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For six newly minted Norwich University undergraduate alumni, their May 10th commencement may not be their last walk across the stage to be handed a Norwich diploma.

“I wouldn’t want to continue my education anywhere but Norwich,” said Pam Dubey, a Norwich alumna who studied mathematics. “I have gotten so much out of this place and am excited for another opportunity to do so.”

Dubey, along with five other recent Norwich graduates, are this year’s recipients of the Distinguished NU Scholar scholarship from the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS). Two graduating seniors from each academic college were selected for the Distinguished NU Scholar scholarship this year, which grants the individual a full-tuition scholarship to any CGCS master’s degree program.

The 2014 recipients of this scholarship are Steven Bartomioli, of Falls Village, Conn., Meghan Rioux, from Jefferson, Mass., Adam Kocienski, of Schaghticoke, N.Y., Pamela Dubey, of Campton, N.H., Caroline Barth, from Friedens, Pa., and Roger Thompson, of Barre, Vt.

Dubey is looking to enroll in the Master of Science in Leadership program in December of 2015 after she completes her goal of earning a commission in the Army through Officer Candidate School. “With the flexible online classes, I can be stationed anywhere and still be able to earn my degree,” she said.

For Steven Bartomioli, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Norwich, the financial support of this scholarship will allow him to earn his master’s degree much earlier than he anticipated. “With this scholarship, there is a huge weight off of my shoulders in worrying how to pay for my [graduate] education, allowing me to focus more on my studies and less on the finances,” he explained.

The transition from a Norwich undergraduate degree to a Norwich master’s degree seems natural for these students. After earning her bachelor’s degree in computer security and information assurance, Meghan Rioux is “very proud to be able to continue my education at Norwich.”

Rioux hopes to pursue the Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance program and plans to begin her application in the near future. As a recipient of this scholarship, Rioux says she felt that all of her hard work as an undergraduate student was validated.

Throughout her four years at Norwich, Rioux had heard “wonderful things” about Norwich’s information security and assurance master’s program and has even had the opportunity to meet people that have earned that particular degree.

In addition to the Distinguished NU Scholar scholarship, the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies awarded eight graduating seniors with the Merit Scholarship, which awards $7,500 to any CGCS master’s degree program.