A family-friendly graduation

When Portland State student Cassie Arroyo graduates in June, her two daughters, Ava, 4, and Lily, 2, will be standing alongside her in their own caps and gowns at a special ceremony for student parents designed to be fun for kids of all ages.

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When Portland State student Cassie Arroyo graduates in June, her two daughters, Ava, 4, and Lily, 2, will be standing alongside her in their own caps and gowns at a special ceremony for student parents designed to be fun for kids of all ages.

“When you have kids, I feel like they’re your biggest motivation to get done and finish your degree,” Arroyo said. “I felt it was important to have my daughters involved [in this accomplishment].” She will be graduating with her bachelor’s degree in psychology and human development.

Arroyo’s experience echoes that of many student parents—school has affected the whole family.

“It’s been a really long road for me,” Arroyo said. “When my oldest was small, she would just sit with me and watch me do homework—but with my youngest, she would rip the pages of my books, [so I had to start doing] all my studying after she went to bed.”

PSU’s Resource Center for Students with Children is putting on its first family-friendly graduation event this year, with a theme based on the Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Lisa Wittorff, the coordinator of the RCSC, said that involving children in their parent’s college experience increases the child’s success as well.

“Studies have shown [that] when children are at college with their parents they have more success in [attending and completing college themselves],” Wittorff said. “[This event] honors graduates but also recognizes the contribution of the children. [Having a parent attending college] can be very hard [for them], especially for older children.”

The graduation will be held on June 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Hoffman Hall. It will feature a carnival atmosphere, with a bounce house for the kids, a disc jockey, a Mexican food buffet, VooDoo doughnuts and a photographer for family photos. The RCSC is also providing caps and gowns for the children of graduating students to wear while walking with their parents to receive their certificates.

The RCSC realizes that PSU’s regular commencement can be difficult for students with children to attend—either they try to find child care for the event or bring their kids along. But the center wasn’t sure what sort of response to anticipate when they sent out the email announcing the event.

“The event filled right up to capacity almost as soon as we sent out the email, but there is a waiting list available,” Wittorf said.

Student Joanna Bartlo, who will be graduating with her doctoral degree in math education, has two sons, Quinn, 4, and Leo, 2, and will be attending only the RCSC graduation event.

“I wasn’t planning on walking [at commencement] because I didn’t want to spend that much time away from my kids, but it is really important to my advisor to hood me,” Bartlo said. “This is a great compromise—we get to mark the moment, and I get to be with my kids. It’s great to know there are options.”

Bartlo earned her master’s degree in science and teaching mathematics and has been attending PSU since 2004. She ended up taking a three-year maternity leave in the middle of her college career to have her boys.

“When my oldest son was a baby, I would take him with me to grant meetings and just take a box of plug protectors [for the electric outlets],” Bartlo said. “But once he started crawling and walking it just got too hard, and I realized I wanted to spend that time with him at home.”

When asked if her being in school has been hard for her boys, Bartlo said no.

“For both of them, it’s all they’ve known their whole lives, me being in school,” she said. “My oldest talks about wanting to be a teacher, but I don’t think he realizes what me graduating means.”

Arroyo is the first of her family to graduate from college, so attending the regular commencement ceremony is very important to her parents, especially her mom.

“My mom really wanted me to walk, and I talked to friends of mine who hadn’t walked and regretted it, so I’m attending both [the regular commencement and the RCSC graduation,]” she said.

Arroyo’s oldest daughter, who wants to be a police officer, said she is excited to walk with her mommy at the RCSC graduation and likes that her mommy goes to college.