On May 16, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. in the Health & Physical Education building, Texas Southern University will have a unique pair of students walking across the stage together. Debra Wilson (61), a Business Administration with a concentration in Management major and her son Reginald Wilson (28), a Thurgood Marshall School of Law student, will both graduate Magna Cum Laude in their respective academic disciplines.
After being out of school for seventeen years, Debra decided to pursue her childhood dream of graduating from college. Reginald, who graduated from Texas Southern in spring 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, spent several years in Corporate America but wanted more. So, in August of 2012, the duo decided to enroll at Texas Southern and push each other towards achieving their goal of finishing school together.
Debra knew attaining her goal of receiving a business degree and graduating at the same time as her son would be difficult but well worth the effort. The pair is simply not graduating together but graduating together with a list of noteworthy accomplishments. Debra is a 2012-2015 Jesse H. Jones School of Business Scholarship recipient, President’s List Honoree, Dean’s List Honoree, Honor Roll Honoree, 4.0 Grade Point Average Honoree, and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society. Reginald has already accepted an offer of employment from the Norton Rose Fulbright firm in its Public Finance section and is graduating number five in his 2015 law class. He is a recipient of the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Dean’s Scholarship Academy Award; has served as the head writing advisor for professor Cassandra Hill, director of the Legal Writing Clinic; and is a Senior Editor for the Thurgood Marshall Law Review. In September 2014, he was selected by the Office of External Affairs to speak on behalf of Thurgood’s student body in Washington D.C. at the 44th annual Legislative Conference hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Reginald is also a member of the Hispanic Law Student Association; he serves as the parliamentarian for the Student Bar Association; and will represent the law school at the 2nd Annual National Diversity Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair in Washington, DC.
Debra gives credit to Reginald for encouraging and supporting her while fulfilling her lifelong dream of graduating with honors.
“I put my education on hold while I raised four children and worked full-time for thirty-five years as an executive assistant in the oil and gas industry,” Debra said on her decision to return to school. “It was a big step for me but it was so important to have someone who supports, understands, and believes in what you are doing. I’ve always enjoyed learning, and I’ve always encouraged my children to never stop learning. It is one thing to have pride in your children but to share accomplishments with them, well that is beyond a dream come true.”
When asked how they feel about it all, the mother and son simply said, “this is truly a blessing, when we look back on what we’ve accomplished, all we can say is, “GOD DID IT!”
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, April 14th 2015 at 1:38PM
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