David Mekeel: 2 very different paths to Kutztown University's commencement [Reading Eagle, Pa.]

May 13—Alexandra Coleman and Dennis O'Donnell have both arrived at the same point.

On Saturday, each will be awarded a diploma as a 2022 graduate of Kutztown University. But the paths to that commencement ceremony for the 79-year-old O'Donnell and the 19-year-old Coleman look much, much different.

For O'Donnell it wasn't a straightforward journey. It was one with twists and turns that extended over decades.

For Coleman, on the other hand, it was a sprint traveled so quickly she didn't even realize she was approaching the end.

Finishing what he started

O'Donnell grew up in Catasauqua, Lehigh County, and enrolled at Kutztown after graduating from Allentown Central High School in 1960.

He was living at home and making the long drive to campus each day. And by 1964 the travel and the school work started to get to him.

"I guess I was burned out from commuting and working and going to school," he said.

O'Donnell dropped out, just 18 credits shy of earning his degree.

He ended up doing data processing and working for a subsidiary of CNA Insurance in Reading, starting on the ground floor and focusing on the technical aspect of the industry. His hard work paid off, and he was eventually hired by Met-Life to install a new homeowners insurance system for them.

That took him to Rhode Island, where he lived until another job in the insurance industry took him to Texas in 1978. He's lived in the Lone Star State ever since.

His career was, by all measures, a successful one. But through it all O'Donnell had something nagging at him.

"In my career, I was always known for completing projects successfully," he said. "But I had never completed college."

When the COVID pandemic shut down large segments of the world, O'Donnell saw an opportunity to rectify that.

"COVID kind of locked us down, so I figured maybe finishing my degree was something I could do to keep my mind active," he said.

O'Donnell has a cousin who works at KU and reached out to her. She put him in touch with members of the administration who helped him sign up for online classes.

He took three classes last summer, two in the fall and two in spring.

It was a much different experience than his first at Kutztown. Luckily, he said, he's fairly computer literate and had the time to figure out all the ins and outs of online learning.

"It was different from the standpoint that you don't have an immediate dialog with a professor," he said. "If something is bothering you about something that was covered in class you have to get online and try to set up a Skype call."

It wasn't just the method of instruction that was different this time around, O'Donnell said. He was different, too.

"I was more ready to put in the time to do well than when I was first in school," he said. "Back then I had other things going on. I was not as committed."

His commitment this time led to A's and B's, and a diploma.

"I'm excited about it," O'Donnell said.

He said his family and friends are very interested in the fact that he's going to be graduating at 79.

They ask him why he decided to circle back at this point in his life, and his answer is simple: "I have the time and money to do it."

O'Donnell is returning to Berks County to take part in Saturday's commencement ceremony. He's eager to see what the campus he last stepped foot on more than four decades ago looks like today.

"I understand it's grown quite a bit," he said.

Moving at her own pace

Coleman never planned on getting where she is as quickly as she did.

"I didn't even expect to graduate at 19. It just kind of happened," she said. "I didn't even know I was going to graduate until the beginning of the semester. It caught me off guard. It caught everyone off guard."

Given her history, maybe it shouldn't have.

The Harrisburg native attended high school through the virtual Pa. Cyber Charter School. At the same time, she also took classes at Harrisburg Area Community College.

She in enrolled at HACC in the fall of 2018, pursuing an associate's degree in criminal justice.

Coleman juggled seven high school classes with five or six college courses. She loved the challenge and thrived under the pressure.

"I really do enjoy learning," she said. "It sounds kind of silly, but I just wanted to see what my full potential is. I found that I really enjoyed having the high-caliber education and the heavy workload."

Coleman graduated from HACC in December 2019. Five months later, she graduated from high school at just 17 years old.

After taking some time off to work, Coleman's next stop was Kutztown, which she picked in part because it's a school that's very friendly to transfer students and offers impactful scholarship opportunities.

"It was just doable for me," she said.

Like she had done before, Coleman flew through her coursework. She studied sociology, a topic that fascinated her and drove her to want to learn more and more as quickly as possible.

She compared her consumption of knowledge to an athlete, saying the time and dedication they devote toward their sport is the same she devotes to academics.

Of course, she also took a bit of time for other things. Coleman was involved in the Black Student Union and the Social Justice Book Club while on campus.

With her undergraduate days coming to a swift close, Coleman is looking toward the future. She's making plans to pursue a master's in criminal justice and, after that, attend law school.

She said her interest in law comes from a few different sources. She said she is a fan of true crime stories and has had a fascination with the structure of laws and their impact on society.

"It's the foundation this nation is built on," she said. "It's such a big part of our nation, but not that many people know a lot about it."

Coleman said she also has a deep interest in injustices that exist in the U.S. and wants to play a part in correcting them. A law degree will help with that, she said.

"I feel powerless without some sort of professional degree, in some way," she said. "People are more willing to hear what you have to say when you have a degree."

Coleman said she hopes to one day work as a criminal defense attorney.

"That's where my interests lay," she said. "That's where I see myself in the future."

KU commencement ceremony

When: Graduate students graduate Saturday at 5 p.m. Undergraduate degrees will be handed out Saturday during ceremonies starting at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Where: All commencement ceremonies will be at Kutztown's O'Pake Fieldhouse.

Number of graduates: More than 1,200.

Speakers: Dr. Catherine McGeehan, a Kutztown professor of education, and Paul Walsh, an education doctorate recipient, will speak at the graduate degree ceremony. Speakers at the undergraduate ceremonies will be Madison Brzozowski, a special education and secondary English education graduate; Dr. Georgeos Sirrakos, professor of secondary education; Kerolos Akraz, a business administration graduate; and Dr. Peg Speirs, a professor of art education.

Notable: An honorary doctorate will be awarded to Richard Wells, a retired music professor.

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