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by Andrea C. Martino
It’s easy to say commencements are a family affair, but for the
Toledos of Clinton, Maryland, with three of four family members
graduating at UMUC’s May 2002 commencement ceremony in Adelphi,
Maryland, that statement is definitely true.
Rafael Sr., 54, retired from the U.S. Navy in 1994 and worked as
a systems analyst for a defense contractor until last year when
he decided to attend college full time.
"He was really determined to graduate with us," said
his wife, Evangelina. "He was driving me to my classes anyway,
so instead of waiting in the car for three hours, Rafael decided
he should get into a program himself." His dedication paid
off, and he received his bachelor’s degree in information systems
management.
 Both
he and Evangelina, 53, are from the province of Bulacan, near Manila,
in the Philippines. She earned a bachelor’s degree there and worked
for five years as a schoolteacher before immigrating to the United
States in 1972. She began studies at UMUC in 1995 in pursuit of
a Master of Science degree in management.
"I wanted to do something to prove to myself and to my children
that it’s never too late to better yourself," she said. "Besides,
although most people might think I’m crazy for admitting it, I really
enjoy going to school!"
Evangelina took four courses online and 10 others in traditional
classroom settings either in Adelphi or in Waldorf, Maryland. She
holds a full-time job as a contracting officer at the Naval Research
Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
"We all work, so UMUC is more convenient for us than anyplace
else," she said.
The third Toledo to graduate, Rafael Jr., currently a business
manager at Boeing/Autometric, cannot be called a typical student
either. At age 28, he earned his second master’s degree from UMUC,
the Executive Master of Business Administration. Two years earlier,
he completed the Executive Master of Science in Technology Management
program at the university.
"This second master’s is so much more meaningful for me than
the first because it’s not often that you have the opportunity to
walk in the same graduation ceremony as your mom and dad!"
Rafael Jr. said. Both he and his younger sister, Rae, earned their
bachelor’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park.
When asked if the family planned to celebrate the momentous commencement
ceremony, Evangelina laughed.
"Celebrate? We are just going to have an ‘intimate’ celebration
at a favorite restaurant in Washington for 120 to 150 people. My
son’s paying for it, so we let him choose the place, and most of
the guests are his friends.
"That’s fine with us. I’m just glad we can do this together."
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