Correspondent photos / Sean Barron A line of Youngstown State University undergraduate students files into Beeghly Center at the start of the first of Sunday’s two fall commencements.

YOUNGSTOWN — For Kim Paulett and her son, Michael Scolaro, the stars seemed to align unexpectedly perfectly.

“I worked in a nursing home (in Akron) during COVID; we worked so hard and did so many things out of the norm, so I decided to go back to school,” Paulett, of Richfield, said.

The concept of hard work paid dividends for Paulett on two other fronts: As a result of her academic decision, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University in long-term care administration — and, thanks to good timing, did so on the same day, in the same place and at the same time her son graduated.

Initially, however, neither Paulett nor Scolaro thought they would find themselves crossing the stage together.

Nevertheless, mother and son did so, along with hundreds of other undergraduates, and were handed degrees during the first of Sunday afternoon’s two fall commencements in Beeghly Center.

A second ceremony for graduate students followed in Beeghly Center.

In all, 1,623 students received degrees, including those who finished during the summer. Specifically, 375 students were in the graduate ceremony and 507 attended the undergraduate commencement, Rebecca Rose, YSU spokeswoman, said.

Like lots of health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paulett found she had to improvise more than she expected. For her, that meant shifting from marketing to business operations to infection control, which did not go unnoticed.

“My boss said, ‘You should go back to school. You can really do this job,'” she remembered.

Paulett, who also had earned an associate degree from Akron University in business, sidelined her academic pursuits for a while to raise four children, with Michael Scolaro as the youngest. Nevertheless, she always had a driving ambition to work in the health care field, and has a primary goal of becoming a nursing home administrator. First, Paulett plans to take a test in February, then obtain her license, she explained.

“This day is amazing, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with the whole family,” she said, adding, “Now I won’t have to say, ‘Sorry, guys, I have to study.'”

“I love YSU; I immediately felt at home here,” Scolaro, 25, who recently moved to Warren from Richfield, said.

For his part, Scolaro earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology, though he’s uncertain how that will translate into a career. Sparking his interest in the field and influencing his decision to follow through on it was one of his high school teachers, along with plenty of engineering classes at the school, he said.

For now, though, Scolaro hopes to partake of a few weeks of downtime while entering the job search, he added.

Paulett and Scolaro’s achievement also sent ripples throughout the family.

“My message is that the whole family is very proud of you, mom. You’re a huge inspiration,” Paulett’s daughter, Emily Scolaro of Cuyahoga Falls, said in a phone call, adding that a party awaited mother and son.

“The way she’s handled school, life and career is unbelievable. She’s determined she can do anything and has unlimited potential,” Paulett’s boyfriend, Richard Sweet of Tallmadge, added.

Also happy to be taking home a degree — though quite a distance farther west — was Mariah Jones of St. Louis, who had taken online courses from Eastern Gateway Community College, then was transferred to YSU after EGCC dissolved. As a result, she earned an associate degree in paralegal studies.

“In two weeks, they had everything up and running for us,” said Jones, a straight-A student who also is part of the Phi Theta Kappa Society.

Jones is wasting no time preparing herself for her next move. She has a job interview today to be a paralegal for an insurance company in the St. Louis area and, in May, intends to pursue a bachelor’s degree from YSU in criminal justice.

Sunday’s undergraduate ceremony was special also for Daniel J. Richter of Boardman, a criminal justice major and part of YSU’s ROTC program. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant.

“It’s a continuation of my career and an advance, and the ultimate honor to serve as an officer,” said Richter, who has nearly 13 years of military experience under his belt, including more than two in the U.S. Army.

His next active duty move will be reporting to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Richter added.

In his remarks, YSU President Bill Johnson praised the undergrads for their accomplishments. He also asked students and audience members who have served, or are serving, in the military to stand and be recognized, a move that was met with applause.

The commencement speaker was Gary Brantley, chief information officer for the NFL, who graduated from YSU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in applied science.

Brantley advised the undergrads to adopt and combine what he referred to as the three “P’s:” purpose, passion and persistence, as a formula for carving out their success stories.

Brantley said he has applied purpose to using technology to empower others, and that the students can use their sense of purpose to guide their moral compasses and shape their legacies. In addition, passion is the fuel they will need for their journeys to carry them through moments of doubt and challenge; persistence will provide the power for them to keep forging ahead, he explained.

“No matter how many times you stumble, keep going,” said Brantley, who also has spearheaded efforts to improve information-technology infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity and implement solutions to better civic engagement for the city of Atlanta.

During his remarks, student speaker David Metzler, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, told his audience that about 20% of those who lose a parent at a young age go on to graduate from college. Despite having lost his father when he was 14, Metzler refused to allow the tragedy to limit him, but “pushed me to write my own story,” he said.

Consequently, Metzler excelled as a varsity football player, was the recipient of several prestigious scholarships and has volunteered for the United Way of the Mahoning Valley and other organizations.

Metzler, who grew up in Columbus, praised the Mahoning Valley for its toughness, resilience and never-quit mentality. Many people have the determination to get back on their feet after being knocked down, he said.

“This place has taught me what grit really means,” added Metzler, whose aim is to be a physician.

During the ceremony in Beeghly Center for graduate students that followed, Ashley Totin, a 2015 YSU grad who serves as additive manufacturing portfolio manager for Bryan, Texas-based BlueForge Alliance, was the commencement speaker. Serving as student speaker was Tyler Fenton, who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Akron before enrolling in YSU’s Family Nurse Practitioner program.