A Promotion and Graduate School: Cornerstone Celebrates August SOAR™ Graduates

“I never thought I would earn my degree.”

For Javid Zahir (B.S. ’26), earning his bachelor’s degree has been “an emotional roller-coaster.” His daughters and family are proud, and he was promoted to group vice president at My Auto Group in Muskegon after graduating.

For Jasmin Dykstra (B.S. ’26), earning her bachelor’s degree fulfilled a lifelong dream. And now she’s pursuing another. She has now been accepted into a master’s program in counseling.

Javid and Jasmin are among Cornerstone University’s August SOAR™ graduates celebrating new opportunities, career advancement and goals that once seemed out of reach. Cornerstone is proud to welcome our newest Golden Eagles to its alumni community.

This August, both earned their bachelor’s degrees through SOAR™, Cornerstone’s mobile learning program because it was developed to help people just like Javid and Jasmin who had set aside their college dreams.

Javid, a Marine veteran, husband and father of four, credits his degree with helping him earn a significant leadership promotion. Jasmin, who worked full time as a Career Readiness Facilitator at Kent ISD while raising two young children, has now leveraged this accomplishment for future graduate-level training.

SOAR™ was created specifically for the millions of adults balancing full-time work, children and family responsibilities who need a more radically affordable and radically flexible way to earn or finish a college degree. Students complete accredited Cornerstone University programs and certificates through their smartphones, a device they use daily.

For Javid, he says that challenge was personal. He had tried college before but eventually gave up on the idea that he would earn a degree.

“I couldn’t afford it at that time in my life,” Javid told WOOD TV8 earlier this year.

SOAR™ gave him another way to try. Javid fit course work into his day — listening to podcasts and audiobooks on the go, watching course videos during lunch and completing work from his phone when he had time.

“It breaks it down into much smaller segments and it makes it so that you are able to fit it into your day,” he said.

Javid earned his Bachelor of Science in Strategic Business Management while serving as director of operations for My Auto Group in Muskegon.

“I was promoted to a vice president role days after graduating,” Javid said. “A lot of what I learned is actually pretty applicable. Most importantly, it gave me more confidence in myself for this role. Truthfully, I wasn’t a proponent of college. It’s changed my perspective.”

When asked what graduating means to him?

Javid says: “First of all, I’m excited. My daughters and family are proud of me, and that’s such a great feeling. I genuinely can’t wait to walk next year!”

For Jasmin, One Goal Led to Another

Jasmin had dreamed of earning her bachelor’s degree for years. She also completed her Bachelor of Science in Strategic Business Management while working full time and raising two young children.

“Its affordability and flexibility made it possible for me to complete a lifelong dream while working full time and raising two young children,” Jasmin said. “Without SOAR™, I truly do not think I could have managed it all.”

Now she has been accepted into a master’s program in school counseling.

“Earning my bachelor’s degree has given me the confidence to pursue this next goal,” she said. “Before SOAR™, pursuing a master’s degree had never even crossed my mind.”

SOAR™ is radically affordable at 50% less tuition and it has expanded this year to offer radically flexible business certificates that were developed with input from regional employer partners.

Congratulations, Javid and Jasmin! We are proud to welcome you to the Cornerstone alumni community.

If you’re ready to start or finish your degree, we invite you to learn more about SOAR™ associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and new certificates in leadership communication, organizational management, human capital management, operations management, and people and culture. Contact admissions@cornerstone.edu to request information or to find out how SOAR™ can fit in your schedule.