As part of our traditional commencement report, we feature faculty and staff who have earned their degrees from William Paterson University and also include family of faculty and staff who graduate. Below are graduates who participated in the University’s 184th commencement on May 15.

Elsie Melendez and Melissa S. Gomez

There is a solid team of support behind Melissa S. Gomez, the daughter of Elsie Melendez, principal clerk typist, admissions, who earned a degree in psychology this spring. “The first year at school was rough, because Melissa got pregnant,” her mother says. The birth of her son, Brandon Levine, who will be four in July, caused a shift in the lives of Elsie, Melissa, and her sister, Iris, who all live together. Melissa switched to night classes, and Elsie hurried home from work each day to stay with Brandon. Sister Iris, who is a freshman at Montclair State University, filled in whenever she could. Melissa, who also worked as a hairdresser on Saturdays, is the first person in her family to earn a four-year degree. “Brandon has been a blessing,” according to his grandmother. “He was part of Melissa’s motivation to succeed.” Melissa was an Educational Opportunity Fund Program student, and was named an “Unsung Hero” by the organization this spring.

Truyla Scott

Fitting everything in was one of the biggest challenges facing Truyla Scott, customer service representative, registrar’s office, as she pursued a degree. She worked full-time and attended school full-time, while balancing the needs of her family as a single parent.  The juggling paid off as she earned a degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice, with a minor in African, African American, and Caribbean studies this spring. On campus for seven years as a member of the staff, she took just five years to finish her studies. Scott is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society, and Chi Alpha Epsilon, an honor society for students who enter college through development programs. Scott is a Dean’s List student, and received the Grace Gallindo Scholarship twice.

Matthew Sommo and Frank Sommo

Baseball has played a big part in the life of Matthew Sommo, the son of Frank Sommo, managing assistant director of facilities since 2001. Although he did not play baseball during his two years at William Paterson, Matt, a transfer student from Raritan Valley Community College, played baseball there, and has also worked as a baseball coach at that institution for the past two years. Frank is proud of his son for working his way through college. “One of Matt’s biggest challenges was juggling his studies, coaching, and working part-time,” Frank says. “But that’s how I did it.” Matt earned a degree in communication, and while on campus worked for the University’s radio station, WPSC Radio 88.7 FM, and also worked on the Pioneer Times, one of the institution’s two student newspapers.