Mother-Daughter Duo To Graduate

Out of the 145 students who will graduate Thursday from California State University San Bernardino's Palm Desert Campus, a mother-daughter duo will walk together as they finish their programs.

Alana Townsend, 56, will receive her master’s degree in public administration, while her daughter Stephanie, 38, will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

"It was completely by coincidence that we’re both graduating at the same time,” Stephanie said.

The ceremony is set for 6 p.m. at The Show at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage.

Stephanie, who works as a registered nurse in the operating room at JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, said she received her associates degree in nursing, but always wanted to take her education further.

“A lot of working nurses don’t get a lot of opportunities to get a four-year degree,’’ Stephanie said. “It has been really difficult. I’m really glad that I did."

Stephanie will graduate with honors and made the Dean's list. Her mother's GPA qualified her for honors.

They realized less than a year ago that they could finish their programs at the same time if they stayed on the right track.

“It did give us an incentive to keep on that course,’’ said Alana, who is the senior management analyst for the city of Palm Desert.

Alana, who has worked for the city for 32 years, received her bachelors degree in 2007 from Cal State. She then took a year off before pursuing her masters.

“It was something I wanted to achieve on my own. It’s not required with my position at all,’’ Alana said. “I was very intrigued because I’ve been in the public sector virtually my whole life.”

Pursuing higher education in the Townsend family started with Stephanie.

“I was the very first one in my immediate family to go to college,’’ she said. “My brother didn’t go to college. My grandparents did not go to college on either side. I was the initiating factor.”

Stephanie doesn’t plan to stop with her bachelors degree, and hopes to go for a masters in science and nursing in about three years.

“Why not continue learning?” Stephanie said.