Road to Higher Learning Is a Family Affair for Some Graduates

It’s no surprise that, out of eight children, 33 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchhildren in Mary Bayles’ large family, at least three people would go to college.

But Sunday will set a family record as Bayles, 76, of University Heights and two of her grandchildren, Paula Ann Trevino, 24, and Mark Schumann, 23, will walk to “Pomp and Circumstance” together at San Diego State University’s commencement ceremony.

“I think it’s great that all of us are graduating at the same time,” said Schumann, who is receiving a bachelor’s degree in economics. “It just makes it that much more special.”

Thousands of students will participate in graduation ceremonies at San Diego’s universities and colleges this spring, waiting for that final cue to throw caps triumphantly into the air.

A record number of students--an estimated 10,000--are expected to graduate this year from San Diego State University, the county’s largest university, said SDSU spokeswoman Louise Snider. For Bayles’ family, the timing was pure coincidence.

“I thought she was just going along, taking classes,” said Trevino, a history major. “I never comprehended that we would ever graduate at the same time.”

Bayles, who started taking classes at San Diego City College in 1979, will receive a degree in drama. She has already been accepted for graduate studies at SDSU.

“Maybe I’ll sign up with agents for TV commercials,” she said of her future, “because that doesn’t take as much work. A lot of agents need you to be on call, and you have no freedom. I’m just too lazy for that.”

A registered nurse for 38 years, Bayles first enrolled in a Spanish class, hoping to communicate better with her son’s new wife and family.

“Then I got hooked on going to school and started going all the time,” she said, adding that she had been interested in drama as a girl.

Meanwhile, SDSU class valedictorian Ervin Siverson was working on his commencement speech. He will graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“I guess the main point I want to get across is, yes, go out and achieve success. But give something back to the community. Sure it sounds hokey,” he said.

Siverson, 31, worked his way through college with a hotel job. He decided to return to school as a challenge, after years of abusing alcohol and drugs.

“I just put a lot of effort into it,” he said. “I’m not a brain. I just sat in the front of the class and asked a lot of questions. A teacher said I had ability, and I really started to believe in myself.”

Following are schedules for some graduation ceremonies:

UC San Diego: June 16 ceremonies--Revelle College, 2:30 p.m., south lawn of Galbraith Hall; Muir College, 9 a.m., Third College playing field; Third College, 2 p.m., Third College playing field; Warren College, 10 a.m., south lawn of Galbraith Hall; Graduate Division, noon, Price Center Ballroom.

School of Medicine, 11 a.m. June 9, south lawn of biomedical library.

San Diego State University: 9 a.m. Sunday, Aztec Bowl. There will be 88 additional viewing rooms with closed-circuit television.

University of San Diego: undergraduate school, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; graduate school, 10:30 a.m. Sunday; School of Law, 10:30 a.m. today. Ceremonies held in Torero Stadium.

United States International University: Noon June 16, in Golden Hall.

National University: 2 p.m. June 9, San Diego Convention Center.

San Diego Community College District: City College, 7 p.m. June 7, Balboa Park Organ Pavilion; Miramar College, 5:30 p.m. June 7, Miramar College Aviation Esplanade; Mesa College, 1 p.m. June 8, Merrill Douglas Stadium.

Grossmont College: 6 p.m. June 5, in front of the Learning Resource Center.

Cuyamaca College: 5:30 p.m. June 6, in front of the Learning Resource Center.

Point Loma Nazarene College: 2:30 p.m. June 9, Greek Amphitheater.

Southwestern Community College: 6 p.m. June 14, DeVore Stadium.