On Saturday, May 5, Ohio University senior journalism major Hannah Britton will experience something that most students can only dream about.
The Painesville, Ohio, native will graduate from college on the same day as her mother, Celeste Britton, an online nursing student.
During the 9:30 a.m. Commencement ceremony at the Convocation Center, Hannah Britton will receive her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Scripps College of Communication. During the 2 p.m. ceremony, her mother will walk across the stage to accept her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of Health Sciences and Professions. She completed her coursework while working as a full-time nurse for University Hospitals.
Celeste Britton said her family has a logistical plan for May 5.
“We'll take pictures with Hannah in the morning and come back in the afternoon and do it again with me,” Celeste Britton said. “Then we'll move Hannah out of her apartment and out of Athens and she'll start her next chapter.”
Celeste Britton said she returned to college because her employer has a partnership with Ohio University and was encouraging everyone with an associate degree to pursue a bachelor's degree.
“I probably wouldn't have done it if they didn't encourage us,” Celeste Britton said. “Now I might be addicted to school and I want more. They do have a doctorate in nursing!”
During her four years in Athens, Hannah Britton has been one of the University’s most active students. She was recently named an Outstanding Senior Leader at the April 18 Leadership Awards Gala. She also is a Margaret Boyd Scholar, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 2017 Homecoming queen, vice president of the Black Student Programming Board and a member of the Presidential Leaders Society.
Hannah Britton has also traveled internationally. She spent time in Hong Kong in 2015 as part of an OHIO Education Abroad program and traveled to Cambodia in 2016 through the Jewish National Fund.
Although she was recently chosen to receive a 2018 Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Indonesia, Hannah Britton eventually plans to build a career in the human resources field.
“I am going to Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business to earn a master’s degree in human resource management,” Hannah Britton said. “My long term goal is to work in diversity and inclusion for a human resources office at a university or in a relaxed corporate setting.”
Celeste Britton said she has already received a job promotion.
“When I go back to work on May 7, I'll be the new director of nursing because of my degree, so that's an immediate promotion,” Celeste Britton said. “In the fall, I'll start an online master's program in nursing, but I need to take a breath over the summer.”
Hannah Britton said that leaving Athens and Ohio University will be bittersweet.
“I don't want to rush it or think about it too much, but when I do think about it I get a warm feeling inside,” she said. “It's exciting to graduate and start a new path.”