5 Families Earn College Degrees Together at Upcoming Graduation

HAMPTON ROADS, VA, June 16, 2014 – The Hampton & Virginia Beach campuses of Bryant & Stratton College will join ceremonies to matriculate its largest graduating class ever, this Saturday, June 21st at 11am at the Hampton University Convocation Center in Hampton.

Among this year’s 246 new graduates are several sets of relatives who have all benefitted from the always encouraged “buddy-system” style of education. Virginia Beach resident & mother, Diana Holmes-Manipis will graduate this weekend with an Associate’s in Paralegal Studies alongside her daughter, Jacqueline Holmes-Joyner who will graduate with a Medical Administrative Assistant, and her niece, Susan Donnelly who will earn a Bachelor of Business degree in general management. Other relatives who are graduating include siblings Hansel Arce (AA-Acct.) & Alyssa Arce (AA-Bus), sisters Alexis Gonzalez & Simone Keyser-Gonzalez (both AA-CJ), 1st cousins Sharon Canady (AA-Med Adm.) & LaTanya Price (AA-Med Asst.), and married couple Heather Merciel (AA-Med Adm.) and Randall Merciel II (AA-CJ).

• Top honor Virginia Beach graduates among bachelor’s degree recipients are: Valedictorian Teresa Boyd (Veteran), of Virginia Beach, earning a Criminal Justice degree; and Salutatorian Jessica LeGrand, also of Virginia Beach, earning an Accounting degree.
• Top honor Virginia Beach graduates among associates degree recipients are: Jeffrey Ponko, Security Technology graduate from Suffolk, valedictorian; and Doris Belton, a Human Resources Specialist graduate from Virginia Beach, salutatorian.
• Top honor Hampton graduates among associates degree recipients are: Kelly M. Spiess, a Criminal Justice graduate from Smithfield, valedictorian; and Danielle Wingate, a Medical Assisting graduate from Newport News, salutatorian.

Renowned Co-Author of The Quick 30/30 Job Solution, and President & CEO of the Virginia Business Coalition on Health, Neil McNulty will deliver the commencement address to the new 2014 graduates and their families. The College will confer 40 bachelors and 206 associates degrees.