Jon Mark Beilue: A One...And a Two...And a Three

Mother, two daughters, receive degrees at the same time

The last time Michelle Earl walked across a stage in cap and gown, it may have been more like a waddle. She was, in her words, “very, very pregnant.”

She was carrying her daughter Paige, who also was present for mom’s next graduation that was more than 23 years later on May 11 at the First United Bank Center for West Texas A&M University. Paige Dodge may have been along for the ride the first time, but not this time, as she was the first WT student to receive a master’s degree in engineering.

But that’s not quite all.

There also was Mary, another daughter. Like her mom, she, too, received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. If you’re keeping score – and the Earl family in Strasburg, Colo., certainly is – that’s one mother and two daughters receiving their degrees not just on the same day, but within the same moment on a memorable Mother’s Day weekend.

“I don’t know how to explain the chance of this happening like it did,” said Mary, 21. “But the fact that I could share this with my mom and sister as well makes it so sweet. The fact that I’m standing between them also getting my degree made my heart so full. There was no better way to celebrate Mother’s Day.”

With a little help from the WT administration – which recognized the magnitude of the moment – Paige was the last of the master’s candidates to receive her degree, and Michelle and Mary were the first two among the following bachelor’s candidates in nursing to receive theirs to make it a degree plan for the ages.

“We’re very proud of them,” said Michelle. “To be able to graduate at the same time as your daughters, I mean, what can you say other than how special it all is.”

This began innocently enough six years ago. The Earls live about 40 miles west of Denver and attended Byars High School, where a typical senior class numbers about 30.

A football-playing friend in Paige’s class reached out to WT about playing for the Buffs. He got rejected. That was the first time Paige heard of WT. The University got on her radar interestingly enough because she loves football, and if they rejected her friend’s modest football talents, maybe they had high standards everywhere.

So she included WT with Colorado State, Northern Colorado, and Wyoming as universities she applied to. Even with out-of-state tuition, WT was easily the most affordable. A visit to the campus in the spring of 2013 sealed the deal.

Even though she was strong in math and science, Paige intended to major in political science at the suggestion of her dad, Jeff. She wasn’t crazy about that, and a Google search later of majors for math and science turned up civil engineering.

So that was her major – for a year. At a summer opportunity to work and study in Honduras for engineering students, she got an up-close view of the three mechanical engineering projects, and all appealed to her.

“It was like civil,” she said, “but everything was in motion.”

Helped by dual credit hours in high school, Paige earned a mechanical engineering degree in 3 ½ years in December 2016. WT announced a master’s program in engineering would begin in August 2017.

That piqued Paige’s interest because, as she said, “I wanted to get as much as I could out of WT.” It also might later open some career doors. She was one of 20 students to initially enroll.

Never thought it would happen together

In the meantime, younger sister Mary, one of seven Earl siblings, was graduating high school. She wanted to follow her mother’s career path as a nurse. She also was close to her sister and knew how she felt about WT.

“She trail blazed the way for what college would be like,” Mary said. “She did college right – lived in the dorm, made great friends, involved on campus. Just the fact she had such a total and complete college experience, and a wholesome experience, made me want the same thing.”

So a second Earl sister migrated south to WT. It wasn’t long after that Michelle was faced with the need for additional education. She was heading for a new position as a charge nurse at the UC Health University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, a Denver suburb. Even though she was an RN, the job change required a BSN degree.

She had seen what WT had been like for her daughters, knew about the reputation of the school of nursing, and the affordability. So in 2016, she began taking online classes from Colorado in the RN to BSN tracking program.

So, within about nine months, mother and two daughters were enrolled at WT as a traditional student, a master’s student and online in the school of nursing. None, at the time, thought about graduating together.

Paige had to finish 30 hours for her master’s. Because she married in June 2018 to Jordan Dodge, who is a football coach at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, it was a combination of classroom and later, online courses.

The thesis concludes the master’s program. Since the work is research-based and time can vary, Paige became aware her work would likely be the first one finished and she would earn her master’s in May 2019.

“I thought I might be the first one walking,” she said, “and it turned out to be the case. It makes me very proud. I love WT, and I don’t know if anyone would appreciate being the first as much as me.”

And so in future games of Buff Jeopardy, when the answer is: This blonde girl from rural Colorado earned the first master’s degree in engineering from WT.”

The correct question is: Who is Paige Earl-Dodge?

But all of this kept growing. It was known for a while Mary would get her BSN in May. Late in 2018, Paige knew she would get her master’s at the same time. And Michelle knew if she got hyper-focused with her online classes, despite four other children at home and a full-time job, she could earn her BSN at the same time.

And so it was.

But this unique story is not quite all the story. Both daughters in conversation let it be known to their professors and administrators what was happening.

Dr. Emily Hunt, engineering dean and professor of mechanical engineering, and Vicki Hamblen, dean secretary for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, were among several who thought this was too good not to try a version of Graduation Musical Chairs.

Paige was originally supposed to receive her degree in a later session, but it was arranged for her to get her master’s just before her mother and sister received their BSN diplomas on that Saturday morning. Four of the five other siblings, Jeff and one set of grandparents were in attendance.

“We were just blown away that WT would do this,” said Mary, who begins work in surgical ICU at Baptist St. Anthony’s hospital in Amarillo on June 3. “I’m just so incredibly grateful. Just to be in the same ceremony would be nice, but all three together? It was a big deal for our family, but WT seemed as excited as we were.”

But WT has not seen the last of the Earls. Daughter Rebecca, Byars Class of ’19, will arrive in Canyon in the fall. Another nurse appears to be on the way.

Do you know of a student, faculty member, project, an alumnus or any other story idea for “WT: The Heart and Soul of the Texas Panhandle?” If so, email Jon Mark Beilue at jbeilue@wtamu.edu.

—WTAMU—