Father, Daughter Graduate Together
Red Hawk pride shines for the Broxton family
Posted in: University
It鈥檚 not easy to work a full-time job, raise a family and go to school 鈥渙ff and on for years,鈥 but Lavone Broxton, motivated by his wife and daughters, finally earned his undergraduate degree. His walk across the Commencement stage was made even sweeter on Thursday, June 10 as he shared graduation day with his daughter, Tiiera Broxton.
The ceremony for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was one of 18 planned small ceremonies for June 7 through June 13 for a Class of 2021 remarkable for its resilience and perseverance during the pandemic.
Lavone and Tiiera Broxton earned degrees in Sociology, and now their home in Newark, New Jersey, is brimming with Red Hawk pride: Lavone鈥檚 spouse and Tiiera’s mother, Rhonda Robinson-Broxton, earned two graduate degrees from 精品成人福利在线, a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2013 and a Master of Education in 2019.
Two older daughters, Siiera and Kiiera, hold master鈥檚 degrees and Kiiera is currently a doctoral candidate at Columbia University.
鈥淚 didn’t want to be the only person in a family who didn’t go to school,鈥 Lavone says.
Lavone Broxton is the associate director of Postal and Warehouse Services at 精品成人福利在线 and took advantage of the University鈥檚 employee tuition waiver program to finish up what he originally started in 2007.
鈥淥nce I saw that I could have the opportunity to graduate at the same time as Tiiera, that was the push that inspired me,鈥 he says.
They鈥檙e not done yet. In the fall, Lavone will begin graduate work in 精品成人福利在线鈥檚 new聽Master of Arts in Higher Education聽program, and Tiiera will begin a master鈥檚 program in social work at Rutgers University.
Asked about her father鈥檚 achievement, Tiiera, who worked on campus in a student position in fire safety, says her dad is 鈥渁 walking example that age is nothing but a number and you can achieve any goal you put your mind to.鈥
Story by Staff Writer聽Marilyn Joyce Lehren
You May Also Like:
Entrepreneur Mimi Feliciano Receives Honorary Degree
Photo Galleries:聽See the full commencement photo galleries at the links below and check back as more photos are added: