Graduating class includes New York Life employees

BRYN MAWR, PA — September 30, 2002 — The American College conferred a total of 100 graduate degrees at its 26th annual commencement ceremonies on Thursday, July 18, 2002. The ceremony took place in the LaGrassa Auditorium at the Gregg Conference Center on the College's campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The College awarded 86 Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) degrees and 14 Master of Science in Management (MSM) degrees.

Dr. Samuel H. Weese, CLU, CPCU, President and CEO of The American College delivered the commencement address. Weese spoke to the graduates about how the life insurance industry has grown and changed since the College began in 1927 and about their new roles in the industry.

"The integration of financial services is here to stay and that means that regardless of your title, your roles as advisors and consultants will broaden," said Weese to the graduates. "Today, more than ever before, your clients want and expect more from you than advice about which financial product to buy. They want to build a relationship where they can trust your objectivity and knowledge in a wide range of personal financial service areas."

The 100 new graduates bring the current total to more than 2000 MSFSs and nearly 500 MSMs since the College began its graduate degree program in 1977.

"Our graduates are justifiably proud of this accomplishment," said Dr. Gary K. Stone, CLU, ChFC, and executive vice president of The American College. "A graduate degree from the College is the premier educational experience for financial services professionals whose goal in client service is to maintain the highest level of technical knowledge and practical application."

"I thought it was an excellent program. The knowledge I gained gave me more confidence," said Joe Franklin, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, New York Life. "My increased level of knowledge has allowed me to do a more professional job for my existing clients and given them the confidence to refer me to more of their peers."

"My clients know I am making the extra effort to be at my professional best, and they appreciate the commitment that the masters degree entails," continued Franklin.

"The American College program is recognized throughout the financial services industry," said John T. Gray, CLU, Assistant Vice President, Agent Training, New York Life. "A degree from The American College gives credibility to the person who completes the program. We encourage all our agents at New York Life to get their masters degree through the College. Furthermore, we require our development managers to go through the program, as well." The Master of Science in Financial Services degree program prepares students to become a financial services industry professional that can knowledgeably advise a wide range of clients on a variety of financial issues. Courses in the program include advanced pension and estate planning, financial planning, executive compensation, business and personal tax planning, business succession planning, security analysis and portfolio management, and financial statement analysis.

The Master of Science in Management degree program focuses on the components of leadership and management that are essential to the success of life insurance and financial services managers. The program's courses, which include human resource management, marketing management, professional self-management, decision-making, and strategic management planning, blend field-management-oriented theory and application.

These programs are academically accredited graduate-level programs designed exclusively for individuals who have chosen life insurance and the related financial services sector as a career. The MSFS and the MSM are structured to provide knowledge that has immediate business applications.

Both of the College's masters degree programs require the successful completion of 36 credits of individual and residency study. The College currently enrolls some 1,000 graduate students.

The American College is this year celebrating its 75th anniversary as the nation's oldest and largest academically accredited educational institution devoted exclusively to financial services. Located on a 35-acre campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the College serves over 35,000 students predominantly on a distance education basis. The American College offers an array of specialized designation programs, a Master of Science degree in financial services and customized continuing education programs for those pursuing a career in financial services. For more information, visit www.amercoll.edu.

Contacts:

Eric B. Gordon
Director of Public Relations
(610) 526-1450

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