Newlyweds Earn Degrees Together at Mount Olive College
MOUNT OLIVE- Earning a college degree is an important and life-changing experience for many students. It is the stepping stone into new opportunities, new possibilities, and new changes. For Danielle and Josh Leggett of Kenly, earning their college degrees has been just one of the many life-changing occurrences that have taken place in the past few years.
Danielle and Josh Leggett began attending University of Mount Olive at the Johnston Community College location in August 2008, after earning their associate’s degrees. Now, just weeks away from graduating with their bachelor’s degrees, the Leggett’s look back on their journey to this important day.
After completing their associate’s degrees, the couple said, “We decided right then that we wanted to continue our education.”
They both enrolled in the Management and Organizational Development (MOD) program, and have attended every class together.
“We kept each other going and we studied together,” Josh stated. “We helped each other in everything. Danielle is very good in math and I am good in writing papers so we helped each other learn together. We also kept each other in line when things were due.”
A little over a year into the program Danielle and Josh found the time to take a break from their studies for another life change. “We worked around our school schedule to get married and go to the Bahamas for our honeymoon,” Danielle said. “This was very difficult to do having classes every week, with tests and homework. But we got through it, got married, went on with school, and now we are graduating!”
A bump in the road came for Josh when he was laid off from his job at Bayer Environment Science. The couple tightened their financial belts and strengthened their resolve with even more determination than before to earn their degrees. After graduating in May Josh plans to pursue his master’s degree.
Danielle says she is already seeing the benefits of her degree in her current job as an insurance coordinator. “My degree has helped me learn more, and receive a raise,” she said.
The couple says the experience of earning their degrees together has not been as difficult as they expected. “If you pace yourself and do the classes at night, they fly by very quickly!”
University of Mount Olive will graduate approximately 350 students at its 57th spring Commencement set for Saturday, May 7 at 2:00 PM in Kornegay Arena.
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.