Even though he grew up in Oklahoma and became an Oklahoma State University Cowboy, Stephen Bashore has always been a University of Miami Hurricane at heart. He cheers for UM’s athletic teams and in 1999 wanted to take correspondence courses through the institution, which the school did not offer at the time.
Today his dream of becoming a ’Cane has finally come true. Bashore, general manager of the Buffalo Run Casino and Resort in Miami, Oklahoma, will receive a Master’s in Sport Administration at UM’s graduate degree commencement ceremony on May 5.
“Very proud” is how the 46-year-old describes receiving the degree, which he earned online as a member of the first class of UM’s UOnline program.
Launched two years ago, the program has drawn many students who have always been attracted to UM’s reputation as a top academic institution but could not physically attend classes on the Coral Gables campus.
On Thursday, students also will graduate with UOnline Master’s Degrees in Professional Accounting and Finance.
For Bashore, who says the online learning experience was perfect for him, his new degree is the start of great things to come. He plans to become an athletic director.
