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Article by Kurt Liedtke, public relations, Klamath Community College.<\/em> <\/p>\n KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A family that studies together graduates together, at least this is the case for the Gardners this last night at Klamath Community College\u2019s commencement ceremony.<\/p>\n Tricia Gardner not only collected her associate degree on Friday afternoon in business management, but so too will her daughter, Brittany, who is also earning her KCC degree. Two weeks later, Tricia\u2019s sons, Mateo and Adrian, will collect their GED certificates in a separate Klamath Center for Education and Training (KCET) graduation ceremony. The family relocated from Corvallis to the Klamath Basin for work and to be closer to family, Tricia took a job with iQor; but when the customer service center closed in 2019, she chose to use a dislocated worker program through KCC to return to school. In fall 2020 Tricia began coursework in business management, while Brittany also began attending KCC to study criminal justice. Not long after, the entire family joined the KCC cohort, when Mateo and Adrian began pursuing GEDs. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was great, all of us being in classes,\u201d said Tricia of the familial educational experience. \u201cI had a wonderful advisor, and we approached it as teamwork. We were always there for each other; my daughter and I were even in some of the same classes. I just told them it\u2019s about baby steps, but here we are finally accomplishing all of our goals.\u201d \u201cFor the most part we had our online classes together,\u201d said Brittany. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have the exact same classes, but it was fun being able to ride to school together.\u201d Brittany plans to transfer to Southern Oregon University to pursue her bachelor\u2019s degree. For Mateo and Adrian their education will continue at KCC, utilizing the Oregon Promise grant to pursue associate degrees in the fall, studying <\/p>\n diesel technology, and advanced manufacturing engineering technology respectively. Tricia\u2019s youngest daughter will also start at KCC in the fall.
It wasn\u2019t Tricia\u2019s first attempt at higher education, previously studying criminal justice when Brittany was a baby, but falling short of graduating. Through support from advisors, instructors and family, come Friday she will not only receive her Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management, but also has accumulated enough credits to receive her criminal justice pathway certificate. <\/p>\n
Tricia noted how important support received from KCC staff and faculty was in assisting the entire family to reach their respective goals. She called her advisor, Linda Williamson, an inspirational and encouraging figure helping her reach her goals. Brittany\u2019s advisor, Jim Gravely, was also noted for always taking extra time to answer questions and provide guidance on career options. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very blessed and it\u2019s all a huge sense of happiness \u2013 it\u2019s real,\u201d said Tricia. \u201cI started school when she (Brittany) was a baby, and I left years ago, so to finally accomplish this and get my business degree, and a week later my boys will graduate too … it shows our teamwork, our strength, goals, and how strong of a family we are.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n