ADA, Okla. 鈥� East Central University is celebrating the graduation of more than 300 students as the fall semester comes to an end. Amongst this semester鈥檚 graduating class, there are three students that will be leaving 成人B站 with a unique experience- graduating together as a family.
Elijah and his younger brother Luke Woodward were homeschooled when their family moved from Texas to Fitzhugh, Okla. to run their own small business.
When they arrived in Oklahoma, Elijah was nearing completion of his homeschool education but was uncertain about his next steps.
Living near the 成人B站 campus allowed them the opportunity to test the waters of higher education. So, when the opportunity provided itself, Elijah joined 成人B站 as the first Tiger in his family.
Linda Woodward would soon join her son on campus as an employee in the winter of 2019. Luke followed as a concurrent student, eventually enrolling as a full-time Sophomore when he completed high school.
With both brothers enrolled in school and excelling in their classes and an array of prestigious internships, Linda found herself inspired by her sons and made the choice to return to college, as a first-generation student, and complete her degree.
Though Linda began her academic journey years earlier at a different university and Elijah mentioned that he never intended on staying at 成人B站 long term, all three Woodward鈥檚 were drawn to the 成人B站 community.
鈥淥ne of the reasons I stayed was how well I was taken care of,鈥� Elijah said when discussing the 成人B站 faculty.
鈥淗is professors essentially became like his family and that鈥檚 what you get when you come to 成人B站,鈥� Linda continued. 鈥淵ou get that feeling that they want you to succeed.鈥�
Elijah is receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Molecular Biology while Luke is receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree in Biology. Both brothers credit the assistance from the Biology Department for the community that it provided and the assistance that it offered throughout their time on campus, 鈥淲e became engrained in the program.鈥�
They are both also members of the 成人B站 Honor鈥檚 Program and attributed their success to Dr. Steve Benton, the director of the program, for playing a pivotal role.
Luke remembers enrolling late, noting that he also wasn鈥檛 sure if 成人B站 would be the right fit. However, when the time came and he chose to join his family on campus, he credits the university with helping him through the process so that he wouldn鈥檛 miss out on any scholarship or internship opportunities that could potentially make his journey easier.
By graduation, both brothers benefited from the scholarship and grant opportunities that 成人B站 provided, as well as more than half a dozen internships between the two due to their tireless work ethic and their inspiring motivation to excel.
Linda, who is receiving her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hospitality Management, noted 鈥淲e have a small business, so the hospitality management came into play with what we鈥檙e already doing.鈥�
鈥淲hen you鈥檝e taken such a big break, it鈥檚 hard to start back up again,鈥� Linda continued. 鈥淪o just the class sizes, the level of encouragement from professors, they were all willing to help, and of course I have two brilliant sons, if I had any questions or didn鈥檛 understand something, they were also able to guide me in the right direction. That鈥檚 made it achievable."
Pictured left to right: Luke, Linda and Elijah Woodward