Accomplishing their goals together
Mother, daughter to graduate fromCedarville together.
A Springfield mother and daughter have shared their senior year of college and will be graduating together fromCedarvilleUniversity in May, according to a release from the university.
Christina Penrose will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting andHayleyPenrose will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in social work.
“It is an honor to graduate withmy daughter. I was thankful she was OK with sharing her senior year with me,” Christina said.
Hayley is graduating a year early, which is how she is able to graduate with her mother.
“I am very excited we can both accomplish our goals together. I think it will removeexcusesformyfuture children and her future grandchildren,” she said. “We both knew we would graduate; therewasnodoubt in our minds. The timing of our graduationwas definitely unexpected.”
Christina began working toward her degree in accounting in 2009. She is currentlyanAccountingControl Analyst at the Speedway corporate office and the former administrative assistant for the department of science and mathematics at Cedarville.
“Going to school part time and working full time and having a family is incredibly challenging,” she said. “I have a very supportive family, and my former department, which is like family, has really encouraged me.”
Hayley enrolled in college in 2018. She currentlyworks for the Clark County CombinedHealth District and has been a part of the COVID-19 response team.
“Since March, Hayley has been part of our growing team who are providing the local public health response to SARS-CoV2 in Clark County,” said Christina Conover at the health district. “Hayley has been an asset as part of our team, as she is able to connect with individuals impacted by COVID-19 and advocate for their unique needs through her efforts at CCCHD.”
Hayley said she hopes to continue serving families at the health district after graduation, and hopes one day to open a nonprofit dance studio where families can have access to affordable recreational activities.
The two said it’s surreal that their time as students together is coming to an end.
“The other day we took our senior photos,” Hayley said. “She’s (Christina) been going to school for almost 12 years, and it was so cool to see her getdressed in the cap and gown before we graduate and see her accomplish that goal.”