Touro College Los Angeles Congratulates 21 Graduates as They Celebrate TCLA's Fifth Annual Commencement

LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Touro College Los Angeles proudly honored the graduating class of 2011 in a Los Angeles commencement ceremony and reception for family, friends, faculty and staff.

"Commencement personifies a wonderful accomplishment for the TCLA graduates. This is our sixth year of higher Jewish education at TCLA. I am proud and feel as though these students are my own family," said Dr. Esther Lowy, Dean of Touro College Los Angeles.

"This graduation is more than a milestone accomplishment for the new graduates. The twenty-one graduates are a vivid example of how TCLA has grown within the community. Just four years ago TCLA celebrated with a graduating class of four.  Today more than 150 people were in attendance at the celebration.  TCLA is experiencing success and great progress," added Dr. Bernard Luskin, CEO and Senior Provost of Touro College Los Angeles and Touro University Worldwide, who brought congratulations and best wishes to the graduates on behalf of Touro College and University System President, Dr. Alan Kadish, from the Touro College headquarters in New York.

The audience applauded as each student's name was called to receive his or her diploma. Accomplishments of award winners were announced during the graduation ceremony.  Ariella Silverman spoke as valedictorian.  Menachem Stulberger received the Spirit of Touro Award.  Yisroel Munitz won the Business Award and Bracha Cohen received the Psychology Award. "These students surpassed expectations and displayed a desire to achieve beyond their fields of study, a quality TCLA seeks in students," said Dean Lowy.

Commencement speakers complimented members of the graduating class. "TCLA's graduates have plans to continue their pursuit of higher education by attending graduate programs at several well known universities, including the University of Southern California, California State University and Touro University Worldwide, among others," said Luskin. "TCLA is making a major contribution to Jewish education in Los Angeles. The initiation of a crisis hotline in the Psychology department, the increase of science courses and their connectivity to their graduates and alumni in the community display the exemplary education and influence the school has had in the Los Angeles community," Luskin affirmed.

Touro College Los Angeles  (TCLA)

Touro College Los Angeles is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). TCLA offers Bachelor's degrees in business, psychology, religious studies and liberal arts.  The Touro University Worldwide division of TCLA offers online Master's Degrees in Business (MBA), Organizational and Leadership Psychology, Media and Communications Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy. 

About the Touro College and University System

Touro is a system of Jewish-sponsored non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris, and Florida. Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro College Los Angeles and Touro University Worldwide, are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System.  For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/media/.

SOURCE Touro College Los Angeles