By Breana Krotz
Photo by Sam Girton
Every spring, graduation brings thousands of proud parents to Ohio University to watch as their son or daughter completes the college journey. Some parents may even have the opportunity to watch more than one of their children receive their degrees. But how many students can actually say they walked through commencement with their parents? For the Roeth family, commencement will be quite the family affair.
Four members of the Roeth family will participate in Ohio University's June 2004 commencement ceremony. Daughter, Annie Roeth; son, Todd Roeth and parents Keith and Colleen Roeth will walk through the ceremony together.
"This will be a great way to say goodbye to Ohio University for the family," says Todd Roeth. "Not only will it be a memorable experience for my sister and I, but also how many kids can say they graduated before their parents?"
Parents Keith and Colleen Roeth were students at Ohio University during the spring of 1970 when the University shut down early due to the rise in political tension from the Vietnam War in the aftermath of the Kent State shootings. Like many other universities, Ohio University sent students home early from classes, allowing them to receive a pass/fail grade or the letter grade they held at the time. Many of these students never had the opportunity to participate in a commencement ceremony, including Keith and Colleen Roeth.
Thirty-four years later, Keith and Colleen Roeth will join their children and complete their college journey.
"We're really looking forward to commencement," says Keith Roeth, laughing. "It's going to be a very memorable experience. You have to live long enough to embarrass your kids, and I guess that's what we're doing."
The opportunity, which the Roeth family equally jokes about and looks forward to, arose during one visit the parents paid to the University, Todd Roeth remembers. While they were attending a fraternity reunion at the Athens Country Club, Keith Roeth joked about being part of the class that never graduated. Ohio University official Alan Geiger then extended him an open invitation to come back and participate in commencement anytime the couple liked.
"At first, we all laughed about it," says Keith Roeth. "But, then after thinking about it, we decided to finish our college experience. We wouldn’t have done it if our children hadn't said go for it. I think they're really excited too. We'll be participating in our daughter's college graduation."
Todd Roeth will be receiving his Master's in Visual Communications during the Friday, June 11 commencement ceremony. The rest of the Roeth family will be walking on Saturday, June 12 with the College of Health and Human Services. Daughter Annie Roeth will be receiving her Bachelor in Outdoor Education and Adventure Recreation, so Keith and Colleen Roeth decided to take part in that ceremony rather than with the College of Education.
"It's going to be so neat," Annie Roeth says. "How much more involved can you be with your child’s graduation? I'm guessing they'll be sitting with me and everything. But, I'll still be the first one across the stage."
Breana Krotz is a student writer for University Communications and Marketing
