Summer 2025 Graduation

Congratulations Summer 2025 Graduates

Dear graduates,

Congratulations! Today we celebrate your achievement, your hard work, and your journey. You’ve overcome obstacles, balanced responsibilities, and stayed committed to your goals. That takes grit, perseverance, and heart.

You did it – and we are so proud of you. Well done.

In addition to our graduates, we’re also proud to celebrate three outstanding individuals who exemplify our student body and values of service.

The recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award is Christina Self, who earned her Bachelor’s in Strategic Communications with honors. Christina shared that earning her degree helped her grow in confidence and leadership, strengthening the way she supports her team, friends, and family. Along the way, she earned two promotions and discovered just how much she’s capable of.

Christina, thank you for inspiring us with your story.

The recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award is instructor Bill Williams, who was described by a student as a supportive and respectful mentor – someone who was always available and willing to help. His encouragement and open-door approach made a real difference in the student experience.

Bill, thank you for your dedication to teaching and your care for our students.

The recipient of the Student Service Award is Tim McKinney. Colleagues praised Tim for his clear communication, quick problem-solving, and strong teamwork. He’s someone who steps up, supports others, and helps get students across the finish line.

Tim, thank you for your outstanding service and leadership.

Graduates, this moment is yours. You’ve earned a place on our university’s roll of graduates, and we hope you’ll carry the pride of this achievement with you as you approach new challenges.

We also hope you’ll stay connected with us and with each other. Share your story, your journey, and your celebration with the world! Post your graduation photos, reflections, and proud moments on social media using the hashtag #UAGranthamGrad. We can’t wait to see and celebrate with you.

Congratulations again, Class of 2025, and thank you for letting us be part of your education journey.

Lindsay Bridgeman
Lindsay Bridgeman, MBA
Chancellor
University of Arkansas Grantham

Summer 2025 Award Recipients

Christina Self

Outstanding Graduate
Christina Self

Christina Self is the Associate Director of Customer and Consumer Care at Tyson Foods, Inc., where she has worked for over 25 years. She and her husband John have two beautiful daughters, one granddaughter, and a lovably goofy French Bulldog. In April 2025, she earned a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from the University of Arkansas Grantham, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.97 GPA in just three years. During her studies at UA Grantham, Christina sharpened the communication and emotional intelligence skills that would become instrumental in her career growth. Within three years, she earned two promotions, directly supported by her education, which helped her become a better leader, navigate complex challenges, and drive meaningful results across her teams. Christina credits her success in completing this goal to her Tyson Foods family that has amazing leaders encouraging her and offers amazing benefits for furthering education. She also credits her husband, John, who did all the heavy lifting allowing her to stay focused and complete the degree in only three years. In a world where strong communication and adaptability are essential, Christina stands as proof that continuing education is a powerful tool for transformation. “Earning my degree from UA Grantham is something I’m really proud of because it helped me grow—not just for myself, but for the people around me. I became more resilient and more confident in my ability to lead. The communication and emotional intelligence skills I developed made a real difference in how I show up at work, and also in how I support my friends and family. I was promoted twice during the program, and I believe the personal growth I experienced played a big role in that. This journey pushed me in all the right ways and truly changed me for the better.”

Bill Williams

Outstanding Faculty
Bill Williams

Bill Williams, the recipient of UA Grantham’s Outstanding Faculty Award, is a caring and inspirational educator within the College of Business. He enjoys meeting students where they are on their educational journey and facilitating their success. He optimizes the student experience by creating an environment of trust and respect where students can be vulnerable and collaborate. Bill joined UA Grantham in 2009 and has earned his MBA from the University of Colorado and his BS in Electrical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional. Graduate Gaspar Orts, Bachelor of Business Administration, said “Bill Williams inspires not only students in education, but also in life. His feedback and the one-on-one conversations, were of incredible value as both a student and a person. A very interpersonal instructor who cares greatly for his students, and would also take the time to guide us each and every step of the way.”

Tim McKinney

Student Service
Tim McKinney

With over seven years in higher education, Tim is passionate about supporting students on their path to achieving their academic goals. Working in financial aid allows him to play a key role in helping students navigate what can often be one of the biggest hurdles—financing their education. He takes pride in partnering with them through this process and helping match them with the right financial resources. Being part of the university’s success and contributing to each student’s journey is incredibly rewarding. What motivates him most is knowing that the work we do makes a real difference in their ability to reach both academic and personal milestones. Tim takes pride in partnering with students through this process and helping match them with the right financial resources. Being part of the university’s success and contributing to each student’s journey is incredibly rewarding. What motivates him most is knowing that the work we do makes a real difference in their ability to reach both academic and personal milestones. Tim has been with UA Grantham for four years. He has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Business Administration from Delta State University in Cleveland, MS, and a master’s in public administration from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS.


Celebrate Your Way

UA Grantham does not have a traditional university campus; we also approach graduation differently. In years past, the university held traditional graduation ceremonies, yet we found that only a small number of graduates were actually able to attend.

Today, our graduation experience – like our online classes – is delivered completely online: Every month we invite soon-to-graduate students to share their stories with our community. We then publish these stories on our web site and in social media. While the absence of a traditional ceremony might feel unusual to some, we believe our online graduation experience better reflects our commitment to a more inclusive education experience.

And so we invite every graduate to “celebrate your own way”: put on your regalia, gather with family and friends, and toast to the hard work you’ve put in to reach this significant milestone. While you’re at it, be sure to capture the moment with lots of pictures – especially ones with your diploma or cap and gown. Then, send them our way of share on social media with the hashtag #UAGranthamGrad; that way all of UA Grantham can celebrate your achievement.


April 2025 Testimonials

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March 2025 Testimonials

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February 2025 Testimonials

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January 2025 Testimonials

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December 2024 Testimonials

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November 2024 Testimonials

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Past Graduations