Graduate Student Profile

The Strategy for Success: Amani Harris' Story
By Sarah Jio

Say "yes" to life's challenges and amazing things happen. Just ask Amani Harris, MBA student at Seattle Pacific University. He says overcoming obstacles and accepting challenges provided the blueprint for his life and characterized his path to SPU.

Starting things off with a bang, Harris joined the Army before the ink on his high school diploma could dry and found himself catapulted into worldwide service.

Despite a schedule that made boot camp look easy, Harris achieved a BA in accounting, became a platoon leader responsible for more than 80 people and $14 million in assets and found time to mentor disadvantaged youth.

Noting the parallels between the military and the business world, Harris developed a knack for project management, a heart for service and the desire to lead. "I learned that business leaders shape decisions in today's world, and I knew I wanted to be part of that."

Motivated to fulfill this dream, Harris says an MBA was another challenge he needed to augment his future, and SPU provided the opportunity to say yes. "I really like the faith integration and also the emphasis on entrepreneurship at SPU," he said.

As a result of his MBA, Harris is completing an internship at Immunex -- an experience that will bolster a future career in small business consulting. He's also serving as the vice president of The School of Business' Graduate Student Association, and is putting the finishing touches on a business plan for a nonprofit organization he hopes to build. Although the plan is top-secret for now, Harris says he plans to meet a business need while providing an opportunity for at-risk youth to shine.

"The MBA program has given me a structure for my future" says Harris.

Special Updates

A Message From Dr. Les Steele: Spring Graduation Ceremonies
By now you should have received in the mail your packet of information detailing all the graduate ceremonies occurring this spring. It is my privilege to invite graduating master's degree students to the Graduate Hooding Ceremony. This is a time for graduate students to be hooded by their program directors and deans.

Master's students are then invited to Ivy Cutting, to process with the faculty and participate in the ceremony. Doctoral students are also welcome at this time, but they will be formally hooded at Commencement.

The following is a summary of the planned events:

Graduate Hooding Ceremony *
Friday, June 7, 8:45 a.m., Martin Square
Please arrive by 8:30 a.m., dressed in regalia.

Ivy Cutting
Friday, June 7, 9:30 a.m., Tiffany Loop

Graduate Receptions (Hosted by Individual SPU Departments)
Various Times and Locations

Commencement *
Saturday, June 8, 1 p.m., Seattle Center Key Arena
Please arrive by 11:30 a.m., and use the Northwest Rooms Courtyard entrance to the Key Arena for line-up.

I encourage you to participate in these ceremonies and enjoy a crowning moment in your SPU graduate experience. For detailed information about all high ceremony events, please visit www.spu.edu/special/commencement.

*In order to participate in the ceremonies you must return the gray reservation card (included in your information packet) to SAS in Demaray Hall 120 by Friday, May 24.

Summary of 2002-2003 Graduate Tuition Rates
(Beginning Summer 2002)

Notes and Reminders

Register Now for Summer Session
There are endless reasons to consider summer study -- especially for graduate students. Stay on track, keep up with program requirements or simply take a class "just for fun." Visit www.spu.edu/summer for more information about Summer Session at SPU and a complete listings of course offerings.

New Changes to Periodical Databases
One of the library's major periodical databases has recently grown. Academic Search Elite has upgraded to Academic Search Premiere. What does this mean to you? Rather than the 1,557 online, full-text journal titles formerly available through Elite, Premiere increases the number to 3,288 -- more than double the previous number. These are scholarly texts, and about 75% of the titles are peer reviewed.

Also new this winter from the library is the PsycARTICLES periodical database, which contains over 25,000 full-text articles from 42 journals published by the American Psychological Association (APA), Canadian Psychological Association and Hogrefe and Huber. A search in PsycINFO will retrieve any available text from PsycARTICLES.

2002-2003 Financial Aid Applications
Don't forget to apply for financial aid for next academic year. Contact Student Financial Services at 206/281-2061 to have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) sent to you, or complete your application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Summer Financial Aid
If you are considering applying for summer financial aid, please note: There is a separate Summer Financial Aid Application that needs to be completed. This application is available in Student Financial Services on April 1. To receive an application via mail, call Student Financial Services at 206/281-2061 and one will be mailed to you. Also, you may visit www.spu.edu/sfs and download an application by clicking on "Financial Aid Documents." Notifications of summer financial aid will go out to students who have applied beginning May 15.

Financial Aid Information: Now Online
You can now review your Offer of Financial Assistance, student account and other required financial aid documents online. Just log onto the Banner Information System and click on the student menu.

Dates to Remember

Quick Resources
Find what you need on campus -- from an SPU ID card to class registration information. The following is a compilation of office hours, phone numbers and other details to make graduate student life a little easier.

Questions, Comments, Feedback
We're interested in hearing your feedback about The Graduate Review and how it can be used to better meet your needs. Please send any comments or questions via e-mail to sasinfo@spu.edu. If you have a story idea or suggestion for a future issue, please contact sarahjio@spu.edu.