Department of Navy news release (Dec. 21, 2004): American Graduate University names Thomas Scheetz 2004 student of the year (Jan. 3, 2005).

COVINA, Calif. -- A U.S. Air Force contracting specialist who completed his master's degree in acquisition management in half the time it takes most graduate students, and whose GPA was a perfect 4.0, has won the 2004 Student of the Year Award from American Graduate University. The prize is awarded annually to the graduate whose academic accomplishment rises well above that of other high performing students in the same graduating class. This year's honoree is Thomas Scheetz, a procurement analyst at Shriever Air Force Base in Colorado.

"Tom's score on the program comprehensive examination was the highest ever achieved," said Mark Ferguson, president of American Graduate University. "And his grade point average was a perfect 4.0, which is all the more impressive because he completed the master of acquisition management degree program in a little over a year. The average time for completion is 24 months."

AGU's master of acquisition management program is one of three fully accredited graduate degrees offered to rising professionals in government and industry in a distance-learning format. The M.A.M. is highly sought after by contracting officers, financial analysts, and negotiators in the federal government procurement system. AGU also offers the master of contract management and the master of project management.

Scheetz recently ended a 30-year military career in the Air Force and continued his career as a civilian Air Force procurement analyst. A native of Sidney, Mont., Scheetz enlisted in the Air Force right after graduating from high school in 1974. He retired from the military last August as a chief master sergeant. During his tenure in the Air Force, Scheetz traveled to 48 states and 39 foreign countries.

Scheetz will be honored as AGU's 2004 Student of the Year at a national ceremony sponsored by the Distance Education & Training Council this spring.