SALT LAKE CITY — The following local residents have earned a degree from Western Governors University (WGU). The online, nonprofit university has graduated more than 178,000 students from across the country since its inception in 1997.  

Earning degrees are:

• Valentyna Napora of Cleveland, bachelor of science, nursing degree;

• Tabitha Payne of Cleveland, bachelor of science, nursing degree.

• Edward Stutzman of Cleveland, bachelor of science, business management degree.

• Whitney Gill of Cleveland, a bachelor of science, nursing degree.

• Mary Kibler of Cleveland, master of science, nursing – education (BSN to MSN) degree.

• Austin Silvers of Cleveland, a master of science, cybersecurity and information assurance degree.

• Cassidy Lathim of Cleveland, a bachelor of science, business management degree.

• Deidre Mountcastle of McDonald, bachelor of science, nursing degree.

• Ronald Mcnelly of Old Fort, master of science, management and leadership degree.

• Jessica Shields of Old Fort, bachelor of science, nursing degree.

• Ashlee Deboe of Harrison, bachelor of science, nursing degree.

• Jamie Webb of Harrison, bachelor of science, business – human resource management degree.

• Erin Bacon of Ooltewah, master of science, curriculum and instruction degree.

• Mitchell Clark of Ooltewah, master of science, management and leadership degree.

• Blair Martin of Ooltewah, bachelor of science, nursing degree.

• Jeffrey Nelson of Ooltewah, bachelor of arts, mathematics (5-9) degree.

• Lindsey Sentef of Ooltewah, master of arts, mathematics education (k-6) degree.

Since Jan. 2, WGU has awarded 6,313 undergraduate and 4,975 graduate degrees. Graduates' areas of study include business, K-12 education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. The average time to graduation for those earning a bachelor's degree was 2 years, 3 months, while the average time for graduate programs was 1 year, 6 months. The average age of those who graduated is 38 years old.