WGU Washington, an online, non-profit university, awarded nearly 1,700 bachelor’s and master’s degrees at its fourth annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 2.

Among the 1,700 graduates, were six students from North Bend and three from Carnation.

North Bend graduates included: Angela Gundry, with a bachelor’s degree in business management; Janya Morris, with a bachelor’s degree in information technology management; Orachut Pederzani, with a bachelor’s degree in information technology management; Marilu Bumgardner, with a bachelor’s degree in nursing; Allison Richards, with a bachelor’s degree in nursing; and Alison Wilson, with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Carnation graduates included: Mellissa Harvold, with a master’s degree in learning and technology; Kristin Nelson, with a master’s degree in healthcare management; and Jason Latta, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

The 2015 graduating class was roughly 70 percent larger than last year’s class of 1,055 graduates. In the four years since state lawmakers endorsed WGU Washington as an affordable education option for students, the university’s enrollment has grown rapidly.