSC curriculum well," Diehl said.
"The classes offer diverse perspectives that inform your approach
to problems and recognizing universal themes of leadership in the
civilian and military sectors."
Diehl, an aeromedical evacuation officer and UH-60 Black Hawk
aviator, received his undergraduate degree in health sciences from
James Madison University. For the past
13 years, he planned and executed medical evacuation missions. He
will stay in Leavenworth for
another year to attend the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military
Studies and said he thinks the training he received from KU
prepared him for this and the next stages of his career.
"I didn't just want a piece of paper," Diehl said. "I was
attracted to the curriculum, it was a good balance of what was
interesting and professionally relevant to me. The reputation of
the school and business program was also important."
Diehl's classmate, Peter
Frischholz, a career military officer serving in the U.S.
Army Special Forces, agrees.
"Over the last 10 years or so, I've been engaged in leadership
in the Army," Frischholz said. "When I was selected for CGSC at
Fort Leavenworth, I came upon KU's
business and organizational leadership program. CGSC is investing
in us to go back into leadership. This has been a great opportunity
to learn the theories of business and leadership and how they
apply."
For the past 10 years, KU has offered two programs inside
Fort Leavenworth: the Master of
Science in Business - Supply Chain Management and Logistics and a
Master of Arts in Global and International Studies - Interagency
Track. In 2016, KU expanded its offerings off-post to include a
Master of Science in Homeland Security: Law and Policy; a Master of
Science in Business and Organizational Leadership; and a Master of
Engineering in Project Management.
"The growth of our student population is evidenced by the size
of the class of 2018, which is also why we recently expanded our
classroom space," said Mike Denning,
director of the Office of Graduate Military Programs at KU. "Our
programs in Leavenworth offer
unique, relevant, high-quality learning opportunities. We look
forward to continuing our service to these military, veteran and
civilian students."
Diehl and Frischholz, whose next step is to serve as an Army
Special Forces Company Commander, credit the mix of civilian and
military perspectives for adding value to their experience.
"Our classmates have several different career paths and
experiences," Frischholz said. "The program brings these people
together to challenge each other. A lot of the professors are
ex-military, so they can communicate to us. This program will help
me further my career. I feel much more confident."
Learn more about KU in Leavenworth
With accelerated
coursework and evening classes, students in Leavenworth can complete a KU master's degree
in as few as 10 months. The programs and class schedules are
designed to meet the needs of professional and military careers. KU
is an ideal partner for military personnel as they pursue their
educational and career goals. In November, Military
Times ranked KU among the best colleges in the country for
veterans.
About The University of
Kansas
The University of
Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching
university. The university's mission is to lift students and
society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and
making discoveries that change the world.
Contact:
Hannah Lemon, KU Edwards Campus
913-897-8755, hannah.lemon@ku.edu
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SOURCE University of Kansas Edwards
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