Degrees of distinction
for mother-son students

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Peggy Emme has worked most of her adult life since graduating from St. Hubert High School in 1975, taking a few years off to have two children.
About a decade ago, she began tiring of the low pay at various jobs.
"Without a degree, you just can’t make any money," she said.
In 1998, Emme began working at La Salle University. She was a secretary for the university president for three years and today is executive secretary to the vice president for enrollment services.
The new staffer quickly took advantage of La Salle’s free tuition offer for employees. The same offer applies to the children and spouses of employees who have been on the job for five years.
Emme worked full time and raised a family, squeezing in classes at night, in the summer or on Saturdays. Besides looking to advance in her career, she wanted to meet the challenge of going back to school more than 20 years after her high school graduation.
Her daughter Jaime enrolled at La Salle and graduated in 2006 with a degree in psychology. She’ll graduate next month from the Abington Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.
Her son, Jim — known to everyone, even teachers, as "Fozzy" — enrolled at La Salle in 2004 after graduating from Father Judge High School.
Peggy, who had to take some time off to care for her husband’s ailing parents, was on pace to earn the 60 credits necessary for an associate’s degree in general studies just about the time her son was scheduled to graduate with an accounting degree.
Mom, not wanting to upstage her son’s graduation, asked if he’d mind if they shared the spotlight. He didn’t.
So, she took 12 credits last fall and six credits this spring to complete her requirements.
On Sunday — Mother’s Day — mom and son graduated together during a ceremony at La Salle’s McCarthy Stadium.
"I couldn’t get a better Mother’s Day present," she said.
Her son was equally happy, mostly for his mom.
"I know how long she’s wanted to get it done," he said. "This worked out perfect."
Peggy, 50, and Fozzy, 22, of Mayfair, sat together on Saturday night at the baccalaureate Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
On Sunday, they sat with their respective schools — she with professional and continuing studies and he with business.
Fozzy was a member of the Alpha Epsilon honor society, graduating with a 3.33 grade point average.
His mom, a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society, boasts a 3.66 grade point average.
"Showoff," her son joked.
"It dropped," she said of her GPA. "It was 3.79."
Peggy, whose brother Brian Walsh graduated from La Salle 25 years ago, said some of her classes were easy, like the one on sacraments. She made her sacraments and watched her children do the same.
"That was a breeze. I could have taught that class," she said.
Other classes were more challenging.
"Economics could have fried my brain," she said.
Luckily for her, Fozzy is strong in math and helped her through the class.
In all, they had four classes together: micro and macro economics, environmental science and literature. Jaime joined them in the literature class.
Another benefit for the family was being able to share books if they took the same course in different semesters.
In each of her classes, Peggy was a familiar face because she worked at the university and knew many of her children’s friends. Sometimes, she was the oldest student in the class. Other times, there were other older adults.
"I’ve been comfortable in any class I’ve taken," she said.
Next, Peggy wants to pursue her bachelor’s degree in business. She’ll take nine credits this summer and is hoping to graduate in three years.
Fozzy leaves La Salle after a very active and fulfilling four years. He served as president of his fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, for two years, winning the university’s prestigious Dennis Dougherty Award for leadership in fraternity or sorority life.
He also played lacrosse, served as a senator in student government and on the university’s activities funding board and co-chaired a 24-hour basketball marathon that raised $15,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Since his classes ended two weeks ago, he’s gone to the beach, attended a celebrity golf outing and slept late. He coaches the Father Judge freshman lacrosse team and tends bar at Paddy Whacks.
Soon, he’ll embark on a trip that will take him to California, the Grand Canyon, South Padre Island in Texas and New Orleans.
He and a buddy will move to a house on the 3100 block of Brighton St. His parents live on the 3200 block of Brighton, with his sister right next door to them.
On Sept. 15, he’ll start a job in the auditing department of KPMG, a giant accounting firm.
He’ll train in Los Angeles for 10 days. His permanent office will be at 16th and Market streets.
Fozzy is happy to have completed school and even happier to have the distinction of graduating college with his mom.
"I’m really proud of her — graduating and continuing to work without taking time off," he said.
"I knew she would be able to do it, but I didn’t think she’d be able to catch up to me (in credits) and walk with me." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com