Mothers and daughters celebrate academia

McALLEN -- The 21-year-old woman walked across the stage at her college graduation, a few pounds lighter than expected.

Ruby A. Wiley, of Rio Grande City, received her bachelor's degree in psychology Saturday afternoon from the University of Texas-Pan American. A total of 1,477 prospective graduates were expected to walked across the stage throughout the day during three separate ceremonies at the McAllen Convention Center.

At this time last week, Wiley had been in the hospital after giving birth the day before to a baby girl. Her first child, Haley Renae Valadez, 4 pounds 12 ounces, came a month early.

"I thought she was going to graduate with me, but now she gets to watch," Wiley said of her daughter before the ceremony.

The newborn was one of many children in attendance. The commencement ceremonies were one day before Mother's Day and coincided with the Mexican equivalent the holiday, Dia de las Madres.

The timing was not lost on university administrators.

Paul Sale, UTPA's provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the average age of the school's students is a higher than that of most universities. That translates to more students who are also mothers, meaning many youngsters watched their moms walk across that stage Saturday.

"It is a wonderful example," Sale said. "It's establishing that college-going culture right from the beginning."

UTPA President Blandina "Bambi" Cárdenas addressed the families and graduates during the ceremony. She told them she couldn't think of a better gift for a mom than seeing a daughter walk across the stage.

Cárdenas asked the graduates to stand, face their mothers and blow them kisses of gratitude. The students did so as the mothers clapped and accepted the gestures of thanks.

Three distinguished speakers also offered words of advice during the three ceremonies. Joe B. Riley, the chief executive officer of McAllen Medical Center, was the scheduled speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony for the College of Health Sciences and Human Services and the College of Business Administration.

M. Olaf Frandsen, the publisher of The Monitor and regional vice president of parent company Freedom Communications Inc., was the scheduled speakers for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony for the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Science and Engineering.

And John A. Johnson, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI McAllen Resident Agency, spoke at the 1:30 p.m. commencement, which included the College of Education and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Wiley, her daughter and the rest of her family attended the 1:30 p.m. ceremony.

While at UTPA she bonded with Linda Matthews, an associate professor in management who taught three of Wiley's classes this spring.

Matthews described her as an excellent student and said Wiley contacted her hours after giving birth, expressing concern about a project due in the coming days.

The instructor assured Wiley she would not lose any points due to childbirth and told her a student's health and family come first. Just the same, Wiley managed to turn in the project less than a week after delivering.

Now, with graduation and childbirth behind her, she has turned her focus to the future. She plans to move to Seattle with her husband and enlist in the U.S. Air Force and hopes time in the service will pay for her graduate school.

Wiley plans to pursue a doctoral degree in human resources and management based on Matthews' example. But for now, the new mother plans to enjoy time with her baby girl and celebrate earning her degree.

"It all turned out really well," Wiley said. "It was hectic and painful to walk, but I got it all done."
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Zack Quaintance covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.