Shep Inspires, LLC CEO C. L. "Shep" Shepard, gives the commencement address. Saturday at the Texas College 2017 Graduation Ceremony. (Mark Martin/Freelance)

Most people don’t have an opportunity to learn alongside their sibling, parent or child in college. That’s exactly what Chester Brent Miller, Timikia Miller, and their mother, Ruby Hollie, did.

The close-knit family enrolled in Texas College’s Success Program inadvertently about the same time in 2013.

They’re also finishing together. The three crossed the stage Saturday during the school’s commencement ceremony.

“It was really exciting to be going to school with my children,” Hollie says.

The family provided a built-in support system and they helped each other with their studies.

Hollie, 66, did not plan for this change of course in her life, but she’s glad she did.

She had taken nursing classes at Tyler Junior College years earlier, but didn’t finish with a degree. She’s spent more than two decades working with home health and at nursing homes.

Most friends were retired, and others had died. She commits a lot of time with a women’s ministry and Vacation Bible School at her church.

So returning to school was the furthest from her mind.

That changed when she got a call that was supposed to be for Timikia from a Texas College coordinator. When Hollie learned about a religion degree through the Success Program, she was hooked.

For the full story visit Liberate Magazine online at https://liberatemagazine.com.

 

109 students walked the stage on Saturday:

Andrew Aguilar

Carlos  Rafael Cordero Alonso

Katawan Monique Amos

Manning  Lee Bailey

Christopher   Baker

Sherese Denee’ Barnes

Jasmine Renia Benjamin

Paloma Bermudez

Tyron A Bibby

LaMetrese K Biggs

Dezmond Devonte Biggurs

Kylan  Deshawn Blackman

Shannon Evette Blackshire

Dimenya Raision Booker

Barbara Elaine  Cain

Gerodd D Calahan

Phillip T Callier

Cynhia Calzada

Eric A Campos

Jasmine Sad’e Carrington

Ariel L Chandler

Martika D. Coffer

Dalia Cordova

Tiara Anthoinette Cotton

Colten Jay Daniels

Gerry  B Davis, III

Glendon M Dawson

Bree’Anna Charyl Danielle Farlough

Nilesvan L Flowers

Bridgette Yevette Freeman

Brandon D Gardner

Tyrone D Gonzales

Israel  Lamar Green

Greshael Jaree Griffin

Curtez Dewayne Griffin

Patrick Glenn Hadnot

Meridith Simone Hallman

Dexter Eric Harmon

LeDarion Antwan Harris

Tamanisha Korell Harris

Kevin Allen Harrison Jr.

LaQuita C. N.  Hart

Angela Yvette Hawkins

Breanna Arlene Henry

Justin Ray Herman

Ruby Faye Hollie

Wendy Jackson

Ashley K Johnson

Shemika De’Chelle Johnson

Monique Antonia Johnson

Oliver  C Johnson III

Rolanda LaTisha Jones

Chaquille Anthony Joseph

D’Andre D Kelley

Deon Kindles-Flournoy

Diana  Marie  Kindles-Gossett

Lexion Lee

Anthony  Scott Lehman

Joshua Deshawn Levy

Janice Marie Lewis

Bradford Keith Lewis

Kerry  P. Linzey

Austin David  Long

Bennita Lovely Lott

Corneilus Love

David  Q. Lute

Sha’Gayla Deneice Lydia-Herndon

Jayson G McCloney

Tradarrious McDonald

Jennifer Scherriell McGrew

Jeremy Jerome McMillian

John Jacob Mendoza

Chester Brent  Miller

Timikia  Santa’e Miller

Michael O’Bryan Morgan

Devonte D Morris

Victor  D Moss

Tequita Mumphrey

James  Otto Muniz

Brittany Chree Navajo

Clara Alejandra Negrete

James  Guy Oakry, Jr.

Crystal B Odum

Salvador Pagan III

DaVonte Peters

Deja J Porter

Lauraetta Richardson

Latricia Denice Robinson

Desmond M Ross

Aneese  Renae Ruffin

Luis A Sandoval

Akedio Dushurn Sharp

Cristen N Simmons

Jacqueline Shenae Simpson

Tommy Lamar Starks

Earnest Charles Stinson

Whitney Danielle Surratt

Christopher Lamar Tatum

Bobbie Smith Taylor

Bryon Thompson

Arnisha Marie Thompson

Morris Toe

Crystal Celeste Torres

Thaurean J Trahan

Avery  R Walker

DaVade Rashuan Whitaker

Shalanda Yvette Williams

Sherry  Ann Williams

Jamie Lawrence Yarber