Earning their degrees, side by side

For Eugene Tham and his wife, Dayna Strickler-Tham, going to college alongside a spouse was a friendly competition to see who would get better grades.

“I don’t think either one of us won,” Dayna said, laughing. “Although he does have a cum laude.”

The couple is among four husband-and-wife teams from Southwest Florida juggling families, work and school who will be taking their commencement walks at International College today.

Taking their public speaking class together is how Eugene and Dayna met. They fell in love. The first assignment was an introduction speech.

“We actually knew quite a bit about each other before we even knew each other,” said Dayna, 36.

Dayna invited Eugene to listen to a pastor speak as part of their professor’s assigned project in September 2002. Since then, they have been together.

Initially, the couple didn’t share their romance with anyone at International College in Naples.

But, a secret like theirs was hard to keep.

At the time, Dayna was a work study student at the college. Eugene surprised her with a dozen long-stem roses at work.

“It was very romantic,” said Eugene, 34.

Dayna, who works from home for Arbonne International, said they knew early on in the relationship that it was going to work out.

And it did. The couple celebrated their first anniversary on May 21.

They have three children. She has two children from a previous marriage, Jushua Strickler, 14 and Daniel Strickler, 9, and Jenna Tham is 6 months.

To make sure someone was always available to care for the children, the North Naples couple took classes on different nights and other nights, Dayna’s mother took care of the children.

They both agreed that earning their degrees and managing their full-time jobs was a unique experience that required hard work. But, the couple had their regular date nights.

“We were supportive to each other,” she said.

The family is moving to Denver next month.

Eugene, a field representative at Nielsen Media Research for almost two years, got transferred.

Eugene, a native of Luton, England, and Dayna, who was raised as a child in Minneapolis, Minn., both are looking forward to returning to cold weather, a change of seasons and the mountains.

The couple graduated in December from International College and will take their commencement walks today.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and he earned his bachelor’s in information systems management.

Both had gone to college in the past, but thought the degrees that they obtained would help them in their careers, she said.

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The Bolens have earned their second degree together.

In 2004, Donna and Jeffrey Bolen earned their bachelor’s degrees in computer information technology from International College and now they have earned their master’s degrees in information systems management. The couple finished in December.

Once again, taking classes together at the Naples campus was a pleasure and a way to make their course loads more manageable.

Donna said they were each other’s study partners and helped one another understand course material.

“Two heads are better than one,” she said.

The East Naples couple has been married 33 years.

The whole family is in the information technology business.

When Donna and Jeffrey were finishing taking classes for their bachelor’s degrees in computer information technology in 2004, their son, Andrew, 25, started college.

Andrew, an online gamer/programmer, will be walking today with his parents with a bachelor’s degree in computer information technology.

Donna, 57, works for an arthroscopic medical device company, and her husband, 53, is an information security manager for Collier County government.

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For James Heil, 29, and Wendy Heil, 28, taking classes together was a way to understand the time constraints and a way to help each other out during the prerequisites.

“We always tried to pick the same nights and the same times so that we would go to school together, even though we didn’t take classes together. One of us wasn’t at home alone,” she said.

The Cape Coral couple has been married five years.

Wendy finished earning her bachelor’s degree in health sciences last spring in Fort Myers, but didn’t make last year’s commencement ceremony.

James, who works for a home builder, earned his bachelor’s degree in business management in December at the Fort Myers campus.

Several of Wendy’s credits were transferred to Nova Southeastern University, which joined International College for a dual enrollment program in summer 2003.

Currently, she is a full-time student working on her master’s degree in medical science with NOVA’s physician assistant program in Naples.

Once Wendy finishes the program, it will be a major change for her, but a welcome one.

“I’m going from making no money for the past two years to having a decent salary,” she said.

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The Krolczynskis of Golden Gate Estates also found it fitting to take classes together.

Aggie Krolczynski said that taking classes with her husband of eight years, Mariusz, was great and also a way to push each other.

“It was helpful to have someone there with you who is going through the same things and understands the pressure,” said Aggie, 30.

The couple tried to take as many classes together as possible.

“Of course, there was a level of competition, but that motivated us even more,” Aggie said.

The additional bonus of taking classes together has been saving money on books, she said.

Their class schedules demanded that they attend school two nights a week on average and take online classes, in addition to managing their full-time jobs.

Aggie, a full-time admissions administrative coordinator at International College, has earned her master’s degree in business administration. Mariusz, 29, a full-time software engineer programmer, earned his master’s degree in computer information technology.

Both are natives of Poland and came together to Naples in 1999.

The couple isn’t just thrilled about graduation.

They are excited about another upcoming event in their lives.

She is expecting their first son.

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International College graduation

-- What: 16th annual commencement ceremony

-- When: 4 p.m. today

-- Where: Germain Arena in Estero

-- Speaker: Raymond Humphrey, a retired military police officer and Airborne Ranger who served tours in Vietnam other countries

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International College graduates

COLLIER COUNTY

Naples campus

Bachelor’s degree

Accounting — Daisy A. Rivera, John J. Rowland, Jesus E. Solarte, Saundra Sue Thomas and Laurie von Minden.

Associate’s degree

Accounting — Seth Lachance, Danielle R. Milor, Ashley Ann Noel, Milsa Palacios and Melissa Jean Pearson.

Master’s degree

Business Administration — Trina K. Baker, Willard E. Barrett, Jason D. Brown, Casey Ann Bryan, Craig A. Bryan, Manual Evans, Robert D. Hamilton III, Raymond Kidwell, Kelly L. Klingler, Aggie Krolczynski, Joshua N. Lesser, Anna Marie McCarthy, Yvonne Puente, Lillian Tomasko, Jacob J. Voigt III, David E. Weston, Robert B. Whaley and Scott Alan Wiley.

Bachelor’s degree

Business Administration — Dayna L. Berger, Rogelio Campbell Jr., Susana C. Capasso, Donna L. Clemons, Trish M. Hamilton, Susana Hernandez, Sandra D. Machado, Emily E. Oxenham, Dorit J. Petersen, Lesley A. Richardson, Cathy A. Roderick, Melissa M. Vandetti and Gloria Vargas.

Associate’s degree

Business Administration — Raymond J. Alce, Michael C. Blitz, Jorge A. Carvajal, Elena Comperatore, Amanda M. Cruz, Rachel Damico, Dominika Dudziak, Jason M. Fiedler, Erick M. Garnica, Tiffany A. Gregory, Jean Claude Joseph, Andrea Madai, Yelena K. Padrova, Prudence M. Pembridge, Claudia L. Black, Kristyn C. Reiter, Michele Christman Reyes, Monika Sevcikova-Grant and Maria J. Carrion.

Master’s degree

Computer Information Technology — Mariusz S. Krolczynski.

Bachelor’s degree

Computer Information Technology — Andrew C. Bolen, David J. Buchheit, Clement C. Cariot, Eric P. Devantier, Christopher J. Lewington, Michael S. Loll, Daniel N. Pfrommer, Laura E. Rodriguez and Philip Soldan.

Associate’s degree

Computer Information Technology — Sundy Alexandre, Gregorio Benjamin, Duniel M. Busto, Shannon L. Randolph, James M. DeSear, Adrienne B. Doane, Rene Garcia, Charles Hendricks Jr., Thomas J. Holota, Noel Karrasch, Steven L. Rose, Scott T. Schulte, Jennifer D. Smith, Zachary S. Vanhoy, Torsten Wedel, Maryann Wiess and Dawn Williamson.

Master’s degree

Criminal Justice — Joseph U.G. Foster, Karen Hebebrand and Alexandra J. Sulecki.

Bachelor’s degree

Criminal Justice — Susan Elizabeth Currie, Leonel Jean-Jacques, Joanne E. Oliver, Christina R. Pampenella and Andrew Williams.

Associate’s degree

Criminal Justice — Linda L. Anders, Shannan Marie Howard, Kathy Crespo and April L. O’Neil.

Bachelor’s degree

Health Administration — Marquia A. Vargas.

Associate’s degree

Health Information Technology — Rachel M. Baker, Antonio R. Fernandez, Laura D. Hillman, Laura Lee Lamparyk and Barbara J. Weyand.

Bachelor’s degree

Health Sciences — Lara B. Biddle, Angela L. Meister, Nicolle J. Schultze, Kathryn N. Shushman and Karen K. Williams.

Bachelor’s degree

Interdisciplinary Studies — Carie Antosek-Benton, Zaida Brown, Cindy G. Burnett, Carla C. Cavero, Amy R. Derby, Barbara A. Giacalone, Claude Lordeus, Sheryl M. Martinez, Lisa A. Mead, Joseph M. Norris, Julie M. Rego, Rolando E. Torres and D’Arcy M. Tuyls.

Associate’s degree

Interdisciplinary Studies — Angela G. Ahmed, Everardo Almanza, Santacla Augustin, Fritzler Bernagene, Danielle Denicola, Elana M. Esposito, Brenda Gadsden, Charles M. Mahon, Joseph D. Monroy, Deborah A. Sackela, Celine Y. Spotts, Jaclyn Turner and Deanna L. Yeoman.

Master’s degree

Information Systems Management — Donna L. Bolen, Jeffrey A. Bolen, Grant L. Brosseau, Andrew Chapman, Anthony J. Deluca and Karen A. Karavitis.

Bachelor’s degree

Information Systems Management — Chris Andrews, Alan S. Hall, Grady Lee LeBlanc, Margaret Loyer, Rashed Maksood, Scott M. Soloff, Eugene Paul Tham and Barbara Jones Wilson.

Bachelor’s degree

Legal Studies — Lidisberth Argueta, Melissa S. Mohl and Amanda Vargas.

Associate’s degree

Medical Assistance — Victoria A. Cloonan, Ritza Hilaire, Samantha Etta Porter, Allison E. Thow and Sara Rose Zivich.

Master’s degree

Management — Jeffrey D. Dolden, Sharon L. Johnson and Alison Dawn Watson.

Bachelor’s degree

Management — Andrea J. Alexander, Steve C. Alexander, Rebecca L. Anderson, Maria M. Argæello, Alice Luc Arthur, Sandra F. Bagley, Patrick M. Bauman, Karen Kierce Bishop, Chad L. Blitz, Mary Louise Block, Rhonda A. Bolding, Barbara Hilliard-Brown, Mark Cevallos, William G. Clark, Denise Cotman-Thomas, Dennis Donald Jr., Michael Jon Engdahl, Gerald G. Goldsmith, Krista L. Hardee, Scot K. Mathena, Stacye R. Matthew, Thomas George McKay, Ledia Metaj, Maureen Mino, Blane Lee Morehouse, Jeffrey S. Neal, Dianna Denise Perryman, Katherine A. Rossi, Christine Scanlin-Mitchell, Dayna Strickler-Tham, Patricia Jo Traverse, Jason R. Valdes, Cassandra L. Vallianos, Janet Dayle Wine and Michael Thomas Zeto.

Master’s degree

Public Administration — Andrea Jo Brenn and Maria Teresa Jimenez.

Associate’s degree

Paralegal — Crystal A. Labreche, Amber Michelle Morin, Elizabeth G. Orr, Barbara E. Otero, Rocio Proenza Albelo, Amanda R. Rimes, Celina Neraida Rodriguez and Jenna L. Sforza.

LEE COUNTY

Fort Myers campus

Bachelor’s degree

Accounting — Traci L. Barker, Artnel S. Gordo, Lisa M. Gondos, Adriana Maria St. Hilaire, David P. Hurst, Deborah A. Johnson, Maria Teresa R. Kayler, Richard Kiet Mai, Marie Pellechio, Gereldene Pepper, Sandra L. Preston, Lisa Reinbold, Susan Lee Rhea, Ana Sarock, Mandy S. Stein and Angela M. Upshaw.

Associate’s degree

Accounting — Nicole Carr, Anita C. Finnegan, Elizabeth Fontanez, Belinda Hinojosa, Pamela M. Ireland, Yoconda L. Mace, Maria E. Ramos, Lindsay A. Sazy and Audra Elaine Toddy.

Master’s degree

Business Administration — Randy Delmon Jones, Jamie A. Kobie, Michele Schmitz, Carmen A. Taveras, Thu Thi Thanh Phan and Kimberly R. Urstadt.

Bachelor’s degree

Business Administration — Kathleen Adikes, Patricia Nancy Antoine, Carina A. Boehnke, Bethan Elizabeth Campbell, Jana M. Chessman, William Comtois, Thomas Dwayne Hill, Michelle Keltner, Richard Leiser, Lori Harper Millerd, Sandra L. Preston, Tamara Natalie Samuda, Janee Adelynn Wesley and LaParsha C. White.

Associate’s degree

Business Administration — Carol Elaine Antonacci, Jamie Janelle Bruner, John R. Hedlund, Margery E. Duncan, Dustin Mouser, Gertrudis R. Santos, Gracie Spears and Cherry C. Ward.

Master’s degree

Computer Information Technology — James Bass and Jamie A. Kobie.

Bachelor’s degree

Computer Information Technology — James Michael Alderman, Edward D. Fife, Jamie Hughery, Mark L. Judd, Laura E. Koenigs, Dale Mori, Donald L. Payton, Jennifer S. Shoopman, Kip K. Stapleton and Brian Andrew Wallace Sr.

Associate’s degree

Computer Information Technology — Donna J. Anderson, James Lawrence Godwin, Michele E. Hylton and Dale E. Mori.

Master’s degree

Criminal Justice — Todd D. Brownson, Jason D. Glick, Patricia Josephine Golden, John Long, John Anthony Lanza, Georgeann A. Lytle, Lydia M. Porter, Bobbi Rainero, G. Garcia Raphael and Jessica Jean Semiken.

Bachelor’s degree

Criminal Justice — Victor A. Bosch, Michelle Dawn Brownfield, Holly Morse Christiano, Debora M. Clark, Cristiane Margarida Santos Fernandes, Jason A. Fields, Windy L. Gavin, Laurence Hay, Caitlin Suzanne Johnson, Robert Joseph Morris, Silvia Oziah, Laura Sheene, Heather Dee Stein, Genelle Martin Thomas, Kendra Fuller-Towns, Brett Robert Youd and Melissa Ann Whittington.

Associate’s degree

Criminal Justice — Janice Ann Bursiek-Furdell, Lisa A. Gilliam, Edlyne LeGrand and Yvon Plancher.

Bachelor’s degree

Health Administration — Samantha A. Bella, Roseann M. DePaola, Sharon K. Ritzo and Miguel A. Vargas.

Associate’s degree

Health Information Technology —Stephanie L. Lawler and Elbony L. McMiller.

Bachelor’s degree

Health Sciences — Wendy L. Heil, Kimberly D. Powell and Michele M. Radkins.

Bachelor’s degree

Interdisciplinary Studies — Latanya Allen, Jacklyn N. Bailey, Roiann B. Belmont, Vivian L. Bennett, James F. Brantley, Stephanie S. Brown, Allison Nicole Carter, Martin S. Clyatt, Todd Dusenberry, Barbara Gene Hill, John V. Norton, Elizabeth Oyola, Angela Carol Parker, Stephenie Presseller, John V. Rastocky, William J. Roche, Kelly A. Scagliotti, Theresa Scola, Shoshonna G. Shoap, Andrea A. Todd and Riva G. Wharton.

Associate’s degree

Interdisciplinary Studies — Lori L. Ball, Cindy A. Benning, Evelyn Brody, Simonne A. Johnson, Francine Ryan, Antonio Santana and Tara J. Stichter.

Bachelor’s degree

Information Systems Management — Terri H. Brown, John Cunningham, Latonya S. Griffin, Mellanie J. Hayden, Teresa Panetta Lamoureux and Dale H. Mater.

Master’s degree

Information Systems Management — Jennifer Sue Cohen, Shane T. Desguin, Thomas Arthur Kontinos, Wilfrid J. Mirville, Jr. and Isabell Ward.

Bachelor’s degree

Legal Studies — Timothy J. Gannon, Guadalupe Del Toro Garcia, Whitney S. Maxwell, Diana S. Morales and Jameson Pierre-Louis.

Associate’s degree

Medical Assistance — Wendy Lane Castaneda, Misty Lynn Hall, Lisa Marie Hutchens, Eileen Metayer, Colleen O’Connor, Louise Annette Robertson, Mary Ann Sears, Kristen Michelle Torres, Michelle Ann Travis and Roberta L. Williams.

Master’s degree

Management — Jo Ahern, Douglas Elza Baker, Judy Ann Cain, Randy Lee Crone, Hilton C. Daniels, Richard O. Dobson, Sr., Linda Sue Elkins, Milagros Estrada, Kathleen M. Falzone, Christy Gabauerm, Bernadette Graham-Athime, Evonne L. Hraban, Kurt A. Hutchings, Julia Marie Liebscher, Dusty Brian Pate, Karen J. Plaza-Lewis, Debbie D. Powell, Robert W. Quigley, Laura Danielle Rhoad, Rebecca S. Sedney, Janet L. Fry, Peter A. Tarman, Robert L. Taylor and Emily E. Wilkinson.

Bachelor’s degree

Management — David Anthony, Melissa Ayala, Shar Beddow, Mayerling L. Choute-Desir, Meliza Nova Colon, Stephanie M. Doehne, Jessica L. Dunleavy, Kimberly S. Gaide, Lisa Ann Hebert, James K. Heil, Andrea Lee Hertz, Wava M. Houston, Randall S. Jacobson, Rhonda J. Meade, James B. Mulligan, Patricia L. Petito, Charlie Powell, Jr., George S. Sanford Jr., Vanessa Y. Sherrard, Jessica S. Sonnentag, Angel D. Stout, Debora T. Williams and Christine E. Wright.

Master’s degree

Public Administration — Mark J. Bukowski, Shiemron O. Cowan, Valerie E. Heinssen, Edward C. Michaels, Stanley B. Nelson, Richard E. Whitehouse and Samantha L. Youd.

Associate’s degree - - Paralegal - - Kimberly G. Townsend, Danielle Leigh Lacherza, Lisa Ann McClain, Lori Parker and Christina M. Ybarra.

Cape Coral off-site campus

Master’s degree

Business Administration — Nancy A. Taylor.

Bachelor’s degree

Management — Kenneth Daniel Lott, Elisabeth I. Nattiel and Lisa M. Pletincks.

Edison College in Lee

County off-site campus

Bachelor’s degree

Interdisciplinary Studies — Carolyn Ann Christian, Kimberly DeShawn Davis, Karin Marie Gutierrez, Robert Paul Hiatt, Gladys V. Lopez, Shara Ray, David A. Sadler, David Tippett III, Bobbi Jo Thomas and Pamela D. Williams.

Bachelor’s degree

Legal Studies — Jonathan Michael Adams and Emmanuel Osselin.

Bachelor’s degree

Management — Dana Marie Aerts, Tresha Danyele Banks, Jay Brett, Miriam Castanho Bollinger, David Phillip Brown, Shamfa M. Dudley, Anne Francine Engicht, Natalie Ellen Everett, Daniel L. Grunlund, Lenora R. Holland, Chad A. Jorgensen, Katie Marie Koehn, Jennie Lindamood, Celeste Lyons, Anthony Ceasar Roman, Kathleen Simonson, Monica Small, Scott Edward Stein and George David Wheaton.