Date: 5/31/2006
Contact: Dawn Fuller ; E-mail: Dawn.Fuller@uc.edu
Phone: (513) 556-1823
Photos By: Andrew Higley

UC COMMENCEMENT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR TWO SISTERS

UC’s All-University Spring Commencement on June 10 is going to be an emotional celebration for two sisters from Bridgetown. After growing up together, attending Oak Hills High School together and marching together at Commencement, Amanda Jayne Craven and Jessica Lynne Craven, both UC Honors Scholars, will be going their separate ways to follow their individual pursuits.

Amanda graduates with bachelor degrees in philosophy and Spanish just nine days after her 20th birthday. She got a jump on her college experience by skipping a grade in elementary school and earning Advanced Placement (AP) credits in high school. After graduation, Amanda plans to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) in Spain and has applied to do so through the Ministry of Education. She has also applied to work with the Peace Corps.

Twenty-two year old Jessica also graduates with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy as well as in communication, a major she pursued because she says she used to be terrified of public speaking. “My freshman year, I took a class on moral and political ideas and really liked it, and that’s when I started looking into pre-law and took effective public speaking classes,” she says. Both sisters participated with the Mock Trial Team, further fueling Jessica’s interest in law. She will be entering Chase Law School in the fall.

Both girls says they were very close growing up, raised by their mother, Patty Zeek, who also earned two degrees from UC – a BA in mathematics and a BS in education.

“We did a lot of stuff with my mom growing up,” Amanda says. “We’d go to the park and ride bikes, or play with Barbies or My Little Pony, and we always had really big parties for our birthdays. She always videotaped everything.”

Their mom will also be at the afternoon Commencement Ceremony, watching her daughters celebrate their latest milestone together. The three are also planning a cruise to Mexico to celebrate after graduation.