Elkridge Mother and Daugher Graduate on Same Day

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ST. MARY'S CITY, MD (05/14/2013)(readMedia)-- Alyssa Nutter, an Elkridge native who graduated with an anthropology degree from St. Mary's College of Md., has a graduation story that few can top: her mother, Cheryl Gast, graduated the same day from University of Maryland University College!

Asked what it has been like to go to college with her mother, Nutter replies, "We have had very different experiences since I'm at a residential liberal arts college and my mom has been a full-time working professional the whole time she's been taking college classes." However, having a mom who understands the lingo of college life has been helpful. Alyssa says "it's cool that we can have a conversation about using Blackboard, for example. None of my friends' parents know anything about that." The semester that Nutter studied abroad, Gast had no trouble filling the role of proxy to register her daughter for classes.

The extended family decided to attend Nutter's Commencement ceremony on May 11 at St. Mary's College, so Gast will not walk in her own ceremony. However, she has applied to an MBA program and has made it known that when she graduates from that program, the family will come see her walk. "I'm so proud of my mom," beams Nutter. "She's been a great role model for me and my younger brother."